At all events there was such an appearance of personal danger as fired the grenadiers behind him.

They rushed forwards, and extricated him almost breathless; and one of their number (Thome) was at least rewarded on the score of his having received a wound meant for the General.
It seems to be admitted that at this moment the iron nerves of Buonaparte were, for once, shaken.

With the dangers of the field he was familiar--in order to depict the perfect coolness of his demeanour during the greater part of this very day, his secretary says--"_he was as calm as at the opening of a great battle_;" but he had not been prepared for the manifestations of this civil rage.

He came out, staggering and stammering, among the soldiery, and said, "I offered them victory and fame, and they have answered me with daggers." Sieyes, an experienced observer of such scenes, was still on horseback in the court, and quickly re-assured him.

General Augereau came up but a moment afterwards, and said, "You have brought yourself into a pretty situation." "Augereau," answered Napoleon (once more himself again), "things were worse at Arcola.