At present, however, they all forgot their own fears of what might come in their interest at the reply which the famous diplomatist might make to a suggestion which everybody knew to be so true.

He stood, leaning upon his black ebony stick, with his bulky shoulders stooping forward, and an amused smile upon his face, as if the most innocent of compliments had been addressed to him.

One of his few titles to respect is that he always met Napoleon upon equal terms, and never condescended to fawn upon him or to flatter him.
'You think I should desert you, Sire, if your enemies offered me more than you have given me ?' 'I am perfectly sure that you would.' 'Well, really I cannot answer for myself, Sire, until the offer has been made.

But it will have to be a very large one.

You see, apart from my very nice hotel in the Rue St.Florentin, and the two hundred thousand or so which you are pleased to allow me, there is my position as the first minister in Europe.