conversed in Napoleon’s mother-tongue.  The ex-Emperor’s first serious observation, which bore on the character of the Corsicans, was accompanied by a quick searching glance:  “They carry the stiletto:  are they not a bad people?”—­Lowe saw the snare and evaded it by the reply:  “They do not carry the stiletto, having abandoned that custom in our service:  I was very well satisfied with them.”  They then conversed a short time about Egypt and other topics.  Napoleon afterwards contrasted him favourably with Cockburn:  “This new Governor is a man of very few words, but he appears to be a polite man:  however, it is only from a man’s conduct for some time that you can judge of him."[561]

Cockburn was indignant at the slight put upon him by Napoleon and Bertrand, which succeeded owing to Lowe’s want of ready perception; but he knew that the cause of the exiles’ annoyance was his recent firm refusal to convey Napoleon’s letter of complaint direct to the Prince Regent, without the knowledge of the Ministry.  Failing to bend the Admiral, they then sought to cajole the retiring Governor, Wilks, who, having borne little of the responsibility of their custody, was proportionately better liked.  First Bertrand, and then Napoleon, requested him to take this letter without the knowledge of the new Governor.  Wilks at once repelled the request, remarking to Bertrand that such attempts at evasion must lead to greater stringency in the future.  And this was the case.[562] The incident naturally increased Lowe’s suspicion of the ex-Emperor.

At first there was an uneasy truce between them.  Gourgaud, though cast down at the departure of the “adorable” Miss Wilks, found strength enough to chronicle in his “Journal” the results of a visit paid by Las Cases to Lowe at Plantation House (April 26th):  the Governor received the secretary very well and put all his library at the disposal of the party; but the diarist also notes that Napoleon took amiss the reception of any of his people by the Governor.  This had been one of the unconscious crimes of the Admiral.  With the hope of brightening the sojourn of the exiles, he had given several balls, at which Mmes.  Bertrand and Montholon shone resplendent in dresses that cast into the shade those of the officers’ wives.  Their triumph was short-lived.  When la grande Marechale ventured to desert the Emperor’s table on these and other festive occasions, her growing fondness for the English drew on her sharp rebukes from the ex-Emperor and a request not to treat Longwood as if it were an inn.[563] Many jottings in Gourgaud’s diary show that the same policy was thenceforth strictly maintained.  Napoleon kept up the essentials of Tuileries etiquette, required the attendance of his courtiers, and jealously checked any familiarity with Plantation House or Jamestown.