that of Valencia,
which Suchet had given you, but at any rate your see shall be secure from
the chances of battles. I appoint you Bishop of--let me see--of the
Jumna. The vast countries through which that river flows were on the
point of entering into alliance with me--all was in readiness, all were
going to march. We were about to give the finishing blow to England."
The speech concluded with an order to Count Montholon to procure the
necessary dress for the abbe in order to strike with awe all the
heretics. The upshot of the whole was, that the scarlet and violet
coloured clothes necessary to furnish the new bishop with the only
valuable portion of his temporalities, his dress, could not be procured
in the island, and the abbe remained an abbe in spite of the investiture,
and the whole farce was forgotten.

We occasionally see the Exile in better moods, when he listened to the
voice of reason, and thought less of the annoyances inseparable from the
state to which his ambition, or as he himself always averred, his
destiny, had reduced him. He had for a long time debarred himself from
all exercise, having, as he expressed it, determined not to expose
himself to the insult of being accompanied on his ride by a British
officer; or the possibility of being challenged by a sentinel. One day
when he complained of his inactive life his medical attendant recommended
the exercise of digging the ground; the idea was instantly seized upon by
Napoleon with his characteristic ardour. Noverraz, his chasseur, who had
been formerly accustomed to rural occupations, was honoured with the
title of head gardener, and under his directions Napoleon proceeded to
work with great vigour. He sent for Antommarchi to witness his newly
acquired dexterity in the use of the spade. "Well, Doctor," said he to
him, "are you satisfied with your patient--is he obedient enough? This
is better than your pills, Dottoraccio; you shall not physic me any
more." At first he soon got fatigued, and complained much of the
weakness of his body and delicacy of his hands; but "never mind," said
he, "I have always accustomed my body to bend to my will, and I shall
bring it to do so now, and inure it to the exercise." He soon grew fond
of his new employment, and pressed all the inhabitants of Longwood into
the service. Even the ladies had great difficulty to avoid being set to
work. He laughed at them, urged them, entreated them, and used all his
arts of persuasion, pa