The storm-centre was generally Mme. Bertrand; her varying moods, that proclaimed her Irish-Creole parentage, early brought on her the hostility of the others, including Napoleon; and as the discovery of her little plot to prevent Bertrand going to St. Helena gave them a convenient weapon, the voyage was for her one long struggle against covert intrigues, thinly veiled sarcasms, sea-sickness, and despair.  At last she has to keep to her cabin, owing to some nervous disorder.  On hearing of this Napoleon remarks that it is better she should die—­such is Gourgaud’s report of his words.  Unfortunately, she recovers:  after ten days she reappears, receives the congratulations of the officers in the large cabin where Napoleon is playing chess with Montholon.  He receives her with a stolid stare and goes on with the game.  After a time the Admiral hands her to her seat at the dinner-table, on the ex-Emperor’s left.  Still no recognition from her chief!  But the claret bottle that should be in front of him is not there:  she reaches over and hands it to him.  Then come the looked-for words:  “Ah! comment se porte madame?”—­That is all.[547]

For Bertrand, even in his less amiable moods, Bonaparte ever had the friendly word that feeds the well-spring of devotion.  On the “Bellerophon,” when they hotly differed on a trivial subject, Bertrand testily replied to his dogmatic statements:  “Oh! if you reply in that manner, there is an end of all argument.”  Far from taking offence at this retort, Napoleon soothed him and speedily restored him to good temper—­a good instance of his forbearance to those whom he really admired.

Certainly the exiles were not happy among themselves.  Even the amiable Mme. Montholon was the cause of one quarrel at table.  After leaving Funchal, Cockburn states that a Roman Catholic priest there has offered to accompany the ex-Emperor.  Napoleon replies in a way that proves his utter indifference; but the ladies launch out on the subject of religion.  The discussion waxes hot, until the impetuous Gourgaud shoots out the remark that Montholon is wanting in respect for his wife.  Whereupon the Admiral ends the scene by rising from table.  Sir George Bingham, Colonel of the 53rd Regiment sailing in the squadron, passes the comment in his diary:  “It is not difficult to see that envy, hatred, and all uncharitableness are firmly rooted in Napoleon’s family, and that their residence in St. Helena will be rendered very uncomfortable by it."[548]

Intrigues there are of kaleidoscopic complexity, either against the superior Bertrands or the rising influence of Las Cases.  This official has but yesterday edged his way into the Emperor’s inner circle, and Gourgaud frankly reminds him of the fact:  “’If I have come [with the Emperor] it is because I have followed him for four years, except at Elba.  I have saved his life; and one loves those whom one has obliged....  But you, sir, he did not know you even by sight:  then, why this great devotion of yours?’—­I see around me,” he continues, “many intrigues and deceptions.  Poor Gourgaud, qu’allais-tu faire dans cette galere?"[549]