ies in his ear as they drank his wine; and the only hearty cheers
were those of the day-labourers, who had profited by his resumption of
some great public works suspended by the King's government.

The _Champ-de-Mai_ itself, which, despite its name, fell on the 1st of
June, turned out hardly a more successful exhibition. Napoleon, his
brothers, and the great civil functionaries, appeared in theatric
dresses, in the midst of an enormous amphitheatre, where the deputies,
sent from the departments to swear allegiance to the Emperor and the
"additional act," were almost lost in the military among whom the eagles
were to be distributed. The enthusiasm was confined to these. The same
ominous silence which prevailed at the coronation of 1804 was preserved
among the people. The sun shone bright, and the roar of cannon filled
every pause of the martial music. It was a brilliant spectacle; but
Napoleon retired from it in visible dejection.

Three days after, the two houses met; and while that of the peers,
composed of persons who all owed their rank, and most of them much
besides, to Napoleon, showed every disposition to regulate their conduct
by his pleasure, there appeared from the beginning a marked spirit of
independence in a considerable proportion of the representative body.
The Emperor's address to both was moderate and manly. He requested their
support in the war which circumstances had rendered unavoidable, and
professed his desire that they should consider the "additional act" and
all other subjects of national interest, and suggest whatever
alterations might appear to them improvements. Some debates, by no means
gratifying to Napoleon, ensued; but he had no leisure for witnessing
much of their proceedings. It was now needful that he should appear once
more in his own element.

[Footnote 71: By this contemptuous name his soldiery designated all who
had never borne arms. The word dropt once from the lips of one of
Napoleon's marshals in the hearing of Talleyrand, who asked its meaning.
"Nous nommons _pequin_," answered the rude soldier, "tout ce qui n'est
pas militaire."--"Ah!" said the cool Talleyrand--"comme nous nommons
_militaire_ tout ce qui n'est pas civil."]

CHAPTER XL

Napoleon heads his army on the Belgian frontier--Passes the Sambre
at Charleroi--Defeats Blucher at Ligny--Battle of Quatre-Bras--The
English fall back on a position previously selected by
Wellington--THE BATTLE OF W