It was at Marienburg that the emperor again met Davoust.  That marshal, whether through pride, natural or acquired, was not well pleased to recognize as his leader any other individual than the master of Europe.  His character, besides, was despotic, obstinate, and tenacious; and as little inclined to yield to circumstances as to men.  In 1809, Berthier was his commander for some days, during which Davoust gained a battle, and saved the army, by disobeying him.  Hence arose a terrible hatred between them:  during the peace it augmented, but secretly; for they lived at a wide distance from each other, Berthier at Paris, Davoust at Hamburgh; but this Russian war again brought them together.

Berthier was getting enfeebled.  Ever since 1805, war had become completely odious to him.  His talent especially lay in his activity and his memory.  He could receive and transmit, at all hours of the day and night, the most multiplied intelligence and orders; but on this occasion he had conceived himself entitled to give orders himself.  These orders displeased Davoust.  Their first interview was a scene of violent altercation; it occurred at Marienburg, where the emperor had just arrived, and in his presence.

Davoust expressed himself harshly, and even went so far as to accuse Berthier of incapacity or treachery.  They both threatened each other, and when Berthier was gone, Napoleon, influenced by the naturally suspicious character of the marshal, exclaimed, “It sometimes happens that I entertain doubts of the fidelity of my oldest companions in arms; but at such times my head turns round with chagrin, and I do my utmost to banish so heart-rending a suspicion.”

While Davoust was probably enjoying the dangerous pleasure of having humbled his enemy, the emperor proceeded to Dantzic, and Berthier, stung by resentment, followed him there.  From that time, the zeal, the glory of Davoust, the exertions he had made for this new expedition, all that ought to have availed him, began to be looked upon unfavourably.  The emperor had written to him “that as the war was about to be carried into a barren territory, where the enemy would destroy every thing, it was requisite to prepare for such a state of things, by providing every thing within ourselves:”  Davoust had replied to this by an enumeration of his preparations—­“He had 70,000 men, who were completely organized; they carried with them twenty-five days’ provisions.  Each company comprised swimmers, masons, bakers, tailors, shoemakers, armourers, and workmen of every class.  They carried every thing they required with them; his army was like a colony; hand-mills followed.  He had anticipated every want; all means of supplying them were ready.”

Such great exertions ought to have pleased; they, however, displeased; they were misrepresented.  Insidious observations were overheard by the emperor.  “This marshal,” said they to him, “wishes to have it thought that he has foreseen, arranged, and executed every thing.  Is the emperor, then, to be no more than a spectator of this expedition?  Must the glory of it devolve on Davoust?”—­“In fact,” exclaimed the emperor, “one would think it was he that commanded the army.”