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expedition to Egypt； seemed trying to indemnify themselves for the recent
privations they had had to suffer。 At this time ventriloquists； among
whom Thiemet held a very distinguished position； were the fashion in
Paris； and were invited to private gatherings。 I remember on one
occasion； at one of these breakfasts of Eugene's； Thiemet called by their
names several persons present； imitating the voices of their servants； as
if they were just outside the door； while he remained quietly in his
seat； appearing to be using his lips only to eat and drink； two duties'
which he performed admirably。 Each of the officers called in this manner
went out； and found no one； and then Thiemet went out with them； under
the pretext of assisting them in the search； and increased their
perplexity by continuing to make them hear some well…known voice。 Most
of them laughed heartily at the joke of which they had just been the
victims； but there was one who； having himself less under control than
his comrades； took the thing seriously； and became very angry； whereupon
Eugene had to avow that he was the author of the conspiracy。
I recall still another amusing scene； the two heroes of which were this
same Thiemet； of whom I have just spoken； and Dugazon。 Several
foreigners were present at a breakfast given by Eugene； the parts having
been assigned； and learned in advance； and the two victims selected。
When each had taken his place at table； Dugazon； pretending to stammer；
addressed a remark to Thiemet； who； playing the same role； replied to
him； stammering likewise； then each of them pretended to believe that the
other was making fun of him； and there followed a stuttering quarrel
between the two parties； each one finding it more and more difficult to
express himself as his anger rose。 Thiemet； who besides his role of
stammering was also playing that of deafness； addressed his neighbor； his
trumpet in his ear：
〃Wha…wha…what…do…does he say？〃 〃Nothing；〃 replied the officious
neighbor； wishing to prevent a quarrel； and to supply facts while
defending the other stammerer。〃Soso…he…he…he…he's mamaking fun of me！〃
Then the quarrel became more violent still； they were about to come to
blows； when each of the two stammerers seizing a carafe of water； hurled
it at the head of his antagonist； and a copious deluge of water from the
bottles taught the officious neighbors the great danger of acting as
peacemakers。 The two stammerers continued to scream as is the custom of
deaf persons； until the last drop of water was spilt； and I remember that
Eugene； the originator of this practical joke； laughed immoderately the
whole time this scene lasted。 The water was wiped off； and all were soon
reconciled； glass in hand。 Eugene； when he had perpetrated a joke of
this sort； never failed to relate it to his mother； and sometimes to his
stepfather； who were much amused thereby； Josephine especially。
I had led for one month a very pleasant life with Eugene； when Lefebvre；
the valet de chambre whom he had left sick at Cairo； returned in restored
health； and asked to resume his place。 Eugene； whom I suited better on
account of my age and activity； proposed to him to enter his mother's
service； suggesting to him that he would there have an easier time than
with himself； but Lefebvre； who was extremely attached to his master；
sought Madame Bonaparte； and confided to her his chagrin at this
decision。
Josephine promised to assist him； and consoled him by assurances that she
would suggest to her son that Lefebvre should reassume his former
position； and that she would take me into her own service。 This was done
according to promise； and one morning Eugene announced to me； in the most
gratifying manner； my change of abode。 〃Constant；〃 he said to me；
〃I regret very much that circumstances require us to part； but you know
Lefebvre followed me to Egypt； he is an old servant； and I feel compelled
to give him his former position。 Besides； you will not be far removed；
as you will enter my mother's service； where you will be well treated；
and we will see each other often。 Go to her this morning； I have spoken
to her of you。 The matter is already arranged； and she expects you。〃
As may be believed； I lost no time in presenting myself to Madame
Bonaparte。 Knowing that she was at Malmaison； I went there immediately；
and was received by her with a kindness which overwhelmed me with
gratitude； as I was not then aware that she manifested this same
graciousness to every one； and that it was as inseparable from her
character as was grace from her person。 The duties required of me； in
her service； were altogether nominal； and nearly all my time was at my
own disposal； of which I took advantage to visit Paris frequently。 The
life that I led at this time was very pleasant to a young man like
myself； who could not foresee that in a short while he would be as much
under subjection as he was then at liberty。
Before bidding adieu to a service in which I had found so much that was
agreeable； I will relate some incidents which belong to that period； and
which my situation with the stepson of General Bonaparte gave me the
opportunity of learning。
M。 de Bourrienne has related circumstantially in his memoirs the events
of the 18th Brumaire； ＇The 18th Brumaire； Nov。 9； 1799； was the day
Napoleon overthrew the Directory and made himself First Consul。…TRANS。＇
and the account which he has given of that famous day is as correct as it
is interesting； so that any one curious to know the secret causes which
led to these political changes will find them faithfully pointed out in
the narration of that minister of state。 I am very far from intending to
excite an interest of this； kind； but reading the work of M。 Bourrienne
put me again on the track of my own recollections。 These memoirs relate
to circumstances of which he was ignorant； or possibly may have omitted
purposely as being of little importance； and whatever he has let fall on
his road I think myself fortunate in being permitted to glean。
I was still with Eugene de Beauharnais when General Bonaparte overthrew
the Directory； but I found myself in as favorable a situation to know all
that was passing as if I had been in the service of Madame Bonaparte； or
of the general himself； for my master； although he was very young； had
the entire confidence of his stepfather； and； to an even greater degree；
that of his mother； who consulted him on every occasion。
A few days before the 18th Brumaire； Eugene ordered me to make
preparations for a breakfast he wished to give on that day to his
friends； the number of the guests； all military men； being much larger
than usual。 This bachelor repast was made very gay by an officer； who
amused the company by imitating in turn the manners and appearance of the
directors and a few of their friends。 To represent the Director Barras；
he draped himself 'a la grecque' with the tablecloth； took off his black
cravat； turned down his shirt…collar； and advanced in an affected manner；
resting his left arm on the shoulder of the youngest of his comrades；
while with his right he pretended to caress his chin。 Each person of the
company understood the meaning of that kind of charade； and there were
uncontrollable bursts of laughter。
He undertook then to represent the Abbe Sieyes； by placing an enormous
band of paper inside of his neckcloth； and lengthening thus indefinitely
a long； pale face。 He made a few turns around the room； astraddle of his
chair； and ended by a grand somersault； as if his steed had dismounted
him。 It is necessary to know； in order to understand the significance of
this pantomime； that the Abbe Sieges had been recently taking lessons in
horseback； riding in the garden of the Luxembourg； to the great amusement
of the pedestrians； who gathered in crowds to enjoy the awkward and
ungraceful exhibition made by this new master of horse。
The breakfast ended； Eugene reported for duty to General Bonaparte； whose
aide…de…camp he was； and his friends rejoined the various commands to
which they belonged。
I went out immediately behind them； for from a few words that had just
been dropped at my young master's； I suspected that something grave and
interesting was about to take place。 M。 Eugene had appointed a
rendezvous with his comrades at Pont…Tournant； so I repaired to that
spot； and found a considerable gathering of officers in uniform and on
horseback； assembled in readiness to escort General Bonaparte to Saint…
Cloud。
The commandant of each part of the army had been requested by General
Bonaparte to give a breakfast to their corps of officers； and they had
done so like my young master。 Nevertheless； the officers； even the
generals； were not all in the secret； and General Murat himself； who
rushed into the Hall of the Five Hundred at the head of the grenadiers；
believed that it was only a question of exemption； on account of age；
that General Bonaparte intended to propose； in order that he might obtain
the place of director。
I have learned from an authoritative source； that when General Jube； who
was devoted to General Bonaparte； assembled in the court of the
Luxem