him to let his arms hang, if he did not wish to be recognized at once; and his Majesty promised to obey in every particular what he called my instructions.  He had hardly entered the room in his new costume, however, before he was accosted by a lady, who, seeing him with his hands again crossed behind his back, said, “Sire, you are recognized!” The Emperor immediately let his arms fall; but it was too late, for already every one moved aside respectfully to make room for him.  He then returned to his room, and took a third costume, promising me implicitly to pay attention to his gestures and his walk, and offering to bet that he would not be recognized.  This time, in fact, he entered the hall as if it were a barrack, pushing and elbowing all around him; but, in spite of this, some one whispered in his ear, “Your Majesty is recognized.”  A new disappointment, new change of costume, and new advice on my part, with the same result; until at last his Majesty left the ambassador’s ball, persuaded that he could not be disguised, and that the Emperor would be recognized whatever mask he might assume.

That evening at supper, the Prince de Neuchatel, the Duke de Trevise, the Duke de Frioul, and some other officers being present, the Emperor related the history of his disguises, and made many jests on his awkwardness.  In speaking of the young lady who had recognized him the evening before, and who had, it appeared, puzzled him greatly, “Can you believe it, Messieurs,” said he, “I never succeeded in recognizing the little wretch at all?” During the carnival the Empress expressed a wish to go once to the masked ball at the opera; and when she begged the Emperor to accompany her he refused, in spite of all the tender and enticing things the Empress could say, and all the grace with which, as is well known, she could surround a petition.  She found that all was useless, as the Emperor said plainly that he would not go.  “Well, I will go without you.”—­“As you please,” and the Emperor went out.

That evening at the appointed hour the Empress went to the ball; and the Emperor, who wished to surprise her, had one of her femmes de chambre summoned, and obtained from her an exact description of the Empress’s costume.  He then told me to dress him in a domino, entered a carriage without decorations, and accompanied by the grand marshal of the palace, a superior officer, and myself, took the road to the opera.  On reaching the private entrance of the Emperor’s household, we encountered some difficulty, as the doorkeeper would not let us pass till I had told my name and rank.  “These gentlemen are with you?”—­“As you see.”—­“I beg your pardon, Monsieur Constant; but it is because in such times as these there are always persons who try to enter without paying.”—­“That is good!  That is good!” and the Emperor laughed heartily at the doorkeeper’s observations.  At last we entered, and having got as far as the hall, promenaded in couples, I giving my arm to the Emperor, who said