Grand place I had then--park, conservatory, servants. He had only one
fault, that Duke of Wellington's nephew," said Bonaparte, observing that
the German was deeply interested in every word, "He was a coward--what you
might call a coward. You've never been in Russia, I suppose?" said
Bonaparte, fixing his crosswise looking eyes on the German's face.

"No, no," said the old man humbly. "France, England, Germany, a little in
this country; it is all I have travelled."

"I, my friend," said Bonaparte, "I have been in every country in the world,
and speak every civilised language, excepting only Dutch and German. I
wrote a book of my travels--noteworthy incidents. Publisher got it--
cheated me out of it. Great rascals those publishers! Upon one occasion
the Duke of Wellington's nephew and I were travelling in Russia. All of a
sudden one of the horses dropped down dead as a doornail. There we were--
cold night--snow four feet thick--great forest--one horse not being able to
move the sledge--night coming on--wolves.

"'Spree!' says the Duke of Wellington's nephew.

"'Spree, do you call it? says I. 'Look out.'

"There, sticking out under a bush, was nothing less than the nose of a
bear. The Duke of Wellington's nephew was up a tree like a shot; I stood
quietly on the ground, as cool as I am at this moment, loaded my gun, and
climbed up the tree. There was only one bough.

"'Bon,' said the Duke of Wellington's nephew, 'you'd better sit in front.'

"'All right,' said I; 'but keep your gun ready. There are more coming.'