From under his puckered brows his light-blue eyes glanced swiftly round with a sweep like a sabre.
'I am here, Sire!' A dark, grizzled, middle-aged man, in a naval uniform, had advanced from the throng.

Napoleon took three quick little steps towards him in so menacing a fashion, that I saw the weather-stained cheeks of the sailor turn a shade paler, and he gave a helpless glance round him, as if for assistance.
'How comes it, Admiral Bruix,' cried the Emperor, in the same terrible rasping voice, 'that you did not obey my commands last night ?' 'I could see that a westerly gale was coming up, Sire.

I knew that--,' he could hardly speak for his agitation, 'I knew that if the ships went out with this lee shore--' 'What right have you to judge, sir ?' cried the Emperor, in a cold fury of indignation.

'Do you conceive that your judgment is to be placed against mine ?' 'In matters of navigation, Sire.' 'In no matters whatsoever.' 'But the tempest, Sire! Did it not prove me to be in the right ?' 'What! You still dare to bandy words with me ?' 'When I have justice on my side.' There was a hush amidst all the great audience; such a heavy silence as comes only when many are waiting, and all with bated breath.
The Emperor's face was terrible.

His cheeks were of a greenish, livid tint, and there was a singular rotary movement of the muscles of his forehead.