Would the men that I have made go into exile and refuse all offers until I should return?
Come here, Berthier!' he took his favourite by the ear with the caressing gesture which was peculiar to him.

'Could I count upon you, you rascal--eh ?' 'I do not understand you, Sire.' Our conversation had been carried on in a voice which had made it inaudible to the other people in the room, but now they were all listening to what Berthier had to say.
'If I were driven out, would you go into exile also ?' 'No, Sire.' 'Diable! At least you are frank.' 'I could not go into exile, Sire.' 'And why ?' 'Because I should be dead, Sire.' Napoleon began to laugh.
'And there are some who say that our Berthier is dull-witted,' said he.
'Well, I think I am pretty sure of you, Berthier, for although I am fond of you for reasons of my own I do not think that you would be of much value to anyone else.

Now I could not say that of you, Monsieur Talleyrand.

You would change very quickly to a new master as you have changed from an old one.

You have a genius, you know, for adapting yourself.' There was nothing which the Emperor loved more than to suddenly produce little scenes of this sort which made everybody very uncomfortable, for no one could tell what awkward or compromising question he was going to put to them next.