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Corvisart。 This skillful physician had on one occasion the happiness of
saving the life of the young count in a dangerous illness。
Madame Valevska had a gold ring made for the Emperor； around which she
twined her beautiful blonde hair； and on the inside of the ring were
engraved these words：
〃When you cease to love me； do not forget that I love you。〃
The Emperor gave her no other name but Marie。
I have perhaps devoted too much space to this liaison of the Emperor： but
Madame Valevska was entirely different from the other women whose favor
his Majesty obtained； and she was worthy to be named the La Valliere of
the Emperor； who； however； did not show himself ungrateful towards her；
as did Louis XIV。 towards the only woman by whom he was beloved。 Those
who had； like myself； the happiness of knowing and seeing her intimately
must have preserved memories of her which will enable them to comprehend
why in my opinion there exists so great a distance between Madame
Valevska； the tender and modest woman； rearing in retirement the son she
bore to the Emperor； and the favorites of the conqueror of Austerlitz。
CHAPTER II。
The Russians； being incited to this campaign by the remembrance of the
defeat of Austerlitz； and by the fear of seeing Poland snatched from
their grasp； were not deterred by the winter season； and resolved to open
the attack on the Emperor at once； and as the latter was not the man to
allow himself to be forestalled； he consequently abandoned his winter
quarters； and quitted Warsaw at the end of January。 On the 8th of
February the two armies met at Eylau； and there took place； as is well
known； a bloody battle； in which both sides showed equal courage； and
nearly fifteen thousand were left dead on the field of battle； equally
divided in number between the French and Russians。 The gain； or rather
the loss； was the same to both armies； and a 'Te Deum' was chanted at St。
Petersburg as well as at Paris； instead of the 'De Profundis'； which
would have been much more appropriate。 His Majesty complained bitterly
on returning to his headquarters that the order he had sent to General
Bernadotte had not been executed； and in consequence of this his corps
had taken no part in the battle； and expressed his firm conviction that
the victory； which remained in doubt between the Emperor and General
Benningsen； would have been decided in favor of the former had a fresh
army…corps arrived during the battle； according to the Emperor's
calculations。 Most unfortunately the aide…de…camp bearing the Emperor's
orders to the Prince of Ponte…Corvo had fallen into the hands of a party
of Cossacks； and when the Emperor was informed of this circumstance the
day after the battle； his resentment was appeased； though not his
disappointment。 Our troops bivouacked on the field of battle； which his
Majesty visited three times； for the purpose of directing the assistance
of the wounded； and removal of the dead。
Generals d'Hautpoult； Corbineau； and Boursier were mortally wounded at
Eylau； and it seems to me I can still hear the brave d'Hautpoult saying
to his Majesty； just as he dashed off at a gallop to charge the enemy：
〃Sire； you will now see my great claws； they will pierce through the
enemy's squares as if they were butter〃 An hour after he was no more。
One of his regiments； being engaged in the interval with the Russian
army； was mowed down with grape…shot； and hacked to pieces by the
Cossacks； only eighteen men being left。 General d'Hautpoult； forced to
fall back three times with his division； led it back twice to the charge；
and as he threw himself against the enemy the third time shouted loudly；
〃Forward； cuirassiers； in God's name！ forward； my brave cuirassiers？〃
But the grapeshot had mowed down too many of these brave fellows； very
few were left to follow their chief； and he soon fell pierced with wounds
in the midst of a square of Russians into which he had rushed almost
alone。
I think it was in this battle also that General Ordenerl killed with his
own hands a general officer of the enemy。 The Emperor asked if he could
not have taken him alive。 〃Sire；〃 replied the general with his strong
German accent； 〃I gave him only one blow； but I tried to make it a good
one。〃 On the very morning of the battle； General Corbineau； the
Emperor's aide…de…camp； while at breakfast with the officers on duty；
declared to them that he was oppressed by the saddest presentiments； but
these gentlemen； attempting to divert his mind； turned the affair into a
