gave rise to one of those slight misunderstandings which we have
noticed. Napoleon was accustomed, like all Frenchmen, to leave the table
immediately after dinner, and Sir George Cockburn, with the English
officers, remained after him at table; for, in permitting his French
guests their liberty, the admiral did not choose to admit the right of
Napoleon to break up the party at his, Sir George's, own table. This
gave some discontent. Notwithstanding these trifling subjects of
dissatisfaction, Las Cases informs us that the admiral, whom he took to
be prepossessed against them at first, became every day more amicable.
The emperor used to take his arm every evening on the quarter-deck, and
hold long conversations with him upon maritime subjects, as well as past
events in general.

While on board the Northumberland, the late emperor spent his mornings
in reading or writing; his evenings in his exercise upon deck, and at
cards. The game was generally _vingt un_. But when the play became
rather deep, he discouraged that amusement, and substituted chess. Great
tactician as he was, Napoleon did not play well at that military game,
and it was with difficulty that his antagonist, Montholon, could avoid
the solecism, of beating the emperor.

During this voyage, Napoleon's _jour de fete_ occurred, which was also
his birthday. It was the 15th of August; a day for which the Pope had
expressly canonized a St. Napoleon to be the emperor's patron. And now,
strange revolution, it was celebrated by him on board of an English
man-of-war, which was conducting him to his place of imprisonment, and,
as it proved, his tomb. Yet Napoleon seemed cheerful and contented
during the whole day, and was even pleased at being fortunate at play,
which he received as a good omen.