第23章

Allthemembersoftheimperialfamilyhadagreatfondnessformusic，andespeciallytheItalian；buttheywerenotmusicians，andmostofthemsangasbadlyashisMajestyhimself，withtheexceptionofthePrincessPauline，whohadprofitedbythelessonsofBlangini，andsangtolerablywell。Inrespectofhisvoice，PrinceEugeneshowedhimselfworthytobetheadoptedsonoftheEmperor；for，thoughhewasamusicianandsangwithfervor，itwasnotinsuchamannerastosatisfyhisauditors。

Incompensation，however，PrinceEugene\'svoicewasmagnificentforcommandingmilitaryevolutions，anadvantagewhichCountLobauandGeneralDorsennealsopossessed；anditwasconsequentlyalwaysoneofthesewhomhisMajestyappointedtocommandunderhisordersongreatreviews。

NotwithstandingthesevereetiquetteoftheEmperor\'scourt，therewerealwaysafewprivilegedpersonswhohadtherighttoenterhisapartment，evenwhenhewasinbed，thoughthenumberwassmall。Theyconsistedofthefollowingpersons:——

M。deTalleyrand，vicegrandelector；deMontesquiou，grandchamberlain；

deRemusat，firstchamberlain；Maret，Corvisart，Denon，Murat，Yvan；

Duroc，grandmarshal；anddeCaulaincourt，grandequerry。

ForalongtimeallthesepersonagescametotheEmperor\'sapartmentalmosteverymorning，andtheirvisitsweretheoriginofwhatwasafterwardscalled\'lepetitlever\'。M。deLavalettealsocamefrequently，andalsoM。RealandMessieursFoucheandSavarywhileeachofthemwasministerofpolice。

TheprincesoftheimperialfamilyalsoenjoyedtherighttoentertheEmperor\'sapartmentinthemorning。IoftensawtheEmperor\'smother。

TheEmperorkissedherhandwithmuchrespectandtenderness，butIhavemanytimesheardhimreproachherforherexcessiveeconomy。MadameMerelistened，andthengaveasexcusefornotchangingherstyleoflivingreasonswhichoftenvexedhisMajesty，butwhicheventshaveunfortunatelyjustified。

MadameMerehadbeenagreatbeauty，andwasstillverypretty，especiallywhenIsawherforthefirsttime。Itwasimpossibletofindabettermother；devotedtoherchildren；shelavishedonthemthesagestcounsels，andalwaysintervenedinfamilyquarrelstosustainthosewhomshethoughtintheright；foralongtimeshetookLucien\'spart，andI

haveoftenheardherwarmlydefendJeromewhentheFirstConsulwasmostseveretowardshisyoungbrother。TheonlyfaultinMadameMere\'scharacterwasherexcessiveeconomy，andonthispointastonishingthingscouldbesaidwithoutfearofexaggeration，butshewasbelovedbyeveryoneinthepalaceforherkindnessandaffability。

IrecallinreferencetoMadameMereanincidentwhichgreatlyamusedtheEmpressJosephine。MadamewasspendingseveraldaysatMalmaison，whenonedayoneofherladies，whomshehadcausedtobesentfor，found，onenteringtheroom，tohergreatastonishment，CardinalFeschdischargingthedutyofalady\'smaidbylacinguphissister，whohadononlyherunderclothingandhercorset。

OneofthesubjectsonwhichtheEmperorwouldlistentonoraillerywasthatofcustom-houseduties，andtowardsallcontrabandproceedingheshowedinflexibleseverity；andthisreachedsuchapoint，thatonedayM。Soiris，directorofthecustom-houseatVerceil，havingseizedapackageofsixtycashmereshawls，sentfromConstantinopletotheEmpress，theEmperorapprovedhisaction，andthecashmeresweresoldforthebenefitofthestate。InsuchcasestheEmperoralwayssaid，“Howcanasovereignhavethelawsrespectedifhedoesnotrespectthemhimself？“Irecallanotheroccasion，andIthinktheonlyinstanceinwhichhepermittedaninfractionofthecustom-houseregulations；butweshallseethequestionwasnotthatofordinarysmuggling。

