Having in an excursion reached the summit of one of the highest hills on the island, where the sea was visible all round him, he shook his head with affected solemnity, and exclaimed in a bantering tone, “Eh! il faut avouer que mon ile est bien petite.”

On this mountain one of the party saw a little church in an almost inaccessible situation, and observed that it was a most inconvenient site for a church, for surely no congregation could attend it.  “It is on that account the more convenient to the parson,” replied Bonaparte, “who may preach what stuff he pleases without fear of contradiction.”

As they descended the hill and met some peasants with their goats who asked for charity, Bonaparte told a story which the present circumstances brought to his recollection, that when he was crossing the Great St. Bernard, previously to the battle of Marengo, he had met a goatherd, and entered into conversation with him.  The goatherd, not knowing to whom he was speaking, lamented his own hard lot, and envied the riches of some persons who actually had cows and cornfields.  Bonaparte inquired if some fairy were to offer to gratify all his wishes what he would ask?  The poor peasant expressed, in his own opinion, some very extravagant desires, such as a dozen of cows and a good farmhouse.  Bonaparte afterwards recollected the incident, and astonished the goatherd by the fulfilment of all his wishes.

But all his thoughts and conversations were not as light and pleasant as these.  Sometimes he would involve himself in an account of the last campaign, of his own views and hopes, of the defection of his marshals, of the capture of Paris, and finally of his abdication; on these he would talk by the hour with great earnestness and almost fury, exhibiting in very rapid succession traits of eloquence, of military genius, of indignation; of vanity, and of selfishness.  With regard to the audience to whom he addressed these tirades he was not very particular.

The chief violence of his rage seemed to be directed against Marshal Marmont whom, as well as Augereau, he sometimes called by names too gross for repetition, and charged roundly with treachery.  Marmont, when he could no longer defend Paris by arms, saved it by an honourable capitulation; he preserved his army for the service of his country and when everything else was lost stipulated for the safety of Bonaparte.  This last stipulation, however, Bonaparte affected to treat with contempt and indignation.—­[Editor of 1836 edition.]

CHAPTER III.

1814.

Changes produced by time—­Correspondence between the Provisional Government and Hartwell—­Louis XVIII’s reception in London—­ His arrival at Calais—­Berthier’s address to the King at Compiegne—­ My presentation to his Majesty at St. Ouen-Louis—­XVIII’s entry into Paris—­Unexpected dismissal from my post—­M. de Talleyrand’s departure