Again the other
powers allied against Napoleon. The forces of the enemy were placed
under Wellington. Bonaparte led his own in person, buying a new
uniform for the purpose. "We can handle them easily enough," said
he, "if I can only keep awake. My situation at present reminds me so
much of the old Bromide days that I fall asleep without knowing it by
a mere association of ideas. Still, we'll whip 'em out of their
boots."
"What boots?" demanded Fouche.
"Their Wellingtons and their Bluchers," retorted the Emperor, thereby
showing that, sleepy as he was, he had not lost his old-time ability
at repartee.
For once he was over-confident. He fought desperately and
triumphantly for three or four days, but the fates held Waterloo in
store. Routing the enemy at Ligny and Quatre Bras, he pushed on to
where Wellington stood in Belgium, where, on the 18th of June, was
fought the greatest of his battles.
"Now for the transformation scene," said Bonaparte on the eve of the
battle. "If the weather is good we'll make these foreigners wish
they had worn running-shoes instead of Wellingtons."
But the weather was not clear. It was excessively wet, and by
nightfall Bonaparte realized that all was over.
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