"What! For me alone?" asked the child, in dismay. "You will not live with me in the palace?"
"No, sire. The King of Rome must have a palace of his own where he will reside with his court."
"Papa emperor, I thank you for your New-Year's gift," said the boy, sullenly; "I thank you, but do not accept it. I do not want a palace of my own. I thank your majesty, but prefer remaining at the Tuileries."
"But, sire, just think of it—a splendid palace belonging to you alone!"
"I do not want to live alone!"
"Well, sire, then you will request your beautiful mother, the empress, to live with you. Will that be sufficient?"
The boy glanced quickly and anxiously around the room, as if to satisfy himself that neither the empress nor Madame de Montesquiou was present; he then threw both his arms round the emperor's neck, and exclaimed, "I want to be where you are, papa!"
Napoleon pressed his lips with passionate tenderness on his son's head. "Well, sire," he said, in a voice tremulous with love, "I believe your wishes will have to be complied with. As soon as your palace is completed I shall live with you. Do you accept your palace on this condition?"
"Yes, my dear papa emperor," exclaimed the prince, joyously, "now I accept it, and thank you for it."
"Well, you hear that, Fontaine," said Napoleon, turning toward his architect. "You may begin the construction of the palace; the King of Rome accepts it. I sanction this second plan. Build a magnificent villa, and it must be completed in two years. In two years—"