'The roads are good, but the fields are impossible.

I hope that we are going soon, Monsieur de Caulaincourt, for our men will all settle down as gardeners if this continues.
They are learning more about watering-pots and spuds than about horses and sabres.' 'The army, I hear, is to embark to-morrow.' 'Yes, yes, but you know very well that they will disembark again upon the wrong side of the Channel.

Unless Villeneuve scatters the English fleet, nothing can be attempted.' 'Constant tells me that the Emperor was whistling "Malbrook" all the time that he was dressing this morning, and that usually comes before a move.' 'It was very clever of Constant to tell what tune it was which the Emperor was whistling,' said Murat, laughing.

'For my part I do not think that he knows the difference between the "Malbrook" and the "Marseillaise." Ah, here is the Empress--and how charming she is looking!' Josephine had entered, with several of her ladies in her train, and the whole assembly rose to do her honour.

The Empress was dressed in an evening gown of rose-coloured tulle, spangled with silver stars--an effect which might have seemed meretricious and theatrical in another woman, but which she carried off with great grace and dignity.