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ned later in the day strongly confirmed this opinion。
After dark； about six o'clock； I took a stroll by myself through the town of Compiegne。 Coming home； when crossing the bridge below the Palace； I met the Emperor arm…in…arm with Walewski。 Not ten minutes afterwards； whom should I stumble upon but the ruffian who had seized the Emperor's bridle？ The same red comforter was round his neck； the same wild look was in his face。 I turned after he had passed； and at the same moment he turned to look at me。
Would this man have been at large but for the Emperor's orders？ Assuredly not。 For； supposing he were crazy； who could have answered for his deeds？ Most likely he was shadowed； and to a certainty the Emperor would be so。 Still； what could save the latter from a pistol…shot？ Yet； here he was； sauntering about the badly lighted streets of a town where his kenspeckle figure was familiar to every inhabitant。 Call this fatalism if you will； but these were not the acts of a coward。 I told this story to a friend who was well 'posted' in the club gossip of the day。 He laughed。
'Don't you know the meaning of Kinglake's spite against the Emperor？' said he。 'CHERCHEZ LA FEMME。 Both of them were in love with Mrs。 … '
This is the way we write our histories。
Wishing to explore the grounds about the palace before anyone was astir； I went out one morning about half…past eight。 Seeing what I took to be a mausoleum； I walked up to it； found the door opened； and peeped in。 It turned out to be a museum of Roman antiquities； and the Emperor was inside； arranging them。 I immediately withdrew； but he called to me to come in。
He was at this time busy with his Life of Caesar； and； in his enthusiasm； seemed pleased to have a listener to his instructive explanations； he even encouraged the curiosity which the valuable collection and his own remarks could not fail to awaken。
Not long ago； I saw some correspondence in the Times' and other papers about what Heine calls 'Das kleine welthistorische Hutchen；' which the whole of Europe knew so well； to its cost。 Some six or seven of the Buonaparte hats； so it appears； are still in existence。 But I noticed； that though all were located； no mention was made of the one in the Luxembourg。
When we left Compiegne for Paris we were magnificently furnished with orders for royal boxes at theatres； and for admission to places of interest not open to the public。 Thus provided； we had access to many objects of historical interest and of art … amongst the former； the relics of the great conqueror。 In one glass case； under lock and key； was the 'world…historical little hat。' The official who accompanied us； having stated that we were the Emperor's guests； requested the keeper to take it out and show it to us。 I hope no Frenchman will know it； but； I put the hat upon my head。 In one sense it was a 'little' hat … that is to say； it fitted a man with a moderate sized skull … but the flaps were much larger than pictures would lead one to think； and such was the weight that I am sure it would give any ordinary man accustomed to our head…gear a still neck to wear it for an hour。 What has become of this hat if it is not still in the Luxembourg？
CHAPTER XLV
SOME few years later； while travelling with my family in Switzerland； we happened to be staying at Baveno on Lago Maggiore at the same time； and in the same hotel； as the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany。 Their Imperial Highnesses occupied a suite of apartments on the first floor。 Our rooms were immediately above them。 As my wife was known to the Princess； occasional greetings passed from balcony to balcony。
One evening while watching two lads rowing from the shore in the direction of Isola Bella； I was aroused from my contemplation of a gathering storm by angry vociferations beneath me。 These were addressed to the youths in the boat。 The anxious father had noted the coming tempest； and； with hands to his mouth； was shouting orders to the young gentlemen to return。 Loud and angry as cracked the thunder； the imperial voice o'ertopped it。 Commands succeeded admonitions； and as the only effect on the rowers was obvious recalcitrancy； oaths succeeded both： all in those throat… clearing tones to which the German language so consonantly lends itself。 In a few minutes the boat was immersed in the down…pour which concealed it。
The elder of the two oarsmen was no other than the future firebrand peacemaker； Miching Mallecho； our fierce little Tartarin de Berlin。 One wondered how he； who would not be ruled； would come in turn to rule？ That question is a burning one； and may yet set the world in flames to solve it。
A comic little incident happened here to my own children。 There was but one bathing…machine。 This； the two … a schoolboy and his sister … used in the early morning。 Being rather late one day； they found it engaged； and growing impatient the boy banged at the door of the machine； with a shout in schoolboy's vernacular： 'Come； hurry up； we want to dip。' Much to the surprise of the guilty pair； an answer； also in the best of English； came from the inside： 'Go away； you naughty boy。' The occupant was the Imperial Princess。 Needless to say the children bolted with a mingled sense of mischief and alarm。
About this time I joined a society for the relief of distress； of which Bromley Davenport was the nominal leader。 The 'managing director；' so to speak； was Dr。 Gilbert； father of Mr。 W。 S。 Gilbert。 To him I went for instructions。 I told him I wanted to see the worst。 He accordingly sent me to Bethnal Green。 For two winters and part of a third I visited this district twice a week regularly。 What I saw in the course of those two years was matter for a thoughtful … ay； or a thoughtless … man to think of for the rest of his days。
My system was to call first upon the clergyman of the parish； and obtain from him a guide to the severest cases of destitution。 The guide would be a Scripture reader； and； as far as I remember； always a woman。 I do not know whether the labours of these good creatures were gratuitous … they themselves were certainly poor； yet singularly earnest and sympathetic。 The society supplied tickets for coal； blankets； and food。 Needless to say； had these supplies been a thousand…fold as great； they would have done as little permanent good as those at my command。
In Bethnal Green the principal industry is； or was； silk… weaving by hand looms。 Nearly all the houses were ancient and dilapidated。 A weaver and his family would occupy part of a flat； consisting of two rooms perhaps； one of which would contain his loom。 The room might be about seven feet high； nearly dark； lighted only by a lattice window； half of the panes of which would be replaced by dirty rags or old newspaper。 As the loom was placed against the window the light was practically excluded。 The foulness of the air and filth which this entailed may be too easily imagined。 A couple of cases； taken almost at random； will sample scores as bad。
It is one of the darkest days of December。 The Tham