"If I have to come back again, my dear Emperor Joseph," Bonaparte
said, as he set out for Paris, "it will be for the purpose of giving
you a new position, which you may not like so well as the neat and
rather gaudy sinecure you now hold."
"Which is--?" added the Austrian.
"I'll bring you a snow-shovel and set you to clearing off the steps."
"What steps?" queried the Austrian anxiously.
"The back-steppes of Russia," replied Napoleon, sternly. "The only
thing that keeps me from doing it now is that I--ah--I hate to do
anything unkind to the father of--ah--your daughter Marie-Louise,
whom I met at the dance last night, and who, between you and me,
looks remarkably like the only woman I ever loved."
CHAPTER X: THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE
1810-1814
Just before the opening of the year 1810, which marked the beginning
of Bonaparte's decay, Fouche demanded an audience.
"Well, Fouche," said the Emperor, "what now?"
"This Empire can't go much further, Your Majesty, unless more novelty
is introduced. I've had my men out all through France taking notes,
and there's but one opinion among 'em all. You've got to do
something new or stop the show.
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