deeds.  Their souls throb with fierce emotion at the agony caused by the venomously malignant tyranny.  The meanest privileges of humanity are denied him, and if they plotted in order that the world might learn of the hideous oppression, who, with a vestige of holy pity in him, will deny that their motive was laudable?  Let critics say what they will, these devoted followers of a fallen and sorely stricken chief are an example of imperishable loyalty.  They had their differences, their petty jealousies, and at times bemoaned their hard fate, and this oft-times caused the Emperor to quickly rebuke them.

Gourgaud was the Peter of the family, and a great source of trouble.  He may justly be accused at times of lapsing into disloyalty.  He was guilty both on the island and after his arrival in England of committing the same fault, but in this latter instance he may have had a purpose, as he was asking favours from men who were bitterly hostile to his benefactor.  He knew they would be glad to hear anything from so important an authority as would in any degree justify their action.  Gourgaud, in fact, was more knave than fool, as his subsequent beseeching appeals on behalf of Napoleon to Marie Louise and other personages in France very clearly prove.

But take these men and women as a whole, view the circumstances and conditions of life on this rock of vile memory, inquire as minutely as you may into their conduct, and you see, towering above all, that their supreme interest is centred on him whom they voluntarily followed into exile.  He is their ideal of human greatness, their friend, and their Emperor.

They view Sir Hudson Lowe as they would a distracted phenomenon.  The introduction of new and frivolous vexations is occasionally ignored or looked upon with despairing amusement.  At other times, when their master’s rights, dignity, and matchless personality are assailed, they resent it with fierce impulse, and this gives Lowe further opportunities of reminding them of his goodness.  But during the long, weary years of incessant provocation, criminal retaliation was never thought of except on one occasion, when some new arbitrary rules were put in force.

Santini, a Corsican, and one of the domestics, brooded over his master’s wrongs.  He was generally of a cheerful temperament, but since the new regulations were enforced it had been noticed that his whole disposition had changed.  He became thoughtful and dejected, and one day made known to Cipriani his deliberate intention to shoot the Governor the first time he came to Longwood.  Cipriani used all his influence to dissuade him from committing so rash an act, and finding that Santini was immovable, he reported the matter to Napoleon, who had the devoted keeper of his portfolio brought to him, and commanded him as his Emperor to cease thinking of injuring Sir Hudson.  It took the Emperor some time to persuade Santini, and when he did give his promise it was with marked reluctance.  Santini is spoken of as being as brave as a lion, an expert with the small sword, and a deadly shot.  He was subsequently sent off the island, the Emperor granting him a pension of L50 per annum.