recognized at once; and his Majesty promised to obey in every particular
what he called my instructions. He had hardly entered the room in his
new costume, however, before he was accosted by a lady, who, seeing him
with his hands again crossed behind his back, said, "Sire, you are
recognized! "The Emperor immediately let his arms fall; but it was too
late, for already every one moved aside respectfully to make room for
him. He then returned to his room, and took a third costume, promising
me implicitly to pay attention to his gestures and his walk, and offering
to bet that he would not be recognized. This time, in fact, he entered
the hall as if it were a barrack, pushing and elbowing all around him;
but, in spite of this, some one whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty is
recognized." A new disappointment, new change of costume, and new advice
on my part, with the same result; until at last his Majesty left the
ambassador's ball, persuaded that he could not be disguised, and that the
Emperor would be recognized whatever mask he might assume.

That evening at supper, the Prince de Neuchatel, the Duke de Trevise, the
Duke de Frioul, and some other officers being present, the Emperor
related the history of his disguises, and made many jests on his
awkwardness. In speaking of the young lady who had recognized him the
evening before, and who had, it appeared, puzzled him greatly, "Can you
believe it, Messieurs," said he, "I never succeeded in recognizing the
little wretch at all?" During the carnival the Empress expressed a wish
to go once to the masked ball at the opera; and when she begged the
Emperor to accompany her he refused, in spite of all the tender and
enticing things the Empress could say, and all the grace with which, as
is well known, she could surround a petition. She found that all was
useless, as the Emperor said plainly that he would not go. "Well, I will
go without you."--"As you please," and the Emperor went out.