His majesty had scarcely reached his apartments when I was hastily sought and called for. You may easily conceive my astonishment and perturbation when I was told that the emperor desired to speak with me immediately. Now, in such a state of things, I had not once thought for several days of putting on my Sunday clothes; but, to say nothing of this, my mind was still less prepared for an interview with a hero, the mere sight of whom was enough to bow me down to the very ground. In this emergency courage alone could be of any service, and I rallied my spirits as well as the short notice would permit. I had done nothing amiss--at least that I knew of--and had performed my duty as _maître d'hotel_ to the best of my ability. After a general had taken charge of me, I mustered my whole stock of rhetorical flourishes, best calculated to win the favour of a mighty emperor. The general conducted me through a crowd of aid-de-camps and officers of all ranks. They took but little notice of such an insignificant being, and indeed scarcely deigned to bestow a look upon me. My conductor opened the door, and I entered with a heart throbbing violently. The emperor had pulled off his surtout, and had nobody with him. On the long table was spread a map of prodigious size. Rustan, the Mameluke, who has so long been falsely reported to be dead, was, as I afterwards learned, in the next room.--My presence of mind was all gone again when I came to be introduced to the emperor, and he must certainly have perceived by my looks that I was not a little confused. I was just going to begin the harangue which I had studied with such pains, and to stammer out something or other about the high and unexpected felicity of being presented to the most powerful, the most celebrated, and the most sincerely beloved monarch in the world, when he relieved me at once from my dilemma. He addressed me in French, speaking very quick, but distinctly, to the following effect:-- _Nap._ Are you the master of this house? _I._ No, please your majesty, only a servant. _N._ Where is the owner? _I._ He is in the city. He is advanced in years; and under the present circumstances has quitted his house leaving me to take care of it as well as I can. _N._ What is your master? _I._ He is in business, sire. _N._ In what line? _I._ He is a banker. _N._ (_Laughing._) Oho! then he is worth a plum, (_un millionaire_,) I suppose? _I._ Begging your majesty's pardon, indeed he is not. _N._ Well then, perhaps he may be worth two? _I._ Would to God I could answer your majesty in the affirmative. _N._ You lend money, I presume? _I._ Formerly we did, sire; but now we are glad to borrow. _N._ Yes, yes, I dare say you do a little in that way yet. What interest do you charge? _I._ We used to charge from 4 to 5 per cent.; now we would willingly give from 8 to 10. _N._ To whom were you used to lend money? _I._ To inferior tradesmen and manufacturers. _N._ You discount bills too, I suppose?