My wife and I dine with President Gohier; an excellent man, who was very polite to Josephine during my absence.

You are to dine with us, Roland." Roland looked at Bonaparte.

"Was it for that you brought me here, general ?" he asked, laughing.
"For that, and something else, too, perhaps.

Bourrienne, write--" Bourrienne hastily seized his pen.
"Are you ready ?" "Yes, general." "'My dear President, I write to let you know that my wife and I, with one of my aides-de-camp, will dine with you the day after to-morrow.
This is merely to say that we shall be quite satisfied with a family dinner.'" "What next ?" "How do you mean ?" "Shall I put, 'Liberty, equality, fraternity' ?" "Or death," added Roland.
"No," said Bonaparte; "give me the pen." He took the pen from Bourrienne's hands and wrote, "Ever yours, Bonaparte." Then, pushing away the paper, he added: "Address it, Bourrienne, and send an orderly with it." Bourrienne wrote the address, sealed it, and rang the bell.

An officer on duty entered.
"Send an orderly with that," said Bourrienne.
"There is an answer," added Bonaparte.
The officer closed the door.
"Bourrienne," said Bonaparte, pointing to Roland, "look at your friend." "Well, general, I am looking at him." "Do you know what he did at Avignon ?" "I hope he didn't make a pope." "No, he threw a plate at a man's head." "Oh, that was hasty!" "That's not all." "That I can well imagine." "He fought a duel with that man." "And, most naturally, he killed him." "Exactly.