Vicenza, the Duke of Treviso, Marshal Duroc, and general of engineers
Kirgener followed his Majesty closely; but the wind raised such a cloud
of dust and smoke that they could hardly see each other. Suddenly a
tree near which the Emperor passed was struck by a shell and cut in
half. His Majesty, on reaching the plateau, turned to ask for his
field-glass, and saw no one near him except the Duke of Vicenza. Duke
Charles de Plaisance came up, his face showing a mortal pallor, leaned
towards the grand equerry, and said a few words in his ear. "What is
it?" vehemently inquired the Emperor; "what has happened?"--"Sire,"
said the Duke of Plaisance, weeping, "the grand marshal is dead!"--
"Duroc? But you must be mistaken. He was here a moment ago by my
side." Several aides-de-camp arrived, and a page with his Majesty's
field-glass. The fatal news was confirmed, in part at least. The Grand
Duke of Frioul was not yet dead; but the shell had wounded him in the
stomach, and all surgical aid would be useless. The shell after
breaking the tree had glanced, first striking General Kirgener, who was
instantly killed, and then the Duke of Frioul. Monsieurs Yvan and Larrey
were with the wounded marshal, who had been carried into a house at
Markersdorf. There was no hope of saving him.

The consternation of the army and his Majesty's grief on this deplorable
event were indescribable. He mechanically gave a few orders and returned
to camp, and when he had reached the encampment of the guard, seated
himself on a bench in front of his tent, with lowered head and clasped
hands, and remained thus for nearly an hour without uttering a word.
Since it was nevertheless essential that orders should be given for the
next day, General Drouot approached,

[Count Antoine Drouot, chief of artillery of the guard, born at
Nancy, 1774; fought as captain at Hohenlinden,1800; distinguished
himself at Wagram (1809) and Borodino (1812); made general of
division at Bautzen, 1813; went to Elba as commander of the guard,
and was by the Emperor's side at Waterloo; died in 1847. He was a
Protestant, and was often seen during heavy firing reading his
Testament calmly.]

and in a voice interrupted by sobs asked what should be done.
"To-morrow, everything," replied the Emperor, and said not a word more.
"Poor man!" exclaimed the old watchdogs of the guard; "he has lost one of
his children." Night closed in. The enemy was in full retreat; and the