Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/191

 PRECEDING THE INVASION. 161 and then (whatever faltering there may have been CH AP. between midnight and three in the morning) he was L. out in time for the deed ; and before the daylight came he had stabbed France through in her sleep. Amongst men who make a great capture, there Avill often spring up questions concerning the division of the spoil. When he helped to make prize of France, St Arnaud of course got much; but his wants were vast, and he had earned a clear right to extort from his chief accomplice, and to go back again, and again, and yet again, with the terrible demand for ' more ! ' He was in such a condition of health as to be unfit to command an army in the field ; for although, dur- ing intervals, he was free from pain and glowing with energy, he was from time to time utterly cast down by his recurring malady. It is pos- sible that, notwithstanding his bodily state, he may have sincerely longed to have the command of an army in a European campaign ; but whether he thus longed or not, he unquestionably said that he did ; and the French Emperor took him at his word, consenting, as was very natural, that his dangerous, insatiate friend should have a com- mand which would take him into the country of the Lower Danube. Apparently it was not believed that, in point of warlike skill, M. St Arnaud was well fitted to the command ; for the French Emperor, as will l)e seen, resorted to the plan of surrounding him with men who were vir- tually empowered to guide him with their over- ruling counsels. VOL. ii. L