[Illustration: DEMOCRATIC HUMILITY. Bonaparte when a boy received thro’ the King’s bounty into the Ecole Militaire at Paris.] ‘My sister, who was some years older than I, told him that since he wore a sword he ought to be gallant to ladies; and, instead of being angry, should be happy that they joked with him. “You are nothing but a child--a little _pensionnaire_,” said Napoleon, in a tone of contempt. Cecile, who was twelve or thirteen years of age, was highly indignant at being called a child, and she hastily resented the affront by replying to Bonaparte, “And you are nothing but a _puss in boots_.” This excited a general laugh among all present, except Napoleon, whose rage I will not attempt to describe. Though not much accustomed to society, he had too much tact not to perceive that he ought to be silent when personalities were introduced, and his adversary was a woman. ‘Though deeply mortified at the unfortunate nickname which my sister had given him, yet he affected to forget it; and to prove that he cherished no malice on the subject, he got a little toy made, and gave it to me. This toy consisted of a cat in boots, in the character of a footman running before the carriage of the Marquis de Carabas. It was very well made, and must have been rather expensive to him considering his straitened finances. He brought along with it a pretty little edition of the popular tale of _Puss in Boots_, which he presented to my sister, begging her to keep it as a _token of his remembrance_.’ Napoleon afterwards frequently called Junot, _Marquis de Carabas_, and, on one occasion, Madame Junot, in badinage, reminded Napoleon of his present to her, at which he got very angry. During his sub-lieutenancy he was very poor, yet he managed to go to Corsica for six months, whilst Paoli, who had been living in England, was there. There is a curious idea that, about this time (mentioned in more places than one[21]), he applied for service under the British Government. At this time Bonaparte scarce knew What for his maintenance to do-- So he sat down, and quickly wrote A very condescending note, (Altho’ a wretched scrawl when written), Which to a Chieftain of Great Britain, He, soon as possible, dispatch’d, In which he swore he was attach’d Unto the British Constitution, And therefore form’d the resolution Of fighting in that country’s cause, For George the Third, and for his laws, If that his services were needed, And to his wishes they acceded. It seems that Bonaparte could trade well, He’d fight for any one that paid well; But he a disappointment got, Because his services were not By Britain’s chief Commander tried; The rank he sought for was denied. This was the cause of great displeasure, It mortified him above measure, And he gave England now as many a Curse, as before he e’er gave Genoa.