all new publications of repute. Works of taste and imagination eonstituted, of course, a large portion of these publie readings; novels, however, unless in particular instanees, were excluded. Napoleon, indeed, disliked to see novels any where about his palaces; and traversing the antechambers, if he found any of his attendants reading, he seldom failed to examine the book, and if a novel, condemned it to the flames without merey. The individual, too, was sure of a lecture, which usually began with the question, -'So, you could find no better reading than that?' While the empress and her ladies were engaged as deseribed, the emperor was in the habit of looking in upon the fair party at intervals throughout the morning. On these occasions, he is described as being extremely amiable, amusing, and in high spirits; for he rarely visited the saloon in the morning unless when in good humour; or, in his own phrase, 'when things went well.' Josephine, too, though more rarely, would venture into his eabinet, but when he required her presence for any conference of importance, Napoleon knocked at the little door of private communication. The empress joyfully obeyed the signal and these interviews, generally taking place in the evening, 'were often continued so long, that on returning she found all her ladies asleep."
A favourite amusement of Josephine and Napoleon was a game called "prisoners" the same as what our sehool boys call "French and English," or "Deals." There is something very striking in the aceount of the last opportunity they had of indulging in this relaxation: The interval between the 15th of August and the 27th of September, when the interview at Erfurth took place, was passed ehiefly at St. Cloud, and might nearly be called the last of Josephine's happiness in Napoleon's society. Only a few days before his departure, Josephine and Napoleon, with their usual familiars, played a final game at the favourite amusement of 'prisoners'. It was dark night before the party finished, and footmen with torehes were in attendance, to give light to the players. This effect eould not have been without interest the blaze of the torches now throwing bold, broad, and rich illumination upon
