h shall be gratified! Your country will be dearer to me when you
take pity on my poor heart. N.

Every chance of escape seemed to be closed. She had Napoleon's own word
that he would free Poland in return for her self-sacrifice. Moreover,
her powers of resistance had been so weakened that, like many women,
she temporized. She decided that she would meet the emperor alone. She
would tell him that she did not love him, and yet would plead with him
to save her beloved country.

As she sat there every tick of the clock stirred her to a new
excitement. At last there came a knock upon the door, a cloak was
thrown about her from behind, a heavy veil was drooped about her golden
hair, and she was led, by whom she knew not, to the street, where a
finely appointed carriage was waiting for her.

No sooner had she entered it than she was driven rapidly through the
darkness to the beautifully carved entrance of a palace. Half led, half
carried, she was taken up the steps to a door which was eagerly opened
by some one within. There were warmth and light and color and the scent
of flowers as she was placed in a comfortable arm-chair. Her wrappings
were taken from her, the door was closed behind her; and then, as she
looked up, she found herself in the presence of Napoleon, who was
kneeling at her feet and uttering soothing words.

Wisely, the emperor used no violence. He merely argued with her; he
told her over and over his love for her; and finally he declared that
for her sake he would make Poland once again a strong and splendid
kingdom.

Several hours passed. In the early morning, before daylight, there came
a knock at the door.

"Already?" said Napoleon. "Well, my plaintive dove, go home and rest.
You must not fear the eagle. In time you will come to love him, and in
all things you shall command him."

Then he led her to the door, but said that he would not open it unless
she promised to see him the next day--a promise which she gave the more
readily because he had treated her with such respect.

On the following morning her faithful maid came to her bedside with a
cluster of beautiful violets, a letter, and several daintily made
morocco cases. When these were opened there leaped out strings and
necklaces of exquisite diamonds, blazing in the morning sunlight. Mme.
Walewska seized the jewels and flung them across the room with an order
that they should be taken back at once to the imperial giver; but the
letter, which w