ThegrenadiersoftheOldGuard，undertheordersofGeneralSoules，returnedtoFranceafterthepeaceofTilsit。OntheirarrivalatMayence，thecustom-houseofficersendeavoredtoperformtheirduty，andconsequentlyinspectedthechestsoftheGuardandthoseofthegeneral。

Meanwhile，thedirectorofthecustom-house，indoubtwhatproceedingstotake，soughtthegeneraltoinformhimofthenecessityhewasunderofexecutingthelaws，andofcarryingoutthedirectordersoftheEmperor。

Thegeneral\'sreplytothiscourteousoverturewasplainandenergetic:

“Ifasingleofficerdarestoplacehishandontheboxesofmyoldmustaches，I\'llthrowhimintotheRhine！“Theofficerinsisted。Thecustom-houseemployeeswerequitenumerous，andwerepreparingtoproceedwiththeinspection，whenGeneralSouleshadtheboxesputinthemiddleofthesquare，andaregimentdetailedtoguardthem。Thedirectorofthecustom-house，notdaringtoproceedfurther，senttothedirector-

generalareporttobesubmittedtotheEmperor。Underanyothercircumstancesthecasewouldhavebeenserious；buttheEmperorhadjustreturnedtoParis，wherehehadbeenwelcomedmoreheartilythaneverbeforebytheacclamationsofthepeopleontheoccasionofthefetescelebratedinhonorofpeace，andthisoldGuardwasreturninghomeresplendentwithglory，andaftermostadmirablebehavioratEylau。AllthesethingscombinedtoquelltheEmperor\'sanger；andhavingdecidednottopunish，hewishedtorewardthem，andnottotakeseriouslytheirinfractionofhiscustom-houseregulations。GeneralSoules，onreachingParis，presentedhimselfbeforetheEmperor，whoreceivedhimcordially，and，aftersomeremarksrelativetotheGuard，added:“Bytheby，whatisthisyouhavebeendoing？Iheardofyou。What！youreallythreatenedtothrowmycustom-houseofficersintotheRhine！Wouldyouhavedoneit？“——“Yes，Sire，“repliedthegeneral，withhisGermanaccent，“yes；I

wouldhavedoneit。Itwasaninsulttomyoldgrenadierstoattempttoinspecttheirboxes。“——“Come，now，“saidtheEmperorveryaffably，“Iseejusthowitis。Youhavebeensmuggling。“——“I，Sire？“——“Yes，I

say。Youhavebeensmuggling。YouboughtlineninHanover。Youwantedtofurnishyourhousehandsomely，asyouimaginedIwouldappointyousenator。Youwerenotmistaken。Goandhaveyoursenator\'scoatmade，butdonotrepeatthisperformance，fornexttimeIwillhaveyoushot。“

DuringourstayatBayonne，in1808，everyonewasstruckwiththeawkwardmannersoftheKingandQueenofSpain，andthepoortastedisplayedintheirtoilets，thedisgracefulappearanceoftheirequipages，andacertainairofconstraintandembarrassmentwhichwasgeneralamongallthepersonsoftheirsuite。TheelegantmannersoftheFrenchandthemagnificenceoftheimperialequipagesfurnishedsuchacontrasttoallthisthatitrenderedthemindescribablyridiculous。TheEmperor，whohadsuchexquisitetactinallmatters，wasnotoneofthelasttoperceivethis，but，nevertheless，wasnotpleasedthatanopportunityshouldbefoundtoridiculecrownedheads。Onemorningathistoilethesaidtome，“Isay，then，Monsieurledrole，you，whoaresowellversedinthesematters，giveafewhintstothevaletdechambreoftheKingandQueenofSpain。Theyappearsoawkwardtheyreallyexcitemypity。“IeagerlydidwhathisMajestysuggested；buthedidnotcontenthimselfwiththis，butalsocommunicatedtotheEmpressJosephinehisobservationsonthequeenandherladies。TheEmpressJosephine，whowastheembodimentoftaste，gaveordersaccordingly；andfortwodaysherhairdressersandwomenwereoccupiedexclusivelyingivinglessonsintasteandelegancetotheirSpanishbrethren。ThisisastrikingevidenceofhowtheEmperorfoundtimeforeverything，andcoulddescendfromhiselevateddutiestothemostinsignificantaffairs。

