They were probably then getting under arms for their final march to take
possession of the palace. At another point, an accident occurred of a more
unfortunate kind, but so natural and so well circumstantiated, that it
serves to verify the whole narrative; a dead body was lying on the road,
at which the emperor's horse started so violently as nearly to dismount
his rider, and under the difficulty of the moment compelled him to
withdraw the hand which held up the handkerchief, and suddenly to expose
his features. Precisely at this critical moment it happened that an old
half-pay officer passed, recognised the emperor, and saluted him. Perhaps
it was with some purpose of applying a remedy to this unfortunate
rencontre, that the party dismounted at a point where several roads met,
and turned their horses adrift to graze at will amongst the furze and
brambles. Their own purpose was, to make their way to the back of the
villa; but, to accomplish that, it was necessary that they should first
cross a plantation of reeds, from the peculiar state of which they found
themselves obliged to cover successively each space upon which they trode
with parts of their dress, in order to gain any supportable footing.
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