, 1890-02-14

At the commencement Of his career
the great Napoleon fell in with an ardent
revolutionist. NJ. Paul Francois Barras,
who took a great liking to the young
Corsican, and conceived the highest
opinion of his abilities and of the powers
which, vents proved, he possessed IN so
remarkable a degree. But in the opinion
of Barras, Napoleon's want of means
was a most serious obstacle to his chance
of achieving fame. and he proposes to
remedy this by selecting for him a rich
wife. Now. whether 1t was that he did
not number among his acquaintance
many women with the requisite dot, or
whether he thought that his ~portege's
fiery youth would be better for the re-
straining influence which a wife of some
experience in the ways of the world
would no doubt be able to exert, Barras
chose for this position a woman who.
though still undeniably handsome, vas
no longer young.
Though she was called Mile. Montan-
sier, she was in reality a widow, who,
because she had been on the stage, had
never adopted the name of her husband.
She was go years OF age. but it was said
that she made herself appear to be not
more than 40 by the intimate knowl-
edge that she possessed of the secrets OF
the toilet table.
DIPLoMACYooF BARRAs
Barras made up his mind that it was
imperative to the success of Napoleon's
career that he should make this elderly
lady his wife, and accordingly he set
himself to work to bring about the
match by impressing upon each of them
the advantages hat would result from
it. To Napoleon he dilated upon the
power that would follow the acquisition
OF the wealth which Mile. Montansier
could give him; to the lady he enlarged
on the position that his talented young
friend was bound to make for himself,
and that would, of course, be shared by
his wife.
For tho purpose of introducing the
couple to each other, he decided
upon giving a supper, to which they
were both invited. he SO arranged
matters that they were placed together
at the table, and hoped that this precau.
ton, added to the ~injunctions which he
had given to Napoleon to behave for
once in his life with some show of civil.
ity to a lady, would have the happiest re-
suit. But in this he was fated to be dis
appointed. Napoleon was quite the last
man to rely upon in such a respect. His
manners toward the fair sex were those
of a costermonger. and though he could
generally hold his own in a conversation
with men, he was entirely without the
knack of making himself interesting or
agreeable to women. He felt that his
place was In the camp or the field, and
he was quite out Of his element among
the conventionalities of a salon.
Had he been inclined to WOO, it would
have been in a straightforward, soldier
like fashion, not with the dallyings and
compliments SO dear TO the French woman
of his time. So, presently, Barras had
the modification of seeing Mile. Montan.
sier, her back turned to Napoleon, en-,
gaging in a lively conversation witt the
gentleman on the other side, while the
future conqueror was making, with little
pellets of bread, n plan of battle on the
table before him. Hardly a word passed
between the two during the remainder
of the meal. Barras watched with grow
ing annoyance the Indifference of Ma
poleon, and felt his plans melting into
thin air as he saw the evident delight
with which the widow turned from him
to the more entertaining companion she
had found elsewhere.
Supper over, Barras drew Napoleon
aside and spoke forcibly to him of the
foolish way in which he was throwing
away his chances. you know" said
he, that money is everything to you;
here are 1000, 900 francs, and you will
mot Str,f,b n,,t r,,,r ln.l - g. L. h..
a most attractive woman, and you will
not show her the smallest ~gallantry.
Mile. Montansier has come here this
evening prepared to lear a declaration
from you. Strike while the iron is hot,
and win the wealth that you cannot do
without at one bold stroke"
THE woman Ia old enough to be my
grandmother" said Napoleon, who was
then % years old; but that is no mat
ter, for to me all women are alike.
Money is what l want; and, if l cannot
get it without a wife, l must take the
two together. l am no coiner of pretty
speeches, but before the evening is over
l will say to her: 'Mademoiselle, are
you willing to accept me as your hus.
bandT More than that l cannot do"
The very kind of proposal that any
woman would expect from a blunt sol,
der" replied Barras. "Say that, and
desire no more. You are to be envied,
for, besides her wealth, mademoiselle IL
very handsome still"
II FoREsTALLED
Napoleon turned away with a gesture
of impatieuce; but half an hour latel
Barras noticed, to his joy, that the two
were alone together in a recess. Presently
Napoleon got up and went away, anC
the lady beckOned to Barras with he
fan Take away that dreadful little
man" h said with a shudder; che hal
bored me to death, and l only prevented
him from proposing by sending him fo
a glass of lemonade"
But why prevent him?" said Barras
He will be a great man yet"
give myself and my money to such
little horror, such an ill-mannered boo
as that!" replied mademoiselle. Never
l would o take the first beggar mar
cut of the streets. What have l don,
that l should be given such a wretchet
evening? Don't let your
But at this moment she was checked
by h arrival of Napoleon with tn,
lemonade. Barras hurried AWAY. still