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contrary； encouraging them to express opinions； and even to converse；
tolerating in conversation a semblance of equality； smiling at a
repartee； playfully telling a story … such was his drawing…room
constitution。 The drawing…room as well as every human society needs
one； and a liberal one； otherwise life dies out。 Accordingly； the
observance of this constitution in by…gone society is known by the
phrase savoir…vivre； and； more rigidly than anybody else； Louis XIV。
submitted himself to this code of proprieties。 Traditionally； and
through education； he had consideration for others； at least for the
people around him； his courtiers becoming his guests without ceasing
to be his subjects。
There is nothing of this sort with Napoleon。 He preserves nothing of
the etiquette he borrows from the old court but its rigid discipline
and its pompous parade。 〃The ceremonial system；〃 says an eyewitness；
〃was carried out as if it had been regulated by the tap of a drum；
everything was done； in a certain sense； 'double…quick。'＇87＇ 。 。 。
This air of precipitation； this constant anxiety which it inspires；〃
puts an end to all comfort； all ease； all entertainment； all agreeable
intercourse； there is no common bond but that of command and
obedience。 〃 The few individuals he singles out； Savary； Duroc；
Maret； keep silent and simply transmit orders。 。 。 。 We did not appear
to them； in doing what we were ordered to do； and we did not appear to
ourselves； other than veritable machines； all resembling； or but
little short of it； the elegant gilded arm…chairs with which the
palaces of Saint…Cloud and the Tuileries had just been embellished。〃
For a machine to work well it is important that the machinist should
overhaul it frequently； which this one never fails to do； especially
after a long absence。 Whilst he is on his way from Tilsit； 〃everybody
anxiously examines his conscience to ascertain what he has done that
this rigid master will find fault with on his return。 Whether spouse；
family； or grand dignitary； each is more or less disturbed； while the
Empress； who knows him better than any one； naively says； 'As the
Emperor is so happy it is certain that he will do a deal of
scolding！'〃＇88＇ Actually； he has scarcely arrived when he gives a rude
and vigorous wrench of the bolt； and then； 〃satisfied at having
excited terror all around； he appears to have forgotten what has
passed and resumes the usual tenor of his life。〃 〃Through calculation
as well as from taste；＇89＇ he never ceases to be a monarch〃； hence； 〃a
mute； frigid court 。 。 。 。 more dismal than dignified； every face
wears an expression of uneasiness 。 。 。 a silence both dull and
constrained。〃 At Fontainebleau； 〃amidst splendors and pleasures；〃
there is no real enjoyment nor anything agreeable； not even for
himself。 〃I pity you；〃 said M。 de Talleyrand to M。 de Rémusat； 〃you
have to amuse the unamusable。〃 At the theatre he is abstracted or
yawns。 Applause is prohibited； the court； sitting out 〃the file of
eternal tragedies； is mortally bored 。 。 。 。 the young ladies fall
asleep； people leave the theatre； gloomy and discontented。〃 … There is
the same constraint in the drawing…room。 〃He did not know how to
appear at ease； and I believe that he never wanted anybody else to be
so； afraid of the slightest approach to familiarity； and inspiring
each with a fear of saying something offensive to his neighbor before
witnesses。 。 。 。 During the quadrille； he moves around amongst the
rows of ladies； addressing them with some trifling or disagreeable
remark；〃 and never does he accost them otherwise than 〃awkwardly and
ill at his ease。〃 At bottom； he distrusts them and is ill…disposed
toward them。＇90＇ It is because 〃the power they have acquired in
society seems to him an intolerable usurpation。 … 〃Never did he utter
to a woman a graceful or even a well…turned compliment； although the
effort to find one was often apparent on his face and in the tone of
his voice。 。 。 。 He talks to them only of their toilet； of which he
declares himself a severe and minute judge； and on which he indulges
in not very delicate jests； or again； on the number of their children；
demanding of them in rude language whether they nurse them themselves；
or again； lecturing them on their social relations。〃＇91＇ Hence； 〃there
is not one who does not rejoice when he moves off。〃＇92＇ He would often
amuse himself by putting them out of countenance； scandalizing and
