What are the chances?

About a year ago I was in Kiev (Ukraine) where apart from business trips I like searching around flea markets for collectibles, old stuff, useless stuff that would just appeal to me or anything that makes me feel like digging up a treasure or just a good laugh.


Going through the junk displayed by a freezing street antique dealer, the man learning I was French and looking around to make sure nobody would hear, whispered that he had something very unique and valuable for me.

He took out of his pocket a small (4" high)statue of Napoleon.

That made my French heart pump my blood faster.

Picking it up and studying it, it was finely cast bronze with the right kind of patina that doesn't usually belong to a small Eiffel tower kind of souvenir molded the same morning.


The knowledgeable seller shared with me the invaluable secret this effigy held.

It was a Seal !

But not an official one, a personal one. It had belonged to

Napoleon's Wife.

As proof of this he showed her initials skillfully chiselled underneath: " M.A."


What ? M. A. ?


Yes, sure replied the wise historian: Marie Antoinette ! !!