CHAPTER VIII
THE GOVERNOR'S RULES
After Napoleon had been at St. Helena a few months, newspapers from England began to arrive with narratives of many of the happenings at The Briars.
One journal contained a letter from the Marquis de Montchenu, describing all the romping games at The Briars, such as the game of blindman's buff, the sword scare, and other things in which the children had taken part.
Special comments were made on the manners of Betsy, and the writer said, "She is the wildest little girl I have ever met; she seems folle." This letter had been translated into French and German journals, so that Betsy Balcombe's name was now widely known.
Mr. Balcombe was greatly enraged by this letter, and wished to call the Marquis to account for his ill nature, but Mrs. Balcombe persuaded him to desist from extreme measures, and in the end the Marquis himself made an apology.
Napoleon found some amusement in Betsy's fierce anger against the critical Frenchman. One day Dr. O'Meara called at The Briars, on the way to St. James Valley, with a message from Napoleon to tell Betsy how she could revenge herself on the tale-bearer.
The Marquis, a noble of the old school, was in the habit of wearing an elaborate wig with a long cue.
"Mees Betsy, if you will burn off the cue with caustic, I will reward you with the prettiest fan in Solomon's shop, if you will send the pigtail to me," suggested Napoleon to Betsy as a plan of revenge.
"Eh, bien," said the Emperor, when next he saw Betsy, "Mdlle. Betsy, as tu obei mes ordres et gagné l'éventail?" ["Have you obeyed my orders and won the fan?">[