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on my journey。 I regret it exceedingly； but what you demand of me is
impossible。〃 And he thus dismissed her； refusing to listen longer。
While this was occurring I was ascending the hill on foot； a few paces
from his Majesty's carriage； and when this disagreeable scene was over；
the young lady； being forced to leave without having obtained what she
desired； passed on before me sobbing； and I recognized Mademoiselle
Lajolais； whom I had already seen in similar circumstances； but where her
courageous devotion to her parents had met with better success。
General Lajolais had been arrested； as well as all his family； on the
18th Fructidor。 After being confined for twenty…eight months； he had
been tried at Strasburg by a council of war； held by order of the First
Consul； and acquitted unanimously。
Later； when the conspiracy of Generals Pichegru； Moreau； George Cadoudal；
and of Messieurs de Polignac； de Riviere； etc。； were discovered； General
Lajolais； who was also concerned therein； was condemned to death。 His
daughter and his wife were transferred from Strasburg to Paris by the
police； and Madame Lajolais was placed in the most rigorous close
confinement； while her daughter； now separated from her； took refuge with
friends of her family。 It was then that this young person； barely
fourteen years old； displayed a courage and strength of character unusual
at her age； and on learning that her father was condemned to death； she
set out at four o'clock in the morning； without confiding her resolution
to any one； alone； on foot； and without a guide； with no one to introduce
her； and presented herself weeping at the chateau of Saint…Cloud； where
the Emperor then was。
She succeeded in gaining an entrance into the chateau only after much
opposition； but not allowing herself to be rebuffed by any obstacle； she
finally presented herself before me； saying； 〃Monsieur； I have been
promised that you would conduct me instantly to the Emperor〃 （I do not
know who had told her this）。 〃I ask of you only this favor； do not
refuse it； I beg！〃 and moved by her confidence and her despair； I went to
inform her Majesty the Empress。
She was deeply touched by the resolution and the tears of one so young；
but did not dare； nevertheless； to promise her support at once； for fear
of awakening the anger of the Emperor； who was very much incensed against
those who were concerned in this conspiracy； and ordered me to say to the
young daughter of Lajolais that she was grieved to be able to do nothing
for her just then； but that she might return to Saint…Cloud the next day
at five o'clock in the morning； and meanwhile she and Queen Hortense
would consult together as to the best means of placing her in the
Emperor's way。 The young girl returned next day at the appointed hour；
and her Majesty the Empress had her stationed in the green saloon； and
there she awaited ten hours； the moment when the Emperor； coming out from
the council…chamber； would cross this room to enter his cabinet。
The Empress and her august daughter gave orders that breakfast； and then
dinner； should be served to her； and came in person to beg her to take
some nourishment； but their entreaties were all in vain； for the poor
girl had no other thought； no other desire； than that of obtaining her
father's life。 At last； at five o'clock in the afternoon； the Emperor
appeared； and a sign being made to Mademoiselle Lajolais by which she
could designate the Emperor； who was surrounded by several councilors of
state and officers of his household； she sprang towards him； and there
followed a touching scene； which lasted a long while。 The young girl；
prostrating herself at the feet of the Emperor； supplicated him with
clasped hands； and in the most touching terms； to grant her father's
pardon。 The Emperor at first repulsed her； and said in a tone of great
severity； 〃Your father is a traitor； this is the second time he has
committed a crime against the state； I can grant you nothing。〃
Mademoiselle Lajolais replied to this outburst of the Emperor； 〃The first
time my father was tried and found innocent； this time it is his pardon I
implore！〃 Finally the Emperor； conquered by so much courage and
devotion； and a little fatigued besides by an interview which the
perseverance of the young girl would doubtless have prolonged
indefinitely； yielded to her prayers； and the life of General Lajolais
was spared。
＇It is well known that the sentence of General Lajolais was
commuted to four years detention in a prison of state； that his
