in every circumstance relative to Brienne, however minute, and might very possibly have admitted me, had he known more particularly who I was. He added, that Buonaparte had already made some inquiries respecting the Lyra’s voyage to the East, but was not sufficiently interested by what he had heard, to see me on that account alone; and that some farther motive was wanting to induce him to afford me an audience. It was now, however, long past his usual hour of seeing company, and Dr. O’Meara recommended us to go away for the night, promising, if an opportunity occurred, to speak to him on the subject; and, if anything encouraging took place, to inform the Governor of it by telegraph. With this slender hope we again left Longwood; my friends took the direct road to James’s Town, while I recrossed the hills to Plantation-House.
“We were greatly surprised next morning not to receive any telegraphic message, favourable or otherwise; but I kept my horse at the door, saddled, and all ready to start at a moment’s warning. At one o’clock it was discovered that a signal had been made and duly received, more than an hour before, at the gate of Plantation-House, to the following effect: – ‘General Buonaparte wishes to see Captain Hall at two o’clock.’ The signal-man, knowing nothing of me, naturally conceived that I must be in James’s Town, and repeated the signal to the Fort, near the anchorage; so that it was not until the message had been transmitted back again from the town to Plantation-House, that I knew anything of the matter.
“It was as much as I could now do to save my time, by galloping at the risk of my neck over the hills to Longwood, at the gate of which I found the other gentlemen, who had hurried from the ship on hearing of the signal. The Countess Bertrand, to whose house we were conducted, was un-affectedly delighted to hear the news. Her rooms were now all in order, the toothache gone, and everything wore a more smiling aspect than on the day before.
"The Count informed us it was the Emperor’s desire that I should be introduced first, alone, and my companions afterwards, together. As I had been told of his impatient manner to those who understood French imperfectly, I requested General Bertrand to be present, in case I should happen not to understand what was said, or, from want of familiarity with the language, not be able to make myself understood. He assured me that there need be no difficulty on this head; and observed, that I was quite mistaken in supposing the Emperor at all impatient on such occasions, since, on the contrary, he was extremely considerate, and always ready to make allowances. Thus reassured, I proceeded to an anti-room, where I waited for about ten minutes, till a servant announced, that his Majesty the Emperor was ready to receive me.
“On entering the room, I saw Buonaparte standing before the fire, with his head leaning on his hand, and his elbow resting on the chimney. piece. He looked up, and came forward two paces, returning my salutation with a careless sort of bow, or nod. His first question was, ‘What is your name?’