It was on the 26th of March, and I beg the reader to bear this date in mind, that Napoleon suffered a loss which, in the circumstances in which he stood, was irreparable.  At the battle of Fere Champenoise the Allies captured a convoy consisting of nearly all the remaining ammunition and stores of the army, a vast quantity of arms, caissons, and equipage of all kinds.  The whole became the prey of the Allies, who published a bulletin announcing this important capture.  A copy of this order of the day fell into the hands of Marshal Macdonald, who thought that such news ought immediately to be communicated to the Emperor.  He therefore repaired himself to the headquarters of Napoleon, who was then preparing to recover Vitre-le-Francais, which was occupied by the Prussians.  The Marshal, with the view of dissuading the Emperor from what he considered a vain attempt, presented him with the bulletin.

This was on the morning of the 27th:  Napoleon would not believe the news.  “No!” said he to the Marshal, “you are deceived, this cannot be true.”  Then perusing the bulletin with more attention.  “Here,” said he, “look yourself.  This is the 27th, and the bulletin is dated the 29th.  You see the thing is impossible.  The bulletin is forged!” The Marshal, who had paid more attention to the news than to its date, was astounded.  But having afterwards shown the bulletin to Drouot, that General said, “Alas!  Marshal, the news is but too true.  The error of the date is merely a misprint, the 9 is a 6 inverted!” On what trifles sometimes depend the most important events.  An inverted cipher sufficed to flatter Bonaparte’s illusion, or at least the illusions which he wished to maintain among his most distinguished lieutenants, and to delay the moment when they should discover that the loss they deplored was too certain.  On that very day the Empress left Paris.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

1814.

The men of the Revolution and the men of the Empire—­The Council of Regency—­Departure of the Empress from Paris—­Marmont and Mortier—­ Joseph’s flight—­Meeting at Marmont’s hotel—­Capitulation of Paris—­ Marmont’s interview with the Emperor at Fontainebleau—­Colonels Fabvier and Denys—­The Royalist cavalcade—­Meeting at the hotel of the Comte de Morfontaine—­M. de Chateaubriand and his pamphlet—­ Deputation to the Emperor Alexander—­Entrance of the Allied sovereigns into Paris—­Alexander lodged in M. Talleyrand’s hotel—­ Meetings held there—­The Emperor Alexander’s declaration—­ My appointment as Postmaster-General—­Composition of the Provisional Government—­Mistake respecting the conduct of the Emperor of Austria—­Caulaincourt’s mission from Napoleon—­His interview with the Emperor Alexander—­Alexander’s address to the deputation of the Senate—­M. de Caulaincourt ordered to quit the capital.

The grandees of the Empire and the first subjects of Napoleon were divided into two classes totally