'Sire,' said I, 'I cannot select three; I must present six.' He turned on his heel and repaired to the platform, where, after seeing all the classes assembled, he repeated his demand.

'Sire,' said I, 'I beg leave to inform your Majesty that I should commit an injustice towards several other pupils who are as far advanced as those whom I might have the honour to present to you.' "Berthier and others intimated to me, in a low tone of voice, that I should get into disgrace by my noncompliance.

Napoleon looked over the whole of the house, entered into the most trivial details, and after addressing questions to several of the pupils: 'Well, madame,' said he, 'I am satisfied; show me your six best pupils.'" Madame Campan presented them to him; and as he stepped into his carriage, he desired that their names might be sent to Berthier.

On addressing the list to the Prince de Neufchatel, Madame Campan added to it the names of four other pupils, and all the ten obtained a pension of 300 francs.

During the three hours which this visit occupied, Marie Louise did not utter a single word.
M.de Beaumont, chamberlain to the Empress Josephine, one day at Malmaison was expressing his regret that M.D-----, one of Napoleon's generals, who had recently been promoted, did not belong to a great family.