However, in spite of our well-founded alarm, there were some moments in which we sought to amuse ourselves, or, to use a common expression, to kill time.  Cards afforded us a source of recreation, and even this frivolous amusement served to develop the character of Bonaparte.  In general he was not fond of cards; but if he did play, vingt-et-un was his favourite game, because it is more rapid than many others, and because, in short, it afforded him an opportunity of cheating.  For example, he would ask for a card; if it proved a bad one he would say nothing, but lay it down on the table and wait till the dealer had drawn his.  If the dealer produced a good card, then Bonaparte would throw aside his hand, without showing it, and give up his stake.  If, on the contrary, the dealer’s card made him exceed twenty-one, Bonaparte also threw his cards aside without showing them, and asked for the payment of his stake.  He was much diverted by these little tricks, especially when they were played off undetected; and I confess that even then we were courtiers enough to humour him, and wink at his cheating.  I must, however, mention that he never appropriated to himself the fruit of these little dishonesties, for at the end of the game he gave up all his winnings, and they were equally divided.  Gain, as may readily be supposed, was not his object; but he always expected that fortune would grant him an ace or a ten at the right moment with the same confidence with which he looked for fine weather on the day of battle.  If he were disappointed he wished nobody to know it.

Bonaparte also played at chess, but very seldom, because he was only a third-rate player, and he did not like to be beaten at that game, which, I know not why, is said to bear a resemblance to the grand game of war.  At this latter game Bonaparte certainly feared no adversary.  This reminds me that when we were leaving Passeriano he announced his intention of passing through Mantua.

He was told that the commandant of that town, I believe General Beauvoir, was a great chess-player, and he expressed a wish to play a game with him:  General Beauvoir asked him to point out any particular pawn with which he would be checkmated; adding, that if the pawn were taken, he, Bonaparte, should be declared the winner.  Bonaparte pointed out the last pawn on the left of his adversary.  A mark was put upon it, and it turned out that he actually was checkmated with that very pawn.  Bonaparte was not very well pleased at this.  He liked to play with me because, though rather a better player than himself, I was not always able to beat him.  As soon as a game was decided in his favour he declined playing any longer; preferring to rest on his laurels.