I told him I had been sight-seeing in Compiègne, and I hoped he would forgive me.
The Empress smiled and nodded to me in the most gracious manner across the table, as if to put me at my ease.
The Emperor told me that he had sent up to Paris for a game of croquet, having heard from Prince Metternich that we all loved so much to play it, adding that he would like to see the game himself. "We are going to have a mock battle this afternoon," said he. "All these generals and officers who are here have come from everywhere to take part I think it will amuse you to see it, if you have never seen anything of the kind."
I assured him I had never seen a battle, mock or otherwise, and had no idea what it could be like.
"Well, you shall see," he said.
"Is there," I inquired, "as much firing as yesterday?"
"Much more; but this time with cannons," he replied.
"I hope the cannon-balls are also mock," I ventured to say.
I told the Emperor of the poetry which Gautier had sent to me, and, having it in my hand, showed it to him, saying, "Ought I to forgive him?"
"You ought to forgive him," he said. "This is the most exquisite thing I ever have read."