Napoleon’s Letters to Josephine, 1796–1812

No. 5

‘Will o’ the wisp,’ i.e. l’ardent.—This word, according to Ménage, was given by the Sieur de St. Germain to those lively young sparks who, about the year 1634, used to meet at the house of Mr. Marsh (M. de Marest), who was one of them.