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moustached faces； which he said was very tiresome； and the prince； ever
ready on occasions of this kind to offer his services to his brother…in…
law； spoke to him of a handsome and attractive Genoese lady； who had the
greatest desire to see his Majesty。 The Emperor laughingly granted a
tete…a…tete； the prince himself offering to send the message； and two
days later； by his kind assistance； the lady arrived； and was installed
in the upper town。 The Emperor； who lodged at Pont des Briques； ordered
me one evening to take a carriage； and find this protegee of Prince
Murat。 I obeyed； and brought the beautiful Genoese； who； to avoid
scandal； although it was a dark night； was introduced through a little
garden behind his Majesty's apartments。 The poor woman was much excited；
and shed tears； but controlled herself quickly on finding that she was
kindly received； and the interview was prolonged until three o'clock in
the morning； when I was called to carry her back。 She returned
afterwards four or five times； and was with the Emperor afterwards at
Rambouillet。 She was gentle； simple； credulous； and not at all
intriguing； and did not try to draw any benefit from a liaison which at
best was only temporary。
Another of these favorites of the moment； who threw themselves so to
speak into the arms of the Emperor without giving him time to make his
court to them； was Mademoiselle L。 B； a very pretty girl。 She was
intelligent； and possessed a kind heart； and； had she received a less
frivolous education； would doubtless have been an estimable woman； but I
have reason to believe that her mother had from the first the design of
acquiring a protector for her second husband； by utilizing the youth and
attractions of the daughter of her first。 I do not now recall her name；
but she was of a noble family； of which fact the mother and daughter were
very proud； and the young girl was a good musician； and sang agreeably；
but； which appeared to me as ridiculous as indecent； she danced the
ballet before a large company in her mother's house； in a costume almost
as light as those of the opera； with castanets or tambourines； and ended
her dance with a multiplicity of attitudes and graces。 With such an
education she naturally thought her position not at all unusual； and was
very much chagrined at the short duration of her liaison with the
Emperor； while the mother was in despair； and said to me with disgusting
simplicity； 〃See my poor Lise； how she has ruined her complexion in her
vexation at seeing herself neglected； poor child。 How good you will be；
if you can manage to have her sent for。〃 To secure an interview for
which the mother and daughter were both so desirous； they came together
to the chapel at Saint…Cloud； and during mass the poor Lise threw glances
at the Emperor which made the young ladies blush who witnessed them； and
were； nevertheless； all in vain； for the Emperor remained unmoved。
Colonel L。 B was aide…de…camp to General L； the governor of
Saint…Cloud； and the general was a widower； which facts alone furnish an
excuse for the intimacy of his only daughter with the family of L。 B；
which astonished me greatly。 One day； when I was dining at the house of
the colonel； with his wife； his step…daughter； and Mademoiselle L；
the general sent for his aides…de…camp； and I was left alone； with the
ladies； who so earnestly begged me to accompany them on a visit to
Mademoiselle le Normand； that it would have been impolite to refuse；
consequently we ordered a carriage and went to the Rue de Tournon。
Mademoiselle L。 B was first to enter the Sybil's cave； where she
remained a long while； but on her return was very reserved as to any
communications made to her； though Mademoiselle L told us very
frankly that she had good news； and would soon marry the man she loved；
which event soon occurred。 These ladies having urged me to consult the
prophetess in my turn； I perceived plainly that I was recognized； for
Mademoiselle le Normand at once discovered in my hand that I had the
happiness of being near a great man and being highly esteemed by him；
adding much other nonsense of the same kind； which was so tiresome that I
thanked her； and made my adieux as quickly as possible。
CHAPTER XXXI。
While the Emperor was giving crowns to his brothers and sisters；to
Prince Louis； the throne of Holland； Naples to Prince Joseph； the Duchy
of Berg to Prince Murat； to the Princess Eliza； Lucca and Massa…Carrara；
and Guastalla to the Princess Pauline Borghese； and while； by means of
