按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
innocent。 I am the son of Hugues Destrem。〃〃Your father； sir； is
gravely compromised by his connection with incorrigible revolutionists；
but I will consider your application。 Monsieur Destrem is happy in
having so devoted a son。〃 The Emperor added a few consoling words； and
the young man retired with the certainty that his father would be
pardoned； but unfortunately this pardon which was granted by the Emperor
came too late； and Hugues Destrem； who had been transported to the Island
of Oleron after the attempt of the 3d Nivose；＇The affair of the
infernal machine in the Rue Sainte Nicaise＇in which he had taken no
part； died in his exile before he had even learned that the solicitations
of his son had met with such complete success。
On our return from the glorious campaign of Austerlitz； the commune of
Saint…Cloud； so favored by the sojourn of the court； had decided that it
would distinguish itself on this occasion； and take the opportunity of
manifesting its great affection for the Emperor。
The mayor of Saint…Cloud was Monsieur Barre； a well informed man； with a
very kind heart。 Napoleon esteemed him highly； and took much pleasure in
his conversation； and he was sincerely regretted by his subordinates when
death removed him。
M。 Barre had erected an arch of triumph； of simple but noble design； in
excellent taste； at the foot of the avenue leading to the palace； which
was adorned with the following inscription：
〃TO HER BELOVED SOVEREIGN；
THE MOST FORTUNATE OF THE COMMUNES。〃
The evening on which the Emperor was expected； the mayor and his
associates； armed with the necessary harangue； passed a part of the night
at the foot of the monument。 M。 Barre； who was old and feeble； then
retired； after having placed as sentinel one of his associates； whose
duty it was to inform him of the arrival of the first courier； and a
ladder was placed across the entrance of the arch of triumph； so that no
one might pass under it before his Majesty。 Unfortunately； the municipal
argus went to sleep； and the Emperor arrived in the early morning； and
passed by the side of the arch of triumph； much amused at the obstacle
which prevented his enjoying the distinguished honor which the good
inhabitants of Saint…Cloud had prepared for him。
On the day succeeding this event； a little drawing was circulated in the
palace representing the authorities asleep near the monument； a prominent
place being accorded the ladder； which barred the passage； and underneath
was written the arch barre； alluding to the name of the mayor。 As for
the inscription； they had travestied it in this manner：
〃TO HER BELOVED SOVEREIGN；
THE SLEEPIEST OF THE COMMUNES。〃
Their Majesties were much amused by this episode。
While the court was at Saint…Cloud； the Emperor； who had worked very late
one evening with Monsieur de Talleyrand； invited the latter to sleep at
the chateau； but the prince； who preferred returning to Paris； refused；
giving as an excuse that the beds had a very disagreeable odor。 There
was no truth whatever in this statement； for there was； as may be
believed； the greatest care taken of the furniture； even in the store…
rooms of the different imperial palaces； and the reason assigned by M。 de
Talleyrand being given at random； he could just as well have given any
other； but； nevertheless； the remark struck the Emperor's attention； and
that evening on entering his bedroom he complained that his bed had an
unpleasant odor。 I assured him to the contrary； and told his Majesty
that he would next day be convinced of his error； but； far from being
persuaded； the Emperor； when he rose next morning； repeated the assertion
that his bed had a very disagreeable odor； and that it was absolutely
necessary to change it。 M。 Charvet； concierge of the palace； was at once
summoned； his Majesty complained of his bed； and ordered another to be
brought。
M。 Desmasis； keeper of the furniture…room； was also called； who examined
mattress； feather…beds； and covering； turned and returned them in every
direction； other persons did the same； and each was convinced that there
was no odor about his Majesty's bed。 In spite of so many witnesses to
the contrary； the Emperor； not because he made it a point of honor not to
have what he had asserted proved false； but merely from a caprice to
which he was very subject； persisted in his first idea； and required his
bed to be changed。 Seeing that it was necessary to obey； I sent this bed
to the Tuileries； and had the one which was there brought to the chateau
