EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES l6l 



sometimes smiles, but I believe he never 

 laughs. . . . The interesting children on board, 

 who amuse everybody, do not attract his 

 attention. 



" Once indeed, when Bertrand was in con- 

 versation with his master, the Count's little 

 girl intruded upon it with a story which all 

 her father's prohibitions could not silence. On 

 this occasion Napoleon took her by the hand, 

 heard out her little tale, and at the conclusion 

 kissed her. But this very uncommon attention 

 was probably paid to the child as the only mode 

 of getting rid of her which might not have been 

 painful to the father." 



As for Napoleon at cards and at chess, there 

 is the following : 



" I have observed that at cards our extra- 

 ordinary man plays rather a careless game, and 

 loses his money with great good humour. Nay, 

 he is frequently inaccurate in reckoning his 

 points, &c., but as often, most assuredly, to 

 his loss as his gain. At chess, indeed, which is 

 a scientific game, independent of fortune, and 

 considered as being connected with a leading 

 branch of military tactics, he may not possess 

 the same indifference. However that may be, 



