CHAP.  V.

When Murat reached Gumbinnen, he was exceedingly surprised to find Ney already there, and to find, that since it had left Kowno, the army was marching without a rear-guard.  Fortunately, the pursuit of the Russians, after they had reconquered their own territory, became slackened.  They seemed to hesitate on the Prussian frontier, not knowing whether they should enter it as allies or as enemies.  Murat took advantage of their uncertainty to halt a few days at Gumbinnen, and to direct the remains of the different corps to the towns on the borders of the Vistula.

Previous to this dislocation of the army, he assembled the commanders of it.  I know not what evil genius it was that inspired him at this council.  One would fain believe that it was the embarrassment he felt before these warriors for his precipitate flight, and spite against the Emperor, who had left him with the responsibility of it; or it might be shame at appearing again, vanquished, in the midst of the nations whom our victories had most oppressed; but as his language bore a much more mischievous character, which his subsequent actions did not belie, and as they were the first symptoms of his defection, history must not pass over them in silence.

This warrior, who had been elevated to the throne solely by the right of victory, now returned discomfited.  From the first step he took upon vanquished territory, he fancied he felt it everywhere trembling under his feet, and that his crown was tottering on his head.  A thousand times during the campaign, he had exposed himself to the greatest dangers; but he, who, as a king, had shown as little fear of death as the meanest soldier of the vanguard, could not bear the apprehension of living without a crown.  Behold him then, in the midst of the commanders, whom his brother had placed under his direction, accusing that brother’s ambition, which he had shared, in order to free himself from the responsibility which its gratification had involved.

He exclaimed, “that it was no longer possible to serve such a madman! that there was no safety in supporting his cause; that no monarch in Europe could now place any reliance on his word, or in treaties concluded with him.  He himself was in despair for having rejected the propositions of the English; had it not been for that, he would still be a great monarch, such as the Emperor of Austria, and the King of Prussia.”

Davoust abruptly cut him short.  “The King of Prussia, the Emperor of Austria,” said he to him, “are monarchs by the grace of God, of time, and the custom of nations.  But as to you, you are only a king by the grace of Napoleon, and of the blood of Frenchmen; you cannot remain so but through Napoleon, and by continuing united to France.  You are led away by the blackest ingratitude!” And he declared to him that he would immediately denounce his treachery to his Emperor; the other marshals remained silent.  They made allowance for the violence of the king’s grief, and attributed solely to his inconsiderate heat, the expressions which the hatred and suspicious character of Davoust had but too clearly comprehended.