bantering them to their faces； driving them into a corner the same as
a colonel worries his canteen women。 〃Yes； ladies； you furnish the
good people of the Faubourg Saint…Germain with something to talk
about。 It is said； Madame A。。。； that you are intimate with Monsieur
B。。。； and you Madame C。。。。； with Monsieur D 。〃 On any intrigue
chancing to appear in the police reports； 〃he loses no time in
informing the husband of what is going on。〃 … He is no less indiscreet
in relation to his own affairs；＇93＇ when it is over he divulges the
fact and gives the name； furthermore； he informs Josephine in detail
and will not listen to any reproach： 〃I have a right to answer all
your objections with an eternal I！〃
This term； indeed； answers to everything； and he explains it by
adding： 〃I stand apart from other men。 I accept nobody's conditions；〃
nor any species of obligation； no code whatever； not even the common
code of outward civility； which； diminishing or dissimulating
primitive brutality； allows men to associate together without
clashing。 He does not comprehend it； and he repudiates it。 〃I have
little liking；〃＇94＇ he says； 〃for that vague； leveling word propriety
（convenances）； which you people fling out every chance you get。 It is
an invention of fools who want to pass for clever men； a kind of
social muzzle which annoys the strong and is useful only to the
mediocre。 。 。 Ah； good taste ！ Another classic expression which I do
not accept。〃 〃It is your personal enemy〃； says Talleyrand to him； one
day； 〃if you could have shot it away with bullets； it would have
disappeared long ago！〃 … It is because good taste is the highest
attainment of civilization； the innermost vestment which drapes human
nudity； which best fits the person； the last garment retained after
the others have been cast off； and which delicate tissue continues to
hamper Napoleon； he throws it off instinctively； because it interferes
with his natural behavior； with the uncurbed； dominating； savage ways
of the vanquisher who knocks down his adversary and treats him as he
pleases。
V。 His Policy。
His tone and bearing towards Sovereigns。 … His Policy。 … His means and
ends。… After Sovereigns he sets populations against him。 … Final
opinion of Europe。
Such behavior render social intercourse impossible； especially among
the independent and armed personages known as nations or States。 This
is why they are outlawed in politics and in diplomacy and every head
of a State or representative of a country； carefully and on principle；
abstains from them； at least with those on his own level。 He is bound
to treat these as his equals； humor them； and； accordingly； not to
give way to the irritation of the moment or to personal feeling； in
short； to exercise self…control and measure his words。 To this is due
the tone of manifestos； protocols； dispatches； and other public
documents the formal language of legations； so cold； dry； and
elaborated； those expressions purposely attenuated and smoothed down；
those long phrases apparently spun out mechanically and always after
the same pattern； a sort of soft wadding or international buffer
interposed between contestants to lessen the shocks of collision。 The
reciprocal irritations between States are already too great； there are
ever too many unavoidable and regrettable encounters； too many causes
of conflict； the consequences of which are too serious； it is
unnecessary to add to the wounds of interest the wounds of imagination
and of pride； and above all； it is unnecessary to amplify these
without reason； at the risk of increasing the obstacles of to…day and
the resentments of to…morrow。 … With Napoleon it is just the opposite：
his attitude； even at peaceful interviews； remains aggressive and
militant； purposely or in…voluntarily； he raises his hand and the blow
is felt to be coming； while； in the meantime； he insults。 In his
correspondence with sovereigns； in his official proclamations； in his
deliberations with ambassadors； and even at public audiences；＇95＇ he
provokes； threatens； and defies。＇96＇ He treats his adversary with a
lofty air； insults him often to his face； and charges him with the
most disgraceful imputations。＇97＇ He divulges the secrets of his
private life； of his closet； and of his bed； he defames or calumniates
his ministers； his court； and his wife；＇98＇ he purposely stabs him in
the most sensitive part。 He tells one that he is a dupe； a betrayed
husband； another