Page:Helen Leah Reed - Napoleons young neighbour.djvu/49

Rh about the burning of the great Russian city and the question as to whether the French or the Russians had set it on fire.

"Qui l'a brulé?" repeated Napoleon.

But there was a twinkle in his eye and a smile in his voice that encouraged Betsy to venture a stammering "I don't know, sir."

"Oui, oui," he responded, laughing heartily. "Vous savez très bien. C'est moi qui l'a brulé." ["Yes, yes, you understand well. It is I who burned it."]

Then Betsy ventured further:

"I believe, sir, the Russians burned it to get rid of the French."

Again Napoleon laughed and, instead of being angry, seemed pleased that the little girl knew something about the Russian campaign.

Now while Napoleon was sitting in the garden or walking about the beautiful grounds, all was confusion and excitement within The Briars. Betsy's mother, like any other good English housewife, was naturally somewhat taken aback at having suddenly to make plans to entertain Napoleon and part of his suite. Even though the English Government might