"I order that my body be returned to the earth from whence it came, and I
give my soul to the devil. I give likewise to the devil the souls of my
wife and children, who encouraged me in usury for the sake of good cheer
and fine clothes. _Item_. I give to the devil the soul of my confessor, who
connived at my crimes by his silence."
* * * * *
On the day when the news of the decease of Napoleon reached the Tuileries,
Louis XVIII. was surrounded by a brilliant court, all of whom, with the
exception of one man, received the intelligence with the most unequivocal
signs of delight. This man was General Rapp, who burst into tears. The king
perceived and noticed it. "Yes, Sire," answered the general, "I do weep for
Napoleon; and you will excuse it, for to him I owe every thing in the
world, even the honour of now serving your majesty, since it was he that
made me what I am!" The king, in an elevated tone of voice, replied,
"General, I do but esteem you the more. Fidelity which thus survives
misfortune, proves to me how securely I may depend on you myself."
* * * * *