The Balcombe children were greatly stirred up when they found that Napoleon was to be their neighbor, for the rooms to be assigned him were near, but not in, the main house. Their fear of the Emperor had almost wholly disappeared.
Continuing to praise the view, Napoleon asked that some chairs be brought out on the lawn.
"Come, Mademoiselle," he said to Betsy in French, "sit by me and talk. You speak French?"
"Yes, sir," replied Betsy with apparent calmness, though her heart was beating violently.
"Who taught you?"
"I learned in England, when I was at school."
"That is well, and what else did you study? Geography, I hope."
"Yes, sir."
"Then you can tell me what is the capital of France?"
"Paris, monsieur."