NAPOLEON IN POVERTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1934, Page 10

NAPOLEON IN POVERTY

REVENGE OF TIME. Napoleon I. 'never forgot anything, least, the days of his poverty and the slights ho then received. When he first paid court to Madanie de Beauharnais, neither was rich enough to keep a carriage; and the young hero, who was deeply in love, often gave the charming widow his arm when she went to visit her man of business, a notary named Raguideaii. Madame, who had great confidence in this legal adviser, who was a friend as well, went to see him immediately after her engagement to Bonaparte; who, as Usual, accompanied her, but, from motives of delicacy, did , not enter the notary’s cabinet, but remained in an adjoining room, where several clerks

were writing. The door being imperfectly closed, he here heard nearly all that was said during the interview, and especially the arguments used by Ragiiideau to deter Madame de Beaubarnais from the marriage shd acknow- , [edged herself about to contract. > “Mark my. words, madariic,” said the ; notary earnestly, “you are . about to • commit a, great folly, of which you i will bitterly repent. Why, this man i you are about to espouse has nothing - in the World but a cape and a sword!” ! Eight years after, Napoleon, on the . day of his coronation, as soon as he , was invested with his iriiperial routes, [ said “Let them seek Raguideau; have him come instantly. I have something to say to him.” The notary Was brought and stood much astonished .before tlie Emperor, who, with bis peculiar sardonic smile, said to him, “Eh, bion, monsieur, have I nothing , in the world but a cape and-a sword?”