mporary abode of the Emperor, and he took possession
of it immediately. There was a carriage-road from the town, and the
valley was in this part less rugged in its aspect. Las Cases was soon
sent for. As he ascended the winding path leading to the pavilion he saw
Napoleon standing at the threshold of the door. His body was slightly
bent, and his hands behind his back: he wore his usual plain and simple
uniform and the well-known hat. The Emperor was alone. He took a fancy
to walk a little; but there was no level ground on any side of the
pavilion, which was surrounded by huge pieces of rock. Taking the arm of
his companion, however, he began to converse in a cheerful strain. When
Napoleon was about to retire to rest the servants found that one of the
windows was open close to the bed: they barricaded it as well as they
could, so as to exclude the air, to the effects of which the Emperor was
very susceptible. Las Cases ascended to an upper room. The valets de
chambres lay stretched in their cloaks across the threshold of the door.
Such was the first night Napoleon passed at the Briars.

An English officer was lodged with them in the house as their guard, and
two non-commissioned officers were stationed near the house to watch
their movements. Napoleon the next day proceeded with his dictation,
which occupied him for several hours, and then took a walk in the garden,
where he was met by the two Misses Balcombe, lively girls about fourteen
years of age, who presented him with flowers, and overwhelmed him with
whimsical questions. Napoleon was amused by their familiarity, to which
he had been little accustomed. "We have been to a masked ball," said he,
when the young ladies had taken their leave.

The next day a chicken was brought for breakfast, which the Emperor
undertook to carve himself, and was surprised at his succeeding so well,
it being a long time since he had done so much. The coffee he considered
so bad that on tasting it he thought himself poisoned, and sent it away.

The mornings were passed in business; in the evening Napoleon sometimes
strolled to the neighbouring villa, where the young ladies made him play
at whist. The Campaign of Italy was nearly finished, and Las Cases
proposed that the other followers of Napoleon who were lodged in the town
should come up every morning to assist in transcribing The Campaign of
Egypt, the History of the Consulate, etc. This suggestion pleased the
ex-Emperor, so that from