I will not have any waste at the Tuileries.'
Thus within a few minutes he would pass from a question of milliards to
a question of sous, and from the management of a empire to that of a
stable. From time to time I could observe that he threw a little
oblique glance at me as if to ask what I thought of it all, and at the
time I wondered very much why my approval should be of any consequence
to him. But now, when I look back and see that my following his
fortunes brought over so many others of the young nobility, I understand
that he saw very much further than I did.
'Well, Monsieur de Laval,' said he suddenly, 'you have seen something of
my methods. Are you prepared to enter my service?'
'Assuredly, Sire,' I answered.
'I can be a very hard master when I like,' said he smiling. 'You were
there when I spoke to Admiral Bruix. We have all our duty to do, and
discipline is as necessary in the highest as in the lowest ranks.
But anger with me never rises above here,' and he drew his hand across
his throat. 'I never permit it to cloud my brain.
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