On some questions Lowe was more pliable than the home Government, notably in the matter of the declarations signed by Napoleon’s followers.  But in one matter he was proof against all requests from Longwood:  this was the extension of the twelve-mile limit.  It afterwards became the custom to speak as if Lowe could have granted this.  Even the Duke of Wellington declared to Stanhope that he considered Lowe a stupid man, suspicious and jealous, who might very well have let Napoleon go freely about the island provided that the six or seven landing-places were well guarded and that Napoleon showed himself to a British officer every night and morning.  Now, it is futile to discuss whether such liberty would have enabled Napoleon to pass off as someone else and so escape.  What is certain is that our Government, believing he could so escape, imposed rules which Lowe was not free to relax.

Napoleon realized this perfectly well, but in the interview of April 30th, 1816, he pressed Lowe for an extension of the limits, saying that he hated the sight of our soldiers and longed for closer intercourse with the inhabitants.  Other causes of friction occurred, such as Lowe’s withdrawal of the privilege, rather laxly granted by Cockburn to Bertrand, of granting passes for interviews with Napoleon; or again a tactless invitation that Lowe sent to “General Bonaparte” to meet the wife of the Governor-General of India at dinner at Plantation House.  But in the midst of the diatribe which Napoleon shortly afterwards shot forth at his would-be host—­a diatribe besprinkled with taunts that Lowe was sent to be his executioner—­there came a sentence which reveals the cause of his fury:  “If you cannot extend my limits, you can do nothing for me."[564]

Why this wish for wider limits?  It did not spring from a desire for longer drives; for the plateau offered nearly all the best ground in the island for such exercise.  Neither was it due to a craving for wider social intercourse.  There can be little doubt that he looked on an extension of limits as a necessary prelude to attempts at escape and as a means of influencing the slaves at the outlying plantations.  Gourgaud names several instances of gold pieces being given to slaves, and records the glee shown by his master on once slipping away from the sentries and the British officer.  These feelings and attempts were perfectly natural on Napoleon’s part; but it was equally natural that the Governor should regard them as part of a plan of escape or rescue—­a matter that will engage our closer attention presently.

Napoleon had only two more interviews with Lowe namely, on July 17th and August 18th.  In the former of these he was more conciliatory; but in the latter, at which Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm was present, he assailed the Governor with the bitterest taunts.  Lowe cut short the painful scene by saying:  “You make me smile, sir.”  “How smile, sir?” “You force me to smile:  your misconception of my character and the rudeness of your manners excite my pity.  I wish you good day.”  The Admiral also retired.[565]