"
These words were prophetic, for barely two months later the second
and most terrible and portentous attack upon the palace took place--
an attack which Napoleon witnessed, as he had witnessed the first,
from a convenient lamp-post, and which filled him with disgust and
shame; and it was upon that night of riot and bloodshed that he gave
utterance to one of his most famous sayings.
"Bourrienne," said he, as with his faithful companions he laboriously
climbed the five flights of stairs leading to his humble apartment,
"I hate the aristocrats, as you know; and to-day has made me hate the
populace as well. What is there left to like?"
"Alas! lieutenant, I cannot say," said Bourrienne, shaking his head
sadly.
"What," continued Napoleon, "is the good of anything?"
"I give it up," returned Bourrienne, with a sigh. "I never was good
at riddles. What IS the good of anything?"
"Nothing!" said Napoleon, laconically, as he took off his uniform and
went to bed.
CHAPTER IV: SARDINIA--TOULON--NICE--PARIS--BARRAS--JOSEPHINE
1793-1796
Greatness now began to dawn for Napoleon. Practically penniless, in
a great and heartless city, even the lower classes began to perceive
that here was one before whom there lay a brilliant future.
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