But the moment he saw the young man, Bonaparte's gloomy, or rather meditative, eye emitted a flash of joy.
"Ah, here you are, Roland!" he said.

"True as steel! Called, you come.
Welcome, my dear fellow." And he offered Roland his hand.

Then he asked, with an imperceptible smile, "What were you doing with Bourrienne ?" "Waiting for you, general." "And in the meantime gossiping like two old women." "I admit it, general.

I was showing him my order to be here on the 16th Brumaire." "Did I write the 16th or the 17th ?" "Oh! the 16th, general.

The 17th would have been too late." "Why too late ?" "Why, hang it, Bourrienne says there are to be great doings here on the 18th." "Capital," muttered Bourrienne; "the scatter-brain will earn me a wigging." "Ah! So he told you I had planned great doings for the 18th ?" Then, approaching Bourrienne, Bonaparte pinched his ear, and said, "Tell-tale!" Then to Roland he added: "Well, it is so, my dear fellow, we have made great plans for the 18th.