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At that moment news came that Marmont's corps had just been assaulted at Athies, and so thoroughly discomfited that they were now flying in confusion towards Corbery. Notwithstanding this ominous opening, the battle in front of Laon was continued all the day. But the tide of fortune had turned, and could not be resisted.
"M. le Comte," said de Marmont, more peremptorily this time, "I have twenty-four men with me, who will seize by force if necessary that which I herewith command you to give up voluntarily." Still no reply. M. le Comte de Cambray would think himself bemeaned were he to parley with a traitor. "As you will, M. le Comte," was de Marmont's calm comment on the old man's attitude.
He sent an aide de camp to desire Marmont to come immediately to Fontainebleau: such was Napoleon's impatience that instead of waiting for the return of his aide de camp he sent off a second and then a third officer on the same errand. This rapid succession of envoys from the Emperor alarmed the general who commanded the different divisions of Marmont's corps at Essonne.
And what right had he even to interfere? The Comte de Cambray and Mademoiselle Crystal were nothing to him: in their minds they would never look upon him even as an equal let alone as a friend. So the bitter words died upon his lips. "And you have been content to win a wife on such terms!" was all that he said. "I have had to be content," was de Marmont's retort.
He therefore only detached one weak division to cover Marmont's right flank, and with the other divisions marched away south, when an urgent message from Möckern recalled him to that side of Leipzig, with the result that his 15,000 men spent the whole day in useless marches and counter-marches. The mishap was most serious.
But he himself also wished for a few more hours' respite before flinging away the scabbard; and we may regard his lengthy balancings between the pleas of Caulaincourt and Talleyrand as prompted partly by a wish to sip to the full the sweets of revenge for the occupation of Moscow, but mainly by the resolve to mark time until Marmont's corps had been brought over.
The Governor, who bore the ill-starred name of Moreau, finally gave way, and his troops, nearly all Poles, marched out at 4 p.m., furious at his "treason"; for the distant thunder of Marmont's cannon was already heard on the side of Oulchy. Rumour said that they were the Emperor's cannon, but rumour lied.
The fraud played off by some members of the Provisional Government was attended by fatal consequences; many evils might have been spared to France had Marmont's advice been adopted.
De Marmont's keen eyes took in the situation at a glance: he threw a quick look of savage hatred on St. Genis and cast one of contemptuous pity on Clyffurde. Then with a shrug of the shoulders and a light, triumphant laugh, he set spurs to his horse and rode swiftly away.
Unexpected receipts in the Post-office Department Arrival of Napoleon's Commissioners at M. de Talleyrand's Conference of the Marshals with Alexander Alarming news from Essonne Marmont's courage The white cockade and the tri-coloured cockade A successful stratagem Three Governments in France The Duc de Cadore sent by Maria Louisa to the Emperor of Austria Maria Louisa's proclamation to the French people Interview between the Emperor of Austria and the Duc de Cadore The Emperor's protestation of friendship for Napoleon M. Metternich and M. Stadion Maria Louisa's departure for Orleans Blucher's visit to me Audience of the King of Prussia His Majesty's reception of Berthier, Clarke, and myself Bernadotte in Paris Cross of the Polar Star presented to me by Bernadotte.
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