"What a tragedy begins," said General Almonte, shuddering, as he followed slowly; "and what a conclusion lies in the lap of the future!" * * * * * Late in the afternoon, the brilliant carriages belonging to the aristocracy, the _haute finance_, and the foreign diplomacy, drove slowly round the Bois de Boulogne. The whole Paris world had remained in town, the universal interest in the European crisis chained them to the capital; and the whole world took its accustomed slow drive before dinner, along the beautiful shores of the two lakes, in the charming, wonderfully-kept Bois de Boulogne. Between the imposing heavy-looking carriages with their powdered servants, drove the carriages belonging to the 'demi-monde,' light and graceful, with spirited prancing steeds; and the young gentlemen, without regarding the displeased looks of the ladies of the 'grande monde,' rode close to these carriages, laughingly and jestingly replying to the piquant remarks made by the ladies of the avant-scène and the Café anglais. In an open caleche drawn by four beautiful brown horses, preceded by two piqueurs in green and gold, with an officer riding near the door, drove the emperor amongst the lively varied throng. Beside him sat General Fleury. Napoleon's face beamed with good humour, he conversed with animation to the general, responding with gracious empressement, right and left, to the salutes he received, whilst the brilliant equipage drove slowly three times round the lake. An hour later all Paris knew that the emperor was in excellent health, and that affairs must be going on well, since his majesty showed such remarkable cheerfulness. The emperor was in the same good spirits at the dinner to which the marshals and several distinguished officers were invited. The _cercle_ was over, the sun had set, and the warm darkness of evening was spread over the gigantic city. The emperor entered his cabinet. He laid aside the uniform he had worn at dinner, and put on a plain black frock coat. As soon as his valet had gone he called Piétri. "Is my carriage without livery ready?" he asked. "It is waiting at the side door as your majesty commanded." "You have told me of that remarkable pupil of Lenormand," said the emperor. "Morny, too, has spoken to me of her, Madame Moreau, is she not?" Piétri smiled. "She has really foretold things in a wonderful way; I once visited her myself, and I was much struck by her prophecies." "And were they fulfilled?" asked the emperor. "Much, sire, that she foretold happened." "I will hear her," said Napoleon; "come with me." And he went down the staircase leading to his room; followed by his secretary. They walked along a corridor, and passed through a side door into an inner court of the Tuileries; here stood a plain carriage with two black horses, a coachman, not in livery, sat on the box; it looked like a doctor's carriage. The emperor stepped in.