midnight
Fortune for a long period had been constant to the Emperor , and victory crowned every battle . This had , it seemed , greatly chagrined `` L'Homme Bouge , '' who for years past had not been seen nor heard of . The last tradition of him was a story told by one of the sentinels on guard at the general 's quarters at Mont Tabor . It was midnight : all was still and silent in the camp . The soldiers slept as men sleep before a battle , when the old grenadier who walked his short post before General Bonaparte 's tent heard a quick tread approaching him . `` Qui vive ? '' cried he ; but there was no reply .