Atlantida

"In the Salon of the aides de camp I happened on Bacciochi.

"'The Emperor has the grippe,' he said to me. 'He is keeping to his

room. He has given orders to have you admitted as soon as you arrive.

Come.' "His Majesty, dressed in a braided vest and Cossack trousers, was

meditating before a window. The pale green of the Tuileries showed

luminously under a gentle warm shower.

"'Ah! Here he is,' said Napoleon. 'Here, have a cigarette. It seems

that you had great doings, you and Gramont-Caderousse, last evening,

at the Château de Fleurs.' "I smiled with satisfaction.

"'So Your Majesty knows already....' "'I know, I know vaguely.' "'Do you know Gramont-Caderousse's last "mot"?' "'No, but you are going to tell it to me.' "'Here goes, then. We were five or six: myself, Viel-Castel, Gramont,

Persigny....' "'Persigny!' said the Emperor. 'He has no right to associate with

Gramont, after all that Paris says about his wife.' "'Just so Sire. Well, Persigny was excited, no doubt about it. He

began telling us how troubled he was because of the Duchess's

conduct.' "'This Fialin isn't over tactful,' muttered the Emperor.

"'Just so, Sire. Then, does Your Majesty know what Gramont hurled at

him?' "'What?' "'He said to him, "Monsieur le Duc, I forbid you to speak ill of my

mistress before me."

"'Gramont goes too far,' said Napoleon with a dreamy smile.

"'That is what we all thought, including Viel-Castel, who was

nevertheless delighted.' "'Apropos of this,' said Napoleon after a silence, 'I have forgotten

to ask you for news of the Countess Bielowsky.' "'She is very well, Sire, I thank Your Majesty,' "'And Clémentine? Still the same dear child?' "'Always, Sire. But....' "'It seems that M. Baroche is madly in love with her.' "'I am very much honored, Sire. But this honor becomes too

burdensome.' "I had drawn from my pocket that morning's bills and I spread them out

under the eyes of the Emperor.

"He looked at them with his distant smile.

"'Come, come. If that is all, I can fix that, since I have a favor to

ask of you.' "'I am entirely at Your Majesty's service.' "He struck a gong.

"'Send for M. Mocquard.' "'I have the grippe,' he said. 'Mocquard will explain the affair to

you.' "The Emperor's private secretary entered.

"'Here is Bielowsky, Mocquard,' said Napoleon. 'You know what I want

him to do. Explain it to him.' "And he began to tap on the window-panes against which the rain was

beating furiously.