If anything unusual happens I shall return like a thunderclap.

I commend to your keeping all the great interests of France; and I hope you will soon hear of me by way of Vienna and London." On the 6th he started.

From that moment his strong determination was to make his way to the plains of Piedmont, and there to fight a decisive battle.

Then, as he never doubted that he would conquer, he would answer, like Scipio, to those who accused him of violating the constitution: "On such a day, at such an hour, I fought the Carthagenians; let us go to the capitol, and render thanks to the gods." Leaving France on the 6th of May, the First Consul was encamped with his whole army between Casale and Turin on the 26th of the same month.

It had rained the whole day; but, as often happens in Italy, toward evening the sky had cleared, changing in a few moments from murky darkness to loveliest azure, and the stars came sparkling out.
The First Consul signed to Roland to follow him, and together they issued from the little town of Chivasso and walked along the banks of the river.