This may all have arisen from the ill-will, mis-



192 MARSHAL MACDONALD'S RECOLLECTIONS

understanding, and insinuation of this same
Provisional Government, which had numerous
agents at all the points occupied by the army, to
deceive the leaders as to the course of affairs, to
discourage and alienate the men, and instigate
defections. This was done to a large extent.
I proposed to the Emperor to send one of his
aides-de-camp with one of mine to Fontainebleau,
to verify this news, and to assure themselves of
Napoleon's presence there. He agreed, and the
officers started ; but while awaiting their return
he suspended all negotiations, as well as the
execution of the demarcation agreed upon at the
armistice. On reaching Marshal Ney's house we
had proof positive of the falsity of the news, for
a letter had arrived from the Emperor Napoleon,
dated that very day (and he was said to have
taken flight the day before), demanding the return
of his act of abdication, and revoking our powers.
We could not imagine what had induced him to
go back upon his previous determination, and we,
in our turn, indignant that he should think us
capable of lending ourselves to such folly (I might
use a much stronger word), refused point-blank.
This demand, however, had one advantage, inas-
much as it proved to us that Napoleon was still
at Fontainebleau ; but we vainly strove to find
the answer to the riddle of the flight, as well as
the motives that had induced him to redemand
his act of abdication.
