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was very willing； if there were any reproaches； to share them with him。
I picked up the remaining wing； and presented it to the Emperor； but he
refused it； saying to me； 〃Give me the chicken； I will choose for
myself。〃 This time there was no means of saving ourselves； for the
dismembered chicken must pass under his Majesty's eyes。 〃See here；〃 said
he； 〃since when did chickens begin to have only one wing and one leg？
That is fine； it seems that I must eat what others leave。 Who； then；
eats half of my supper？〃 I looked at Roustan； who in confusion replied；
〃I was very hungry； Sire； and I ate a wing and leg。〃〃What； you idiot！
so it was you； was it？〃
〃Ah； I will punish you for it。〃 And without another word the Emperor ate
the remaining leg and wing。
The next day at his toilet he summoned the grand marshal for some
purpose； and during the conversation said； 〃I leave you to guess what I
ate last night for my supper。 The scraps which M。 Roustan left。 Yes；
the wretch took a notion to eat half of my chicken。〃 Roustan entered at
that moment。 〃Come here； you idiot；〃 continued the Emperor； 〃and the
next time this happens； be sure you will pay for it。〃 Saying this； he
seized him by the ears and laughed heartily。
CHAPTER XVIII。
On the 22d of May； ten days after the triumphant entry of the Emperor
into the Austrian capital； the battle of Essling took place； a bloody
combat lasting from four in the morning till six in the evening。 This
battle was sadly memorable to all the old soldiers of the Empire； since
it cost the life of perhaps the bravest of them all；the Duke of
Montebello； the devoted friend of the Emperor； the only one who shared
with Marshal Augereau the right to speak to him frankly face to face。
The evening before the battle the marshal entered his Majesty's
residence； and found him surrounded by several persons。 The Duke of
always undertook to place himself between the Emperor and persons who
wished to speak with him。 The Duke of Montebello； seeing him play his
usual game； took him by the lappet of his coat； and； wheeling him around；
said to him： 〃Take yourself away from here！ The Emperor does not need
you to stand guard。 It is singular that on the field of battle you are
always so far from us that we cannot see you； while here we can say
nothing to the Emperor without your being in the way。〃 The duke was
furious。 He looked first at the marshal； then at the Emperor； who simply
said； 〃Gently Lannes。〃
That evening in the domestic apartments they were discussing this
apostrophe of the marshal's。 An officer of the army of Egypt said that
he was not surprised； since the Duke of Montebello had never forgiven the
Duke of for the three hundred sick persons poisoned at Jaffa。
Dr。 Lannefranque； one of those who attended the unfortunate Duke of
Montebello； said that as he was mounting his horse on starting to the
island of Lobau； the duke was possessed by gloomy presentiments。 He
paused a moment； took M。 Lannefranque's hand； and pressed it； saying to
him with a sad smile； 〃Au revoir； you will soon see us again； perhaps。
There will be work for you and for those gentlemen to…day；〃 pointing to
several surgeons and doctors standing near。 〃M。 le Duc；〃 replied
Lannefranque； 〃this day will add yet more to your glory。〃〃My glory；〃
interrupted the marshal eagerly； 〃do you wish me to speak frankly？ I do
not approve very highly of this affair； and； moreover； whatever may be
the issue； this will be my last battle。〃 The doctor wished to ask the
marshal his reasons for this conviction； but he set off at a gallop； and
was soon out of sight。
On the morning of the battle； about six or seven o'clock； the Austrians
had already advanced； when an aide…de…camp came to announce to his
Majesty that a sudden rise in the Danube had washed down a great number
of large trees which had been cut down when Vienna was taken； and that
these trees had driven against and broken the bridges which served as
communication between Essling and the island of Lobau； and in consequence
of this the reserve corps； part of the heavy cavalry； and Marshal
Davoust's entire corps； found themselves forced to remain inactive on the
other side。 This misfortune arrested the movement which the Emperor was
preparing to make； and the enemy took courage。
The Duke of Montebello received orders to hold the field of battle； and
took his position； resting on the village of Essling； instead of
continuing the pursuit of the Austrians which he had already begun； and
