remained unshaken。 As he was being conducted to the place where he was
to be shot； some one having told him that peace had just been concluded；
he cried in a loud voice； 〃Long live liberty！ Long live Germany！ 〃
These were his last words。
CHAPTER XVII。
During his stay at Schoenbrunn the Emperor was constantly engaged in
gallant adventures。 He was one day promenading on the Prater in Vienna；
with a very numerous suite （the Prater is a handsome promenade situated
in the Faubourg Leopold）； when a young German； widow of a rich merchant；
saw him； and exclaimed involuntarily to the ladies promenading with her；
〃It is he！〃 This exclamation was overheard by his Majesty； who stopped
short； and bowed to the ladies with a smile； while the one who had spoken
blushed crimson； the Emperor comprehended this unequivocal sign； looked
at her steadfastly； and then continued his walk。
For sovereigns there are neither long attacks nor great difficulties； and
this new conquest of his Majesty was not less rapid than the others。 In
order not to be separated from her illustrious lover； Madame B
followed the army to Bavaria； and afterwards came to him at Paris； where
she died in 1812。
His Majesty's attention was attracted by a charming young person one
morning in the suburbs of Schoenbrunn； and some one was ordered to see
this young lady； and arrange for a rendezvous at the chateau the
following evening。 Fortune favored his Majesty on this occasion。 The
eclat of so illustrious a name； and the renown of his victories； had
produced a deep impression on the mind of the young girl； and had
disposed her to listen favorably to the propositions made to her。 She
therefore eagerly consented to meet him at the chateau； and at the
appointed hour the person of whom I have spoken came for her； and I
received her on her arrival； and introduced her to his Majesty。 She did
not speak French； but she knew Italian well； and it was consequently easy
for the Emperor to converse with her； and he soon learned with
astonishment that this charming young lady belonged to a very honorable
family of Vienna； and that in coming to him that evening she was inspired
alone by a desire to express to him her sincere admiration。 The Emperor
respected the innocence of the young girl； had her reconducted to her
parents' residence； and gave orders that a marriage should be arranged
for her； and that it should be rendered more advantageous by means of a
considerable dowry。
At Schoenbrunn； as at Paris； his Majesty dined habitually at six o'clock；
but since he worked sometimes very far into the night； care was taken to
prepare every evening a light supper； which was placed in a little locked
basket covered with oil…cloth。 There were two keys to this basket； one
of which the steward kept； and I the other。 The care of this basket
belonged to me alone； and as his Majesty was extremely busy； he hardly
ever asked for supper。 One evening Roustan； who had been busily occupied
all day in his master's service； was in a little room next to the
Emperor's； and meeting me just after I had assisted in putting his
Majesty to bed； said to me in his bad French； looking at the basket with
an envious eye； 〃I could eat a chicken wing myself； I am very hungry。〃
I refused at first； but finally； as I knew that the Emperor had gone to
bed； and had no idea he would take a fancy to ask me for supper that
evening； I let Roustan have it。 He； much delighted； began with a leg；
and next took a wing； and I do not know if any of the chicken would have
been left had I not suddenly heard the bell ring sharply。 I entered the
room； and was shocked to hear the Emperor say to me； 〃Constant； my
chicken。〃 My embarrassment may be imagined。 I had no other chicken； and
by what means； at such an hour； could I procure one！ At last I decided
what to do。 It was best to cut up the fowl； as thus I would be able to
conceal the absence of the two limbs Roustan had eaten； so I entered
proudly with the chicken replaced on the dish Roustan following me； for I
was very willing； if there were any reproaches； to share them with him。
I picked up the remaining wing； and presented it to the Emperor； but he
refused it； saying to me； 〃Give me the chicken； I will choose for
myself。〃 This time there was no means of saving ourselves； for the
dismembered chicken must pass under his Majesty's eyes。 〃See here；〃 said
he； 〃since when did chickens begin to have only one wing and one leg？
That is fine； it seems that I must eat what others leave。 Who； then；
eats half of my supper？〃 I looked at Roustan； who in confusion replied；
〃I was very hungry； Sire； and I ate a wing and leg。〃〃What； you idiot！
so it was you； was it？〃
〃Ah； I will punish you for it。〃 And without another word the Emperor ate
the remaining leg and wing。
The next day at his toilet he summoned the grand marshal for some
purpose； and during the conversation said； 〃I leave you to guess what I
ate last night for my supper。 The scraps which M。 Roustan left。 Yes；
the wretch took a notion to eat half of my chicken。〃 Roustan entered at
