He did not appear to be paying the least attention to me, but it seems that he was really watching me closely, for he turned upon me when he had finished his dictation.
'You appear to be surprised, Monsieur de Laval, that I should be able to transact my naval business without having my minister of marine at my elbow; but it is one of my rules to know and to do things for myself.
Perhaps if these good Bourbons had had the same habit they would not now be living amidst the fogs of England.' 'One must have your Majesty's memory in order to do it,' I observed.
'It is the result of system,' said he.

'It is as if I had drawers in my brain, so that when I opened one I could close the others.

It is seldom that I fail to find what I want there.

I have a poor memory for names or dates, but an excellent one for facts or faces.

There is a good deal to bear in mind, Monsieur de Laval.