the husband.' Next day Napoleon found an opportunity of speaking to me. 'What did the Empress say to you, yesterday?' he asked. 'You told me,' I answered, 'that our conversation did not concern a third person. Permit me to keep it a secret.' 'The Empress told you,' exclaimed Napoleon, 'that she was happy with me, and that she had no complaints to make. I hope that you will repeat it to your Emperor, and that he will believe you rather than other people."
Indeed, it would appear that for once Napoleon was conquered, and stood in awe of another human being. This was probably what elicited from his wife the curious, astonishing, historic phrase: "I am not afraid of Napoleon, but I begin to think he is of me."
XIII.
NAPOLEON'S FOIBLES.
And, indeed, she had abundant reason for coming to this view. He indulges her every whim—indeed, he is on the look-out to anticipate them. He learns that she wants a second set of Brazilian rubies, but finds her purse unequal to the price. The Emperor, "highly pleased with the wisdom of the Empress, and with her methodical disposition, commanded that a second set should be prepared similar to the first, but of the value of between 300,000 fr. and 400,000 fr. (£ 12,000 to £ 16,000),
