NAPOLEON.  By no means feeble, madam.  I understand you now; and I may tell you that the strongest characters blench in my presence, and submit to my domination.  But I do not call that a physical force.

THE ORACLE.  What else do you call it, pray?  Our physicists deal with it.  Our mathematicians express its measurements in algebraic equations.

NAPOLEON.  Do you mean that they could measure mine?

THE ORACLE.  Yes:  by a figure infinitely near to zero.  Even in us the force is negligible during our first century of life.  In our second it develops quickly, and becomes dangerous to shortlivers who venture into its field.  If I were not veiled and robed in insulating material you could not endure my presence; and I am still a young woman:  one hundred and seventy if you wish to know exactly.

NAPOLEON [folding his arms] I am not intimidated:  no woman alive, old or young, can put me out of countenance.  Unveil, madam.  Disrobe.  You will move this temple as easily as shake me.

THE ORACLE.  Very well [she throws back her veil].

NAPOLEON [shrieking, staggering, and covering his eyes] No.  Stop.  Hide your face again. [Shutting his eyes and distractedly clutching at his throat and heart] Let me go.  Help!  I am dying.

THE ORACLE.  Do you still wish to consult an older person?

NAPOLEON.  No, no.  The veil, the veil, I beg you.

THE ORACLE [replacing the veil] So.

NAPOLEON.  Ouf!  One cannot always be at one’s best.  Twice before in my life I have lost my nerve and behaved like a poltroon.  But I warn you not to judge my quality by these involuntary moments.

THE ORACLE.  I have no occasion to judge of your quality.  You want my advice.  Speak quickly; or I shall go about my business.

NAPOLEON [After a moment’s hesitation, sinks respectfully on one knee] I—­

THE ORACLE.  Oh, rise, rise.  Are you so foolish as to offer me this mummery which even you despise?

NAPOLEON [rising] I knelt in spite of myself.  I compliment you on your impressiveness, madam.

THE ORACLE [impatiently] Time! time! time! time!

NAPOLEON.  You will not grudge me the necessary time, madam, when you know my case.  I am a man gifted with a certain specific talent in a degree altogether extraordinary.  I am not otherwise a very extraordinary person:  my family is not influential; and without this talent I should cut no particular figure in the world.

THE ORACLE.  Why cut a figure in the world?

NAPOLEON.  Superiority will make itself felt, madam.  But when I say I possess this talent I do not express myself accurately.  The truth is that my talent possesses me.  It is genius.  It drives me to exercise it.  I must exercise it.  I am great when I exercise it.  At other moments I am nobody.

THE ORACLE.  Well, exercise it.  Do you need an oracle to tell you that?