midday
The printer was subsequently imprisoned and detained two months ; he died in 1816 , and always believed he had been employed by a Montagnard conspiracy . `` One of the most singular scenes ever played by Fouche 's police was caused by the blunder of an agent , who despatched a courier to a famous banker of that day with the news of a defeat at Marengo . Victory , you will remember , did not declare itself for Napoleon until seven o'clock in the evening of the battle . At midday the banker 's agent , considering the day lost and the French army about to be annihilated , hastened to despatch the courier . On receipt of that news Fouche was about to put into motion a whole army of bill-posters and cries , with a truck full of proclamations , when the second courier arrived with the news of the triumph which put all France beside itself with joy . There were heavy losses at the Bourse , of course . But the criers and posters who were gathered to announce the political death of Bonaparte and to post up the new proclamations were only kept waiting awhile till the news of the victory could be struck off !