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The three sons of Queen Hortense had； if I am not much mistaken； the
Emperor as godfather； but he loved most tenderly the eldest of the three；
Prince Napoleon Charles； who died at the age of five years； Prince Royal
of Holland。 I shall speak afterwards of this lovely child； whose death
threw his father and mother into the most overwhelming grief； was the
cause of great sorrow to the Emperor； and may be considered as the source
of the gravest events。
After the baptismal fetes we set out for Italy； accompanied by the
Empress Josephine。 Whenever it was convenient the Emperor liked to take
her with him； but she always desired to accompany her husband； whether or
not this was the case。
The Emperor usually kept his journey a profound secret up to the moment
of his departure； and ordered at midnight horses for his departure to
Mayence or Milan； exactly as if a hunt at Saint…Cloud or Rambouillet was
in question。
On one of his journeys （I do not remember which）； his Majesty had decided
not to take the Empress Josephine。 The Emperor was less disturbed by
this company of ladies and women who formed her Majesty's suite； than he
was by the annoyance of the bandboxes and bundles with which they were
usually encumbered； and wished on this occasion to travel rapidly； and
without ostentation； and spare the towns on his route an enormous
increase of expense。
He therefore ordered everything to be in readiness for his departure； at
one o'clock in the morning； at which hour the Empress was generally
asleep； but； in spite of all precautions； some slight noise warned the
Empress of what was taking place。 The Emperor had promised her that she
should accompany him on his first journey； but he had deceived her；
nevertheless； and was about to set out without her！ She instantly called
her women； but vexed at their slowness； her Majesty sprang out of bed；
threw on the first clothing she found at hand； and ran out of her room in
slippers and without stockings。 Weeping like a little child that is
being taken back to boarding…school； she crossed the apartments； flew
down the staircase； and threw herself into the arms of the Emperor； as he
was entering his carriage； barely in time； however； for a moment later he
set out。 As almost always happened at the sight of his wife's tears； the
Emperor's heart was softened； and she； seeing this； had already entered
the carriage； and was cowering down in the foot； for the Empress was
scantily clad。 The Emperor covered her with his cloak； and before
starting gave the order in person that； with the first relay； his wife
should receive all she needed。
The Emperor； leaving his wife at Fontainebleau； repaired to Brienne；
where he arrived at six o'clock in the evening； and found Mesdames de
Brienne and Lomenie； with several ladies of the city； awaiting him at the
foot of the staircase to the chateau。 He entered the saloon； and
received most graciously all persons who were presented to him； and then
passed into the garden； conversing familiarly with Mesdames Brienne and
Lomenie； and recalling with surprising accuracy the smallest particulars
of the stay which he made during his childhood at the military school of
Brienne。
His Majesty invited to his table at dinner his hostesses and a few of
their friends； and afterwards made a party at a game of whist with
Mesdames de Brienne； de Vandeuvre； and de Nolivres。 During this game； as
also at the table； his conversation was animated and most interesting；
and he displayed such liveliness and affability that every one was
delighted。
His Majesty passed the night at the chateau of Brienne； and rose early to
visit the field of la Rothiere； one of his favorite walks in former days。
He revisited with the greatest pleasure those spots where his early youth
had been passed； and pointed them out with a kind of pride； all his
movements； all his reflections； seeming to say； 〃See whence I set out；
and where I have arrived。〃
His Majesty walked in advance of the persons who accompanied him； and
took much pleasure in being first to call by their names the various
localities he passed。 A peasant； seeing him thus some distance from his
suite； cried out to him familiarly； 〃Oh； citizen； is the Emperor going to
pass soon？〃〃Yes；〃 replied the Emperor； 〃have patience。〃
The Emperor had inquired the evening before； of Madame Brienne； news of
Mother Marguerite。 Thus was styled a good woman who dwelt in a cottage；
in the midst of the forest； and on whom the； pupils of the military
academy were accustomed to make frequent visits。 He had not forgotten