Thegrandmarshalofthepalace(Duroc)wasalmostthesameheightastheEmperor。Hewalkedbadlyandungracefully，buthadatolerablygoodheadandfeatures。Hewasquicktempered，impulsive，andsworelikeasoldier；buthehadmuchadministrativeability，ofwhichhegavemorethanoneproofintheorganizationoftheimperialhousehold，whichwasablyandwiselyregulated。Whentheenemy\'scannondeprivedhisMajestyofthisdevotedservitorandsincerefriend，theEmpressJosephinesaidthatsheknewonlytwomencapableoffillinghisplace；thesewereGeneralDrouotandM。deFlahaut，andthewholehouseholdhopedthatoneofthesetwogentlemenwouldbenominated；this，however，wasnotthecase。

M。deCaulaincourt，DukeofVicenza，wasextremelyseveretowardsthehousehold；buthewasjustandofachivalrousloyalty，andhiswordwasasgoodasacontract:Hewasfearedandyetbeloved。Hehadapiercingeye，spokequicklyandwithgreatease。TheEmperor\'sregardforhimwaswellknown，andcertainlynoonewasmoreworthyofitthanhe。

TheCountdeRemusatwasofmediumheight，withasmooth，whiteface，obliging，amiable，andwithnaturalpolitenessandgoodtaste；buthewasextravagant，lackedorderinmanaginghisownaffairsandconsequentlythoseoftheEmperor。Thislavishexpenditure，whichisadmirablefromonepointofview，mighthavesuitedanyothersovereign；buttheEmperorwaseconomical，andthough，muchattachedtoM。deRemusat，dismissedhimfromtheheadofthewardrobebureau，andputinhisplaceMonsieurdeTurenne，whoexercisedthestrictesteconomy。M。deTurennepossessedperhapsalittletoomuchofwhathispredecessorlacked，butitwasexactlythisthatpleasedtheEmperor。M。deTurennewasquiteaprettyman，thinkingperhapsalittletoomuchofhimself，agreattalkerandAnglo-maniac，whichledtheEmperortogivehimthenameofmylordKinsester(whocannotbesilent)；buthetoldastorywell，andsometimeshisMajestytookpleasureinmakinghimrelatethechroniclesofParis。

WhentheCountofTurennereplacedtheCountofRemusatintheofficeofgrandmasterofthewardrobe，inordernottoexceedthesumoftwentythousandfrancswhichhisMajestyallowedforhistoilet，heexercisedthegreatestpossibleeconomyinthequantity，price，andqualityofthingsindispensabletothehousehold。Ihavebeentold，butIdonotknowwhetheritistrue，that，inordertoascertainexactlywhatweretheprofitsoftheEmperor\'sfurnishers，hewenttothevariousfactoriesofPariswithsamplesofgloves，silkstockings，aloeswood，etc。；but，evenifthisistrue，itonlydoeshonortothezealandprobityofM。deTurenne。

IknewverylittleofCountSegur，grandmasterofceremonies。Itwassaidinthehouseholdthathewashaughtyandsomewhatabrupt，butperfectlypoliteandintelligent，withadelicateandrefinedface。

ItwouldbenecessarytohavewitnessedtheperfectorderwhichreignedintheEmperor\'shouseholdtocomprehenditfully。FromthetimeoftheConsulate，GeneralDurochadbroughtintotheadministrationoftheinterioraffairsofthepalacethatspiritoforderandeconomywhichespeciallycharacterizedhim。But，greataswastheEmperor\'sconfidenceinGeneralDuroc，hedidnotdisdaintothrowtheglanceofamasteroverthingswhichseemedinsignificant，andwithwhich，ingeneral，sovereignsrarelyoccupythemselves。Thus，forexample，inthebeginningoftheEmpiretherewassomelittleextravaganceincertainpartsofthepalace，notablyatSaint-Cloud，wheretheaides-de-campkeptopentable；butthiswas，nevertheless，farfromequalingtheexcessiveprodigalityoftheancientregime。Champagneandotherwinesespeciallywereusedingreatquantities，anditwasverynecessarythattheEmperorshouldestablishregulationsastohiscellar。Hesummonedthechiefofthehouseholdservice，SoupePierrugues，andsaidtohim，“Monsieur，Icommittoyouthekeysofmyimperialcellars；youwilltherehavechargeofthewinesofallkinds；someareneededinmypalacesoftheTuileries，Saint-