treaties and family alliances； he was assuring still more the co…
operation of the different states which had entered into the
Confederation of the Rhine；war was renewed between France and Prussia。
It is not my province to investigate the causes of this war； nor to
decide which first gave cause of offense。
All I can certify is this； frequently at the Tuileries； and on the
campaign； I heard the Emperor； in conversation with his intimate friends；
accuse the old Duke of Brunswick； whose name had been so odious in France
since 1792； and also the young and beautiful Queen of Prussia； of having
influenced King Frederic William to break the treaty of peace。 The Queen
was； according to the Emperor； more disposed to war than General Blucher
himself。 She wore the uniform of the regiment to which she had given her
name； appeared at all reviews； and commanded the maneuvers。
We left Paris at the end of September。 I will not enter into the details
of this wonderful campaign； in which the Emperor in an incredibly short
time crushed to pieces an army of one hundred and fifty thousand men；
perfectly disciplined； full of enthusiasm and courage； and fighting in
defense of their country。 In one of the first battles； the young Prince
Louis of Prussia； brother of the king； was killed at the head of his
troops by Guinde； quartermaster of the Tenth Hussars。 The prince fought
hand to hand with this brave sub…officer； who said to him； 〃Surrender；
Colonel； or you are a dead man；〃 to which Prince Louis replied only by a
saber stroke； whereupon Guinde plunged his own into the body of his
opponent； and he fell dead on the spot。
On this campaign； as the roads had become very rough from the continual
passage of artillery； my carriage was one day upset； and one of the
Emperor's hats fell out of the door； but a regiment which happened to
pass along the same road having recognized the hat from its peculiar
shape； my carriage was immediately set up again； 〃For；〃 said these brave
soldiers； 〃we cannot leave the first valet of the little corporal in
trouble；〃 and the hat； after passing through many hands； was at last
restored to me before my departure。
On the Emperor's arrival at the plateau of Weimar； he arranged his army
in line of battle； and bivouacked in the midst of his guard。 About two
o'clock in the morning he arose and went on foot to examine the work on a
road that was being cut in the rock for the transportation of artillery；
and after remaining nearly an hour with the workmen； decided to take a
look at the nearest advance posts before returning to his bivouac。
This round； which the Emperor insisted on making alone and with no
escort； came near costing him his life。 The night was so dark that the
sentinels of the camp could not see ten steps in front of them； and the
first； hearing some one in the darkness approaching our line； called out
〃Qui vive？〃 and prepared to fire。 The Emperor being lost in thought； as
he himself told me afterwards； did not notice the sentinel's challenge；
and made no reply until a ball； whistling by his ears； woke him from his
reverie； when immediately perceiving his danger； he threw himself face
downwards on the ground； which was a very wise precaution； for hardly had
his Majesty placed himself in this position； than other balls passed over
his head； the discharge of the first sentinel having been repeated by the
whole line。 This first fire over； the Emperor rose； walked towards the
nearest post； and made himself known。
His Majesty was still there when the soldier who had fired on him joined
them； being just relieved at his post； he was a young grenadier of the
line。 The Emperor ordered him to approach； and； pinching his cheeks
hard； exclaimed； 〃What； you scamp； you took me for a Prussian！ This
rascal does not throw away his powder on sparrows； he shoots only at
emperors。〃 The poor soldier was completely overcome with the idea that
he might have killed the little corporal； whom he adored as much as did
the rest of the army； and it was with great difficulty he could say；
〃Pardon； Sire； but I was obeying orders； and if you did not answer； it
was not my fault。 I was compelled to have the countersign； and you would
not give it。〃 The Emperor reassured him with a smile； and said； as he
left the post； 〃My brave boy； I do not reproach you。 That was pretty
well aimed for a shot fired in the dark； but after awhile it will be
daylight； take better aim； and I will remember you。〃
The results of the Battle of Jena； fought on the 14th of October （1806）；
are well known。 Almost all the Prussian generals； at least the bravest
among them； were there