of Saint…Cloud。 The Emperor was now satisfied； and； on his return to the
Tuileries； did not notice the exchange； and thought his bed in that
chateau very good； and the most amusing part of all was that the ladies
of the palace； having learned that the Emperor had complained of his bed；
all found an unbearable odor in theirs； and insisted that everything must
be overhauled； which created a small revolution。 The caprices of
sovereigns are sometimes epidemic。
CHAPTER XXX。
His Majesty was accustomed to say that one could always tell an honorable
man by his conduct to his wife； his children； and his servants； and I
hope it will appear from these memoirs that the Emperor conducted himself
as an honorable man； according to his own definition。 He said； moreover；
that immorality was the most dangerous vice of a sovereign； because of
the evil example it set to his subjects。 What he meant by immorality was
doubtless a scandalous publicity given to liaisons which might otherwise
have remained secret； for； as regards these liaisons themselves； he
withstood women no more than any other man when they threw themselves at
his head。 Perhaps another man； surrounded by seductions； attacks； and
advances of all kinds； would have resisted these temptations still less。
Nevertheless； please God； I do not propose to defend his Majesty in this
respect。 I will even admit； if you wish； that his conduct did not offer
an example in the most perfect accord with the morality of his
discourses； but it must be admitted also that it was somewhat to the
credit of a sovereign that he concealed； with the most scrupulous care；
his frailties from the public； lest they should be a subject of scandal；
or； what is worse； of imitation； and from his wife； to whom it would have
been a source of the deepest grief。
On this delicate subject I recall two or three occurrences which took
place； I think； about the period which my narrative has now reached。
The Empress Josephine was jealous； and； notwithstanding the prudence
which the Emperor exercised in his secret liaisons； could not remain in
entire ignorance of what was passing。
The Emperor had known at Genoa Madame Gazani； the daughter of an Italian
dancer； whom he continued to receive at Paris； and one day； having an
appointment with her in his private apartments； ordered me to remain in
his room； and to reply to whoever asked for him； even if it was her
Majesty the Empress herself； that he was engaged in his cabinet with a
minister。
The place of the interview was the apartment formerly occupied by
Bourrienne； communicating by a staircase which opened on his Majesty's
bedroom。 This room had been arranged and decorated very plainly； and had
a second exit on the staircase called the black staircase； because it was
dark and badly lighted； and it was through this that Madame Gazani
entered； while the Emperor came in by the other door。 They had been
together only a few moments when the Empress entered the Emperor's room；
and asked me what her husband was doing。 〃Madame； the Emperor is very
busy just now； he is working in his cabinet with a minister。〃〃Constant；
I wish to enter。〃〃That is impossible； Madame。 I have received a formal
order not to disturb his Majesty； not even for her Majesty the Empress；〃
whereupon she went away dissatisfied and somewhat irritated； and at the
end of half an hour returned； and； renewing her demand； I was obliged to
repeat my reply； and； though much distressed in witnessing the chagrin of
her Majesty the Empress； I could not disobey my orders。 That evening on
retiring the Emperor said to me； in a very severe tone； that the Empress
had informed him she had learned from me； that； at the time she came to
question me in regard to him； he was closeted with a lady。 Not at all
disturbed； I replied to the Emperor； that of course he could not believe
that。 〃No；〃 replied the Emperor； returning to the friendly tone with
which he habitually honored me； 〃I know you well enough to be assured of
your discretion； but woe to the idiots who are gossiping； if I can get
hold of them。〃 The next night the Empress entered； as the Emperor was
retiring； and his Majesty said to her in my presence； 〃It is very bad to
impute falsehood to poor Monsieur Constant； he is not the man to make up
such a tale as that you told me。〃 The Empress； seated on the edge of the
bed； began to laugh； and put her pretty little hand over her husband's
mouth； and； as it was a matter concerning myself； I withdrew。 For a few
days the Empress was cool and distant to me； bu