Nevertheless, her appeals to his generosity seemed to be thawing his statecraft, when the entrance of that unlucky man, her husband, gave the conversation a colder tone.

The dinner, however, passed cheerfully enough; and, according to French accounts, Napoleon graced the conclusion of dessert by offering her a rose.

Her woman's wit flew to the utterance: "May I consider it a token of friendship, and that you grant my request for Magdeburg ?" But he was on his guard, parried her onset with a general remark as to the way in which such civilities should be taken, and turned the conversation.

Then, as if he feared the result of a second interview, he hastened to end matters with the Prussian negotiators.[151] He thus described the interview in a letter to Josephine: "I have had to be on my guard against her efforts to oblige me to some concessions for her husband; but I have been gallant, and have held to my policy." This was only too clear on the following day, when the Queen again dined with the sovereigns.
"Napoleon," says the Countess von Voss, "seemed malicious and spiteful, and the conversation was brief and constrained.

After dinner the Queen again conversed apart with him.