Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/526

 488 Readings in European History him. He never repeated anything that he had once said, even if it had not been heard ; and this was very hard on the poor secretary, for Bonaparte remembered accurately what he had said and detected every omission. One day he read a tragedy in manuscript, and it inter- ested him sufficiently to inspire him with a fancy to make some alterations in it. "Take a pen and paper," said he to Monsieur de Remusat, "and write for me." Hardly giving my husband time to seat himself at a table, he began to dictate so quickly that Monsieur de Re'musat, although accustomed to write with great rapidity, was bathed in perspiration while trying to follow him. Bonaparte per- ceived his difficulty, and would stop now and then to say, " Come, try to understand me, for I will not repeat what I say." Bonaparte's He always derived amusement from causing any one un- conviction easiness and distress. His great general principle, which he that zeal 00 r- r 7 depends upon applied to everything, both great and small, was that there disquietude, could be no zeal where there was no disquietude. Fortunately he forgot to ask for the sheet of observations he had dic- tated. Monsieur de Re'musat and I have often tried to read it since, but we have never been able to make out a word of it. Bonaparte might freely tease his attendants and secre- taries, but, in his early days at least, he took great pains to win the hearts of his soldiers. 429b. How Bonaparte's reception by the troops was nothing short Bonaparte f rapturous. It was well worth seeing how he talked to hearts of his t ^ le soldiers, — how he questioned them one after the other soldiers. respecting their campaigns or their wounds, taking par- (From ticular interest in the men who had accompanied him to Madame de r Remusat's kgypt. *■ have heard Madame Bonaparte say that her hus- Memoirs.) band was in the constant habit of poring over the list of what are called the cadres of the army at night before he slept. He would go to sleep repeating the names of the corps, and even those of some of the individuals who com- posed them ; he kept these names in a corner of his memory,