All the history in creation could not have won the
battle of Waterloo for you."
"Fool that you are!" cried Napoleon, desperately, rising. "Can't you
see? Anybody who knows anything about the history of France knows
that the battle of Waterloo resulted fatally for me. Had I known
that, do you suppose I'd have gone there? Not I! I'd have gone
fishing in the South of France instead, and this would not have
happened. Leave me! I wish to be alone."
Left to his own reflections Bonaparte paced his room for hours.
Then, tapping his bell, he summoned one of his faithful adherents.
"Monsieur le B-," he said, as the attendant entered, "you have heard
the news?"
"Yes, Sire," sobbed Le B-.
"Do I not carry myself well in the hour of defeat?"
"You do, Your Majesty."
"Am I pale, Le B-?"
"No--no--oh, no, not at all, Sire."
"Tell me the truth, Le B-. We must not let the enemy find us broken
when they arrive. How do I look? Out with it."
"Out of sight, Sire!" replied Le B-, bending backward as far as he
could, and gazing directly at the ceiling.
"Then bring on your invader, and let us hear the worst," ordered
Napoleon, encouraged by Le B-'s assurances.
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