'In those days,' said he, 'the kings of Europe will walk behind the
Emperor of France in order to hold up his train at his coronation. Each
of them will have to maintain a palace in Paris, and the city will
stretch as far as Versailles. These are the plans which I have made for
Paris if she will show herself to be worthy of them. But I have no love
for them, these Parisians, and they have none for me, for they cannot
forget that I turned my guns upon them once before, and they know that I
am ready to do so again. I have made them admire me and fear me, but I
have never made them like me. Look what I have done for them. Where
are the treasures of Genoa, the pictures and statues of Venice and of
the Vatican? They are in the Louvre. The spoils of my victories have
gone to decorate her. But they must always be changing, always
chattering. They wave their hats at me now, but they would soon be
waving their fists if I did not give them something to talk over and to
wonder at. When other things are quiet, I have the dome of the
Invalides regilded to keep their thoughts from mischief.
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