THE MISSION TO ROME. 69 



yoking at the last moment all along the line of 

 advance posts the order which had been given for 

 an immediate attack. 



However, as I was afraid that these orders would 

 not arrive in time to prevent deplorable consequences, 

 I made it known in Kome, whither I at once pro- 

 ceeded, that there was no occasion to feel uneasiness 

 at our movements, which were only intended to 

 enable us to make sure of the positions which foreign 

 armies marching upon Kome might seize. But for 

 this advice we should not have been allowed to 

 occupy Monte Mario without resistance. The aide- 

 de-camp sent to countermand the occupation of it 

 arrived too late. I returned during the night to 

 head- quarters. 



Early the next morning General Oudinot, having 

 heard that I was making my preparations to return to 

 Eome, sent one of his aide- de-camps to ask me to come 

 and see him before I started, and I replied, that as I 

 had a final note to hand him, it was my intention to 

 have done so. The General told me that he much 

 regretted what had occurred ; but I would not let 

 him finish his sentence, and grasped the hand which 

 he had put out. I told him that I was going into the 

 city in order to complete the negotiations upon the 

 basis of our annotated project. In order to show him 

 that I had foreseen the possibility of my not stipu- 

 lating for the immediate occupation of Kome by the 

 French army, I took the precaution of reading him 