joke。 General Corbineau a few moments after received an order from his
Majesty； and not finding some money he wished at Monsieur de Meneval's
quarters； came to me； and I gave it to him from the Emperor's private
purse； at the end of a few hours I met Monsieur de Meneval； to whom I
rendered an account of General Corbineau's request； and the sum I had
lent him。 I was still speaking to Monsieur de Meneval； when an officer
passing at a gallop gave us the sad news of the general's death。 I have
never forgotten the impression made on me by this sad news； and I still
find no explanation of the strange mental distress which gave warning to
this brave soldier of his approaching end。
Poland was relying upon the Emperor to re…establish her independence； and
consequently the Poles were filled with hope and enthusiasm on witnessing
the arrival of the French army。 As for our soldiers； this winter
campaign was most distasteful to them； for cold and wretchedness； bad
weather and bad roads； had inspired them with an extreme aversion to this
country。
In a review at Warsaw； at which the inhabitants crowded around our
troops； a soldier began to swear roundly against the snow and mud； and；
as a consequence； against Poland and the Poles。 〃You are wrong； Monsieur
soldier；〃 replied a young lady of a good bourgeois family of the town； 〃
not to love our country； for we love the French very much。〃〃You are
doubtless very lovable； mademoiselle；〃 replied the soldier； 〃but if you
wish to persuade me of the truth of what you say； you will prepare us a
good dinner； my comrade and I。〃〃Come； then； messieurs；〃 said the
parents of the young Pole now advancing； 〃and we will drink together to
the health of your Emperor。〃 And they really carried off with them the
two soldiers； who partook of the best dinner the country afforded。
The soldiers were accustomed to say that four words formed the basis of
the Polish language； kleba？ niema； 〃bread？ there is none；〃 voia？
sara； 〃water？ they have gone to draw it。〃
As the Emperor was one day passing through a column of infantry in the
suburbs of Mysigniez； where the troops endured great privations since the
bad roads prevented the arrival of supplies； 〃Papa； kleba；〃 cried a
soldier。 〃Niema；〃 immediately replied the Emperor。 The whole column
burst into shouts of laughter； and no further request was made。
During the Emperor's somewhat extended stay at Finkenstein； he received a
visit from the Persian ambassador； and a few grand reviews were held in
his honor。 His Majesty sent in return an embassy to the Shah； at the
head of which he placed General Gardanne； who it was then said had an
especial reason for wishing to visit Persia。 It was rumored that one of
his relations； after a long residence at Teheran； had been compelled；
having taken part in an insurrection against the Franks； to quit this
capital； and before his flight had buried a considerable treasure in a
certain spot； the description of which he had carried to France。 I will
add； as a finale to this story； some facts which I have since learned。
General Gardanne found the capital in a state of confusion； and being
able neither to locate the spot nor discover the treasure； returned from
his embassy with empty hands。
Our stay at Finkenstein became very tiresome； and in order to while away
the time； his Majesty sometimes played with his generals and aides…de…
camp。 The game was usually vingt…et…un； and the Great Captain took much
pleasure in cheating； holding through several deals the cards necessary
to complete the required number； and was much amused when he won the game
by this finesse。 I furnished the sum necessary for his game； and as soon
as he returned to his quarters received orders to make out his account。
He always gave me half of his gains； and I divided the remainder between
the ordinary valets de chambre。
I have no intention； in this journal； of conforming to a very exact order
of dates； and whenever there recurs to my memory a fact or an anecdote
which seems to me deserving of mention； I shall jot it down； at whatever
point of my narrative I may have then reached； fearing lest； should I
defer it to its proper epoch； it might be forgotten。 In pursuance of
this plan I shall here relate； in passing； some souvenirs of Saint…Cloud
or the Tuileries； although we are now in camp at Finkenstein。 The
pastimes in which his Majesty and his general officers indulged recalled
these anecdotes to my recollection。 These gentlemen often made wagers or
bets among themselves； and I heard the Duke of Vicenza one day bet that
Monsieur Jardin； junior； equerry of his Majesty； mounte