the Emperor time to escape。〃 Such were the soldiers of France。
Behind this screen of brave men the others took their breath； and then
went on in less desperate fashion。 They had broken away from the road；
and all over the countryside in the twilight I could see the timid； scattered；
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frightened crowd who ten hours before had formed the finest army that
ever went down to battle。 I with my splendid mare was soon able to get
clear of the throng； and just after I passed Genappe I overtook the Emperor
with the remains of his Staff。 Soult was with him still； and so were
Drouot； Lobau； and Bertrand； with five Chasseurs of the Guard； their
horses hardly able to move。
The night was falling； and the Emperor's haggard face gleamed white
through the gloom as he turned it toward me。
〃Who is that？〃 he asked。
〃It is Colonel Gerard；〃 said Soult。
〃Have you seen Marshal Grouchy？〃
〃No； Sire。 The Prussians were between。〃
〃It does not matter。 Nothing matters now。 Soult； I will go back。〃
He tried to turn his horse； but Bertrand seized his bridle。 〃Ah； Sire；〃
said Soult； 〃the enemy has had good fortune enough already。〃 They
forced him on among them。 He rode in silence with his chin upon his
breast； the greatest and the saddest of men。 Far away behind us those
remorseless guns were still roaring。 Sometimes out of the darkness
would come shrieks and screams and the low thunder of galloping hoofs。
At the sound we would spur our horses and hasten onward through the
scattered troops。 At last； after riding all night in the clear moonlight； we
found that we had left both pursued and pursuers behind。 By the time we
passed over the bridge at Charleroi the dawn was breaking。 What a
company of spectres we looked in that cold； clear； searching light； the
Emperor with his face of wax； Soult blotched with powder； Lobau dabbled
with blood！ But we rode more easily now； and had ceased to glance over
our shoulders； for Waterloo was more than thirty miles behind us。 One of
the Emperor's carriages had been picked up at Charleroi； and we halted
now on the other side of the Sambre； and dismounted from our horses。
You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing
of that which was nearest my heart； the need for guarding the Emperor。
As a fact； I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau； but their
minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the
pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them
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understand how urgent was my message。 Besides； during this long flight
we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road； and；
however demoralised they might be； we had nothing to fear from the
attack of nine men。 But now； as we stood round the Emperor's carriage
in the early morning； I observed with anxiety that not a single French
soldier was to be seen upon the long； white road behind us。 We had
outstripped the army。 I looked round to see what means of defence were
left to us。 The horses of the Chasseurs of the Guard had broken down；
and only one of them； a grey…whiskered sergeant； remained。
There were Soult； Lobau； and Bertrand； but； for all their talents； I had
rather； when it came to hard knocks； have a single quartermaster…sergeant
of Hussars at my side than the three of them put together。 There
remained the Emperor himself； the coachman； and a valet of the household
who had joined us at Charleroieight all told； but of the eight only two；
the Chasseur and I； were fighting soldiers who could be depended upon at
a pinch。 A chill came over me as I reflected how utterly helpless we were。
At that moment I raised my eyes； and there were the nine Prussian
horsemen coming over the hill。
On either side of the road at this point are long stretches of rolling
plain； part of it yellow with corn and part of it rich grass land watered by
the Sambre。 To the south of us was a low ridge； over which was the road
to France。 Along this road the little group of cavalry was riding。 So
well had Count Stein obeyed his instructions that he had struck far to the
south of us in his determination to get ahead of the Emperor。 Now he
was riding from the direction in which we were going the last in which
we could expect an enemy。 When I caught that first glimpse of them they
were still half a mile away。
〃Sire！〃 I cried； 〃the Prussians！〃
They all started and stared。 It was the Emperor who broke the
silence。
〃Who says they are Prussians？〃
〃I do； SireI； Etienne Gerard！〃
Unpleasant news always made the Emperor furious against the man
who broke it。 He railed at me now in the rasping； croaking； Corsican
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voice which only made itself heard when he had lost his self…control。
〃You were always a buffoon；〃 he cried。 〃What do you mean； you
numskull； by saying that they are Prussians？
How could Prussians be coming from the direction of France？ You
have lost any wits that you ever possessed。〃
His words cut me like a whip； and yet we all felt toward the Emperor
as an old dog does to its master。
His kick is soon forgotten and forgiven。 I would not argue or justify
myself。 At the first glance I had seen the two white stockings on the
forelegs of the leading horse； and I knew well that Count Stein was on its
back。
For an instant the nine horsemen had halted and surveyed us。 Now
they put spurs to their horses； and with a yell of triumph they galloped
down the road。 They had recognised that their prey was in their power。
At that swift advance all doubt had vanished。 〃By heavens； Sire； it is
indeed the Prussians！〃 cried Soult。
Lobau and Bertrand ran about the road like two frightened hens。 The
sergeant of Chasseurs drew his sabre with a volley of curses。 The
coachman and the valet cried and wrung their hands。 Napoleon stood
with a frozen face； one foot on the step of the carriage。 And Iah； my
friends； I was magnificent！ What words can I use to do justice to my
own bearing at that supreme instant of my life？ So coldly alert； so
deadly cool； so clear in brain and ready in hand。 He had called me a
numskull and a buffoon。 How quick and how noble was my revenge！
When his own wits failed him； it was Etienne Gerard who supplied the
want。
To fight was absurd； to fly was ridiculous。 The Emperor was stout；
and weary to death。 At the best he was never a good rider。 How could
he fly from these； the picked men of an army？ The best horseman in
Prussia was among them。 But I was the best horseman in France。 I； and
only I； could hold my own with them。 If they were on my track instead
of the Emperor's； all might still be well。 These were the thoughts which
flashed so swiftly through my mind that in an instant I had sprung from
the first idea to the final conclusion。 Another instant carried me from the
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final conclusion to prompt and vigorous action。 I rushed to the side of
the Emperor； who stood petrified； with the carriage between him and our
enemies。 〃Your coat； Sire！ your hat！〃 I cried。 I dragged them of him。
Never had he been so hustled in his life。 In an instant I had them on
and had thrust him into the carriage。 The next I had sprung on to his
famous white Arab and had ridden clear of the group upon the road。
You have already divined my plan； but you may well ask how could I
hope to pass myself off as the Emperor。
My figure is as you still see it； and his was never beautiful； for he was
both short and stout。 But a man's height is not remarked when he is in
the saddle； and for the rest one had but to sit forward on the horse and
round one's back and carry oneself like a sack of flour。 I wore the little
cocked hat and the loose grey coat with the silver star which was known to
every child from one end of Europe to the other。 Beneath me was the
Emperor's own famous white charger。 It was complete。
Already as I rode clear the Pru
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