a species of black and smoke-begrimed shed, "it is a
shame," said he to M. Fontaine, "to make buildings as frightful as those
of Moscow. I should never have allowed such a building to be erected.
Are you not my chief architect?"

M. Fontaine excused himself by pointing out to his Majesty that he was
not responsible for the buildings of Paris, as although he had the honor
of being chief architect of the Emperor, it was for the Tuileries and the
Louvre alone.

"That is true," replied his Majesty; "but could there not be built here,"
pointing to the quay, "in place of this wooden dockyard, which produces
such a bad effect, a residence for the Italian minister?"

M. Fontaine replied that the plan was very feasible, but that it would
require three or four millions.

The Emperor then seemed to abandon this idea, and turning his attention
to the garden of the Tuileries, perhaps in consequence of the conspiracy
of General Malet,gave orders to arrange all the entrances to the palace
so that the same key might serve for all the locks; "and this key," his
Majesty added, "should be put in charge of the grand marshal after the
doors were closed for the night."

A few days after this conversation with M. Fontaine, the Emperor sent to
him and M. Costaz the following note, a copy of which fell into my hands.
His Majesty had that morning visited the buildings of Chaillot.

"There is yet ample time to discuss the construction of the palace
for the King of Rome.

I do not wish to be led into foolish expenditures; I should like a
palace not so large as Saint-Cloud, but larger than the Luxemburg.

I wish to be able to occupy it after the sixteenth million has been
expended; then it will be a practicable affair. But if a more
expensive building is attempted, it will result like the Louvre,
which has never been finished.

The parks are first to be considered, their boundaries determined
and inclosed.

I wish this new palace to be somewhat handsomer than the Elysee; and
although that cost less than eight millions, it is one of the most
beautiful palaces of Paris.

That of the King of Rome will rank next to the Louvre, which is
itself a magnificent palace. It will be, so to speak, only a
country seat for one residing in Paris, for of course the winters
would be passed at the Louvre or the Tuileries.

I can with difficulty believe that Saint-Cloud cost sixteen
millions. Befo