We are looking east, towards Moscow and the army of Russia, which bars the way thither. The sun of latter summer, sinking behind our backs, floods the whole prospect, which is mostly wild, uncultivated land with patches of birch-trees. NAPOLEON'S army has just arrived on the scene, and is making its bivouac for the night, some of the later regiments not having yet come up. A dropping fire of musketry from skirmishers ahead keeps snapping through the air. The Emperor's tent stands in a ravine in the foreground amid the squares of the Old Guard. Aides and other officers are chatting outside. Enter NAPOLEON, who dismounts, speaks to some of his suite, and disappears inside his tent. An interval follows, during which the sun dips. Enter COLONEL FABVRIER, aide-de-camp of MARMONT, just arrived from Spain. An officer-in-waiting goes into NAPOLEON'S tent to announce FABVRIER, the Colonel meanwhile talking to those outside.] AN AIDE Important tidings thence, I make no doubt? FABVRIER Marmont repulsed on Salamanca field, And well-nigh slain, is the best tale I bring! [A silence. A coughing heard in NAPOLEON'S tent.] Whose rheumy throat distracts the quiet so? AIDE The Emperor's. He is thus the livelong day. [COLONEL FABVRIER is shown into the tent. An interval. Then the husky accents of NAPOLEON within, growing louder and louder.] VOICE OF NAPOLEON If Marmont--so I gather from these lines-- Had let the English and the Spanish be, They would have bent from Salamanca back, Offering no battle, to our profiting! We should have been delivered this disaster, Whose bruit will harm us more than aught besides That has befallen in Spain! VOICE OF FABVRIER I fear so, sire. VOICE OF NAPOLEON He forced a conflict, to cull laurel crowns Before King Joseph should arrive to share them! VOICE OF FABVRIER The army's ardour for your Majesty, Its courage, its devotion to your cause, Cover a myriad of the Marshal's sins. VOICE OF NAPOLEON