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articles of all sorts to be bought for these dear children； the Empress
going in person to select the presents she desired for them； and having
them packed under her own eyes。
The prince's valet has assured me that； at the time of the divorce；
Prince Eugene wrote his wife a very desponding letter； and perhaps
expressed in it some regret at not being an adopted son of the Emperor；
to which the Princess replied most tenderly； saying； among other things；
〃It is not the heir of the Emperor whom I married and whom I love； but it
is Eugene de Beauharnais。〃 The Prince read this sentence and some others
in the presence of the person from whom I have these facts； and who was
touched even to tears。 Such a woman deserved more than a throne。
After that event； so grievous to the heart of the Empress； and for which
she never found consolation； she left Malmaison no more； except to make a
few visits to Navarre。
Each time that I returned to Paris with the Emperor； I had no sooner
arrived than my first duty was to go to Malmaison； though I was rarely
the bearer of a letter from the Emperor； as he wrote to Josephine only on
extraordinary occasions。 〃Tell the Empress I am well； and that I wish
her to be happy；〃 were almost invariably the parting words of the Emperor
as I set out。 The moment I arrived the Empress quitted everything to
speak to me； and I frequently remained an hour and often two hours with
her； during which time there was no question of anything save the
Emperor。 I must tell her all that he had suffered on the journey； if he
had been sad or gay； sick or well； while she wept over the details as I
repeated them； and gave me a thousand directions regarding his health；
and the cares with which she desired I should surround him。 After this
she deigned to question me about myself； my prospects； the health of my
wife； her former protegee； and at last dismissed me； with a letter for
his Majesty； begging me to say to the Emperor how happy she would be if
he would come to see her。
Before his departure for Russia； the Empress； distressed at this war； of
which she entirely disapproved； again redoubled her recommendations
concerning the Emperor； and made me a present of her portrait； saying to
me； 〃My good Constant； I rely on you； if the Emperor were sick； you would
inform me of it； would you not？ Conceal nothing from me； I love him so
much。〃
Certainly the Empress had innumerable means of hearing news of his
Majesty； but I am persuaded that； had she received each day one hundred
letters from those near the Emperor； she would have read and reread them
with the same avidity。
When I had returned from Saint…Cloud to the Tuileries； the Emperor asked
me how Josephine was； and if I found her in good spirits； he received
with pleasure the letters I brought； and hastened to open them。 All the
time I was traveling； or on the campaign in the suite of his Majesty； in
writing to my wife； I spoke of the Emperor； and the good princess was
delighted that she showed my letters to her。 In fact； everything having
the least connection with her husband interested the Empress to a degree
which proved well the singular devotion that she still felt for him
after； as before； their separation。 Too generous； and unable to keep her
expenses within her income； it often happened that the Empress was
obliged to send away her furnishers unpaid the very day she had herself
fixed for the settlement of their bills； and as this reached the ears of
the Emperor on one occasion； there ensued a very unpleasant scene between
the Empress and himself； ending in a decision； that in future no merchant
or furnisher should come to the chateau without a letter from the lady of
attire or secretary of orders； and this plan； once decided upon； was
followed very closely until the divorce。 During this explanation the
Empress wept freely； and promised to be more economical； upon which the
Emperor pardoned and embraced her； and peace was made； this being； I
think； the last quarrel of this nature which disturbed the imperial
household。
I have heard that after the divorce； the allowance of the Empress having
been exceeded； the Emperor reproached the superintendent of Malmaison
with this fact； who in turn informed Josephine。 His kind…hearted
mistress； much distressed at the annoyance which her steward had
experienced； and not knowing how to establish a better order of things；
assembled a council of her household； over which she presided in a linen
dress without ornament； this dress had been made in great haste； and was
used only this once。 The Empress； whom the necessity for a refusal
always reduced to despair； was continually besieged by merchants； who
assured her that they had made such or such a thing expressly for her own
use； begging her not to return it because they would not be able to
dispose of it； in consequence of which the Empress kept everything they
brought； though they afterwards had to be paid for。
The Empress was always extremely polite in her intercourse with the
ladies of her household； and a reproach never came from those lips which
seemed formed to say only pleasant things； and if any of her ladies gave
her cause of dissatisfaction； the only punishment she inflicted was an
absolute silence on her part； which lasted one； two； three； or even eight
days； the time being longer or shorter according to the gravity of the
fault。 And indeed this penalty； apparently so mild； was really very
cruel to many； so well did the Empress know how to make herself adored by
those around her。
In the time of the Consulate； Madame Bonaparte often received from cities
which had been conquered by her husband； or from those persons who
desired to obtain her intercession with the First Consul； quantities of
valuable furniture； curiosities of all kinds； pictures； stuffs； etc。 At
first these presents delighted Madame Bonaparte greatly； and she took a
childish pleasure in having the cases opened to find what was inside；
personally assisting in unpacking them； and rummaging through all these
pretty things。 But soon these consignments became so considerable； and
were so often repeated； that it was found necessary to place them in an
apartment； of which my father…in…law kept the key； and where the boxes
remained untouched until it pleased Madame Bonaparte to have them opened。
When the First。 Consul decided that he would take up his residence at
Saint…Cloud； my father…in…law was obliged to leave Malmaison； and install
himself in the new palace； as the master wished him to take charge there。
Before leaving Malmaison； my father…in…law rendered an account to Madame
Bonaparte of everything committed to his care； and all the cases which
were piled up from floor to ceiling in two rooms were opened in her
presence。 Madame Bonaparte was astonished at such marvelous riches；
comprising marbles； bronzes； and magnificent pictures； of which Eugene；
Hortense； and the sisters of the First Consul received a large part； and
the remainder was used in decorating the apartments of Malmaison。
The Empress's love of ornaments included for a while antique curiosities；
cut stones； and medals。 M。 Denon flattered this whim； and ended by
persuading the good Josephine that she was a perfect connoisseur in
antiques； and that she should have at Malmaison a cabinet； a keeper for
it； etc。 This proposition； which flattered the self…love of the Empress；
was favorably received； the room was selected； M。 de M made keeper；
and the new cabinet enriched by diminishing in the same proportion the
rich furniture of the apartments of the chateau。 M。 Denon； who had
originated this idea； took upon himself to make a collection of medals；
but this idea； which came so suddenly； vanished as suddenly； the cabinet
was changed into a saloon for guests； and the antiques relegated to the
antechamber of the bathing hall； while M。 de M； having no longer
anything to keep； remained constantly in Paris。
A short time after this； two ladies of the palace took a fancy to
persuade the Empress that nothing could be handsomer or more worthy of
her than a necklace of Greek and Roman antique stones perfectly matched。
Several chamberlains approved the idea； which； of course； pleased the
Empress； for she was very fond of anything unique； and consequently one
morning； as I was dressing the Emperor； the Empress entered； and； after a
little conversation； said； 〃Bonaparte； some ladies have advised me to
have a necklace made of antique stones； and I came to ask you to urge M。
Denon to select only very handsome ones。〃 The Emperor burst out
laughing； and refused flatly at first； but just then the grand marshal of
the palace arrived； and the Emperor informed him of this request of the
Empress； asking his opinion。 M。 le due de Frioul thought it very
reasonable； and joined his entreaties to those of the Empress。 〃It is an
egregious folly；〃 said the Emperor； 〃but we are obliged to grant it；
because the women wish it； so； Duroc； go to the cabinet of antiques； and
choose whatever is necessary。〃
M。 le due de Frioul soon returned with the finest stones in the
collection； which the crown jeweler mounted magnificently； but this