His Majesty walked up to the piano while I was playing and said, "But,
Madame, you will tire yourself; you really must stop and let some one take
your place."
I replied: "If your Majesty only knew what a pleasure it is for me to play
this piano! I had one like it when I was a little girl, and have never
seen one since."
"Are these pianos not something quite new?" he asked. "I was told that
they were the latest invention."
"They may be," I answered, "the latest improvement on an old invention;
but the pianos are older than I am."
"That," answered the Emperor, smilingly, "does not make them very old."
He called one of the chamberlains, and I reluctantly gave up my place. The
Count d'Amelot was summoned, and as we were about to waltz off the Emperor
said, "If I danced, I should like to dance with you myself; but I do not
dance."
"Then," I said, "I must dance without you."
He laughed: "Vous avez toujours la réplique," and stood there watching us
with those peculiar eyes of his.