that moment。 〃Come here； you idiot；〃 continued the Emperor； 〃and the
next time this happens； be sure you will pay for it。〃 Saying this； he
seized him by the ears and laughed heartily。
CHAPTER XVIII。
On the 22d of May； ten days after the triumphant entry of the Emperor
into the Austrian capital； the battle of Essling took place； a bloody
combat lasting from four in the morning till six in the evening。 This
battle was sadly memorable to all the old soldiers of the Empire； since
it cost the life of perhaps the bravest of them all；the Duke of
Montebello； the devoted friend of the Emperor； the only one who shared
with Marshal Augereau the right to speak to him frankly face to face。
The evening before the battle the marshal entered his Majesty's
residence； and found him surrounded by several persons。 The Duke of
always undertook to place himself between the Emperor and persons who
wished to speak with him。 The Duke of Montebello； seeing him play his
usual game； took him by the lappet of his coat； and； wheeling him around；
said to him： 〃Take yourself away from here！ The Emperor does not need
you to stand guard。 It is singular that on the field of battle you are
always so far from us that we cannot see you； while here we can say
nothing to the Emperor without your being in the way。〃 The duke was
furious。 He looked first at the marshal； then at the Emperor； who simply
said； 〃Gently Lannes。〃
That evening in the domestic apartments they were discussing this
apostrophe of the marshal's。 An officer of the army of Egypt said that
he was not surprised； since the Duke of Montebello had never forgiven the
Duke of for the three hundred sick persons poisoned at Jaffa。
Dr。 Lannefranque； one of those who attended the unfortunate Duke of
Montebello； said that as he was mounting his horse on starting to the
island of Lobau； the duke was possessed by gloomy presentiments。 He
paused a moment； took M。 Lannefranque's hand； and pressed it； saying to
him with a sad smile； 〃Au revoir； you will soon see us again； perhaps。
There will be work for you and for those gentlemen to…day；〃 pointing to
several surgeons and doctors standing near。 〃M。 le Duc；〃 replied
Lannefranque； 〃this day will add yet more to your glory。〃〃My glory；〃
interrupted the marshal eagerly； 〃do you wish me to speak frankly？ I do
not approve very highly of this affair； and； moreover； whatever may be
the issue； this will be my last battle。〃 The doctor wished to ask the
marshal his reasons for this conviction； but he set off at a gallop； and
was soon out of sight。
On the morning of the battle； about six or seven o'clock； the Austrians
had already advanced； when an aide…de…camp came to announce to his
Majesty that a sudden rise in the Danube had washed down a great number
of large trees which had been cut down when Vienna was taken； and that
these trees had driven against and broken the bridges which served as
communication between Essling and the island of Lobau； and in consequence
of this the reserve corps； part of the heavy cavalry； and Marshal
Davoust's entire corps； found themselves forced to remain inactive on the
other side。 This misfortune arrested the movement which the Emperor was
preparing to make； and the enemy took courage。
The Duke of Montebello received orders to hold the field of battle； and
took his position； resting on the village of Essling； instead of
continuing the pursuit of the Austrians which he had already begun； and
held this position from nine o'clock in the morning till the evening； and
at seven o'clock in the evening the battle was gained。 At six o'clock
the unfortunate marshal； while standing on an elevation to obtain a
better view of the movements； was struck by a cannon…ball； which broke
his right thigh and his left knee。
He thought at first that he had only a few moments to live； and had
himself carried on a litter to the Emperor； saying that he wished to
embrace him before he died。 The Emperor； seeing him thus weltering in
his blood； had the litter placed on the ground； and； throwing himself on
his knees； took the marshal in his arms； and said to him； weeping；
〃Lannes； do you know me？〃〃Yes； Sire； you are losing your best friend。〃
〃No ！ no！ you will live。 Can you not answer for his life； M。
Larrey？〃 The wounded soldiers hearing his Majesty speak thus； tried to
rise on their elbows； and cried； 〃Vive l'Empereur！〃
The surgeons carried the marshal to a little village called Ebersdorf； on
the bank of the river； and near the field of battle。 At the house of a
brewer they found a room over a stable where the heat was stifling； and
was rendered still more unendurable from the odor of the corpses by which
the house was surrounded。
But as no other place could be found； it was necessary to make the best
of it。 The marshal bore the amputation of his limb with heroic courage；
but the fever which came on immediately was so violent that； fearing he
would die under the operation； the surgeons postponed cutting off his
other leg。 This fever was caused partly by exhaustion； for at the time
he was wound