"The mother's heart," she said, "is the most lasting cradle."
Then she enquired about Madame Bonaparte, whom above all living people Napoleon honoured, and the Empress Josephine, and Napoleon's good humour came back and he talked steadily through the whole dinner, everybody being forced to listen and eat in silence.
"That odious man," whispered the Countess Tauentzein, when at last they arose from dinner; "he has the manners of a peasant."
"And how ugly," answered Countess von Voss. "Did you notice how fat he is, and how bloated his face, and how brown his complexion?"
"He is altogether without figure, the wretch!" answered the other. "See how he rolls his great eyes, and how severe is his expression!"
"But his mouth is beautiful," admitted the old Countess, "and his teeth perfect. But see how he looks the very picture of success!" She lowered her voice cautiously. "But what a happy day it will be for the world when God takes him!"
As for Napoleon, his eyes never left the Queen. He followed her everywhere.
For a moment she stood alone in the room, in whose window-seat stood a pot in which grew a rosebush with one lovely flower.
Napoleon broke off its stem, and bearing it in his hand he approached the Queen and offered it to her, smiling.
"Sire," she said, her blue eyes pleading, "with Magdeburg?"