Page:Helen Leah Reed - Napoleons young neighbour.djvu/143

Rh persuaded him to desist from extreme measures, and in the end the Marquis himself made an apology.

Napoleon found some amusement in Betsy's fierce anger against the critical Frenchman. One day Dr. O'Meara called at The Briars, on the way to St. James Valley, with a message from Napoleon to tell Betsy how she could revenge herself on the tale-bearer.

The Marquis, a noble of the old school, was in the habit of wearing an elaborate wig with a long cue.

"Mees Betsy, if you will burn off the cue with caustic, I will reward you with the prettiest fan in Solomon's shop, if you will send the pigtail to me," suggested Napoleon to Betsy as a plan of revenge.

"Eh, bien," said the Emperor, when next he saw Betsy, "Mdlle. Betsy, as tu obei mes ordres et gagné l'éventail?" ["Have you obeyed my orders and won the fan?"]

"Oh, sire, how I wanted to do it, but my brother would not let me!"

"Ah, Mees Betsy," and Napoleon pinched her ear, "tu commences à etre sage. Here,