alk around it, and wherever the sunlight does not
reach, to hold a torch, or even a candle.

Now, let us return to Bonaparte.

He was working, as we said, with Bourrienne. Let us inquire into the
usual division of the First Consul's time.

He rose at seven or eight in the morning, and immediately called one of
his secretaries, preferably Bourrienne, and worked with him until ten.
At ten, breakfast was announced; Josephine, Hortense and Eugene
either waited or sat down to table with the family, that is with the
aides-de-camp on duty and Bourrienne. After breakfast he talked with
the usual party, or the invited guests, if there were any; one hour was
devoted to this intercourse, which was generally shared by the
First Consul's two brothers, Lucien and Joseph, Regnault de
Saint-Jean-d'Angely, Boulay (de la Meurthe), Monge, Berthollet,
Laplace and Arnault. Toward noon Cambaceres arrived. As a general thing
Bonaparte devoted half an hour to his chancellor; then suddenly, without
warning, he would rise and say: "Au revoir, Josephine! au revoir,
Hortense! Come, Bourrienne, let us go to work."

This speech, which recurred almost regularly in the same words, was no
sooner uttered than Bonaparte left the salon and returned to his study.
There, no system of work was adopted; it might be some urgent matter or
merely a caprice. Either Bonaparte dictated or Bourrienne read, after
which the First Consul went to the council.

In the earlier months of the Consulate, he was obliged to cross the
courtyard of the little Luxembourg to reach the council-chamber, which,
if the weather were rainy, put him in bad humor; but toward the end
of December he had the courtyard covered; and from that time he almost
always returned to his study singing. Bonaparte sang almost as false as
Louis XV.

As soon as he was back he examined the work he had ordered done, signed
his letters, and stretched himself out in his armchair, the arms of
which he stabbed with his penknife as he talked. If he was not inclined
to talk, he reread the letters of the day before, or the pamphlets of
the day, laughing at intervals with the hearty laugh of a great child.
Then suddenly, as one awakening from a dream, he would spring to his
feet and cry out: "Write, Bourrienne!"

Then he would sketch out the plan for some building to be erected, or
dictate some one of those vast projects which have amazed--let us say
rather, terrified the world.

At five o'clock he dined;