It was the Emperor's soft flat beaver with the little tricolour cockade.

Josephine sprang up, and looked from the hat in her hand to the imperturbable face of the minister.
'How is this, Monsieur de Talleyrand,' she cried, and the dark eyes began to shine with anger and suspicion.

'You said to me that the Emperor was out, and here is his hat!' 'Pardon me, your Imperial Majesty, I did not say that he was out.' 'What did you say then ?' 'I said that he left the room a short time before.' 'You are endeavouring to conceal something from me,' she cried, with the quick instinct of a woman.
'I assure you that I tell you all I know.' The Empress's eyes darted from face to face.
'Marshal Berthier,' she cried, 'I insist upon your telling me this instant where the Emperor is, and what he is doing.' The slow-witted soldier stammered and twisted his cocked hat about.
'I know no more than Monsieur de Talleyrand does,' said he; 'the Emperor left us some time ago.' 'By which door ?' Poor Berthier was more confused than ever.
'Really, your Imperial Majesty, I cannot undertake to say by which door it was that the Emperor quitted the apartment.' Josephine's eyes flashed round at me, and my heart shrunk within me as I thought that she was about to ask me that same dreadful question.

But I had just time to breathe one prayer to the good Saint Ignatius, who has always been gracious to our family, and the danger passed.
'Come, Madame de Remusat,' said she.

'If these gentlemen will not tell us we shall very soon find out for ourselves.' She swept with great dignity towards the curtained door, followed at the distance of a few yards by her waiting lady, whose frightened face and lagging, unwilling steps showed that she perfectly appreciated the situation.