paces from where I lay, and where before the dark walls of the Palace
rose in unbroken blackness, was now a chamber, brilliantly lighted up by
several wax-lights that stood on a table. At the window, which opened to
the ground and led into the garden, stood the figure of a man, but from
his position before the light I could not remark more than that he wore
epaulettes. It was the noise of the opening jalousies which awoke me;
and I could see his hand stretched out, as if to ascertain whether or
not it was raining. At the table I could perceive another person, on
whose uniform the light fell strongly, displaying many a cross and star,
which twinkled with every stir he made. He was busily engaged writing,
and never lifted his head from the paper. The walls of the room were
covered with shelves filled with books; and on the chairs about, and
even on the floor, lay maps and drawings in every disorder; a sword
and belt, as if just taken off, lay on the table among the writing
materials, and a cocked hat beside them.

While I noticed these details, my very heart was chill within me.
The dark figure at the window, which stirred not, seemed as if turned
towards me, and more than once I almost thought I could see his eyes
bent upon me. This was, however, but the mere suggestion of my own
fears for in the shade of the seat no light whatever fell, and I was
perfectly concealed. In the deep stillness I could hear the scraping
sound of the pen on the paper, and scarcely dared to breathe lest I
should cause discovery, when the figure retired from the window, and
moved towards the table. For some minutes he appeared to stoop over a
large map, which lay outstretched before him, and across which I could'
see his finger moving rapidly.

[Illustration: The Scene Shifted 425]

Suddenly he stood erect, and in a voice which even now rings within my
heart, said, "It must be so, Duroc; by any other route Bernadotte will be
too late!"

What was the reply I know not, such terror now fell over me. It was the
Emperor himself who spoke. It was he who the instant before was standing
close beside me at the window; and thus, a second time in my life, did I
become the unwilling eavesdropper of the man I most feared and respected
of all the world. Before I could summon resolution to withdraw, Napoleon
spoke again.

"Hardenberg," said he, in a tone of contemptuous passion, "Hardenberg is
but a Prussian! the event will satisfy his scruples. Besides,