Clarke alone began to display energy; with Joseph's assistance, what preparations were possible at so late an hour were made: six companies were formed from the recruits at hand, the national guard was put under arms, the students of the polytechnic school were called out for service, communication with Marmont was secured, and by late afternoon Montmartre, Belleville, and St. Denis were feebly fortified. The allies had been well aware that what was to be done must be done before the dreaded Emperor should arrive, and on that same morning their vanguard had summoned the town; but during the parley their generals began to feel the need of greater strength, and further asked an armistice of four hours. This was granted on the usual condition that within its duration no troops should be moved; but the implied promise was perfidiously broken, and at nightfall both Alexander and Frederick William, accompanied by their forces, were in sight of the far-famed city. Dangers, hardships, bygone insults and humiliations, all were forgotten in a general tumult of joy, wrote Danilevsky, a Russian officer. Alexander alone was pensive, well knowing that, should the city hold out two days, reinforcements from the west might make its capture impossible until Napoleon should arrive. Accordingly he took virtual command, and issued stringent orders preparatory for the assault early next morning. CHAPTER X THE FALL OF PARIS[12] [Footnote 12: References: Mueffling (genannt Weiss), Geschichte des Feldzugs der englisch-hannoversch-niederlandischen und braunschweigischen Armee unter dem Fuersten Bluecher im Jahre 1815. Houssaye, 1814. Memoires of Bourrienne. Haussonville, Souvenirs. Gervinus, Geschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts seit den Wien Vertraegen.] The Battle before Paris -- The Armistice -- The Position of Marmont -- Legitimacy and the Bourbons -- The Provisional Government -- Napoleon's Fury -- Suggestions of Abdication -- Napoleon's New Policy Foreshadowed -- His Troops and Officers -- The Treason of Marmont -- The Marshals at Fontainebleau -- Napoleon's Despair.