When the heat was not too great he rode on horseback; and on his return, if he found no despatches to read (which often happened), no orders to send off; or no letters to answer, he was immediately absorbed in reverie, and would sometimes converse very strangely.

One day, after a long pause, he said to me: "Do you know what I am thinking of ?"--"Upon my word, that would be very difficult; you think of such extraordinary things."-- "I don't know," continued he, "that I shall ever see France again; but if I do, my only ambition is to make a glorious campaign in Germany--in the plains of Bavaria; there to gain a great battle, and to avenge France for the defeat of Hochstadt.

After that I would retire into the country, and live quietly." He then entered upon a long dissertation on the preference he would give to Germany as the theatre of war; the fine character of the people, and the prosperity and wealth of the country, and its power of supporting an army.

His conversations were sometimes very long; but always replete with interest.
-- [So early as 1794 Napoleon had suggested that Austria should always be attacked in Germany, not in Italy.

"It is Germany that should be overwhelmed; that done, Italy and Spain fall of themselves.