On my return, the Emperor asked me if I had been through the city, what I thought of it, and if I had entered any residences; in fact, what seemed to me worthy of notice.  I replied as well as I could; and as his Majesty was just then in a mood for light conversation, spoke to him of our excursion, and visit to the Greek family.  The Emperor asked me what these Greeks thought of him.  “Sire,” replied I, “the one who spoke French seemed entirely devoted to your Majesty, and expressed to me the hope which he and also his brothers entertained, that the Emperor of the French, who had successfully combated the mamelukes in Egypt, might also some day make himself the liberator of Greece.”

“Ah, Monsieur Constant,” said the Emperor to me, pinching me sharply, “you are meddling with politics.”—­“Pardon me, Sire, I only repeated what I heard, and it is not astonishing that all the oppressed count on your Majesty’s aid.  These poor Greeks seem to love their country passionately, and, above all, detest the Turks most cordially.”—­“That is good,” said his Majesty; “but I must first of all attend to my own business.  Constant!” continued his Majesty suddenly changing the subject of this conversation with which he had deigned to honor me, and smiling with an ironical air, “what do you think of the appearance of the beautiful Greek women?  How many models have you seen worthy of Canova or of David?” I was obliged to admit to his Majesty that what had influenced me most in accepting Roustan’s proposition was the hope of seeing a few of these much vaunted beauties, and that I had been cruelly disappointed in not having seen the shadow of a woman.  At this frank avowal the Emperor, who had expected it in advance, laughed heartily, and took his revenge on my ears, calling me a libertine:  “You do not know then, Monsieur le Drole, that your good friends the Greeks have adopted the customs of those Turks whom they detest so cordially, and like them seclude their wives and daughters in order that they may never appear before bad men like yourself.”

Although the Greek ladies of Venice may be carefully watched by their husbands, they are neither secluded nor guarded in a seraglio like the Turkish women; for during our stay at Venice, a great person spoke to his Majesty of a young and beautiful Greek, who was an enthusiastic admirer of the Emperor of the French.  This lady was very ambitious of being received by his Majesty in his private rooms, and although carefully watched by a jealous husband, had found means to send to the Emperor a letter in which she depicted the intensity of her love and admiration.  This letter, written with real passion and in an exalted strain, inspired in his Majesty a desire to see and know the author, but it was necessary he should use precautions, for the Emperor was not the man to abuse his power to snatch a woman from her husband; and yet all the care that he took in keeping the affair secret did not prevent her husband from suspecting