Cloud，Compiegne，Fontainebleau，Marrac，Lacken，andTurin。Establishamoderatepriceatalltheseresidences，andyoualonewillfurnishwinestomyhousehold。“Thisarrangementwasmade，andallkindsoffraudwereimpossible，asthedeputyofM。SoupePierruguesdeliveredwinesonlyonanotesignedbythecontrollerofthekitchen；allthebottlesnotopenedwerereturned，andeacheveninganaccountwasgivenofwhathadbeenusedforthatday。

Theservicehadthesameregulationswhilewewereoncampaigns。DuringthesecondcampaignofVienna，IrecollectthatthehousedeputyofSoupePierrugueswasM。EugenePierrugues，frank，gay，witty，andmuchbelovedbyusall。Animprudencecosthimdear，forinconsequenceofaheedlessnessnaturalathisagehehadhisarmbroken。WewerethenatSchoenbrunn。Thosewhohaveseenthisimperialresidenceknowthatsplendidavenuesextendinfrontofthepalace，leadingtotheroadtoVienna。AsIoftentookhorsebackridesthroughthetown，M。EugenePierrugueswishedtoaccompanymeoneday，andborrowedahorsefromoneofthequartermastersofthepalace。Hewasforewarnedthatthehorsewasveryfiery；buthepaidnoattentiontothat，andimmediatelyputhimintoagallop。Ireinedminein，inordernottoexcitemycompanion\'s；

butinspiteofthisprecautionthehorseranaway，dashedintothewoods，andbrokethearmofhisunfortunateandimprudentrider。

M。EugenePierrugueswas，however，notunhorsedbytheblow，andkepthisseatashortwhileaftertheinjury；butitwasveryserious，anditwasnecessarytocarryhimbacktothepalace。I，morethananyoneelse，wasdistressedbythisfrightfulaccident；andweestablishedaregularattendanceonhim，sothatoneatleastcouldalwaysbewithhimwhenourdutiesallowed。Ihaveneverseensufferingbornewithmorefortitude；

anditwascarriedtosucharemarkabledegree，that，findinghisarmbadlyset，attheendofafewdayshehaditagainfractured，anoperationwhichcausedhimhorriblesuffering。

Myuncle，whowasusheroftheEmperor\'scabinet，relatedtomeananecdotewhichisprobablyentirelyunknown；sinceeverything，asweshallsee，occurredundercoverofthemostprofoundmystery。“Oneevening，“hesaidtome，“MarshalDurocgavemeinpersonorderstoextinguishthelightsinthesalooninfrontofhisMajesty\'scabinet，andtoleaveonlyafewcandleslighted。Iwassurprisedatsuchanovelorder，especiallyasthegrandmarshalwasnotaccustomedtogivethemthusdirectly，but，nevertheless，executeditprecisely，andwaitedatmypost。Atteno\'clockMarshalDurocreturned，accompaniedbyapersonagewhosefeaturesitwasimpossibletodistinguish，ashewasentirelywrappedinalargecloak，hisheadcovered，andhishatpulleddownoverhiseyes。Iwithdrew，leavingthetwoalone，buthadhardlyleftthesaloonwhentheEmperorentered，andMarshalDurocalsoretired，leavingthestrangeralonewithhisMajesty。FromthetoneinwhichtheEmperorspokeitwaseasytoseethathewasgreatlyirritated。Hespokeveryloud；andIheardhimsay，\'Well，Monsieur，youwillneverchangethen。

Itisgoldyouwant，alwaysgold。Youdrawonallforeignbanks，andhavenoconfidenceinthatofParis。YouhaveruinedthebankofHamburg；youhavecausedM。Drouet(orDrouaut，forthenamewaspronouncedveryquickly)tolosetwomillions:

