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reestablished　the　throne　in　France；　he　had　placed　a　crown　on　his
head。　More　fortunate　than　Caesar；　he　had　met　with　no　Brutus　at　the
steps　of　his　throne；　but　had　ascended　it　without　being　hindered；
amidst　the　acclamations　of　France；　which　called　him　her　emperor；
amidst　the　acclamations　of　Italy；　which　called　him　her　king；　and　had
willingly　cast　aside　her　title　of　Cisalpine　Republic　in　order　to
become　the　kingdom　of　Lombardy；　and　to　adorn　Napoleon　at　Milan　with
the　iron　crown　of　the　old　Lombard　sovereigns。

Napoleon　had　just　returned　to　France　from　this　coronation　at　Milan；
and　repaired　to　the　vast　camp　at　Boulogne；　where　an　army　comprising
a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　infantry　and　ninety　thousand　cavalry；
eager　for　the　fray；　were　waiting　for　the　word　of　Napoleon　which　was
to　call　them　forth　to　new　struggles　and　new　victories。

The　immense　rows　of　the　soldiers'　tents　extended　far　across　the
plain　and　along　the　sea…shore；　and　in　the　centre　of　this　city　of
tents；　on　the　spot　where　lately　the　traces　of　a　camp　of　Julius
Caesar　had　been　discovered；　there　arose　the　emperor's　tent；　looking
out　on　the　ocean；　on　the　shore　of　which　the　ships　and　gunboats　of
France　were　moored；　while　the　immense　forest　of　the　masts　and　flags
of　the　British　fleet　was　to　be　seen　in　the　distance。

But　this　forest　of　British　masts　did　not　frighten　the　French　army；
the　soldiers；　as　well　as　the　sailors；　were　eager　for　the　fray；　and
looked　with　fiery　impatience　for　the　moment　when　the　emperor　would
at　length　raise　his　voice　and　utter　the　longed…for　words：　〃On　to
England！　Let　us　vanquish　England　as　we　have　vanquished　the　whole　of
Europe！〃

No　one　doubted　that　the　emperor　purposed　to　utter　these　words；　and
that　this　camp　of　Boulogne；　this　fleet　manned　with　soldiers　and
bristling　with　guns；　were　solely　intended　against　England；　the
hereditary　foe　of　France。

The　emperor；　however；　hesitated　to　utter　those　decisive　words。　He
distributed　among　the　soldiers　the　first　crosses　of　the　Legion　of
Honor；　he　drilled　the　troops；　he　accepted　the　festivals　and　balls
which　the　city　of　Boulogne　gave　in　his　honor；　he　stood　for　hours　on
the　sea…shore　or　on　the　tower　of　his　barrack；　and　with　his　spy…glass
looked　out　on　the　sea　and　over　to　the　English　ships；　but　his　lips
did　not　open　to　utter　the　decisive　words；　the　schemes　which　filled
his　breast　and　clouded　his　brow　were　a　secret；　the　solution　of　which
was　looked　for　with　equal　impatience　by　his　generals　and　by　his
soldiers。

It　was　a　delightful　morning；　a　cool　breeze　swept　from　the　sea
through　the　tents　of　the　camp；　and；　after　the　preceding　spell　of
debilitating　hot　weather；　exerted　a　most　refreshing　and　invigorating
effect　upon　the　languishing　soldiers。　The　sun　which　had　scorched
every　thing　for　the　last　few　days；　was　to…day　gently　veiled　by
small；　whitish　clouds；　which；　far　on　the　horizon；　seemed　to　arise；
like　swans；　from　the　sea　toward　the　sky；　and　to　hasten　with
outspread　wings　toward　the　sun。

The　emperor；　whom　the　warm　weather　of　the　last　few　days　had
prevented　from　riding　out；　ordered　his　horse　to　be　brought　to　him。
He　wished　to　make　a　trip　to　the　neighboring　villages；　but　no　one　was
to　accompany　him　except　Roustan；　his　colored　servant。

