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of his uncertainty； the lack of plan； and the blunders he commits； he is drawn into a conspiracy that aims at seizing power； and that conspiracy is crowned with success。
He is dragged into the assembly of the rulers。 In alarm he tries to flee； believing himself in danger； pretends to faint； says the most senseless things that should have been his ruin。 But the rulers of France； once proud and discerning； now feeling their part is over； are even more panic…stricken than he； and fail to utter the words they should have pronounced to preserve their power and crush him。
Chance； millions of chances； give him power； and all men； as though in league together； combine to confirm that power。 Chance circumstances create the characters of the rulers of France； who cringe before him； chance creates the character of Paul I。； who acknowledges his authority； chance causes the plot against him to strengthen his power instead of shaking it。 Chance throws the Duc d’Enghien into his hands and accidentally impels him to kill him； thereby convincing the crowd by the strongest of all arguments that he has the right on his side since he has the might。 Chance brings it to pass that though he strains every nerve to fit out an expedition against England； which would unmistakably have led to his ruin； he never puts this project into execution； and happens to fall upon Mack with the Austrians； who surrender without a battle。 Chance and genius give him the victory at Austerlitz； and by chance it comes to pass that all men； not only the French； but all the countries of Europe except England； which takes no part in the events that are to be accomplished； forget their old horror and aversion for his crimes； and now recognise the power he has gained by them； acknowledge the title he has bestowed upon himself； and accept his ideal of greatness and glory； which seems to every one something fine and rational。
As though practising and preparing themselves for the great movement before them； the forces of the west made several dashes—in 1805； 1806； 1807 and 1809—into the east； growing stronger and more numerous。 In 1811 a group of men formed in France is joined by an enormous group from the peoples of Central Europe。 As the numbers of the great mass increase； the power of justification of the man at the head of the movement gathers more and more force。 During the ten years of the preparatory period preceding the great movement； this man forms relations with all the crowned heads of Europe。 The sovereigns of the world； stripped bare by him； can oppose no rational ideal to the senseless Napoleonic ideal of glory and greatness。 They vie with one another in demonstrating to him their insignificance。 The King of Prussia sends his wife to sue for the good graces of the great man； the Emperor of Austria considers it a favour for this man to take the daughter of the Kaisers to his bed。 The Pope； the guardian of the faith of the peoples； uses religion to aid the great man’s elevation。 Napoleon does not so much prepare himself for the part he is to play as all around him lead him on to take upon himself the responsibility of what is being done and is to be done。 There is no act； no crime； no petty deceit which he would not commit； and which would not be at once represented on the lips of those about him as a great deed。 The most suitable fête the Germans could think of in his honour was the celebration of Jena and Auerstadt。 Not only is he great； his forefathers； his brothers； his step…children； and his brothers…in…law are great too。 Everything is done to deprive him of the last glimmering of reason； and to prepare him for his terrible part。 And when he is ready； his forces too are in readiness。
The invading army flows towards the east and reaches its final goal： Moscow。 The ancient city is taken； the Russian army suffers greater losses than were ever suffered by the opposing armies in the previous wars from Austerlitz to Wagram。 But all at once； instead of that chance and genius； which had so consistently led him hitherto by an uninterrupted series of successes to his destined goal； an immense number of chance circumstances occur of an opposite kind from the cold caught at Borodino to the spark that fired Moscow； and instead of genius there was shown a folly and baseness unexampled in history。
The invading army flees away； turns back and flees again； and all the chances now are consistently not for but against him。
Then there follows the opposing movement from east to west； with a remarkable similarity to the eastward movement from the west that had preceded it。 There were similar tentative movements westward as had in 1805； 1807 and 1809 preceded the great eastward movement。 There was the same cohesion together of all into one group of immense numbers； the same adherence of the peoples of Central Europe to the movement； the same hesitation midway； and the same increased velocity as the goal was approached。
Paris； the furthest goal； was reached。 Napoleon’s government and armies are shattered。 Napoleon himself is of no further consequence； all his actions are obviously paltry and mean； but again inexplicable chance comes in。 The allies detest Napoleon； in whom they see the cause of all their troubles。 Stripped of his power and his might； convicted of frauds and villainies； he should have been seen by them as he had been ten years before； and was a year later—a brigand outside the pale of the law。 But by some strange freak of chance no one sees it。 His part is not yet played out。 The man who ten years back； and one year later； was looked on as a miscreant outside the law； was sent by them to an island two days’ journey from France； given to him as his domain； with guards and millions of money； as though to pay him for some service he had done。
Chapter 4
THE COMMOTION among the peoples begins to subside。 The waves of the great tempest begin to abate； and eddies begin to be formed about the calmer surface where diplomatists are busy； fancying the calm is their work。
But all at once the quiet sea is convulsed again。 The diplomatists imagine that they； their disagreements； are the cause of this fresh disturbance； they look for wars between their sovereigns； the position seems insoluble。 But the storm they feel brewing does not come from the quarter where they look for it。 It rises again from the same starting point—Paris。 The last backwash of the westward movement follows—the backwash which was to solve the seemingly inextricable diplomatic difficulties； and to put an end to the military unrest of the period。
The man who has devastated France comes back to France alone； with no project； and no soldiers。 Any policeman can arrest him； but by a strange freak of chance no one does seize him； but all meet with enthusiasm the man they have been cursing but a day before； and will curse again within a month。
That man is needed for the last act winding up the drama。
The act is performed。
The last part is played。 The actor is bidden to undress； and wash off his powder and paint； he will be needed no more。
And for several years this man； in solitude on his island； plays his pitiful farce to himself； intrigues and lies； justifying his conduct when a justification is no longer needed； and shows all the world what the thing was men took for power when an unseen hand guided it。
The stage manager； when the drama was over； and the puppet stripped； showed him to us。
‘‘Look what you believed in！ Here he is！ Do you see now that it was not he but I that moved you？’’
But blinded by the force of the movement men for long could not perceive that。
Even more coherence and inevitability is to be seen in the life of Alexander I。； the personage who stood at the head of the counter…movement from east westward。
What was needed for the man who； to the exclusion of others； should stand at the head of that movement from the east westward？
There was needed a sense of justice； an interest in the affairs of Europe； but a remote one； not obscured by petty interests； a moral preeminence over his peers—the sovereigns of the time； there was needed a gentle and attractive personal character； there was needed too a personal grievance against Napoleon。 And all that is to be seen in Alexand