I had gone into Erfurt soon after five, and had already picked up a good deal of news, from the talk of a party of French non-commissioned officers who were taking breakfast at a small inn; and who, not imagining that I could understand them, talked very freely over affairs.

They sat over their meal some time, and I did not go out until they had left.
"Just as I did so, a mounted officer galloped past, at a speed that showed he was the bearer of an important despatch.

I followed him to Soubise's headquarters.

While there, I noticed several mounted officers rode out in great haste.

A quarter of an hour later, several general officers arrived.