“TheEmperor，“myunclecontinued，“conversedinthisstrainforalongwhile，thoughthestrangerdidnotreply，orrepliedinsolowatonethatitwasimpossibletohearaword；andthescene，whichmusthavebeenmosttryingtothemysteriouspersonage，lastedabouttwentyminutes。Atlasthewaspermittedtoleave，whichhedidwiththesameprecautionsasonhisarrival，andretiredfromthepalaceassecretlyashehadcome。“

NothingofthisscenewasknowninParis；and，moreover，neithermyunclenorIhaveeversoughttoascertainthenameofthepersonwhomtheEmperoroverwhelmedwithsuchnumerousandseverereproaches。

Whenevercircumstancesallowed，theEmperor\'shabitsoflifewereveryregular，histimebeingalmostuniformlydividedasfollows。Everymorning，atnineo\'clockprecisely，theEmperorlefttheimperialapartments；hisexactnessinobservinghourswascarriedtoanextreme，andIhavesometimesseenhimwaittwoorthreemomentsinorderthatnoonemightbetakenbysurprise。Atnineo\'clockhistoiletwasmadeforthewholeday。Whenhehadreachedthereception-room，theofficersondutywerefirstadmitted，andreceivedhisMajesty\'sordersfortheirtimeofservice。

Immediatelyafterthis，whatwascalledthegrandesentreestookplace。

Thatistosay，personagesofhighrankwereadmitted，whohadthisrightonaccountoftheirduties，orbythespecialfavoroftheEmperor；andI

canassertthatthisfavorwasmuchenvied。Itwasgrantedgenerallytoalltheofficersoftheimperialhousehold，eveniftheywerenotonduty；andeveryoneremainedstanding，asdidtheEmperoralso。Hemadethetourofallthepersonspresent，nearlyalwaysaddressedaremarkoraquestiontoeachone；anditwasamusingtoseeafterwards，duringthewholeday，theproudandhaughtybearingofthosetowhomtheEmperorhadspokenalittlelongerthantoothers。Thisceremonyusuallylastedahalf-hour，andassoonasitwasfinishedtheEmperorbowedandeachretired。

Athalf-pastninetheEmperor\'sbreakfastwasserved，usuallyonasmallmahoganystand；andthisfirstrepastcommonlylastedonlysevenoreightminutes，thoughsometimesitwasprolonged，andevenlastedquitealongwhile。This，however，wasonlyonrareoccasions，whentheEmperorwasinunusuallygood-humor，andwishedtoindulgeinthepleasureofaconversationwithmenofgreatmerit，whomhehadknownalongwhile，andwhohappenedtobepresentathisbreakfast。TherehewasnolongertheformalEmperorofthelevee；hewasinamannertheheroofItaly，theconquerorofEgypt，andaboveallthememberoftheInstitute。ThosewhocamemosthabituallywereMessieursMonge，Berthollet，Costaz(superintendentofcrownbuildings)，Denon，Corvisart，David，Gerard，Isabey，Talma，andFontaine(hisfirstarchitect)。Howmanynoblethoughts，howmanyelevatedsentiments，foundventintheseconversationswhichtheEmperorwasaccustomedtoopenbysaying，“Come，Messieurs，I

closethedoorofmycabinet。“Thiswasthesignal，anditwastrulymiraculoustoseehisMajesty\'saptitudeinputtinghisgeniusincommunicationwiththesegreatintellectswithsuchdiversitiesoftalent。

Irecallthat，duringthedaysprecedingtheEmperor\'scoronation，M。

IsabeyattendedregularlyattheEmperor\'sbreakfast，andwaspresentalmosteverymorning；andstrange，too，itdidnotseemanabsurdthingtoseechildren\'stoysusedtorepresenttheimposingceremonywhichwastoexertsuchagreatinfluenceoverthedestiniesoftheworld。TheintelligentpainterofhisMajesty\'scabinetportraitscausedtobeplacedonalargetableanumberofsmallfiguresrepresentingallthepersonageswhoweretotakepartintheceremonyofthecoronation；eachhadhisdesignatedplace；andnoonewasomitted，fromtheEmperortothePope，andeventothechoristers，eachbeingdressedinthecostumehewasexpectedtowear。

Theserehearsalstookplacefrequently，andallwereeagertoconsultthemodelinordertomakenomistakeastotheplaceeachwastooccupy。Onthosedays，asmaybeimagined，th