held this position from nine o'clock in the morning till the evening； and
at seven o'clock in the evening the battle was gained。 At six o'clock
the unfortunate marshal； while standing on an elevation to obtain a
better view of the movements； was struck by a cannon…ball； which broke
his right thigh and his left knee。
He thought at first that he had only a few moments to live； and had
himself carried on a litter to the Emperor； saying that he wished to
embrace him before he died。 The Emperor； seeing him thus weltering in
his blood； had the litter placed on the ground； and； throwing himself on
his knees； took the marshal in his arms； and said to him； weeping；
〃Lannes； do you know me？〃〃Yes； Sire； you are losing your best friend。〃
〃No ！ no！ you will live。 Can you not answer for his life； M。
Larrey？〃 The wounded soldiers hearing his Majesty speak thus； tried to
rise on their elbows； and cried； 〃Vive l'Empereur！〃
The surgeons carried the marshal to a little village called Ebersdorf； on
the bank of the river； and near the field of battle。 At the house of a
brewer they found a room over a stable where the heat was stifling； and
was rendered still more unendurable from the odor of the corpses by which
the house was surrounded。
But as no other place could be found； it was necessary to make the best
of it。 The marshal bore the amputation of his limb with heroic courage；
but the fever which came on immediately was so violent that； fearing he
would die under the operation； the surgeons postponed cutting off his
other leg。 This fever was caused partly by exhaustion； for at the time
he was wounded the marshal had eaten nothing for twenty…four hours。
Finally Messieurs Larrey；
＇Baron Dominique Jean Larrey； eminent surgeon； born at Bagneres…de
…Bigorre； 1766。 Accompanied Napoleon to Egypt。 Surgeon…in…chief of
the grand army； 1812。 Wounded and taken prisoner at Waterloo。 In
his will the Emperor styles him the best man he had ever known。
Died 1842。＇
Yvan； Paulet； and Lannefranque decided on the second amputation； and
after this had been performed the quiet condition of the wounded man made
them hopeful of saving his life。 But it was not to be。 The fever
increased； and became of a most alarming character； and in spite of the
attentions of these skillful surgeons； and of Doctor Frank； then the most
celebrated physician in Europe； the marshal breathed his last on the 31st
of May； at five o'clock in the morning； barely forty years of age。
During his week of agony （for his sufferings may be called by that name）
the Emperor came often to see him； and always left in deep distress。 I
also went to see the marshal each day for the Emperor； and admired the
patience with which he endured these sufferings； although he had no hope；
for he knew well that he was dying； and saw these sad tidings reflected
in every face。 It was touching and terrible to see around his house； his
door； in his chamber even； these old grenadiers of the guard； always
stolid and unmoved till now； weeping and sobbing like children。 What an
atrocious thing war seems at such moments。
The evening before his death the marshal said to me； 〃I see well； my dear
Constant； that I must die。 I wish that your master could have ever near
him men as devoted as I。 Tell the Emperor I would like to see him。〃 As
I was going out the Emperor entered； a deep silence ensued； and every one
retired； but the door of the room being half open we could hear a part of
the conversation； which was long and painful。 The marshal recalled his
services to the Emperor； and ended with these words； pronounced in tones
still strong and firm： 〃I do not say this to interest you in my family； I
do not need to recommend to you my wife and children。 Since I die for
you； your glory will bid you protect them； and I do not fear in
addressing you these last words； dictated by sincere affection； to change
your plans towards them。 You have just made a great mistake； and
although it deprives you of your best friend you will not correct it。
Your ambition is insatiable； and will destroy you。 You sacrifice
unsparingly and unnecessarily those men who serve you best； and when they
fall you do not regret them。 You have around you only flatterers； I see
no friend who dares to tell you the truth。 You will be betrayed and
abandoned。 Hasten to end this war； it is the general wish。 You will
never be more powerful； but you may be more beloved。 Pardon these truths
in a dying manwho； dying； loves you。〃
The marshal； as he finished； held out his hand to the Emperor； who
embraced him； weeping； and in silence。
The day of the marsha