The Emperor listened in silence, not looking at Michaud.
"Very sad, sire," replied Michaud, lowering his eyes with a sigh.
Michaud had only waited for this to bring out the phrase he had prepared.
He suddenly frowned, as if blaming himself for his weakness, and raising his head addressed Michaud in a firm voice:
I left it all in flames," replied Michaud in a decided tone, but glancing at the Emperor he was frightened by what he had done.
"Well, then, go back to the army," he said, drawing himself up to his full height and addressing Michaud with a gracious and majestic gesture, "and tell our brave men and all my good subjects wherever you go that when I have not a soldier left I shall put myself at the head of my beloved nobility and my good peasants and so use the last resources of my empire.