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f adventure？ Had he beea grave matter in a generalunconscious of peril？ Is there an age； in this class of material great men； who may be called the giants of action； when genius grows short…sighted？ Old age has no hold on the geniuses of the ideal； for the Dantes and Michael Angelos to grow old is to grow in greatness； is it to grow less for the Hannibals and the Bonapartes？
Had Napoleon lost the direct sense of victory？
Had he reached the point where he could no longer recognize the reef； could no longer divine the snare； no longer discern the crumbling brink of abysses？
Had he lost his power of scenting out catastrophes？
He who had in former days known all the roads to triumph； and who； from the summit of his chariot of lightning； pointed them out with a sovereign finger； had he now reached that state of sinister amazement when he could lead his tumultuous legions harnessed to it； to the precipice？ Was he seized at the age of forty…six with a supreme madness？ Was that titanic charioteer of destiny no longer anything more than an immense dare…devil？
We do not think so。
His plan of battle was； by the confession of all； a masterpiece。 To go straight to the centre of the Allies' line； to make a breach in the enemy； to cut them in two； to drive the British half back on Hal； and the Prussian half on Tongres； to make two shattered fragments of Wellington and Blucher； to carry Mont…Saint…Jean； to seize Brussels； to hurl the German into the Rhine； and the Englishman into the sea。 All this was contained in that battle； according to Napoleon。 Afterwards people would see。
Of course； we do not here pretend to furnish a history of the battle of Waterloo； one of the scenes of the foundation of the story which we are relating is connected with this battle； but this history is not our subject； this history； moreover； has been finished； and finished in a masterly manner； from one point of view by Napoleon； and from another point of view by a whole pleiad of historians。＇7＇
＇7＇ Walter Scott； Lamartine； Vaulabelle； Charras； Quinet； Thiers。
As for us； we leave the historians at loggerheads； we are but a distant witness； a passer…by on the plain； a seeker bending over that soil all made of human flesh； taking appearances for realities； perchance； we have no right to oppose； in the name of science； a collection of facts which contain illusions； no doubt； we possess neither military practice nor strategic ability which authorize a system； in our opinion； a chain of accidents dominated the two leaders at Waterloo； and when it bees a question of destiny； that mysterious culprit； we judge like that ingenious judge； the populace。
BOOK FIRST。…WATERLOO
CHAPTER IV
A
Those persons who wish to gain a clear idea of the battle of Waterloo have only to place； mentally； on the ground； a capital A。 The left limb of the A is the road to Nivelles； the right limb is the road to Genappe； the tie of the A is the hollow road to Ohain from Braine…l'Alleud。 The top of the A is Mont…Saint…Jean； where Wellington is； the lower left tip is Hougomont； where Reille is stationed with Jerome Bonaparte； the right tip is the Belle…Alliance； where Napoleon was。
At the centre of this chord is the precise point where the final word of the battle was pronounced。
It was there that the lion has been placed； the involuntary symbol of the supreme heroism of the Imperial Guard。
The triangle included in the top of the A； between the two limbs and the tie； is the plateau of Mont…Saint…Jean。 The dispute over this plateau constituted the whole battle。
The wings of the two armies extended to the right and left of the two roads to Genappe and Nivelles； d'Erlon facing Picton； Reille facing Hill。
Behind the tip of the A； behind the plateau of Mont…Saint…Jean； is the forest of Soignes。
As for the plain itself； let the reader picture to himself a vast undulating sweep of ground； each rise mands the next rise； and all the undulations mount towards Mont…Saint…Jean； and there end in the forest。
Two hostile troops on a field of battle are two wrestlers。
It is a question of seizing the opponent round the waist。
The one seeks to trip up the other。
They clutch at everything：
a bush is a point of support； an angle of the wall offers them a rest to the shoulder； for the lack of a hovel under whose cover they can draw up； a regiment yields its ground； an unevenness in the ground； a chance turn in the landscape； a cross…path encountered at the right moment； a grove； a ravine； can stay the heel of that colossus which is called an army； and prevent its retreat。
He who quits the field is beaten； hence the necessity devolving on the responsible leader； of examining the most insignificant clump of trees； and of studying deeply the slightest relief in the ground。
The two generals had attentively studied the plain of Mont…Saint…Jean； now called the plain of Waterloo。
In the preceding year； Wellington； with the sagacity of foresight； had examined it as the possible seat of a great battle。
Upon this spot； and for this duel； on the 18th of June； Wellington had the good post； Napoleon the bad post。 The English army was stationed above； the French army below。
It is almost superfluous here to sketch the appearance of Napoleon on horseback； glass in hand； upon the heights of Rossomme； at daybreak； on June 18； 1815。
All the world has seen him before we can show him。
That calm profile under the little three…cornered hat of the school of Brienne； that green uniform； the white revers concealing the star of the Legion of Honor； his great coat hiding his epaulets； the corner of red ribbon peeping from beneath his vest； his leather trousers； the white horse with the saddle…cloth of purple velvet bearing on the corners crowned N's and eagles； Hessian boots over silk stockings； silver spurs； the sword of Marengo；that whole figure of the last of the Caesars is present to all imaginations； saluted with acclamations by some； severely regarded by others。
That figure stood for a long time wholly in the light； this arose from a certain legendary dimness evolved by the majority of h