and powder from them."

"Doubtless," said Berthier, not caring to argue that point.

He bowed to the officers, as they saluted, and went out of the door
muttering and arguing noisily and insubordinately, it must be admitted,
and then turned to the table where the secretaries sat. One of them
had laid his head down on his arms, stretched out on the table and was
fast asleep. The marshal awoke him and dismissed him with most of the
rest. From another Berthier took a paper. He examined it, signed it,
sealed it, and handed it to the young officer on guard at the door.

"Your commission, monsieur," he said. "Once I was young and full of
enthusiasm and hope and determination. It is well for France that some
of her children still retain those things."

"I thank the Prince de Wagram," said the young officer, bowing low,
"and I beg his pardon for having spoken."

"The Emperor has forgiven," said Berthier indifferently. "His
absolution covers us all. At least if I fall behind you in those other
qualities of youth I shall not fall behind you in devotion. Come,
Maret," continued the grand marshal.

The two worthies turned away and went out. The long room sank into
silence. A soldier came in after a while and replenished the fire,
saluted and passed out. The pen of the busy secretary, the only one
left of the group, ceased scratching on the paper. He, too, sank back
in his chair asleep. The short day faded into twilight and then into
darkness. From outside beyond the courtyard of the inn came confused
noises, indicating moving bodies of men, the rumble of artillery, the
clatter of cavalry, faint words of command. A light snow began to
fall. It was intensely raw and cold. The officer picked up his cloak,
wrapped it around him, and resumed his immobile guard.

CHAPTER II

THE EMPEROR DREAMS

Within a mean room, which had hastily been prepared for his use, upon a
camp bed, having cast himself down, fully clothed as he was, lay the
worn-out, dispirited, embittered Emperor. He sought sleep in vain.
Since Leipsic, with its horrible disaster a few months before, one
reverse of fortune had succeeded another. He who had entered every
country a conqueror at the head of his armies, whose myriads of
soldiers had overrun every land, eating it up with ruthless greed and
rapacity, and spreading destruction far and wide, was now at bay. He
who had dictated terms of peace in all the capitals of Europe at the
he