“I have important news for you, gentlemen,” he said. “We shall fight a battle in two or three days.”
“Did the emperor tell you so?”
“No, he is not in the habit of speaking of such things. But during the night-toilet he whistled Marlborough’s air, and he does so only when there is to be a battle.” [Footnote: “Memoires de Constant,” vol. iv., p. 109.]
CHAPTER XLVIII. BEFORE THE BATTLE.
Five hours later General Savary reentered the emperor’s cabinet; he was still lying on his arm-chair and sleeping; but when the general accosted him in a low voice, Napoleon opened his eyes and asked eagerly: “Well, did you see the czar?”
“Yes, sire, I saw him and conversed with him.” “Ah,” exclaimed Napoleon, quickly, “tell me all about it; do not omit any thing. How did he look when he read my letter?”
“Sire, when I had delivered your letter to the Emperor Alexander, he went with it into an adjoining room, from which he returned only half an hour later, with a reply in his hand.”
“Give me the letter, Savary!”