'Eugenie de Choiseul is the niece of the Duc de Choiseul, is she not?'
he asked.
'Yes, Sire.'
'You are affianced!'
'Yes, Sire.'
He shook his head impatiently.
'If you wish to advance yourself in my Court, Monsieur de Laval,' said
he,' you must commit such matters to my care. Is it likely that I can
look with indifference upon a marriage between emigres--an alliance
between my enemies?'
'But she shares my opinions, Sire.'
'Ta, ta, ta, at her age one has no opinions. She has the emigre blood
in her veins, and it will come out. Your marriage shall be my care,
Monsieur de Laval. And I wish you to come to the Pont de Briques that
you may be presented to the Empress. What is it, Constant?'
'There is a lady outside who desires to see your Majesty. Shall I tell
her to come later?'
'A lady!' cried the Emperor smiling. 'We do not see many faces in the
camp which have not a moustache upon them. Who is she? What does she
want?'
'Her name, Sire, is Mademoiselle Sibylle Bernac.'
'What!' cried Napoleon. 'It must be the daughter of old Bernac of
Grosbois.
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