At the far end was a door which led into the Imperial council chamber.

Now and then I saw some man in official dress walk up to this door, scratch gently upon it with his nail, and then, as it instantly opened, slip discreetly through, closing it softly behind him.
Over the whole assembly there hung an air of the Court rather than of the camp, an atmosphere of awe and of reverence which was the more impressive when it affected these bluff soldiers and sailors.
The Emperor had seemed to me to be formidable in the distance, but I found him even more overwhelming now that he was close at hand.
'You need have no fears, Monsieur de Laval,' said my companion.
'You are going to have a good reception.' 'How do you know that ?' 'From General Duroc's manner.

In these cursed Courts, if the Emperor smiles upon you everyone smiles, down to that flunkey in the red velvet coat yonder.

But if the Emperor frowns, why, you have only to look at the face of the man who washes the Imperial plates, and you will see the frown reflected upon it.

And the worst of it is that, if you are a plain-witted man, you may never find out what earned you either the frown or the smile.