The little kitten, feasting her eyes on him, seemed ready at any moment to start her gambols again and display her kittenish nature.

"All right, all right!" said the old count.

" He always flares up! This Buonaparte has turned all their heads; they all think of how he rose from an ensign and became Emperor.

Well, well, God grant it," he added, not noticing his visitor's sarcastic smile.

The elders began talking about Bonaparte.