Page:Helen Leah Reed - Napoleons young neighbour.djvu/136

110 He put the pistol in Betsy's hands, saying. "Ah, la Petite Tirailleuse, I will form a company of sharpshooters and you shall be captain."

A little later he took her to the billiard-room and showed her the billiard table.

"It is a silly game for men," she said in her positive way, "too much like marbles. I wouldn't play it."

"Oh, do try," urged the Emperor; but wilful Betsy replied only by aiming the ball at his fingers, as he rested his hand on the board.

Later, however, the sisters learned to play the game, and at the billiard table they passed many an hour.

Napoleon himself taught Betsy how to handle a cue, but, when tired of the lesson, she would often aim at his fingers, and she was always delighted when a well-directed shot made him cry out.

The visits of Betsy and her sisters gave pleasure to the fallen great man; still, as time went on, they could not help noticing that he was less and less buoyant. In their presence he tried to lay aside his troubles, and continued unfailingly kind.