er with the parson, a
jolly fellow, who gave us an excellent meal, the aide-de-camp on duty
with the marshal came to tell me that I was wanted, and must go up to
the convent that moment. I was so comfortable where I was that I found
it annoying to have to leave a good supper and good quarters to go and
get wet again, had but I to obey.

All the passages and lower rooms of the monastery were full of soldiers,
forgetting the fatigues of the previous days in the monks' good wine. On
reaching the dwelling-rooms, I saw that I had been sent for about some
serious matter, for generals, chamberlains, orderly officers, said to me
repeatedly, 'The Emperor has sent for you.' Some added, 'It is probably
to give you your commission as major.' This I did not believe, for I did
not think I was yet of sufficient importance to the sovereign for him to
send for me at such an hour to give me my commission with his own hands.
I was shown into a vast and handsome gallery, with a balcony looking
over the Danube; there I found the Emperor at dinner with several
marshals and the abbot of the convent, who has the title of bishop. On
seeing me, the Emperor left the table, and went towards the balcony,
followed by Lannes. I heard him say in a low tone, 'The execution of
this plan is almost impossible; it would be sending a brave officer for
no purpose to almost certain death.' 'He will go, sir,' replied the
marshal; 'I am certain he will go, at any rate we can but propose it to
him.' Then, taking me by the hand, the marshal opened the window of the
balcony over the Danube. The river at this moment, trebled in volume by
the strong flood, was nearly a league wide; it was lashed by a fierce
wind, and we could hear the waves roaring. It was pitch-dark, and the
rain fell in torrents, but we could see on the other side a long line of
bivouac fires. Napoleon, Marshal Lannes, and I, being alone on the
balcony, the marshal said, 'On the other side of the river, you see an
Austrian camp. Now, the Emperor is keenly desirous to know whether
General Hiller's corps is there, or still on this bank. In order to make
sure he wants a stout-hearted man, bold enough to cross the Danube, and
bring away some soldier of the enemy's, and I have assured him that you
will go.' Then Napoleon said to me, 'Take notice that I am not giving
you an order; I am only expressing a wish. I am aware that the
enterprise is as dangerous as it can be, and you can decline it without
any