In　front　of　the　emperor's　barrack　there　stood；　however；　all　the
generals　and　staff…officers；　all　the　old　comrades　of　Napoleon；　the
men　who　had　shared　his　campaigns　and　his　glory；　who　had　joyfully
recognized　the　great　chieftain　as　their　emperor　and　master；　and　who
wished　to　do　him　homage　to…day；　as　they　were　in　the　habit　of　doing
every　morning　so　soon　as　he　left　his　barrack。　Napoleon；　however；
saluted　them　to…day　only　with　a　silent　wave　of　his　hand　and　an
affable　smile。　He　seemed　pensive　and　absorbed；　and　no　one　dared　to
disturb　him　by　a　sound；　by　a　word。　Amid　the　solemn　stillness　of　this
brilliant　gathering；　the　emperor　walked　to　his　horse；　who；　less
timid　and　respectful　than　the　men；　greeted　his　master　with　a　loud
neigh　and　a　nodding　of　the　head；　and　commenced　impatiently　stamping
on　the　ground。　＇Footnote：　Napoleon's　favorite　horse；　who　always
manifested　in　this　manner　his　delight　on　seeing　his　illustrious
master。Constant；　vol。　ii。；　p。　81。＇

The　emperor　took　the　bridle　which　Roustan　handed　to　him　and　vaulted
into　the　saddle。　He　raised　his　sparkling　eye　toward　the　sky　and　then
lowered　it　to　the　sea　with　its　rocking　ships。

〃I　will　review　the　fleet　to…day；〃　said　the　emperor；　turning　to　his
adjutant…general。　〃Let　orders　be　issued　to　the　ships　forming　the
closing　line　to　change　position；　for　I　will　hold　the　review　in　the
open　sea。　I　shall　return　in　two　hours；　let　every　thing　be　in
readiness　at　that　time。〃

He　set　spurs　to　his　horse　and　galloped　away；　followed　by　Roustan。
His　generals　dispersed　in　order　to　return　to　their　barracks。　The
adjutant…general；　however；　hastened　to　Admiral　Bruix　for　the　purpose
of　delivering　the　orders　of　the　emperor　to　him。

The　admiral　listened　to　him　silently　and　attentively；　and　then　he
raised　his　eyes　to　the　sky　and　scanned　it　long　and　searchingly。

〃It　is　impossible；〃　he　said；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃the　orders　of
the　emperor　cannot　be　carried　out　to…day；　the　review　cannot　take
place。　We　shall　have　a　storm　to…day；　which　will　prevent　the　ships
from　leaving　their　moorings。〃

〃Admiral；〃　said　the　adjutant；　respectfully；　〃I　have　delivered　the
orders　of　the　emperor　to　you；　I　have　informed　you　that　the　emperor
wishes　that　every　thing　should　be　ready　for　the　review　on　his
return；　within　two　hours。　Now　you　know　very　well　that　the　wish　of
the　emperor　is　always　equivalent　to　an　order；　and　you　will　make　your
preparations　accordingly。〃

〃In　two　hours　I　shall　have　the　honor　personally　to　state　to　his
majesty　the　reasons　why　I　was　unable　to　comply　with　his　orders；
〃said　Admiral　Bruix；　with　his　wonted　composure　and　coolness。

Precisely　two　hours　later　the　emperor　returned　from　his　ride。　The
generals　and　staff…officers；　the　whole；　brilliant　suite　of　the
emperor；　stood　again　in　front　of　his　barrack；　in　order　to　receive
the　returning　sovereign。

Napoleon　greeted　them　with　a　pleasant　smile；　the　ride　seemed　to　have
agreed　with　him；　the　cloud　had　disappeared　from　his　brow；　his
cheeks；　generally　so　pale；　were　suffused　with　a　faint　blush；　and　his
flaming　eyes　bad　a　kind　glance　for　every　one。

