How about Gohier ?" "He hasn't come." "Nor his wife ?" "She is here." Bonaparte pushed Josephine aside with his hand and entered the salon.

He found Madame Gohier alone and very pale.
"What!" said he, without any preamble, "isn't the President coming ?" "He was unable to do so, general," replied Madame Gohier.
Bonaparte repressed a movement of impatience.

"He absolutely must come," said he.

"Write him that I await him, and I will have the note sent." "Thank you, general," replied Madame Gohier; "my servants are here, and they can attend to that." "Write, my dear friend, write," said Josephine, offering her paper and pen and ink.
Bonaparte stood so that he could see over her shoulder what she wrote.
Madame Gohier looked fixedly at him, and he drew back with a bow.

She wrote the note, folded it, and looked about her for the sealing-wax; but, whether by accident or intention, there was none.