human
Good! exclaimed Bonaparte;
gpt
Oh! replied Barras,
human
By the way, said Bonaparte,
gpt
Yes, replied Barras,
human
It is not there, it is not there, murmured Bonaparte.
gpt
What do blows aimed at the limbs amount to? Nothing! They should aim at the heart. Milan, Mantua, Verona, those are the places to strike. Ah! if ever--'
human
What?
gpt
Nothing, replied Bonaparte. Then, turning brusquely to Barras, he asked:
human
Are you sure to be appointed one of the five directors?
gpt
Yesterday, replied Barras, lowering his voice,
human
Who is the ambitious one?
gpt
Sièyes.
human
Is there any talk of the man who will replace him?
gpt
In all probability it will be Carnot.
human
You will lose nothing by that. But why not introduce some name like Pichegru, Kléber, Hoche or Moreau, among all those names of civilians?
gpt
They were afraid of giving the military too much power.
human
Nonsense! he said.
gpt
When Cæsar took Rome he was neither tribune nor consul; he had just returned from Gaul, where he had won eighty battles and subdued three hundred tribes. That is the way dictators have. But none of the men we have just mentioned is built on the plan of a Cæsar. If the five men you have named are chosen you will go on well enough. You have popularity, talent for the initiative, and activity; you will naturally be the leading man of the Directory. Rewbell and Letourneur are men who will do the work, while you represent the people. La Reveillière-Lepaux is wise and honest and will furnish the morality for you all. As for Carnot, I do not quite know what part of the work you will assign to him.
human
He will continue to make plans and to lay off victories on paper,
gpt
Let him make as many plans as he pleases. But if ever I have any command of importance, do not take the trouble to send them to me.
human
Why not?
gpt
Because battles are not won with a map, a pair of compasses, and red, blue or green-headed pins. It needs instinct, an unerring glance, genius. I should like to know if Hannibal had plans of the battles of Trebbia, of Lake Trassymene, and of Cannes sent him from Carthage. I snap my fingers at your plans! Do you know what you ought to do? You ought to give me the details which you have received concerning the battle of Loano; and, since this map is unrolled at that very place, I would be interested in following the movements of our troops and the Austrians.
human
Patience, said he;
gpt
Good! said he.
human
Loano is the key to Genoa, and Genoa is the magazine of Italy. Then, continuing to read the despatch, he said:
gpt
Masséna, Kellermann, Joubert, what men! and what could not a man do with them! He who could bring them together and make the most of their diverse qualities would be the veritable Olympian Jove with the thunderbolt in his hand!