nothing to anybody.  Have patience, and you will be—­” He had, no sooner uttered these words than a footman entered to inform him that the Emperor, wished to see him immediately.  “Well,” said Duroc, “I must go.”  No sooner was the servant gone than Duroc stamped violently on the floor, and exclaimed, “That ----- ----- never leaves me a moment’s rest.  If he finds I have five minutes to myself in the course of the morning he is sure to send for me.”  He then put on his coat and returned to the Emperor, saying, “Another time you shall hear what I have to tell you.”

From that time I did not see Duroc until, the month of January 1813.  He was constantly absent from Paris, and did not return until the end of 1812.  He was much affected at the, result of the campaign, but his confidence in Napoleon’s genius kept up his spirits.  I turned the conversation from this subject and reminded him of his promise to tell me what had passed between the Emperor and himself relative tome.  “You shall hear,” said he.  “The Emperor and I had been playing at billiards, and, between ourselves, he plays very badly.  He is nothing at a game which depends on skill.  While negligently rolling his balls about he muttered these words:  ’Do you ever see Bourrienne now?’—­’Yes, Sire, he sometimes dines with me on diplomatic reception-days, and he looks so droll in his old-fashioned court-dress, of Lyons manufacture, that you would laugh if you saw him.’—­’What does he say respecting the new regulation for the court-dresses?’—­’I confess he says it is very ridiculous; that it will have no other result than to enable the Lyons manufacturers to get rid of their old-fashioned goods; that forced innovations on the customs of a nation are never successful.’—­’Oh, that is always the way with Bourrienne; he is never pleased with anything.’—­ ’Certainly, Sire, he is apt to grumble; but he says what he thinks.’—­ ’Do you know, Duroc, he served me very well at Hamburg.  He raised a good deal of money for me.  He is a man who understands business.  I will not leave him unemployed.  Time must hang heavily on his hands.  I will see what I can do for him.  He has many enemies.’—­`And who has not, Sire?’—­ ’Many complaints against him were transmitted to me from Hamburg, but the letter which he wrote to me in his justification opened my eyes, and I begin to think that Savary had good motives for defending him.  Endeavours are made to dissuade me from employing him, but I shall nevertheless do so at last.  I remember that it was he who first informed me of the near approach of the war which we are now engaged in.  I forget all that has been said against him for the last two years, and as soon as peace is concluded, and I am at leisure, I will think of him.’”

After relating to me this conversation Duroc said, “you must, of course, feel assured that I said all I think of you, and I will take an opportunity of reminding him of you.  But we must we patient.  Adieu, my dear friend; we must set off speedily, and Heaven knows when we shall be back again!” I wished him a successful campaign and a speedy return.  Alas!  I was doomed to see my excellent friend only once again.