I should not be a man without some weakness.”—­ “Be assured they will reward you for this.”—­“They ought, Collot they ought; for it has cost me a hard struggle.”  After this dialogue Bonaparte and M. Collot entered the breakfast-parlour, where I was then sitting.  Eugene breakfasted with us, but neither Josephine nor Hortense.  I have already related how I acted the part of mediator in this affair.  Next day nothing was wanting to complete the reconciliation between the Conqueror of Egypt and the charming woman who conquered Bonaparte.—­Bourrienne.]—­

On the 13th the First Consul slept at Torre di Galifolo.  During the evening he ordered a staff-officer to ascertain whether the Austrians had a bridge across the Bormida.  A report arrived very late that there was none.  This information set Bonaparte’s mind at rest, and he went to bed very well satisfied; but early next morning, when a firing was heard, and he learned that the Austrians had debouched on the plain, where the troops were engaged, he flew into a furious passion, called the staff-officer a coward, and said he had not advanced far enough.  He even spoke of bringing the matter to an investigation.

From motives of delicacy I refrain from mentioning the dame of the officer here alluded to.

Bonaparte mounted his horse and proceeded immediately to the scene of action.  I did not see him again until six in tine evening.  In obedience to his instructions; I repaired to San Giuliano, which is not above two leagues from the place where the engagement commenced.  In the course of the afternoon I saw a great many wounded passing through the village, and shortly afterwards a multitude of fugitives.  At San Giuliano nothing was talked of but a retreat, which, it was said, Bonaparte alone firmly opposed.  I was then advised to leave San Giuliano, where I had just received a courier for the General-in-Chief.  On the morning of the 14th General Desaix was sent towards Novi to observe the road to Genoa, which city had fallen several days before, in spite of the efforts of its illustrious defender, Massena.  I returned with this division to San Giuliano.  I was struck with the numerical weakness of the corps which was marching to aid an army already much reduced and dispersed.  The battle was looked upon as lost, and so indeed it was.  The First Consul having asked Desaix what he thought of it, that brave General bluntly replied, “The battle is completely lost; but it is only two o’clock, we have time to gain another to-day.”  I heard this from Bonaparte himself the same evening.  Who could have imagined that Desaix’s little corps, together with the few heavy cavalry commanded by General Kellerman, would, about five o’clock, have changed the fortune of the day?  It cannot be denied that it was the instantaneous inspiration of Kellerman that converted a defeat into a victory, and decided the battle of Marengo.