Chapter 26

           

           OnAugust25,theeveofthebattleofBorodinó,M.deBeausset,prefectoftheFrenchEmperor’spalace,arrivedatNapoleon’squartersatValúevowithColonelFabvier,theformerfromParisandthelatterfromMadrid.

           Donninghiscourtuniform,M.deBeaussetorderedaboxhehadbroughtfortheEmperortobecarriedbeforehimandenteredthefirstcompartmentofNapoleon’stent,wherehebeganopeningtheboxwhileconversingwithNapoleon’saides-de-campwhosurroundedhim.

           Fabvier,notenteringthetent,remainedattheentrancetalkingtosomegeneralsofhisacquaintance.

           TheEmperorNapoleonhadnotyetlefthisbedroomandwasfinishinghistoilet.Slightlysnortingandgrunting,hepresentednowhisbackandnowhisplumphairychesttothebrushwithwhichhisvaletwasrubbinghimdown.Anothervalet,withhisfingeroverthemouthofabottle,wassprinklingEaudeCologneontheEmperor’spamperedbodywithanexpressionwhichseemedtosaythathealoneknewwhereandhowmuchEaudeCologneshouldbesprinkled.Napoleon’sshorthairwaswetandmattedontheforehead,buthisface,thoughpuffyandyellow,expressedphysicalsatisfaction.“Goon,harder,goon!”hemutteredtothevaletwhowasrubbinghim,slightlytwitchingandgrunting.Anaide-de-camp,whohadenteredthebedroomtoreporttotheEmperorthenumberofprisonerstakeninyesterday’saction,wasstandingbythedoorafterdeliveringhismessage,awaitingpermissiontowithdraw.Napoleon,frowning,lookedathimfromunderhisbrows.

           “Noprisoners!”saidhe,repeatingtheaide-de-camp’swords.

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