property was confiscated and sold； and that he died in the Chateau
d'If much beyond the time set for the expiration of his captivity。
Note by CONSTANT。＇
Exhausted by fatigue and hunger； the daughter fell unconscious at the
Emperor's feet； he himself raised her； gave her every attention； and
presenting her to the persons who witnessed this scene； praised her
filial piety in unmeasured terms。
His Majesty at once gave orders that she should be reconducted to Paris；
and several superior officers disputed with each other the pleasure of
accompanying her。 Generals Wolff； aide…de…camp of Prince Louis； and
Lavalette were charged with this duty； and conducted her to the
conciergerie where her father was confined。 On entering his cell； she
threw herself on his neck and tried to tell him of the pardon she had
just obtained； but overcome by so many emotions； she was unable to utter
a word； and it was General Lavalette
＇Marie Chamans； Count de Lavalette； was born in Paris； 1769。
Entered the army 1792； made Captain at Arcola 1796； and served in
Egyptian campaign。 Married Emilie de Beauharnais； a niece of
Josephine。 Postmaster…general； 1800…1814。 Condemned to death
during the Hundred Days； he escaped from prison in his wife's dress。
His wife was tried； but became insane from excitement。 He was
pardoned 1822； and died 1830； leaving two volumes of Memoirs。 ＇
who announced to the prisoner what he owed to the brave persistence of
his daughter。 The next day she obtained； through the favor of the
Empress Josephine； the liberty of her mother； who was to have been
transported。
Having obtained the life of her father and the liberty of her mother； as
I have just related； she still further exerted herself to save their
companions in misfortune； who had been condemned to death； and for this
purpose joined the ladies of Brittany； who had been led to seek her
cooperation by the success of her former petitions； and went with them to
Malmaison to beg these additional pardons。
These ladies had succeeded in getting the execution of the condemned
delayed for two hours； with the hope that the Empress Josephine would be
able to influence the Emperor； but he remained inflexible； and their
generous attempt met with no success； whereupon Mademoiselle Lajolais
returned to Paris； much grieved that she had not been able to snatch a
few more unfortunates from the rigor of the law。
I have already said two things which I am compelled to repeat here： the
first is； that； not feeling obliged to relate events in their
chronological order； I shall narrate them as they present themselves to
my memory； the second is； that I deem it both an obligation and a duty
which I owe to the Emperor to relate every event which may serve to make
his true character better known； and which has been omitted； whether
involuntarily or by design； by those who have written his life。 I care
little if I am accused of monotony on this subject； or of writing only a
panegyric； but； if this should be done； I would reply： So much the worse
for him who grows weary of the recital of good deeds！ I have undertaken
to tell the truth concerning the Emperor； be it good or bad； and every
reader who expects to find in my memoirs of the Emperor only evil； as
well as he who expects to find only good； will be wise to go no farther；
for I have firmly resolved to relate all that I know； and it is not my
fault if the kind acts performed by the Emperor are so numerous that my
recitals should often turn to praises。
I thought it best to make these short observations before giving an
account of another pardon granted by his Majesty at the time of the
coronation； and which the story of Mademoiselle Lajolais has recalled to
my recollection。
On the day of the last distribution of the decoration of the Legion of
Honor in the Church of the Invalides； as the Emperor was about to retire
at the conclusion of this imposing ceremony； a very young man threw
himself on his knees on the steps of the throne； crying out； 〃Pardon；
pardon for my father。〃 His Majesty； touched by his interesting
countenance and deep emotion； approached him and attempted to raise him；
but the young man still retained his beseeching posture； repeating his
demand in moving tones。 〃What is your father's name？〃 demanded the
Emperor。 〃Sire；〃 replied the young man； hardly able to make himself
heard； 〃it is well known； and has been only too often calumniated by the
enemies of my father before your Majesty； but I swear that he is
innocent。 I am the son of Hugues Destrem。〃〃Your father； sir； is
gravely