Page:Memoirs of the Lady Hester Stanhope.djvu/275

 —a hardy sailor, who would get at any risk into a port, to see how many ships there were, and how many effective men—or a pedlar, to enter a camp—and the like. This was the way he got information as to the state of the armament at Toulon: and such a one was the woman I have just told you about, who knew me by the sound of my voice.

"There were two hairdressers in London, the best spies Buonaparte had. A hairdresser, generally speaking, must be a man of talent—so must a cook; for a cook must know such a variety of things, about which no settled rules can be laid down, and he must have great judgment.

"Do you think I did not immediately perceive that those four Germans we met at were spies?—directly. I never told B**** and Lord S**** because they would have let it out again: François was the only one who knew it besides myself. He took an opportunity one day of saying to me, when nobody was by, 'My lady, one of those Germans……'—'Yes, yes, Francois, I understand you,' answered I, before he had said three words: 'you need not put me on my guard, but I am much obliged to you.'—'Why, my lady,' said François, 'when I was one day standing sentry at Buonaparte's tent, there was one of those very gentlemen I have seen go in and out: I recollect his face perfectly.' François was right, doctor: there