That the punishment dealt to the allies and Austria might be severe and final, he only needed a few weeks for the reorganization of his once formidable cavalry.

Then he could vent his rage upon Austria.

Then he could overthrow the Hungarian horse, and crumple up the ill-trained Austrian foot.

A short truce, he believed, was useless: it would favour the allies more than the French.

And, under the specious plea that the discussion of a satisfactory peace must take up at least forty days, he ordered his envoy, Caulaincourt, to insist on a space of time which would admit of the French forces being fully equipped in Saxony, Bavaria, and Illyria.