The bridges were there ready to be thrown across, when it was discovered that the Marne had overflown its bed, and could not be crossed.

Whether it be true or not that the Prussians had cut a dam, or whether, as sometimes occurs with literary generals, the pontoons were too few in number, is not yet clear.

Whatever the cause, the effect was to render it impossible to carry out to-day the plan which was to take General Ducrot and his troops down to Orleans, and at the present moment he and they are still at Vincennes, waiting for the river to go down.

At twelve o'clock I managed to get through the gate of Vanves.

Outside the walls everything was quiet.