(Napoleon promptly sits up and looks at him with an interest
which entirely justifies the implied epigram.)

NAPOLEON. How old is she?

GIUSEPPE. The right age, excellency.

NAPOLEON. Do you mean seventeen or thirty?

GIUSEPPE. Thirty, excellency.

NAPOLEON. Goodlooking?

GIUSEPPE. I cannot see with your excellency's eyes: every man
must judge that for himself. In my opinion, excellency, a fine
figure of a lady. (Slyly.) Shall I lay the table for her
collation here?

NAPOLEON (brusquely, rising). No: lay nothing here until the
officer for whom I am waiting comes back. (He looks at his watch,
and takes to walking to and fro between the fireplace and the
vineyard.)

GIUSEPPE (with conviction). Excellency: believe me, he has been
captured by the accursed Austrians. He dare not keep you waiting
if he were at liberty.

NAPOLEON (turning at the edge of the shadow of the veranda).
Giuseppe: if that turns out to be true, it will put me into such
a temper that nothing short of hanging you and your whole