One evening in the midst of the Reign of Terror, on returning from a walk through the streets of Paris, a lady asked him:
“How do you like the new Constitution?”
He replied hesitatingly: “Why, it is good in one sense, certainly; but all that is connected with carnage is bad;” and then he exclaimed in an outburst of undisguised feeling: “No! no! no! down with this constitution; I do not like it.”
1794. During the siege of Toulon, one of the agents of the convention ventured to criticise the position of a gun which Napoleon was superintending. “Do you,” he tartly replied, “attend to your duty as national commissioners, and I will be answerable for mine with my head.”
An officer, entering Napoleon’s room, found, much to his astonishment, Napoleon dressed and studying.
“What!” exclaimed his friend, “are you not in bed yet?”
“In bed!” replied Napoleon, “I have finished my sleep and already risen.”
“What, so early?” the other replied.