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embraces； and laughing with his friends at the singular characteristics
by which he had caused himself to be recognized。 As for his Majesty the
Emperor； if any of his old masters had failed to recognize him； it could
not be by reminiscences of this kind that he could have recalled himself
to them； for every one knows that he was distinguished at the military
school for his application to work； and the regularity and sobriety of
his life。
A meeting of the same nature； saving the difference in recollections；
awaited the Emperor at Brienne。 While he was visiting the old military
school； now falling to ruin； and pointing out to the persons who
surrounded him the situation of the study halls； dormitories；
refectories； etc。； an ecclesiastic who had been tutor of one of the
classes in the school was presented to him。 The Emperor recognized him
immediately； and； uttering an exclamation of surprise； his Majesty
conversed more than twenty minutes with this gentleman； leaving him full
of gratitude。
The Emperor； before leaving Brienne to return to Fontainebleau； required
the mayor to give him a written account of the most pressing needs of the
commune； and left on his departure a considerable sum for the poor and
the hospitals。
Passing through Troyes； the Emperor left there； as everywhere else；
souvenirs of his generosity。 The widow of a general officer； living in
retirement at Joinville （I regret that I have forgotten the name of this
venerable lady； who was more than an octogenarian）； came to Troyes；
notwithstanding her great age； to ask aid from his Majesty。 Her husband
having served only before the Revolution； the pension which she had
enjoyed had been taken from her under the Republic； and she was in the
greatest destitution。 The brother of General Vouittemont； mayor of a
commune in the suburbs of Troyes； was kind enough to consult me as to
what should be done in order to present this lady to the Emperor； and I
advised him to have her name placed on the list of his Majesty's private
audiences。 I myself took the liberty of speaking of Madame de to the
Emperor； and the audience was granted； though I do not pretend to
attribute the merit of it to myself； for in traveling the Emperor was
always very accessible。
When the good lady came to attend the audience with M。 de Vouittemont； to
whom his municipal scarf gave the right of entrance； I happened to meet
them； and she stopped to thank me for the little service which she
insisted I had rendered her； and mentioned that she had been obliged to
pawn the six silver plates which alone remained to her； in order to pay
the expenses of her journey； that； having arrived at Troyes in a poor
farm wagon； covered with a cloth thrown over a hoop； and which had shaken
her terribly； she could find no place in the inns； all of which were
filled on account of the arrival of their Majesties； and she would have
been obliged to sleep in her wagon had it not been for the kind
consideration of M。 de Vouittemont； who had given up his room to her； and
offered his services。 In spite of her more than eighty years； and her
distress； this respectable lady related her story with an air of gentle
gayety； and at the close threw a grateful glance at her guide； on whose
arm she was leaning。
At that moment the usher came to announce that her turn had come； and she
entered the saloon of audience。 M。 de Vouittemont awaited her return
while conversing with me； and on her return she related to us； scarcely
able to control her emotion； that the Emperor had in the kindest manner
received the memorial she presented to him； had read it attentively； and
passed it to a minister who was near him； with the order to do her
justice this very day。
The next day she received the warrant for a pension of three thousand
francs； the first year's pay being handed her at once。
At Lyons； of which Cardinal Fesch was archbishop； the Emperor lodged in
the archiepiscopal palace。＇Joseph Fesch； born in Corsica； 1763； was
half…brother to Napoleon's mother。 Archbishop of Lyons 1801； cardinal
1803； died 1839＇
During the stay of their Majesties the cardinal exerted himself to the
utmost to gratify every wish of his nephew； and in his eagerness to
please； monseigneur applied to me many times each day to be assured that
nothing was lacking； so everything passed off admirably。 The zeal of the
cardinal was remarked by all the household； but for my part I thought I
perceived that the zeal displayed by monseigneur in the reception of
their Majesties took on an added strength whenever there was a question
of all the expenses incurred by this visit； which were considerable；
being paid by them。 His eminence； I thought； drew very fine interest on
his investment； and his generous hospitality was handsomely compensated
by the liberality of his guests。
The passage of Mont Cenis was by no means so difficult as had been that
of Mont St。 Bernard； although the road； which has since been made by the
Emperor's orders； was not then commenced。 At the foot of the mountain
they were obliged to take the carriage to pieces； and transport
it on the backs of mules； and their Majesties crossed the mountain partly
on foot； partly in very handsome sedan chairs which had been made at
Turin； that of the Emperor lined with crimson satin； and ornamented with
gold lace and fringes； and that of the Empress in blue satin； with silver
lace and fringes。 The snow had been carefully swept off and removed。 On
their arrival at the convent they were most warmly received by the good
monks； and the Emperor； who had a singular affection for them； held a
long conversation with them； and did not depart without leaving rich and
numerous tokens of his liberality。 As soon as he arrived at Turin he
gave orders for the improvement of their hospice； which he continued to
support till his fall。
Their Majesties remained several days at Turin； where they occupied the
former palace of the kings of Sardinia； constituted the imperial
residence by a decree of the Emperor during our stay； as was also the
castle of Stupinigi； situated a short distance from the town。
The Pope rejoined their Majesties at Stupinigi； the Holy Father had left
Paris almost at the same time as ourselves； and before his departure had
received from the Emperor magnificent presents。 Among these was a golden
altar with chandeliers； and holy vessels of the richest workmanship； a
superb tiara； Gobelin tapestries； and carpets from the Savonnerie； with a
statue of the Emperor in Sevres porcelain。 The Empress also made to his
Holiness a present of a vase of the same manufacture； adorned with
paintings by the best artists。 This masterpiece was at least four feet
in height； and two feet and a half in diameter at the mouth； and was made
expressly to be offered to the Holy Father； the painting representing； if
my memory is correct； the ceremony of the coronation。
Each of the cardinals in the suite of the Pope had received a box of
beautiful workmanship； with the portrait of the Emperor set in diamonds；
and all the persons attached to the service of Pius VII。 had presents
more or less considerable； all these various articles being brought by
the furnishers to the apartments of his Majesty； where I took a list of
them； by order of his Majesty； as they arrived。
The Holy Father also made in return very handsome presents to the
officers of the Emperor's household whose duties had brought them near
his person during his stay at Paris。
From Stupinigi we went to Alexandria。 The Emperor； the next day after
his arrival； rose early； visited the fortifications of the town； reviewed
all the positions of the battlefield of Marengo； and returned only at
seven o'clock； and after having broken down five horses。 A few days
after he wished the Empress to see this famous plain； and by his orders
an army of twenty…five or thirty thousand men was assembled。 The morning
of the day fixed for the review of these troops； the Emperor left his
apartment dressed in a blue coat with long skirts； much worn； and even
with holes in some places。 These holes were the work of moths and not of
balls； as has been said in certain memoirs。 On his head his Majesty wore
an old hat edged with gold lace； tarnished and frayed； and at his side a
cavalry saber； such as the generals of the Republic wore； this was the
coat； hat； and sword that he had worn on the day of the battle of
Marengo。 I afterwards lent these articles to Monsieur David； first
painter to his Majesty； for his picture of the passage of Mont St。
Bernard。 A vast amphitheater had been raised on this plain for the
Empress and the suite of their Majesties； the day was perfect； as is each
day of the month of May in Italy。 After riding along the ranks； the
Emperor took his seat by the side of the Empress； and made to the troops
a distribution of the cross of the Legion of Honor； after which he laid
the corner stone of a monument； which he had directed to be raised on the
plain to the memory of the soldiers who had fallen on the battlefield。
When his Majesty； in the short address which he made to the army on this
occasion； pronounced in a strong voice； vibrating w