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all new publications of repute. Works of taste and imagination constitute, of course, a large portion of these public readings; novels, however, unless in particular instances, were not about his palaces. 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 extremely 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 importance, Napoleon knocked at the door of private communication, 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 galled "prisoners"-the same as what our schoolboys call "French and English," or "Deals." There is something very stricking 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 interview at Erfurth took place, was passed chiefly at St. Cloud, and might nearly be called the last of Josephine's happiness in 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 the greatest interest, the blaze of the torches were now throwing bold, broad, beautiful, and rich illumination upon
