EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 167 



decanter of water were placed by each plate ; 

 but there was no drinking to each other at 

 dinner ; and if you did not help yourself during 

 the time it lasted, the opportunity would be 

 lost, as the wine vanished with the eatables. 

 The service of porcelain far exceeds in beauty 

 whatever of that kind I have beheld. The 

 silver plate is massive, and decorated with 

 eagles in curious abundance ; the gold service 

 appeared with the dessert. The entertainment 

 lasted about an hour, and so frequent were the 

 questions of my host that, from the perplexity 

 I suffered in conjuring up answers to them, I 

 scarce knew what I ate or what I drank. I 

 will endeavour to give you a general specimen 

 of his convivial inquiries. 



" Napoleon asked : ' Have you visited 

 General Gourgon ? ' l Yes, General. I came 

 to Longwood for that purpose.' ' How have 

 you found him ? ' c Extremely ill.' ' What is 

 his disorder ? ' ' Dysentery.' ' Where is its 

 seat ? ' ' In the intestines.' * What has been 

 the cause ? ' ' Heat of climate on a constitu- 

 tion peculiarly predisposed. . . . Had he been 

 bled in the first instance, it is probable that the 

 disease would have been less violent.' c What 



