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… He will more and more become a true condottière； that is to say；
leader of a band； increasingly independent； pretending to submit under
the pretext of the public good； looking out only for his own interest；
self…centered； general on his own account and for his own advantage in
his Italian campaign before and after the 18th of Fructidor。＇29＇ He
is； however； a condottière of the first class； already aspiring to the
loftiest summits； 〃with no stopping…place but the throne or the
scaffold；〃＇30＇ 〃determined＇31＇ to master France； and through France
Europe。 Without distraction； sleeping only three hours during the
night；〃 he plays with ideas； men； religions； and governments；
exploiting people with incomparable dexterity and brutality。 He is；
in the choice of means as of ends； a superior artist； inexhaustible in
glamour； seductions； corruption； and intimidation； fascinating； and
yet more terrible than any wild beast suddenly released among a herd
of browsing cattle。 The expression is not too strong and was uttered
by an eye…witness； almost at this very date； a friend and a competent
diplomat： 〃You know that； while I am very fond of the dear general； I
call him to myself the little tiger； so as to properly characterize
his figure； tenacity； and courage； the rapidity of his movements； and
all that he has in him which maybe fairly regarded in that sense。〃＇32＇
At this very date； previous to official adulation and the adoption of
a recognized type； we see him face to face in two portraits drawn from
life； one physical； by a truthful painter； Guérin； and the other
moral； by a superior woman； Madame de Sta？l； who to the best European
culture added tact and worldly perspicacity。 Both portraits agree so
perfectly that each seems to interpret and complete the other。 〃I saw
him for the first time；〃＇33＇ says Madame de Sta？l； 〃on his return to
France after the treaty of Campo…Formio。 After recovering from the
first excitement of admiration there succeeded to this a decided
sentiment of fear。〃 And yet； 〃at this time he had no power； for it was
even then supposed that the Directory looked upon him with a good deal
of suspicion。〃 People regarded him sympathetically； and were even
prepossessed in his favor；
〃thus the fear he inspired was simply due to the singular effect of
his person on almost all who approached him。 I had met men worthy of
respect and had likewise met men of ferocious character； but nothing
in the impression which Bonaparte produced on me reminded me of
either。 I soon found； in the various opportunities I had of meeting
him during his stay in Paris； that his character was not to be
described in terms commonly employed； he was neither mild nor）violent；
nor gentle nor cruel； like certain personages one happens to know。 A
being like him； wholly unlike anybody else； could neither feel nor
excite sympathy； he was both more and less than a man； his figure；
intellect； and language bore the imprint of a foreign nationality 。 。
。 。 far from being reassured on seeing Bonaparte oftener； he
intimidated me more and more every day。 I had a confused impression
that he was not to be influenced by any emotion of sympathy or
affection。 He regards a human being as a fact； an object； and not as
a fellow…creature。 He neither hates nor loves； he exists for himself
alone； the rest of humanity are so many ciphers。 The force of his
will consists in the imperturbable calculation of his egoism。 He is a
skillful player who has the human species for an antagonist； and whom
he proposes to checkmate。 。 。 Every time that I heard him talk I
was struck with his superiority； it bore no resemblance to that of men
informed and cultivated through study and social intercourse； such as
we find in France and England。 His conversation indicated the tact of
circumstances； like that of the hunter in pursuit of his prey。 His
spirit seemed a cold； keen sword…blade； which freezes while it wounds。
I felt a profound irony in his mind； which nothing great or beautiful
could escape； not even his own fame； for he despised the nation whose
suffrages he sought。 。 。 〃 … 〃With him； everything was means or
aims； spontaneity； whether for good or for evil； was entirely absent。〃
No law； no ideal and abstract rule； existed for him；
〃he examined things only with reference to their immediate
usefulness； a general principle was repugnant to him； either as so
much nonsense or as an enemy。〃
Now； if we contemplate Guérin's portrait；＇34＇ we see a spare body；
whose narrow shoulders under the uniform wrinkled by sudden movements；
the neck swathed in its high twisted cravat； the temples covered by
long； smooth； straight hair； exposing only the mask； the hard features
intensified through strong contrasts of light and shade； the cheeks
hollow up to the inner angle of the eye； the projecting cheek…bones；
the massive； protuberant jaw； the sinuous； mobile lips； pressed
together as if attentive； the large； clear eyes； deeply sunk under the
broad； arched eyebrows； the fixed； oblique look； as penetrating as a
rapier； and the two creases which extend from the base of the nose to
the brow； as if in a frown of suppressed anger and determined will。
Add to this the accounts of his contemporaries＇35＇ who saw or heard
the curt accent or the sharp； abrupt gesture； the interrogating；
imperious； absolute tone of voice； and we comprehend how； the moment
they accosted him； they felt the dominating hand which seizes them；
presses them down； holds them firmly and never relaxes its grasp。
Already； at the receptions of the Directory； when conversing with men；
or even with ladies； he puts questions 〃which prove the superiority of
the questioner to those who have to answer them。〃＇36＇ 〃Are you
married？〃 says he to this one； and 〃How many children have you？ 〃to
another。 To that one； 〃When did you come here？〃 or； again； 〃When are
you going away ？ He places himself in front of a French lady； well…
known for her beauty and wit and the vivacity of her opinions； 〃like
the stiffest of German generals； and says ： 'Madame； I don't like
women who meddle with politics！'〃 Equality； ease； familiarity and
companionship； vanish at his approach。 Eighteen months before this；
on his appointment as commander…in…chief of the army in Italy； Admiral
Decrès； who had known him well at Paris；＇37＇ learns that he is to pass
through Toulon： 〃I at once propose to my comrades to introduce them；
venturing to do so on my acquaintance with him in Paris。 Full of
eagerness and joy； I start off。 The door opens and I am about to
press forwards；〃 he afterwards wrote； 〃when the attitude； the look；
and the tone of voice suffice to arrest me。 And yet there was nothing
offensive about him； still； this was enough。 I never tried after that
to overstep the line thus imposed on me。〃 A few days later； at
Albenga；＇38＇ certain generals of division； and among them Augereau； a
vulgar； heroic old soldier； vain of his tal