were, nevertheless, plenty of conspiracies against Napoleon's life. Napoleon had a "conviction of the impotence of . . . conspirators," "a conviction produced either by his confidence in his destiny, or by his contempt for danger." But when at last an attempt was made to kill him by an infernal machine which exploded a few seconds after his carriage had passed, and wounded nearly eighty people—he for a time consented to precautions and to rigorous measures. But this was not long continued—he fell back into his usual feeling of security, ceasing to trouble himself about the dangers which might menace his person:
"He even listened with impatience to the reports on this subject which were transmitted to him by the police or by the persons around him; he needed all his calm; he made no change in his habits, and continued his work without allowing himself to be turned aside from his path. When I entered the Consular Palace, I did not see any of those precautions which denote suspicion and fear."
VIII.
LIFE AT MALMAISON.
At La Malmaison Napoleon's life was even more homely:
"He used to spend the hours which were not taken up by work, exercise, or shooting, with
