SeveraltimesduringtheforenoonMr。Jos’sIsidorwentfromhislodgingsintothetown，andtothegatesofthehotelsandlodging-housesroundabouttheParc，wheretheEnglishwerecongregated，andtheremingledwithothervalets，couriers，andlackeys，gatheredsuchnewsaswasabroad，andbroughtbackbulletinsforhismaster’sinformation。AlmostallthesegentlemenwereinheartpartisansoftheEmperor，andhadtheiropinionsaboutthespeedyendofthecampaign。TheEmperor’sproclamationfromAvesneshadbeendistributedeverywhereplentifullyinBrussels。”Soldiers！”itsaid，“thisistheanniversaryofMarengoandFriedland，bywhichthedestiniesofEuropeweretwicedecided。Then，asafterAusterlitz，asafterWagram，weweretoogenerous。Webelievedintheoathsandpromisesofprinceswhomwesufferedtoremainupontheirthrones。Letusmarchoncemoretomeetthem。Weandthey，arewenotstillthesamemen？Soldiers！thesesamePrussianswhoaresoarrogantto-day，werethreetooneagainstyouatJena，andsixtooneatMontmirail。ThoseamongyouwhowereprisonersinEnglandcantelltheircomradeswhatfrightfultormentstheysufferedonboardtheEnglishhulks。Madmen！amomentofprosperityhasblindedthem，andiftheyenterintoFranceitwillbetofindagravethere！”ButthepartisansoftheFrenchprophesiedamorespeedyexterminationoftheEmperor’senemiesthanthis；anditwasagreedonallhandsthatPrussiansandBritishwouldneverreturnexceptasprisonersintherearoftheconqueringarmy。
TheseopinionsinthecourseofthedaywerebroughttooperateuponMr。Sedley。HewastoldthattheDukeofWellingtonhadgonetotryandrallyhisarmy，theadvanceofwhichhadbeenutterlycrushedthenightbefore。
“Crushed，psha！”saidJos，whoseheartwasprettystoutatbreakfast-time。”TheDukehasgonetobeattheEmperorashehasbeatenallhisgeneralsbefore。”
“Hispapersareburned，hiseffectsareremoved，andhisquartersarebeinggotreadyfortheDukeofDalmatia。”
Jos’sinformantreplied。”Ihaditfromhisownmaitred’hotel。MilorDucdeRichemont’speoplearepackingupeverything。HisGracehasfledalready，andtheDuchessisonlywaitingtoseetheplatepackedtojointheKingofFranceatOstend。”