ring, the account of a tremendous fire in Moscow and
flames up to the skies, which had risen, as from the earth, around the
Emperor; then of a flight through snow and desert plains, of hunger and
indescribable misery. Cautiously did the people speak of it, for the
French not only occupied the capital and fortresses of the country, but
had also in the provinces their agents, spies, and hated informers,
whom the citizens avoided. Within a few days it was known that the
Emperor himself had fled from his army; in an open sledge, disguised as
Duke of Vicenza, and, with only one follower, he had travelled day and
night through Prussia. On the 12th of December, about eight o'clock in
the evening, he arrived at Glogau, there he reposed for an hour, and
started again about ten o'clock, in spite of the terrible cold.
The following morning he entered the castle of Hanau, where the
posting-station then was. The resolute post-mistress, Kramtsch,
recognised him, and with violent gestures swore she would give him no
tea, but rather another drink. At the earnest representations of those
around her, she was softened so far as to pour some camomile tea into a
pot with a vehement oath; he, however, drank of it, and went on to
Dresden. Now he had come to Paris, and it was told in the newspapers
how happy Paris was, how tenderly his wife and son had greeted him, how
well he was, and that he had already, on the 27th of December, been to
hear the beautiful opera of "Jerusalem Delivered." It was said further
that the great army, in spite of the unfavourable time of year, would
return in fearful masses through Prussia, and that the Emperor was
making new preparations. But the trial of General Mallet was also
reported; and it was known how impudently the French newspapers lied.

It was seen, also, what remained of the great army. In the first days
of the year the snow fell in flakes; it lay like a shroud over the
country. A train of men moved slowly and noiselessly along the high
road to the first houses of the suburb. It was the returning French.
Only a year ago, they had set forth at sunrise, with the sound of
trumpets, and the rattle of drums, in warlike splendour, and with
revolting arrogance. Endless had been the procession of troops; day
after day, without ceasing, the masses had rolled through the streets
of the city; never had the people seen so prodigious an army, of all
nations of Europe, with every kind of uniform, and hundreds of
Gen