about midday
Fort Palatinat had discontinued its fire , doubtless because the ammunition was all expended ; the guns mounted on the Porte de Paris alone continued to make themselves heard at infrequent intervals . But something that he beheld presently had greater interest for his eyes than all beside ; they had run up the white flag on the citadel again , but it must be that it was invisible from the battlefield , for there was no perceptible slackening of the fire . The Balan road was concealed from his vision by the neighboring roofs ; he was unable to make out what the troops were doing in that direction . Applying his eye to the telescope , however , which remained as he had left it , directed on la Marfee , he again beheld the cluster of officers that he had seen in that same place about midday . The master of them all , that miniature toy-soldier in lead , half finger high , in whom he had thought to recognize the King of Prussia , was there still , erect in his plain , dark uniform before the other officers , who , in their showy trappings , were for the most part reclining carelessly on the grass . Among them were officers from foreign lands , aides-de-camp , generals , high officials , princes ; all of them with field glasses in their hands , with which , since early morning , they had been watching every phase of the death-struggle of the army of Chalons , as if they were at the play . And the direful drama was drawing to its end .