He came forward with the Empress and the King of Rome, a flaxen-haired child of three winters, clad in the uniform of the National Guard.  Taking the boy by the hand into the midst of the circle, he spoke these touching words:  “Gentlemen,—­I am about to set out for the army.  I intrust to you what I hold dearest in the world—­my wife and my son.  Let there be no political divisions.”  He then carried him amidst his dignitaries and officers, while sobs and shouts bespoke the warmth of the feelings kindled by this scene.  And never, surely, since the young Maria Theresa appealed in person to the Hungarian magnates to defend her against rapacious neighbours, had any monarch spoken so straight to the hearts of his lieges.  The secret of his success is not far to seek.  He had not commanded as Emperor:  he had appealed as a father to fathers and mothers.

It is painful to have to add that many who there swore to defend him were even then beginning to plot his overthrow.  Most painful of all is it to remember that when, before dawn of the 25th, Marie Louise bade him farewell, it was her last farewell:  for she, too, deserted him in his misfortunes, refused to share his exile, and ultimately degraded herself by her connection with Count Neipperg.

Heedless of all that the future might bring, and concentrating his thoughts on the problems of the present, the great warrior journeyed rapidly eastwards to Chalons-sur-Marne, and opened the most glorious of his campaigns.  And yet it began with disaster.  At Brienne, among the scenes of his school-days, he assailed Bluecher in the hope of preventing the junction of the Army of Silesia with that of Schwarzenberg further south (January 29th).  After sharp fighting, the Prussians were driven from the castle and town.  But the success was illusory.  Bluecher withdrew towards Bar-sur-Aube, in order to gain support from Schwarzenberg, and, three days later, turned the tables on Napoleon while the latter was indulging in hopes that the allies were about to treat seriously for peace.[402] Nevertheless, though surprised by greatly superior numbers, the 40,000 French clung obstinately to the village of La Rothiere until their thin lines were everywhere driven in or outflanked, with the loss of 73 cannon and more than 3,000 prisoners.  Each side lost about 5,000 killed and wounded—­a mere trifle to the allies, but a grave disaster to the defenders.

The Emperor was much discouraged.  He had put forth his full strength, exposed his own person to the hottest fire, so as to encourage his men, and yet failed to prevent the union of the allied armies, or to hold the line of the River Aube.  Early on the morrow he left the castle of Brienne, and took the road for Troyes; while Marmont, with a corps now reduced to less than 3,000 men, bravely defended the passage of the Voire at Rosnay, and, after delaying the pursuit, took post at Arcis-sur-Aube.  The means of defence, both moral and material, seemed