She was here yesterday.' 'And the other, the Countess ?' 'She has a cottage at Ambleteuse ?' 'But we must have no scandal about the Court,' said Talleyrand, with a sour smile, recalling the moral sentiments with which the Emperor had reproved him.

'And now, Monsieur de Laval,' he added, drawing me aside, 'I very much wish to hear from you about the Bourbon party in England.
You must have heard their views.

Do they imagine that they have any chance of success ?' And so for ten minutes he plied me with questions, which showed me clearly that the Emperor had read him aright, and that he was determined, come what might, to be upon the side which won.

We were still talking when Constant entered hurriedly, with a look of anxiety and perplexity which I could not have imagined upon so smooth and imperturbable a face.
'Good Heavens, Monsieur Talleyrand,' he cried, clasping and unclasping his hands.

'Such a misfortune! Who could have expected it ?' 'What is it, then, Constant ?' 'Oh, Monsieur, I dare not intrude upon the Emperor.