believe once more in the fables of pagan mythology, and feel
satisfied that Jove the Thunderer had deigned to descend once more
into our human world."

Bonaparte smiled, and this smile lighted up his face, previously so
stern and rigid.

"You are a flatterer and a courtier," he said, playfully pinching
Bourrienne's ear so violently that the latter was scarcely able to
conceal a shriek of pain under a smile. "Yes, indeed, you are a
regular courtier, and the republic has done well to banish you, for
flattery is something very aristocratic, and injurious to our stiff
republican dignity. And what an idea, to compare me to Jove
appearing on earth! Don't you know, then, you learned scholar and
flatterer, that Jove, whenever he descended from Olympus, was in
pursuit of a very worldly and entirely ungodly adventure? It would
only remain for you to inform my Josephine that I was about to
transform myself into an ox for the sake of some beautiful Europa,
or drop down in the shape of a golden rain to gain the love of a
Danae."

"General, the sagacious and spirited Josephine would believe the
former to be impossible, for even if you should succeed in
performing all the miracles of the world, you could never transform
yourself into an ox."

"What! you compared me a minute ago with Jove, and now you doubt
already whether I could accomplish what Jove has done!" exclaimed
Bonaparte, laughing. "Ah, flatterer, you see I have caught you in
your own meshes. But would my Josephine believe, then, that I could