of the custom-house at Verceil, having seized a
package of sixty cashmere shawls, sent from Constantinople to the
Empress, the Emperor approved his action, and the cashmeres were sold for
the benefit of the state. In such cases the Emperor always said, "How
can a sovereign have the laws respected if he does not respect them
himself?" I recall another occasion, and I think the only instance in
which he permitted an infraction of the custom-house regulations; but we
shall see the question was not that of ordinary smuggling.

The grenadiers of the Old Guard, under the orders of General Soules,
returned to France after the peace of Tilsit. On their arrival at
Mayence, the custom-house officers endeavored to perform their duty, and
consequently inspected the chests of the Guard and those of the general.
Meanwhile, the director of the custom-house, in doubt what proceedings to
take, sought the general to inform him of the necessity he was under of
executing the laws, and of carrying out the direct orders of the Emperor.
The general's reply to this courteous overture was plain and energetic:
"If a single officer dares to place his hand on the boxes of my old
mustaches, I'll throw him into the Rhine!" The officer insisted. The
custom-house employees were quite numerous, and were preparing to proceed
with the inspection, when General Soules had the boxes put in the middle
of the square, and a regiment detailed to guard them. The director of
the custom-house, not daring to proceed further, sent to the
director-general a report to be submitted to the Emperor. Under any
other circumstances the case would have been serious; but the Emperor
had just returned to Paris, where he had been welcomed more heartily
than ever before by the acclamations of the people on the occasion of
the fetes celebrated in honor of peace, and this old Guard was returning
home resplendent with glory, and after most admirable behavior at Eylau.
All these things combined to quell the Emperor's anger; and having
decided not to punish, he wished to reward them, and not to take
seriously their infraction of his custom-house regulations. General
Soules, on reaching Paris, presented himself before the Emperor, who
received him cordially, and, after some remarks relative to the Guard,
added: "By the by, what is this you have been doing? I heard of you.
What! you really threatened to throw my custom-house officers into the
Rhine! Would you have done it?"--"Yes, Sire,