The Project Gutenberg Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte

ecution of his plans. Everywhere he had been treated as a monarch, and not only he personally, but Madame Bonaparte also, had been received with all the honors usually reserved for crowned heads. T

only by what others may narrate of him. What may be familiar to those who saw with their own eyes is not so to others, who can only take at second-hand those things which they had no opportunity of seeing for themselves. Besides, details omitted as frivolous or commonplace by history, which makes a profession of more gravity, are perfectly appropriate in simple memoirs, and often enable one to understand and j

the Empire they became ladies-in-waiting. Madame de Lauriston often raised a smile by little exhibitions of parsimony, but she was good and obliging. Madame de Remusat possessed great merit, and had sound judgment, though

Madame de Lucay, was

known afterwards by her

rench ladies-in-waiting,

, de Lauriston, Ney, d'

of Lobau), de Walsh-Ser

tave de Segur, de Mont

de Brignole, de Canisy,

cy, Matignon, and Maret

ladies-i

ing; but he relaxed this rule first in favor of Mademoiselle Louise d'Arberg (afterwards Countess of Lobau), and then in favor of Mademoiselle de Lucay, who has since married Count Philip

shers, Mesdames Soustr

groy, and Eg

Marco de St. Hilaire, who had under their

r ladies' maid

dy r

e the following: A grand equerry, Senator Harville,

, the general of d

ntroducer of the amba

dinary, de Courtomer, D

busson de l

ineau, Berckheim, d'

ral of her Majesty's

of command

ets, Frere a

ets in o

en ser

e kitchen and sanitation were the same as in the household of the Emperor; and be

erdinand de Rohan, form

he consular palace were de Remusat, de Crayamel (afterwards appointed introduces of ambassadors, and master

e that of Madame Bonaparte, became daily more numerous. A much larger buildin

dding their prayers to the same effect, and making comparisons which they believed would be agreeable to him. The general refused formally, saying that when he should have finished and laid down the du

ure or ornaments, and complained to Charvet, the concierge at Malmaison, whom he appointed to the same post in the new palace, and whom he had charged with the general supervision of the furnishing and the placing of the furniture, that he had fitted up apartments suitable only for a mistress, and that they contained only gewgaws and spangles, and nothing substantial. On this occasion, also, he gave another proof of his habitual

s which warmed the saloon, took fire, and the games were quickly communicated to the other furniture. The officer on duty perceiving this, immediately notified the concierge, and together they ran to General Duroc's room and awoke him. The general rose in haste, and, commanding perfect silence, made a chain of men. He took his position at the pool, in company with the concierge, and thence passed buckets of wat

the First Consul organized a night-guard at Saint-Cloud, and subsequentl

of which were the rooms of the ladies-in-waiting, the women of the service, etc. When he wished to pass the night with his wife, he undressed in his own room, and went thence in his wrapper and night-cap, I going before him with a candle. At the end of this corridor a staircase of fifteen or sixteen steps led to the apartment of Madame Bonaparte. It was a great joy to

Consul, "but do not let me catch you again." Satisfied that the gallant would profit by the lesson, the general did not seek to learn his name, nor that of his inamorata. This reminds me of an occasion on which he was much more severe in regard to another chambermaid of Madame Bonaparte. She was young, and very pretty, and inspired very tender sentiments in Rapp and E--, two aides-de-camp, who besieged her with their sighs, and sent her flowers and billets-doux. The young girl, at least such was the opinion of every one, gave them no encouragement, and J

plenty of the best to eat and to drink. These are the longest repasts I have seen the emperor make; and on these occasions he was amiable and entirely unconstrained, making every effort to put his guests entirely at their ease, though with many of them this was a difficult task. Nothing was more amusing than to see these brave soldiers sitting two feet from-the table, not daring to approach their plates or the food, red to the ears, and with their necks stretched out towards the general, as if to receive the word of command. The First Consul made them relate the notable deeds which had brought each his n

which took-place at Malmaison, and which furnishes, besides, a complete refuta

oat, and accompanied by General Duroc, on the road to Marly. Chatting as t

he team start, commenced to give his lesson. But he did not plow a single yard of a straight line. The whole furrow was crooked. "Come, come," said the countryman, putting his hand on that of the general to resume his plow, "your work is no good. Each one to his trade. Saunter along, that is your business." But the First Consul did not proceed witho

one of his staff; the good man was overcome with astonishment. The next day he made a brave resolution, and donning his best clothes, presen

center of the antechamber (for he did not dare to sit upon the sofas, which though very simple seemed to him magnificent), and pondering what he should say to the First Consul in token of his gratitude. I preceded him, and he followed me, placing each foot cautiously on the carpet; a

The First Consul saw him make his bows, himself reclining in his armchair, one of the arms of which, according to habit, he was pricking with the point of his knife. Finally he spoke. "Well, my brav

necessary that it should be turned up, is it no

have hands too soft to handle a plow. There

strong as you are, you should handle something else than a plo

ssians (pardon me, General) entered Landrecies. The requisition came. They gave me a gun and a cartridge-box at the Commune headquarters, and march! My

d the First Consul, who appeared to ta

fell on me there" (the worthy laborer bent his head and divided the locks of his hair); "and aft

u any ch

General, two bo

which he added to those the laborer had already received from him, and directed me to show him out, and we had already reached the antechamber, when the First Consul called the peasant back to say to him, "You were at Fleurus?"-"Y