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 HISTORY OF THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE. 15

all new publications of repute. Works of taste and imagina- tion constituted, of course, a large portion of these public read- ings; novels, however, unless in particular instances, were excluded. Napoleon, indeed, disliked to see novels any where about his palaces; and traversing the antechambers, if he found any of his attendants reading, le seldom failed to exa- mine the book, and if a novel, condemned it to the flames without mercy. The individual, too, was sure of a lecture, which usually began with the question, - So, you could find no better reading than that ?" While the empress and her ladies were engaged as described, the emperor was in the habit of looking in upon the fair party at intervals throughout the morning. On these occasions, he is described as being ex- tremely amiable, amusing, and in high spirits ; for he rarely visited the saloon in the morning unless when in good humour, or, in his own phrase, when things went well.' Josephine, too, though more rarely, would venture into his cabinet ; but when he required her presence for any conference of import- ance, Napoleon knocked at the little door of private commu- nication. The empress joyfully obeyed the signal ; and these interviews, generally taking place in the evening, were often continued so long, that on returning she found all her ladies asleep." A favourite amusement of Josephine and Napoleon was a game called "prisoners"--the same as what our schoolboys call "French and English," or "Deals." There is something very striking in the account of the last opportunity they had of indulging in this relaxation : "The interval between the 15th of August and the 27th of September, when the inter- view at Erfurth took place, was passed chiefly at St. Cloud, and might nearly be called the last of Josephine's happiness Napoleon's society. Only a few days before his departure, Josephine and Napoleon, with their usual familiars, played a final game at the favourite amusement of prisoners. It was dark night before the party finished, and footmen with torches were in attendance, to give light to the players. The effect could not have been without interest the blaze of the torches now throwing bold, broad, and rich illumination upon