Meanwhile the Emperor was wholly intent on the means of repelling the attack which was preparing against him.  The critical circumstances in which he was placed seemed to restore the energy which time had in some measure robbed him of.  He turned his eyes towards Spain, and resolved to bring the army from that country to oppose the Allies, whose movements indicated their intention of entering France by Switzerland.  An event occurred connected with this subject calculated to have a decided influence on the affairs of the moment, namely, the renunciation by Joseph, King of Spain, of all right to the crown, to be followed by the return; as had been agreed on; of Ferdinand to his dominions.  Joseph made this sacrifice at the instigation of his brother.  The treaty was signed, but an inconceivable delay occurred in its execution, while the torrent, which was advancing upon France, rushed forward so rapidly that the treaty could not be carried into execution.  Ferdinand, it is true, re-ascended his throne, but from other causes.

The Emperor was deeply interested in the march of the Allies.  It was important to destroy the bridge of Bale, because the Rhine once crossed masses of the enemy would be thrown into France.  At this time I had close relations with a foreign diplomat whom I am forbidden by discretion to name.  He told me that the enemy was advancing towards the frontier, and that the bridge of Bale would not be destroyed, as it had been so agreed at Berne, where the Allies had gained the day.  This astonished me, because I knew, on the other hand, from a person who ought, to have been equally well informed,—­that it was hoped the bridge would be blown up.  Being much interested in knowing the truth, I sent on my own account, an agent to Bale who on his return told me that the bridge would remain.

On the 19th of December the Legislative Body was convoked.  It was on a Wednesday.  M. Laine was Vice-President under M. Regnier.  A committee was appointed to examine and report on the communications of the Emperor.  The report and conclusions of the committee were not satisfactory; it was alleged that they betrayed a revolutionary tendency, of which M. Laine was absurdly accused of having been one of the promoters; but all who knew him must have been convinced of the falsehood of the charge.  The Emperor ordered the report to be seized, and then adjourned the Legislative Body.  Those who attentively observed the events of the time will recollect the stupor which prevailed in Paris on the intelligence of this seizure and of the adjournment of the Legislative Body.  A thousand conjectures were started as to what new occurrences had taken place abroad, but nothing satisfactory was learned.

I considered this a great mistake.  Who can doubt that if the Legislative Body had taken the frank and noble step of declaring that France accepted the conditions of Frankfort they would not have been listened to by the Allies?  But the words, “You are dishonoured if you cede a single village acquired by a ’Senatus-consulte’,” always, resounded in Napoleon’s ears:  they flattered his secret thoughts, and every pacific proposal was rejected.