’That is the Emperor’s quarters, and the smaller tent there is the headquarters of General Ney, who commands this corps.  You understand that this is only one of several armies dotted along from Dunkirk in the north to this, which is the most southerly.  The Emperor goes from one to the other, inspecting each in its turn, but this is the main body, and contains most of the picked troops, so that it is we who see most of him, especially now that the Empress and the Court have come to Pont de Briques.  He is in there at the present moment,’ he added in a hushed voice, pointing to the great white tent in the centre.

The road into the camp ran through a considerable plain, which was covered by bodies of cavalry and infantry engaged upon their drill.  We had heard so much in England about Napoleon’s troops, and their feats had appeared so extraordinary, that my imagination had prepared me for men of very striking appearance.  As a matter of fact, the ordinary infantry of the line, in their blue coats and white breeches and gaiters, were quite little fellows, and even their high brass-covered hats and red plumes could not make them very imposing.

In spite of their size, however, they were tough and wiry, and after their eighteen months in camp they were trained to the highest pitch of perfection.  The ranks were full of veterans, and all the under-officers had seen much service, while the generals in command have never been equalled in ability, so that it was no mean foe which lay with its menacing eyes fixed upon the distant cliffs of England.  If Pitt had not been able to place the first navy in the world between the two shores the history of Europe might be very different to-day.

Lieutenant Gerard, seeing the interest with which I gazed at the manoeuvring troops, was good enough to satisfy my curiosity about such of them as approached the road along which we were journeying.

’Those fellows on the black horses with the great blue rugs upon their croups are the Cuirassiers,’ said he.  ’They are so heavy that they cannot raise more than a trot, so when they charge we manage that there shall be a brigade of chasseurs or hussars behind them to follow up the advantage.’

‘Who is the civilian who is inspecting them?’ I asked.

’That is not a civilian, but it is General St. Cyr, who is one of those whom they called the Spartans of the Rhine.  They were of opinion that simplicity of life and of dress were part of a good soldier, and so they would wear no uniform beyond a simple blue riding coat, such as you see.  St. Cyr is an excellent officer, but he is not popular, for he seldom speaks to anyone, and he sometimes shuts himself up for days on end in his tent, where he plays upon his violin.  I think myself that a soldier is none the worse because he enjoys a glass of good wine, or has a smart jacket and a few Brandenburgs across his chest.  For my part I do both, and yet those who know me would tell you that it has not harmed my soldiering.  You see this infantry upon the left?’