These boots especially had excited the laughter of the little
maidens; and at every step which Napoleon, embarrassed as he was by
the terrible cannon-boots, made forward, the laughter only
increased, so that the expostulations and reproaches of Madame de
Permont could not procure silence.
Napoleon, who had entered the drawing-room with a face radiant with
joy, felt wounded by the children's joyousness at his own cost. To
be the subject of scorn or sarcasm was then, as it was afterward,
entirely unbearable to him, and when he himself also tried to jest
he knew not how to receive the jests directed at him. After having
saluted M. and Madame de Permont, Napoleon turned to the eldest
daughter Cecilia, who, a few days before, had come from the
boarding-school to remain a short time at home, and who, laughing,
had placed herself right before monsieur the lieutenant.
"I find your laughter very silly and childish," said he, eagerly.
The young maid, however, continued to laugh.
"M. Lieutenant," said she, "since you carry such a mighty sword, you
no doubt wish to carry it as a lady's knight, and therefore you must
consider it an honor when ladies jest with you.
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