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Ch. XII.]
the Emperor Napoleon.
131

its gorging a goat, and the extraordinary appearance it presented after such a meal. The horns of the unfortunate animal, which had been put alive into the cage, seemed as if they must protrude through the snake's skin. The emperor observed, that he thought, from what he had heard, that the Marquess de M———, from the quantity of food he consumed, must resemble a bon constrictor. I understood that it was not thought advisable to comply with the emperor's wish to have the monster conveyed to Longwood.

Early one morning, whilst I was wandering about the gardens and plantations at Longwood, I encountered the emperor, who stopped, told me to come with him, and he would shew me some pretty toys. Such an invitation was not to be resisted, and I accordingly accompanied him to his billiard-room, where he displayed a most gorgeously carved set of chess-men, which had been presented to him by Mr. Elphin-

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