This, and some other circumstances which I shall have to add respecting Captain Bernard, completely reveal Napoleon’s character.  Rapp told me that as soon as the young officer had left the Emperor all at once changed his tone.  “That,” said he, “is a clever young man; he has taken a proper view of things.  I shall not expose him to the chance of being shot.  Perhaps I shall sometime want his services.  Tell Berthier to despatch an order for his departure for Elyria.”

This order was despatched, and Captain Bernard, who, like his comrades, was ardently looking forward to the approaching campaign, regarded as a punishment what was, on the Emperor’s part, a precaution to preserve a young man whose merit he appreciated.  At the close of the campaign, when the Emperor promoted those officers who had distinguished themselves, Bernard, who was thought to be in disgrace, was not included in Berthier’s list among the captains of engineers whom he recommended to the rank of chef de bataillon; but Napoleon himself inscribed Bernard’s name before all the rest.  However, the Emperor forgot him for some time; and it was only an accidental circumstance that brought him to his recollection.  I never had any personal acquaintance with Bernard, but I learned from Rapp, how he afterwards became his colleague as aide de camp to the Emperor; a circumstance which I shall now relate, though it refers to a later period.

Before the Emperor left Paris for the campaign of 1812 he wished to gain precise information respecting Ragusa and Elyria.  He sent for Marmont, but was not satisfied with his answers.  He then interrogated several other generals, but the result of his inquiries always was, “This is all very well; but it is not what I want.  I do not know Ragusa.”  He then sent for General Dejean, who had succeeded M. de Marescot as first inspector of the Engineers.

“Have you any one among your officers,” he asked, “who is well acquainted with Ragusa?” Dejean, after a little reflection, replied, “Sire, there is a chef de bataillon who has been a long time forgotten, but who knows Elyria perfectly.”—­“What’s his name?”—­“Bernard.”—­“Ah! stop . . .  Bernard!  I remember that name.  Where is he?”—­“At Antwerp, Sire, employed on the fortifications.”—­“Let a telegraphic despatch be immediately, transmitted,—­[by semaphore arms.]—­desiring him to mount his horse and come with all speed to Paris.”

The promptitude with which the Emperor’s orders were always executed is well known.  A few days after Captain Bernard was in the Emperor’s cabinet in Paris.  Napoleon received him very graciously.  The first thing he said was, “Talk to me about Ragusa.”  This was a favourite mode of interrogation with him in similar cases, and I have heard him say that it was a sure way of drawing out all that a man had observed in any country that he had visited.  Be that as it may, he was perfectly satisfied with M. Bernard’s information respecting Elyria; and