He　dismounted　with　graceful　ease；　and　stepped　with　kind　salutations
into　the　circle　of　the　generals。

〃Well；　Leclerc；　is　every　thing　ready　for　the　review？〃　he　asked　his
adjutant。

General　Leclerc　approached　him　respectfully。　〃Sire；〃　he　said；
〃Admiral　Bruix；　to　whom　I　delivered　the　orders　of　your　majesty；
replied　to　me　that　the　review　could　not　take　place　to…day　because
there　would　be　a　storm。〃

The　emperor　frowned；　and　an　angry　flash　from　his　eyes　met　the　face
of　the　adjutant。

〃I　must　have　misunderstood　you；　sir。〃　he　said。　〃What　did　the　admiral
reply　when　you　delivered　my　orders　to　him？〃

〃Sire；　he　said　it　was　impossible　to　carry　them　out；　for　a　storm　was
drawing　near；　and　he　could　not　think　of　ordering　the　ships　to　leave
their　moorings。〃

The　emperor　stamped　violently　his　foot。　〃Let　Admiral　Bruix　be　called
hither　at　once！〃　he　exclaimed；　in　a　thundering　voice；　and　two
orderlies　immediately　left　the　circle　and　hastened　away。

Several　minutes　elapsed；　Napoleon；　his　arms　folded；　his　threatening
eyes　steadfastly　turned　toward　the　side　on　which　the　admiral　would
make　his　appearance；　still　stood　in　front　of　his　barrack；　in　the
midst　of　his　suite。　His　eagle　eye　now　discovered　the　admiral　in　the
distance；　who　had　just　left　his　boat　and　stepped　ashore。　No　longer
able　to　suppress　his　impatience　and　anger；　Napoleon　hastened　forward
to　meet　the　admiral；　while　the　gentlemen　of　his　staff　followed　him
in　a　long　and　silent　procession。

The　emperor　and　the　admiral　now　stood　face　to　face。　Napoleon's　eyes
flashed　fire。

〃Admiral；〃　exclaimed　the　emperor；　in　an　angry　voice；　〃why　did　not
you　carry　out　my　orders？〃

The　admiral　met　Napoleon's　wrathful　glance　in　a　calm　though
respectful　manner。　〃Sire；〃　he　said；　〃a　terrible　storm　is　drawing
near。　Your　majesty　can　see　it　just　as　well　as　I。　Do　you　want　to
endanger　unnecessarily　the　lives　of　so　many　brave　men？〃

And　as　if　Nature　wanted　to　confirm　the　words　of　the　admiral；　the
distant　roll　of　thunder　was　heard；　and　the　atmosphere　commenced
growing　dark。

Napoleon；　however；　seemed　not　to　see　it；　or　the　calm　voice　of　the
admiral　and　the　rolling　thunder；　perhaps；　excited　his　pride　to　an
even　more　obstinate　resistance。

〃Admiral；〃　he　replied；　sternly；　〃I　have　issued　my　orders。　I　ask　you
once　more　why　did　not　you　carry　them　out？　The　consequences　concern
only　myself。　Obey；　therefore！〃

〃Sire；〃　he　said；　solemnly；　〃I　shall　not　obey！〃

〃Sir；　you　are　an　impudent　fellow！〃　ejaculated　Napoleon；　and；
advancing　a　step　toward　the　admiral；　he　menacingly　raised　the　hand
in　which　he　still　held　his　riding…whip。

Admiral　Bruix　drew　back　a　step　and　laid　his　hand　on　his　sword。　A
terrible　pause　ensued。　The　emperor　still　stood　there；　the　riding…
whip　in　his　uplifted　hand；　fixing　his　flaming；　angry　eyes　on　the
admiral；　who　maintained　his　threatening；　manly　attitude；　and；　with
his　hand　on　his　sword；　awaited　the　emperor's　attack。　T