They'll be more tired before the day is done. A march of eighteen miles beneath the heat, And then to fight a battle ere they rest, Is what foreshades.--Well, it is more than bed-time; But little sleep for us or any one To-night in Brussels! [He draws the window-curtain and goes out with the DUCHESS. Servants enter and extinguish candles. The scene closes in darkness.] SCENE III CHARLEROI. NAPOLEON'S QUARTERS [The same midnight. NAPOLEON is lying on a bed in his clothes. In consultation with SOULT, his Chief of Staff, who is sitting near, he dictates to his Secretary orders for the morrow. They are addressed to KELLERMANN, DROUOT, LOBAU, GERARD, and other of his marshals. SOULT goes out to dispatch them. The Secretary resumes the reading of reports. Presently MARSHAL NEY is announced He is heard stumbling up the stairs, and enters.] NAPOLEON Ah, Ney; why come you back? Have you secured The all-important Crossways?--safely sconced Yourself at Quatre-Bras? NEY Not, sire, as yet. For, marching forwards, I heard gunnery boom, And, fearing that the Prussians had engaged you, I stood at pause. Just then--- NAPOLEON My charge was this: Make it impossible at any cost That Wellington and Blücher should unite. As it's from Brussels that the English come, And from Namur the Prussians, Quatre-Bras Lends it alone for their forgathering: So, why exists it not in your hands/ NEY My reason, sire, was rolling from my tongue.-- Hard on the boom of guns, dim files of foot Which read to me like massing Englishry-- The vanguard of all Wellington's array-- I half-discerned. So, in pure wariness, I left the Bachelu columns there at Frasnes, And hastened back to tell you. NAPOLEON Ney; O Ney! I fear you are not the man that once you were; Of your so daring, such a faint-heart now! I have ground to know the foot that flustered you Were but a few stray groups of Netherlanders; For my good spies in Brussels send me cue That up to now the English have not stirred, But cloy themselves with nightly revel there. NEY [bitterly] Give me another opportunity Before you speak like that! NAPOLEON You soon will have one!... But now--no more of this. I have other glooms Upon my soul--the much-disquieting news That Bourmont has deserted to our foes With his whole staff. NEY We can afford to let him. NAPOLEON