"I will go to the Trois Dauphins," said the Emperor. "It is kept by one of my old soldiers."

So they went with all the crowd following. And while the Emperor was getting supper, the crowd in the Rue Montorge grew larger and larger and the shouts redoubled. For there came forty workmen of Grenoble carrying the gates of the city, and at their head old Henri Jodelle, his eyes flashing, and his wooden crutch pounding the cobblestones. And the people cried with a thousand voices, "Vive 1'Empereur!"

"Sire," said Marshal Bertrand, "the people want you."

So the Emperor came out and stood on the steps of the Trois Dauphins, and beside him stood Marshal Bertrand, and beside him Philippe Courteau. And surely a Czar of all the Russias, when he put on his crown in the Cathedral of the Assumption, never looked more imposing than did Philippe Courteau that night. And there too was old La Barre dancing for joy, and there too was Gaspard, cap in hand, and there too were Marie and Pierre holding the little Josephine, and there too was old Frederic Bonneville beside them. And the Rue Montorge was packed with people, and every window of the Trois Dauphins was full of them, and every window in the Rue Montorge was illuminated. And when the Emperor appeared, there was a great shout and then silence. And before them all old Henri Jodelle advanced to the steps of the Trois Dauphins, and while all held their breath to listen, he said:

"Emperor, we could not bring you the keys of your good town of Grenoble, but here are the gates!"

CHAPTER XXXI

In The Place Bellecour

The ruling passion, be it what it will,
The ruling passion conquers reason still.
—Pope, Moral Essays.

ON the 9th of March the Emperor set out for Lyons. That city was full of troops and Monsieur le Comte d'Artois had come from Paris to take command of them, but he did not find their temper to his taste and when, at ten at night on the 9th of March, the Marshal Macdonald reached Lyons he found Monsieur in a despondent mood.

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There is no reliance to be placed upon these soldiers, Monsieur le Marechal," said the Count d'Artois, as Macdonald entered the dining-room of the Governor's house with the Count des Cars. "I have given orders to evacuate the city in the morning."

"Abandon Lyons!" cried the Marshal Macdonald. "Where then will you stop after quitting the barrier of the Rhone?"

"The troops have declared that they will offer no resistance," said the Count d'Artois.

"Let us try something before giving up," replied the Marshal.

"Well, take command," said the Count d'Artois, “I give you full powers."

"Let us suspend our retreat, Monseigneur," said

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Macdonald. We can always come back to that if necessary, for, if Napoleon is within a march of the town, let him make as much speed as he likes he cannot arrive until between one and two o'clock in the day, as he has to lead wearied soldiers. Let us assemble our men at six in the morning, see them, speak to them; we may gain something by it. We will try to change their opinion by attacking them on the subject of their honor, always a delicate point with a Frenchman. We will explain to them the misfortunes that must result from a civil war, and the danger to France, no less great, of seeing all Europe raised in arms against her for the second time."

To this the Count d'Artois agreed, so the Marshal Macdonald ordered the Morand and la Guillotière bridges to be barricaded and summoned all the garrison to assemble next morning in the Place Bellecour. Between three and four in the morning General Brayer was announced at the Marsha1's hotel. He found Macdonald seated in his apartment at a table upon which lay his hat and numberless papers and about which pieces of torn paper were strewn on the carpet. The Marshal was writing an order. He looked weary, for he had been up all night.

"Monsieur le Marechal," said General Brayer, "I come to tell you that the troops have refused to be reviewed by the Count d'Artois, but they will be delighted to see you, their old General."

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Who can have put that idea into their heads?" cried the Marshal in surprise. "Are we on the eve of a fresh revolution? Is every bond of discipline relaxed?"

"No," replied General Brayer, "but they have been

excited by speeches and their officers are not less excited. So many follies have already been committed, so little interest has been taken in the soldiers, and so much injustice has been done to make places for the emigres upon whom rank, honors and distinctions have been showered."

"From your manner, sir," said the Marshal curtly, "I gather that you share these opinions."

"I do. I agree with them. But, Monsieur le Marechal, it is getting late. It is more than time to warn Monsieur not to appear before the troops, to prevent him from being insulted."

"True," said the Marshal. He took his hat and accompanied by General Brayer set out for the Governor's house.

"His Royal Highness is asleep," said the Count des Cars when the Marshal was ushered into the antechamber of the Count d'Artois.

"That makes no difference," replied Macdonald, "my business admits of no delay."

The Count d'Artois, therefore, was awakened, the Marshal was announced, and the Count sat up in bed. "Well, Monsieur le Marechal?" said he.

Monseigneur," said Macdonald, "the reports I have received during the night, regarding the state of mind of the men, are no better. It is possible that the presence of your Royal Highness may be a constraint upon them. Perhaps it would be better if I saw them alone, for I am accustomed to war and, as it were, one of themselves. They can express their opinions more freely to me, and I will let you know the result as soon as possible."

"As you please," answered the Count d'Artois.

At six in the morning, therefore, the Marshal Macdonald rode alone to the review. The rain was pouring, and the troops drawn up on parade filled the great Place Bellecour, in the centre of which stood an equestrian statue of the Grand Monarque, looking haughtily down upon these soldiers of France who had just refused to do honor to his descendant.

"Vive le Marechal Macdonald!" shouted the soldiers as the hero of Wagram rode into the Place Bellecour. The Marshal ordered them to form a square and rode into the middle of it that he might be better heard.

"My friends," said he, "I thank you for this reception. I flatter myself that it arises from a recollection of the care, which from a sense of duty and of attachment, I have always taken of your comfort. I recognize your loyal services and your devotion in good and bad fortune. Though we have succumbed at last it has been with honor at any rate, and it has required all the armies of Europe, and some great blunders on our side, which cannot be imputed to us, to put us down. You all know I have been the last to submit. We have fulfilled our obligations, and released by the will of the nation we have contracted others not less sacred. To these the Royal Government will find us equally loyal. The invasion that has collected us here at Lyons will let loose upon la belle France even greater misfortunes than those of last year, for then ancient France remained intact, but now the Allies will make us pay dearly for a fresh appeal to arms. I think too highly of your patriotism to believe that you will refuse to do as I do, who have never deceived you, and I am sure you will follow