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〃Hush； my dear；〃 said that old lady； looking round alarmed at her
daughter。 〃SPEAK FRENCH。〃 And she straightway began nervously to
make a speech which she supposed to be in that language； but which
was as much like French as Iroquois。 The whole secret was out： you
could read it in the grandmother's face； who was doing all she could
to keep from crying； and looked as frightened as she dared to look。
The two elder ladies had settled between them that there was going
to be a general English slaughter that day； and had brought the
children with them； so that they might all be murdered in company。
God bless you； O women； moist…eyed and tender…hearted！ In those
gentle silly tears of yours there is something touches one； be they
never so foolish。 I don't think there were many such natural drops
shed that day as those which just made their appearance in the
grandmother's eyes； and then went back again as if they had been
ashamed of themselves； while the good lady and her little troop
walked across the road。 Think how happy she will be when night
comes； and there has been no murder of English； and the brood is all
nestled under her wings sound asleep； and she is lying awake
thanking God that the day and its pleasures and pains are over。
Whilst we were considering these things； the grandfather had
suddenly elevated No。 4 senior upon his left shoulder； and I saw the
tartan hat of that young gentleman； and the bamboo cane which had
been transferred to him； high over the heads of the crowd on the
opposite side through which the party moved。
After this little procession had passed awayyou may laugh at it；
but upon my word and conscience； Miss Smith； I saw nothing in the
course of the day which affected me moreafter this little
procession had passed away； the other came； accompanied by gun…
banging； flag…waving； incense…burning； trumpets pealing； drums
rolling； and at the close； received by the voice of six hundred
choristers； sweetly modulated to the tones of fifteen score of
fiddlers。 Then you saw horse and foot； jack…boots and bear…skin；
cuirass and bayonet； National Guard and Line； marshals and generals
all over gold； smart aides…de…camp galloping about like mad； and
high in the midst of all； riding on his golden buckler； Solomon in
all his glory； forsoothImperial Caesar； with his crown over his
head； laurels and standards waving about his gorgeous chariot； and a
million of people looking on in wonder and awe。
His Majesty the Emperor and King reclined on his shield； with his
head a little elevated。 His Majesty's skull is voluminous； his
forehead broad and large。 We remarked that his Imperial Majesty's
brow was of a yellowish color； which appearance was also visible
about the orbits of the eyes。 He kept his eyelids constantly
closed； by which we had the opportunity of observing that the upper
lids were garnished with eyelashes。 Years and climate have effected
upon the face of this great monarch only a trifling alteration； we
may say； indeed； that Time has touched his Imperial and Royal
Majesty with the lightest feather in his wing。 In the nose of the
Conqueror of Austerlitz we remarked very little alteration： it is of
the beautiful shape which we remember it possessed five…and…twenty
years since； ere unfortunate circumstances induced him to leave us
for a while。 The nostril and the tube of the nose appear to have
undergone some slight alteration； but in examining a beloved object
the eye of affection is perhaps too critical。 Vive l'Empereur！ the
soldier of Marengo is among us again。 His lips are thinner；
perhaps； than they were before！ how white his teeth are！ you can
just see three of them pressing his under lip； and pray remark the
fulness of his cheeks and the round contour of his chin。 Oh； those
beautiful white hands！ many a time have they patted the cheek of
poor Josephine； and played with the black ringlets of her hair。 She
is dead now； and cold； poor creature； and so are Hortense and bold
Eugene； than whom the world never saw a curtier knight；〃 as was said
of King Arthur's Sir Lancelot。 What a day would it have been for
those three could they have lived until now； and seen their hero
returning！ Where's Ney？ His wife sits looking out from M。 Flahaut's
window yonder； but the bravest of the brave is not with her。 Murat
too is absent： honest Joachim loves the Emperor at heart； and
repents that he was not at Waterloo： who knows but that at the sight
of the handsome swordsman those stubborn English 〃canaille〃 would
have given way。 A king； Sire； is； you know； the greatest of
slavesState affairs of consequencehis Majesty the King of Naples
is detained no doubt。 When we last saw the King； however； and his
Highness the Prince of Elchingen； they looked to have as good health
as ever they had in their lives； and we heard each of them calmly
calling out 〃FIRE！〃 as they have done in numberless battles before。
Is it possible？ can the Emperor forget？ We don't like to break it
to him； but has he forgotten all about the farm at Pizzo； and the
garden of the Observatory？ Yes； truly： there he lies on his golden
shield； never stirring； never so much as lifting his eyelids； or
opening his lips any wider。
O vanitas vanitatum！ Here is our Sovereign in all his glory； and
they fired a thousand guns at Cherbourg and never woke him！
However； we are advancing matters by several hours； and you must
give just as much credence as you please to the subjoined remarks
concerning the Procession； seeing that your humble servant could not
possibly be present at it； being bound for the church elsewhere。
Programmes； however； have been published of the affair； and your
vivid fancy will not fail to give life to them； and the whole
magnificent train will pass before you。
Fancy then； that the guns are fired at Neuilly： the body landed at
daybreak from the funereal barge； and transferred to the car； and
fancy the car； a huge Juggernaut of a machine； rolling on four
wheels of an antique shape； which supported a basement adorned with
golden eagles； banners； laurels； and velvet hangings。 Above the
hangings stand twelve golden statues with raised arms supporting a
huge shield； on which the coffin lay。 On the coffin was the
imperial crown； covered with violet velvet crape； and the whole vast
machine was drawn by horses in superb housings； led by valets in the
imperial livery。
Fancy at the head of the procession first of all
The Gendarmerie of the Seine； with their trumpets and Colonel。
The Municipal Guard （horse）； with their trumpets； standard； and
Colonel。
Two squadrons of the 7th Lancers； with Colonel； standard； and music。
The Commandant of Paris and his Staff。
A battalion of Infantry of the Line； with their flag； sappers；
drums； music； and Colonel。
The Municipal Guard （foot）； with flag； drums； and Colonel。
The Sapper…pumpers； with ditto。
Then picture to yourself more squadrons of Lancers and Cuirassiers。
The General of the Division and his Staff； all officers of all arms
employed at Paris； and unattached； the Military School of Saint Cyr；
the Polytechnic School； the School of the Etat…Major； and the
Professors and Staff of each。 Go on imagining more battalions of
Infantry； of Artillery； companies of Engineers； squadrons of
Cuirassiers； ditto of the Cavalry； of the National Guard； and the
first and second legions of ditto。
Fancy a carriage； containing the Chaplain of the St。 Helena
expedition； the only clerical gentleman that formed a part of the
procession。
Fancy you hear the funereal music； and then figure in your mind's
eye
THE EMPEROR'S CHARGER； that is； Napoleon's own saddle and bridle
（when First Consul） upon a white horse。 The saddle （which has been
kept ever since in the Garde Meuble of the Crown） is of amaranth
velvet； embroidered in gold： the holsters and housings are of the
sa