he pursuit of
Napoleon, except in a foreign country. The Duke of Treviso still
insisted on the contrary: and the King, in spite of the alarm and
entreaties of the Count de Blacas and the other courtiers, had
resolved to follow the advice of the marshal, when some despatches
from the Count d'Artois, received in the course of the night,
determined him to pass the frontier.

The Emperor thought at first, that the design of Louis XVIII. was to
return to England. He was glad of this: and it was not without extreme
vexation, that he learned the intention of this Prince, to remain on
the Belgic frontiers, observing the course of affairs. But if this
resolution, to which perhaps the King was indebted for the recovery of
his throne, was displeasing to Napoleon, it never inspired him with
the criminal desire, as some wicked writers have pretended, of making
any attempts against the lives or liberty of the Bourbons.

The orders given to General Excelmans merely were, to drive the King
and the Princes out of France step by step. He was never commanded,
"either to secure their persons, or to kill them in case of
resistance."

The instructions given at the same time to Marshal Ney, sent on a
mission to the frontiers of the North and East, directed him also in
express words, "to cause the royal family to be respected, and
facilitate its procuring the means of quitting France freely and
quietly[85]."

[Footnote 85: It was this mission, that became the
source of the disgrace, in which the marshal lived,
till the day of his being recalled to the army. The
Emperor had ordered him, to set off immediately: he
answered, that he could not go, till he was paid
some twenty thousand francs, which were owing to
him. The Emperor, swearing, ordered them to be
paid.

The next day General Le Courbe, to whom the Emperor
had just entrusted an important command, wrote to
him, to demand several favours, and in addition a
hundred and fifty thousand francs, as arrears of
pay, in order to discharge his debts.

Two other generals, less known, were equally
desirous of being paid for their services. He was
disgusted at their claims. "Do these men think,"