ligious
subjects, some of which are quoted in Lord Rosebery's admirable book,
"The Last Phase," are so contradictory that they cannot be taken as
authentic beliefs. It greatly depended to whom he was talking as to
the line he took.

It is evident that the Emperor took a delight in arguing with and
contradicting the devout Catholic for sheer intellectual exercise. At
one time he declares to his refractory companion, "If I had to choose
a religion, I would worship the sun, because the sun gives to all
things life and fertility." At another time he torments the Count,
after tying him into a knot and exposing his superficial knowledge, by
saying that "the Mohammedan religion is the finest of all." But when
his mind seriously dwells on sacred things, he declares "that religion
lends sanctity to everything." "The remission of sins is a beautiful
idea." "It makes the Christian religion so attractive that it will
never perish. No one can say 'I do not believe and I never shall
believe.'"

Montholon is more to the writer's liking than Gourgaud, even though
Gourgaud's authenticity is backed by Lord Rosebery, and we shall see
later what _he_ says about his Emperor's religious beliefs. It was he
who endeavoured to mitigate his master's mental and physical
sufferings, and it was he whom he desired should close his eyes in
death when the nefarious assassination had been completed. It was he,
too, who got himself locked up in the fortress of Ham for seven years
by adhering steadfastly to the cause of the great exile's nephew.
Gourgaud was loyal and devoted on a sort of sliding scale, which led
him to do great injustice to the stricken hero. Montholon's devotion
was consistent and abiding under all circumstances, while Gourgaud's
fluctuated with his moods.

None of Napoleon's companions in exile were admitted to such close
intimacy with the illustrious warrior-statesman as was Count
Montholon, not even Bertrand or Marchand. It was he who had won
confidence by the most amazing attachment that one human being could
give to another, and it was natural that the big soul of Napoleon
should respond to what amounted to fanatical fidelity. He was the
beloved companion of the Emperor for six years, and during the last
forty-two nights of his life he was with him in the death-chamber, and
at his request he kept vigil and witnessed, his spirit pass away.

It was to him, when the shadow of death was hovering round the smitten
rock, that Napo