her name； and learning； with as much joy as surprise； that she still
lived； the Emperor； extended his morning ride； and galloping up to the
door of the cottage； alighted from his horse； and entered the home of the
good old peasant。 Her sight was impaired by age； and besides； the
Emperor had changed so much since she had seen him that it would have
been difficult even for the best eyes to recognize him。 〃Good…day；
Mother Marguerite；〃 said his Majesty； saluting the old woman； 〃so you are
not curious to see the Emperor？〃〃Yes； indeed； my good sir； I am very
curious to see him； so much so； that here is a little basket of fresh
eggs that I am going to carry to Madame； and I shall then remain at the
chateau； and endeavor to see the Emperor。 But the trouble is； I shall
not be able to see him so well to…day as formerly； when he came with his
comrades to drink milk at Mother Marguerite's。 He was not Emperor then；
but that was nothing； he made the others step around！ Indeed； you should
have seen him！ The milk； the eggs； the brown bread； the broken dishes
though he took care to have me paid for everything； and began by paying
his own bill。〃〃What！ Mother Marguerite；〃 replied his Majesty； smiling；
〃you have not forgotten Bonaparte！〃〃Forgotten！ my good sir； you think
that any one would forget such a young man as he； who was wise； serious；
and sometimes even sad； but always good to poor people？ I am only a poor
peasant woman； but I could have predicted that this young man would make
his way。 He has not done it very badly； has he？ Ah； no； indeed！〃
During this short dialogue； the Emperor had at first turned his back to
the door； and consequently to the light； which entered the cottage only
by that means。 But； by degrees； the Emperor approached the good woman；
and when he was quite near her； with the light shining full on his face
from the door； he began to rub his hands and say； trying to recall the
tone and manner of the days of his early youth； when he came to the
peasant's house； 〃Come； Mother Marguerite； some milk and fresh eggs； we
are famishing。〃 The good old woman seemed trying to revive her memories；
and began to observe the Emperor with the closest attention。 〃Oh； yes；
Mother； you were so sure a while ago of knowing Bonaparte again。 Are we
not old acquaintances； we two？〃 The peasant； while the Emperor was
addressing these last words to her； had fallen at his feet； but he raised
her with the most touching kindness； and said to her； 〃The truth is；
Mother Marguerite； I have still a schoolboy's appetite。 Have you nothing
to give me？〃 The good woman； almost beside herself with happiness；
served his Majesty with eggs and milk； and when this simple repast was
ended； his Majesty gave his aged hostess a purse full of gold； saying to
her； 〃You know； Mother Marguerite； that I believe in paying my bills。
Adieu； I shall not forget you。〃 And while the Emperor remounted his
horse； the good old woman； standing on the threshold of her door；
promised him； with tears of joy； to pray to the good God for him。
One morning； when he awoke； his Majesty was speaking of the possibility
of finding some of his old acquaintances； and an anecdote concerning
General Junot was related to him； which amused him greatly。 The General
finding himself； on his return from Egypt； at Montbard； where he had
passed several years of his childhood； had sought with the greatest care
for his companions in school and mischief； and had found several； with
whom he had talked gayly and freely of his early frolics and his
schoolboy excursions。 As they went together to revisit the different
localities； each of which awakened in them some memory of their youth；
the general saw an old man majestically promenading on the public square
with a large cane in his hand。 He immediately ran up to him； threw his
arms around him； and embraced him many times； almost suffocating him。
The promenader disengaged himself with great difficulty from his warm
embraces； regarded General Junot with an amazed air； and remarked that he
was ignorant to what he could attribute such excessive tenderness from a
soldier wearing the uniform of a superior officer； and all the
indications of high rank。 〃What；〃 cried he； 〃do you not recognize me？〃
〃Citizen General； I pray you to excuse me； but I have no idea〃
〃Ah； morbleu； my dear master； have you forgotten the most idle； the most
lawless； the most incorrigible of your scholars？〃〃A thousand pardons；
you are Monsieur Junot。〃〃Himself！〃 replied Junot； renewing his
embraces； and laughing with his friends at the singular characteristics
by