She proceeds quietly) except that you will cut a
very foolish figure in the eyes of France.
NAPOLEON (quickly). What? (The hand holding the paper
involuntarily drops. The lady looks at him enigmatically in
tranquil silence. He throws the letter down and breaks
out into a torrent of scolding.) What do you mean? Eh? Are you at
your tricks again? Do you think I don't know what these papers
contain? I'll tell you. First, my information as to Beaulieu's
retreat. There are only two things he can do--leatherbrained
idiot that he is!--shut himself up in Mantua or violate the
neutrality of Venice by taking Peschiera. You are one of old
Leatherbrain's spies: he has discovered that he has been
betrayed, and has sent you to intercept the information at all
hazards--as if that could save him from ME, the old fool! The
other papers are only my usual correspondence from Paris, of
which you know nothing.
LADY (prompt and businesslike). General: let us make a fair
division. Take the information your spies have sent you about the
Austrian army; and give me the Paris correspondence. That will
content me.
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