Enter JOSEPHINE and NAPOLEON together, somewhat out of breath. With careless suppleness she slides down on a couch and fans herself. Now that the candle-rays reach her they show her mellow complexion, her velvety eyes with long lashes, mouth with pointed corners and excessive mobility beneath its _duvet_, and curls of dark hair pressed down upon the temples by a gold band. The EMPEROR drops into a seat near her, and they remain in silence till he jumps up, knocks over some nicknacks with his elbow, and begins walking about the boudoir.] NAPOLEON [with sudden gloom] These mindless games are very well, my friend; But ours to-night marks, not improbably, The last we play together. JOSEPHINE [starting] Can you say it! Why raise that ghastly nightmare on me now, When, for a moment, my poor brain had dreams Denied it all the earlier anxious day? NAPOLEON Things that verge nigh, my simple Josephine, Are not shoved off by wilful winking at. Better quiz evils with too strained an eye Than have them leap from disregarded lairs. JOSEPHINE Maybe 'tis true, and you shall have it so!-- Yet there's no joy save sorrow waived awhile. NAPOLEON Ha, ha! That's like you. Well, each day by day I get sour news. Each hour since we returned From this queer Spanish business at Bayonne, I have had nothing else; and hence by brooding. JOSEPHINE But all went well throughout our touring-time? NAPOLEON Not so--behind the scenes. Our arms a Baylen Have been smirched badly. Twenty thousand shamed All through Dupont's ill-luck! The selfsame day My brother Joseph's progress to Madrid Was glorious as a sodden rocket's fizz! Since when his letters creak with querulousness. “Napoleon el chico” 'tis they call him-- “Napoleon the Little,” so he says. Then notice Austria. Much looks louring there, And her sly new regard for England grows. The English, next, have shipped an army down To Mondego, under one Wellesley, A man from India, and his march is south To Lisbon, by Vimiero. On he'll go And do the devil's mischief ere he is met By unaware Junot, and chevyed back To English fogs and fumes! JOSEPHINE My dearest one, You have mused on worse reports with better grace Full many and many a time. Ah--there is more!... I know; I know! NAPOLEON [kicking away a stool] There is, of course; that worm Time ever keeps in hand for gnawing me!-- The question of my dynasty--which bites Closer and closer as the years wheel on. JOSEPHINE