: "I see that I must leave that to the
Austrians. And now, gentlemen, you must excuse me. The First Consul is
on the eve of a great battle in Italy, and I have not a moment to lose
if I am to be there."

Leaving Sir John to make what explanations he thought suitable to the
seconds, Roland rushed to the road, sprang upon his horse, and returned
to Paris at a gallop.

CHAPTER LVI. CONCLUSION

In the meantime the French army continued its march, and on the 5th of
June it entered Milan.

There was little resistance. The fort of Milan was invested. Murat,
sent to Piacenza, had taken the city without a blow. Lannes had defeated
General Ott at Montebello. Thus disposed, the French army was in the
rear of the Austrians before the latter were aware of it.

During the night of the 8th of June a courier arrived from Murat,
who, as we have said, was occupying Piacenza. Murat had intercepted a
despatch from General Melas, and was now sending it to Bonaparte. This
despatch announced the capitulation of Genoa; Massena, after eating
horses, dogs, cats and rats, had been forced to surrender. Melas spoke
of the Army of the Reserves with the utmost contempt; he declared that
the story of Bonaparte's presence in Italy was a hoax; and asserted that
he knew for certain that the First Consul was in Paris.

Here was news that must instantly be imparted to Bonaparte, for it came
under the category of bad news. Consequently, Bourrienne woke him up at
three o'clock in the morning and translated the despatch. Bonaparte's
first words were as follows:

"Pooh! Bourrienne, you don't understand German."

But Bourrienne repeated the translation word for word. After this
reading the general rose, had everybody waked up, gave his orders, and
then went back to bed and to sleep.

That same day he left Milan and established his headquarters at
Stradella; there he remained until June 12th, left on the 13th, and
marched to the Scrivia through Montebello, where he saw the field
of-battle, still torn and bleeding after Lannes' victory. The traces of
death were everywhere; the church was still overflowing with the dead
and wounded.

"The devil!" said the First Consul to the victor, "you must have made it
pretty hot here."

"So hot, general, that the bones in my division were cracking and
rattling like hail on a skylight."

Desaix joined the First Consul on the 11th of June, while he was still
at Stradella. Released by the capitulation of El-