One morning he entered the Empress’s apartments unannounced, and found there assembled several ladies holding a secret toilet council, and a celebrated milliner making an official report as to all the handsomest and most elegant novelties.  She was one of the very persons whom the Emperor had expressly forbidden to enter the palace; and he did not anticipate finding her there.  Yet he made no outburst; and Josephine, who knew him better than any one else, was the only one who understood the irony of his look as he retired, saying, “Continue ladies; I am sorry to have disturbed you.”  The milliner, much astonished that she was not put rudely out of the door, hastened to retire; but when she reached the last step of the stairs leading to the apartments of her Majesty the Empress, she encountered an agent of the police, who requested her as politely as possible to enter a cab which awaited her in the Court of the Carrousel.  In vain she protested that she much preferred walking; the agent, who had received precise instructions, seized her arm in such a manner as to prevent all reply, and she was obliged to obey, and to take in this unpleasant company the road to Bicetre.

Some one related to the Emperor that this arrest had caused much talk in Paris, and that he was loudly accused of wishing to restore the Bastile; that many persons had visited the prisoner, and expressed their sympathy, and there was a procession of carriages constantly before the prison.

His Majesty took no notice of this, and was much amused by the interest excited in this seller of topknots, as he called her.  “I will,” said his Majesty on this subject, “let the gossips talk, who think it a point of honor to ruin themselves for gewgaws; but I want this old Jewess to learn that I put her inside because she had forgotten that I told her to stay outside.”

Another celebrated milliner also excited the surprise and anger of his Majesty one day by observations which no one in France except this man would have had the audacity to make.  The Emperor, who was accustomed, as I have said, to examine at the end of every month the accounts of his household, thought the bill of the milliner in question exorbitant, and ordered me to summon him.  I sent for him; and he came in less than ten minutes, and was introduced into his Majesty’s apartment while he was at his toilet.  “Monsieur,” said the Emperor, his eyes fixed on the account, “your prices are ridiculous, more ridiculous, if possible, than the silly, foolish people who think they need your goods.  Reduce this to a reasonable amount or I will do it myself.”  The merchant, who held in his hand the duplicate of his bill, began to explain article by article the price of his goods, and concluded the somewhat long narration with a mild surprise that the sum total was no more.  The Emperor, whom I was dressing during all this harangue, could hardly restrain his impatience; and I had already foreseen that this singular