een gambling and losing.'

'The most infernal run of luck, sire,' said the soldier, 'I give you my
word that the ace fell four times running.'

'Ta, ta, you are a child, with no sense of the value of money. How much
do you owe?'

'Forty thousand, sire.'

'Well, well, go to Lebrun and see what he can do for you. After all, we
were together at Toulon.'

'A thousand thanks, sire.'

'Tut! You and Rapp and Lasalle are the spoiled children of the army.
But no more cards, you rascal! I do not like low dresses, Madame
Picard. They spoil even pretty women, but in you they are inexcusable.
Now, Josephine, I am going to my room, and you can come in half an hour
and read me to sleep. I am tired to-night, but I came to your salon,
since you desired that I should help you in welcoming and entertaining
your guests. You can remain here, Monsieur de Laval, for your presence
will not be necessary until I send you my orders.'

And so the door closed behind him, and with a long sigh of relief from
everyone, from the Empress to the waiter with the negus, the friendly
chatter began once more, with the click of the counters and the rustle
of the cards just as they had been before he came to help in the
entertainment.

CHAPTER XVI

THE LIBRARY OF GROSBOIS

And now, my friends, I am coming to the end of those singular adventures
which I encountered upon my arrival in France, adventures which might
have been of some interest in themselves had I not introduced the figure
of the Emperor, who has eclipsed them all as completely as the sun
eclipses the stars. Even now, you see, after all these years, in an old
man's memoirs, the Emperor is still true to his traditions, and will not
brook any opposition. As I draw his words and his deeds I feel that my
own poor story withers before them. And yet if it had not been for that
story I should not have had an excuse for describing to you my first and
most vivid impressions of him, and so it has served a purpose after all.
You must bear with me now while I tell you of our expedition to the Red
Mill and of what befell in the library of Grosbois.

Two days had passed away since the reception of the Empress Josephine,
and only one remained of the time which had been allowed to my cousin
Sibylle in which she might save her lover, and capture the terrible
Toussac. For my own part I was not so very anxious that she should save
this craven lover of hers, whose handsome face belied th