第474章

第474章napoleon’sgenerals，davoust，ney，andmurat，whowereclosetothatregionoffire，andsometimesevenrodeintoit，severaltimesledimmensemassesoforderlytroopsintothatregion.butinsteadofwhathadinvariablyhappenedinalltheirpreviousbattles，insteadofhearingthattheenemywereinflight，thedisciplinedmassesoftroopscamebackinundisciplined，panic-strickencrowds.theyformedthemingoodorderagain，buttheirnumberwassteadilydwindling.inthemiddleofthedaymuratsenthisadjutanttonapoleonwitharequestforreinforcements.

napoleonwassittingundertheredoubt，drinkingpunch，whenmurat’sadjutantgallopedtohimwiththemessagethattherussianswouldberoutedifhismajestywouldletthemhaveanotherdivision.

“reinforcements？”saidnapoleon，withsternastonishment，staring，asthoughfailingtocomprehendhiswords，atthehandsome，boyishadjutant，whoworehisblackhairinfloatingcurls，likemurat’sown.“reinforcements！”thoughtnapoleon.“howcantheywantreinforcementswhentheyhavehalfthearmyalready，concentratedagainstoneweak，unsupportedflankoftherussians？”

“tellthekingofnaples，”saidnapoleonsternly，“thatitisnotmidday，andidon’tyetseeclearlyovermychess-board.youcango.”

thehandsome，boyishadjutantwiththelongcurlsheavedadeepsigh，andstillholdinghishandtohishat，gallopedbacktotheslaughter.

napoleongotup，andsummoningcaulaincourtandberthier，beganconversingwiththemofmattersnotconnectedwiththebattle.

inthemiddleoftheconversation，whichbegantointerestnapoleon，berthier’seyewascaughtbyageneral，whowasgallopingonasteaminghorsetotheredoubt，followedbyhissuite.itwasbeliard.dismountingfromhishorse，hewalkedrapidlyuptotheemperor，and，inaloudvoice，beganboldlyexplainingtheabsolutenecessityofreinforcements.hesworeonhishonourthattherussianswouldbeannihilatediftheemperorwouldletthemhaveanotherdivision.

napoleonedhisshoulders，andcontinuedwalkingupanddown，withoutanswering.beliardbeganloudlyandeagerlytalkingwiththegeneralsofthesuitestandingroundhim.

“youareveryhasty，beliard，”saidnapoleon，goingbackagaintohim.“itiseasytomakeamistakeintheheatofthefray.goandlookagainandthencometome.”beforebeliardwasoutofsightanothermessengercamegallopingupfromanotherpartofthebattlefield.

“well，whatisitnow？”saidnapoleon，inthetoneofamanirritatedbyrepeatedinterruptions.

“sire，theprince…”begantheadjutant.

“asksforreinforcements？”saidnapoleon，withawrathfulgesture.theadjutantbenthisheadaffirmativelyandwasproceedingtogivehismessage，buttheemperorturnedandwalkedacoupleofstepsaway，stopped，turnedback，andbeckonedtoberthier.“wemustsendthereserves，”hesaidwithaslightgesticulation.“whomshallwesendthere？whatdoyouthink？”heaskedberthier，that“goslingihavemadeaneagle，”asheafterwardscalledhim.

“claparède’sdivision，sire，”saidberthier，whoknewallthedivisions，regiments，andbattalionsbyheart.

napoleonnoddedhisheadinassent.

theadjutantgallopedofftoclaparède’sdivision.andafewmomentslatertheyoungguards，stationedbehindtheredoubt，weremovingout.napoleongazedinthatdirectioninsilence.

“no，”hesaidsuddenlytoberthier，“ican’tsendclaparède.sendfriant’sdivision.”

thoughtherewasnoadvantageofanykindinsendingfriant’sdivisionratherthanclaparède’s，andtherewasobviousinconvenienceanddelaynowinturningbackclaparèdeanddespatchingfriant，theorderwascarriedout.napoleondidnotseethatinrelationtohistroopsheplayedthepartofthedoctor，whoseactioninhinderingthecourseofnaturewithhisnostrumshesotrulygaugedandcondemned.

friant’sdivisionvanishedliketherestintothesmokeofthebattlefield.adjutantsstillkeptgallopingupfromeveryside，andall，asthoughincollusion，saidthesamething.allaskedforreinforcements；alltoldoftherussiansstandingfirmandkeepingupahellishfire，underwhichthefrenchtroopsweremeltingaway.

napoleonsatonacamp-stool，plungedinthought.m.debeausset，thereputedloveroftravel，hadbeenfastingsinceearlymorning，andapproachingtheemperor，heventuredrespectfullytoestbreakfasttohismajesty.

“ihopethaticanalreadycongratulateyourmajestyonavictory，”hesaid.

napoleonshookhishead.supposingthenegativetorefertothevictoryonlyandnottothebreakfast，m.debeaussetpermittedhimselfwithrespectfulplayfulnesstoobservethattherewasnoreasonintheworldthatcouldbeallowedtointerferewithbreakfastwhenbreakfastwaspossible.

“gotothe…”napoleonjerkedoutgloomily，andheturnedhisbackonhim.asaintlysmileofsympathy，regret，andecstasybeamedonm.debeausset’sfaceashemovedwithhisswingingstepbacktotheothergenerals.