“Let the poor fellow sleep; he has passed many nights with none.”  Then, as there was no other chair in the apartment, the Emperor seated himself on the edge of the bed, made the marshal also seat himself there, and they held a long conversation while I continued to sleep.  At length, needing one of the maps from the table on which my arm rested, his Majesty, although he drew it out most cautiously, awoke me; and I immediately sprang to my feet, overwhelmed with confusion, and excusing myself for the liberty I had so involuntarily taken.  “Monsieur Constant,” the Emperor then said with an exceedingly kind smile, “I am distressed to have disturbed you.  Pray, excuse me.”  I trust that this, in addition to what I have already related of the same nature, may serve as an answer to those who have accused him of harshness to his servants.  I resume my recital of the events of 1814.

On the night of the 8th the Emperor seemed to have decided on making peace; and the whole night was spent in preparing dispatches, which on the morning of the 9th at nine o’clock were brought to him to sign; but he had changed his mind.  At seven o’clock he had received news from the Russian and Prussian army; and when the Duke of Bassano entered, holding in his hand the dispatches to be signed, his Majesty was asleep over the maps where he had stuck his pens.  “Ah, it is you,” said he to his minister; “we will no longer need those.  We are now laying plans to attack Blucher; he has taken the road from Montmirail.  I am about to start.  To-morrow I will fight, and again the next day.  The aspect of affairs is on the point of changing, as we shall see.  Let us not be precipitate; there is time enough to make such a peace as they propose.”  An hour after we were on the road to Sezanne.

For several days in succession after this, the heroic efforts of the Emperor and his brave soldiers were crowned with brilliant success.  Immediately on their arrival at Champ-Aubert, the army, finding itself in presence of the Russian army corps, against which they had already fought at Brienne, fell on it without even waiting to take repose, separated it from the Prussian army, and took the general-in-chief and several general officers prisoners.  His Majesty, whose conduct towards his conquered foes was always honorable and generous, made them dine at his table, and treated them with the greatest consideration.

The enemy were again beaten at the Farm des Frenaux by Marshals Ney and Mortier, and by the Duke of Ragusa at Vaux-Champs, where Blucher again narrowly escaped being made prisoner.  At Nangis the Emperor dispersed one hundred and fifty thousand men commanded by the Prince von Schwarzenberg, and ordered in pursuit of them Marshals Oudinot, Kellermann, Macdonald, and Generals Treilhard and Gerard.