He was followed by a wet, cold, mud-spattered, bedraggled staff, all of them unutterably weary.
Intense resolution blazed in the Emperor's eyes.

He had had nothing to eat or drink since morning, but that ancient bodily vigor, that wonderful power of endurance, which had stood him in such good stead in days gone by, seemed to have come back to him now.

He was all fire and energy and determination.

So soon as his presence was known, couriers reported to him.

Many of them he stopped with questions.
"The convoy of arms, provisions, powder," he snapped out to an officer of Marmont's division approaching him, "which was to meet us here.
Have you seen it ?" "It has not appeared, Sire." "Has anything been heard of it ?" "Nothing yet, your Majesty." "Have you scouted for it, sent out parties to find it?
Where is the Comte de Grouchy ?" "I come from him, Sire.