Never did a King make a more unfortunate answer.
Napoleon turned away with a glare, and after inviting the King and Queen to dine with him, departed, followed by Talleyrand, his whole mood changed to hardness.
When they were below the Minister looked inquiringly at the Emperor.
"I knew," said Napoleon, his eyes firing, "that I should see a beautiful woman and a Queen with dignified manners, but I found a most admirable Queen and at the same time the most interesting woman I ever met with." Again his face looked soft and almost yielding.
Talleyrand's laughter rang out in sarcastic mockery.
"And so, sire," he said, with a sneer, "you will sacrifice the fruits of victory to a beautiful woman. What will the world say?" His voice was mocking.
Napoleon flushed and bit his lip, the hard look returning.
Talleyrand, seizing the moment, hastened to show what a gain Magdeburg would be to French interests and how its loss would cripple Napoleon.
"You cannot give it up, sire," he pleaded; "you cannot."
Napoleon, his lips curling in amusement, shook his head. He was again the Emperor, the Conqueror.