to retire to bed early.  I used to read to him every evening.  When I read poetry he would fall asleep; but when he asked for the Life of Cromwell I counted on sitting up pretty late.  In the course of the day he used to read and make notes.  He often expressed regret at not receiving news from France; for correspondence was rendered impracticable by the numerous English and Turkish cruisers.  Many letters were intercepted and scandalously published.  Not even family secrets and communications of the most confidential nature were respected.

About the middle of September in this year (1798), Bonaparte ordered to be brought to the house of Elfy Bey half a dozen Asiatic women whose beauty he had heard highly extolled.  But their ungraceful obesity displeased him, and they were immediately dismissed.  A few days after he fell violently in love with Madame Foures, the wife of a lieutenant of infantry.  She was very pretty, and her charms were enhanced by the rarity of seeing a woman in Egypt who was calculated to please the eye of a European.  Bonaparte engaged for her a house adjoining the palace of Elfy Bey, which we occupied.  He frequently ordered dinner to be prepared there, and I used to go there with him at seven o’clock, and leave him at nine.

This connection soon became the general subject of gossip at head-quarters.  Through a feeling of delicacy to M. Foures, the General-in-Chief gave him a mission to the Directory.  He embarked at Alexandria, and the ship was captured by the English, who, being informed of the cause of his mission, were malicious enough to send him back to Egypt, instead of keeping him prisoner.  Bonaparte wished to have a child by Madame Foures, but this wish was not realised.

A celebrated soothsayer was recommended to Bonaparte by the inhabitants of Cairo, who confidentially vouched for the accuracy with which he could foretell future events.  He was sent for, and when he arrived, I, Venture, and a sheik were with the General.  The prophet wished first to exercise his skill upon Bonaparte, who, however, proposed that I should have my fortune told first, to which I acceded without hesitation.  To afford an idea of his prophetic skill I must mention that since my arrival in Cairo I had been in a very weak state.  The passage of the Nile and the bad food we had had for twelve days had greatly reduced me, so that I was miserably pale and thin.

After examining my hands, feeling my pulse, my forehead, and the nape of my neck, the fortune-teller shrugged his shoulders, and, in a melancholy tone, told Venture that he did not think it right to inform me of my fate.  I gave him to understand that he might say what he pleased, as it was a matter of indifference to me.  After considerable hesitation on his part and pressing on mine, he announced to me that the earth of Egypt would receive me in two months.

I thanked him, and he was dismissed.  When we were alone the General said to me, “Well, what do you think of that?” I observed that the fortune-teller did not run any great risk in foretelling my death, which was a very probable circumstance in the state in which I was; “but,” added I, “if I procure the wines which I have ordered from France, you will soon see me get round again.”