mselves to his plans. He found, however, that in this instance
humanity had been aroused, and as it would not suit his purpose to run
against his hitherto complacent friends, he thinks to appease their
anxiety in the following extraordinary manner:--

"I am about to arrange in such a way as to allow him to take horse
exercise. I have no wish that he should die of an attack of
apoplexy--that would be very embarrassing both to me and to my
Government. I would much rather he should die of a tedious disease
which our physicians could properly declare to be natural. Apoplexy
furnishes too many grounds for comment."[7]

This insensate mockery of a man is always asserting himself in some
detestable fashion or other.[8]

At one time his benighted mind would swagger him into droll ideas of
attempting to chastise his Imperial prisoner, at another, his
childish fear of the consequences of his chastisement was pathetic,
and when one droll farce after another broke down, he shielded himself
with manifestations of aggrieved virtue.

The Emperor received Lord Amherst, who was a man of some human
feeling, and the noble lord offered to convey to the precious Prince
Regent certain messages. Then Napoleon, aroused by the recollection of
the perfidy which was causing him such infinite suffering, declared
that neither his King nor his nation had any right over him. "Your
country," he exclaims, "sets an example of twenty millions of men
oppressing one individual." With prophetic utterance he foreshadows "a
terrible war hatched under the ashes of the Empire." Nations are to
avenge the ingratitude of the Kings whom he "crowned and pardoned."
And then, as though his big soul had sickened at the thought of it
all, he exclaims, "Inform your Prince Regent that I await as a favour
the axe of the executioner." Lord Amherst was deeply affected, and
promised to tell of all his sufferings and indignities to the Regent,
and also to speak to the saintly Lowe thereon. "Useless," interjects
the Emperor; "crime, hatred, is his nature. It is necessary to his
enjoyment to torture me. He is like the tiger, who tears with his
claws the prey whose agonies he takes pleasure in prolonging." The
audience then closes and the sordid tragedy continues.

The Commissioners are to have bulletins, but no communication with the
Imperial abode. O'Meara is asked to prepare inspired bulletins, and to
report what he hears and learns from the Emperor, and in a general way