"What's Ney's force? can you guess, Sir?" said Lord Wellington turning to me.
"About twelve thousand men, my lord."
"Are the Guard among them?"
"No, Sir; the Guard are in reserve above La Belle Alliance."
"In what part of the field is Buonaparte?"
"Nearly opposite to where we stand."
"I told you, gentlemen, Hougoumont never was the great attack. The battle must be decided here," pointing, as he spoke, to the plain beneath us, where still Ney poured on his devoted columns, where yet the French cavalry rode down upon our firm squares.
As he spoke an aid-de-camp rode up from the valley.
"The ninety-second requires support, my lord: they cannot maintain their positions half an hour longer, without it."
"Have they given way, Sir?"