When the coach was overtaken by the Prussians--that is to say, about a quarter-past eleven at night, outside the town of Jenappe--the postilion and the leaders were killed outright, whilst the coachman, severely wounded, was left for dead upon the road. Recovering from his many wounds--one of which entailed the loss of his right arm--he was induced by Major von Keller himself to come over to this country with the coach and horses. These were exhibited, as a very special attraction for the Christmas holidays of 1815, at the London Museum (then but recently opened by Mr. Bullock) in Piccadilly, a house of entertainment that was soon to be known to future generations as the Egyptian Hall. And now for a century has this old war-coach been held up for the inspection of the passer-by, and, in its turn, has been the dumb witness of many a fleeting and touching episode. For as it stood have not time and men passed on? Has it not beheld many a young gallant, with the honours of the campaign fresh upon him, recounting to wife and child the story of that last great battle that closed the Empire of the first Napoleon; many a veteran son of Mars telling his grown sons how that great day was won; many a kindly warrior gently helping his children’s children to mount the steps and learn how on that day old “Boney” was made to fly, and nearly got caught in the act? But those to whom the old coach must have brought back so many vivid memories of that famous victory, and who had the greatest right to enter it, have themselves moved on; and now its doors have been fastened up and the old chariot encased for secure keeping, not indeed against the ravages of time, but, with regret it must be said, safe away from the hands of those who would not scruple to despoil it. CHAPTER XVI The St. Helena carriage--Napoleon alarms the ladies--Certificates of authenticity. [Illustration: NAPOLEON’S BAROUCHE The carriage used by Bonaparte during his exile at St. Helena.] This is the last carriage in which Napoleon is known to have ridden. On his first arrival at St. Helena he took much exercise in the saddle, but during and after the year 1818, until he ceased venturing beyond the precincts of Longwood, he made constant use of this vehicle. The following extract from Mr. Norwood Young’s very valuable contribution to our Napoleonic literature, _Napoleon in Exile at St. Helena_, gives us an insight to the manner in which it was used: