Taking the two letters together,—and leaving out of view for the moment the postscript of the second,—we see that Napoleon was expecting that Grouchy would approach him. He had learned of the “pretty strong column” which had passed by Gery and Gentinnes, directed on Wavre. He, no doubt, supposed that Grouchy had also learned of it; and he knew from Grouchy’s despatches of 10 P.M. of the 17th and 2 A.M. of the 18th, that Grouchy had recognized the necessity of manœuvring in the direction of Wavre, if the mass of the Prussian army should have taken that course. Hence he expected to see him. He thought it likely that he would come by the bridges of Moustier and Ottignies, and strike in on his right and keep off any of the enemy’s troops who might seek to molest him. Of any apprehension of a serious attack by the Prussians in force there is no trace till we come to the postscript to the second letter. Up to the time when this postscript was written, Napoleon would seem to have felt pretty sure (though perhaps with some misgivings), either that Grouchy would prevent the Prussians from attacking him, or would himself join, or connect with, the main army. But the appearance of the Prussians at St. Lambert and the absence of any information from Grouchy evidently alarmed him. FOOTNOTES: [561] Mém. du Duc de Raguse, vol. 7, pp. 124, 125. [562] Soult’s despatch to Grouchy: June 18th, 10 A.M. [563] Even if the Emperor had been asleep when Grouchy’s aide arrived, or had been at the front, where he was between one and two o’clock in the morning, to see if the English army was still in position, a competent chief-of-staff should, of his own motion, have sent back at once to Grouchy the information possessed at headquarters. [564] Especially when, according to Marshal Marmont, the subordinate was a man like Grouchy: Mém., vol. 4, p. 125. See, also, Napoléon à Waterloo, p. 226, n. [565] Marbot, vol. 3, pp. 404 _et seq._; Gérard: Dern. Obs. p. 44. [566] _Cf._ La Tour d’Auvergne, pp. 232, 233, 245. [567] Grouchy Mém., vol. 4, pp. 70, 87, 131, n. [568] Gardner, pp. 160, 161. The italics are our own. [569] Ib., pp. 161, 162. [570] Maurice, p. 550: Sept. 1890., The italics are our own. It is possible that Colonel Maurice may have had in mind the language of Soult’s order dated 10 A.M., in which Grouchy’s movement on Wavre is approved. But this did not reach Grouchy till 4 P.M., as we have just stated. See, also, Kennedy, p. 159. [571] La Tour d’Auvergne, p. 315, n. 1. The hour of starting is given in the Grouchy Memoirs (vol. 4, p. 56) as “before four o’clock.” But this is a gross and manifest error. _Cf._ Charras, vol. 2, p. 33, where the hour is given as 6 A.M. [572] La Tour d’Auvergne, p. 316, n. 1; Grouchy Mém., vol. 4. p. 55. [573] La Tour d’Auvergne, p. 316, n. 2; Grouchy Mém., vol. 4, p. 57.