) had taken a long and anxious survey of each
other.

On the 3d of December, Napoleon arrived in the morning at Malodeczno,
which was the last point where Tchitchakof was likely to have got the
start of him. Some provisions were found there, the forage was abundant,
the day beautiful, the sun shining, and the cold bearable. There also
the couriers, who had been so long in arrears arrived all at once. The
Poles were immediately directed forward to Warsaw through Olita, and the
dismounted cavalry by Merecz to the Niemen; the rest of the army was to
follow the high road, which they had again regained.

Up to that time, Napoleon seemed to have entertained no idea of quitting
his army. But about the middle of that day, he suddenly informed Daru
and Duroc of his determination to set off immediately for Paris.

Daru did not see the necessity of it. He objected, "that the
communication with France was again opened, and the most dangerous
crisis passed; that at every retrograde step he would now be meeting the
reinforcements sent him from Paris and from Germany." The Emperor's
reply was, "that he no longer felt himself sufficiently strong to leave
Prussia between him and France. What necessity was there for his
remaining at the head of a routed army? Murat and Eugene would be
sufficient to direct it, and Ney to cover its retreat.

"That his return to France was become indispensable, in order to secure
her tranquillity, and to summon her to arms; to take measures there for
keeping the Germans steady in their fidelity to him; and finally, to
return with new and sufficient forces to the assistance of his grand
army.

"But, in order to attain that object, it was necessary that he should
travel alone over four hundred leagues of the territories of his allies;
and to do so without danger, that his resolution should be there
unforeseen, his passage unknown, and the rumour of his disastrous
retreat still uncertain; that he should precede the news of it, and
anticipate the effect which it might produce on them, and all the
defections to which it might give rise. He had, therefore, no time to
lose, and the moment of his departure was now arrived."

He only hesitated in the choice of the leader whom he should leave in
command of the army; he wavered between Murat and Eugene. He liked the
prudence and devotedness of the latter; but Murat had greater celebrity,
which would give him more weight. Eugene would remain with that monarch;
h