"I am very glad to make your acquaintance. I had heard of you, as everyone has," he said after a pause.

‘You never see her dance, sir, did you?’ asked Mr Kenwigs.

"I cannot accept your praise," he interrupted her hurriedly. "On the contrary I continually reproach myself.... But this is not at all an interesting or cheerful subject."

Balashev bowed his head with an air indicating that he would like to make his bow and leave, and only listened because he could not help hearing what was said to him. Napoleon did not notice this expression; he treated Balashev not as an envoy from his enemy, but as a man now fully devoted to him and who must rejoice at his former master`s humiliation.