ou for it; I really believe I have made you think
I was an idiot. You think, then," continued his Majesty, pinching
sharply one of the Prince de Neuchatel's ears, "that I committed the
indiscretion of giving them whips with which to return and flog us? Calm
yourself, I did not tell them all."

The Emperor's table at Erfurt was in the form of a half-moon; and at the
upper end, and consequently at the rounded part, of this table their
Majesties were seated, and on the right and left the sovereigns of the
Confederation according to their rank. The side facing their Majesties
was always empty; and there stood M. de Beausset, the prefect of the
palace, who relates in his Memoirs that one day he overheard the
following conversation:

"On that day the subject of conversation was the Golden Bull, which,
until the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, had
served as a constitution, and had regulated the law for the election
of emperors, the number and rank of the electors, etc. The Prince
Primate entered into some details regarding this Golden Bull, which
he said was made in 1409; whereupon the Emperor Napoleon pointed out
to him that the date which was assigned to the Golden Bull was not
correct, and that it was proclaimed in 1336, during the reign of the
Emperor Charles IV. 'That is true, Sire,' replied the Prince
Primate I was mistaken; but how does it happen that your Majesty is
so well acquainted with these matters?'--'When I was a mere
sub-lieutenant in the artillery, said Napoleon,--at this beginning,
there was on the part of the guests a marked movement of interest,
and he continued, smiling,--when I had the honor to be simply
sub-lieutenant in the artillery I remained three years in the garrison
at Valence, and, as I cared little for society, led a very retired
life. By fortunate chance I had lodgings with a kind and
intelligent bookseller. I read and re-read his library during the
three years I remained in the garrison and have forgotten nothing,
even matters which have had no connection with my position. Nature,
besides, has given me a good memory for figures, and it often
happens with my ministers that I can give them details and the sum
total of accounts they presented long since.'"

A few days before his departure from Erfurt, the Emperor bestowed the
cross of the Legion of Honor on M. de Bigi, commandant of arms at this
place; M. Veg