按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which； they showed much grace in their acting； and played their parts
with real talent； and were as natural on the stage as in the saloon；
where they bore themselves with exquisite grace and refinement。 At first
the repertoire contained little variety； though the pieces were generally
well selected。 The first representation which I attended was the 〃Barber
of Seville 〃 in which Isabey played the role of Figaro； and Mademoiselle
Hortense that of Rosineand the 〃Spiteful Lover。〃 Another time I saw
played the 〃Unexpected Wager；〃 and 〃False Consultations。〃 Hortense and
Eugene played this last piece perfectly； and I still recall that； in the
role of Madame le Blanc； Hortense appeared prettier than ever in the
character of an old woman； Eugene representing Le Noir； and Lauriston the
charlatan。 The First Consul； as I have said； confined himself to the
role of spectator； but he seemed to take in these fireside plays； so to
speak； the greatest pleasure； laughed and applauded heartily； though
sometimes he also criticised。
Madame Bonaparte was also highly entertained； and even if she could not
always boast of the successful acting of her children； 〃the chiefs of the
troupe；〃 it sufficed her that it was an agreeable relaxation to her
husband； and seemed to give him pleasure； for her constant study was to
contribute to the happiness of the great man who had united her destiny
with his own。
When the day for the presentation of a play had been appointed； there was
never any postponement； but often a change of the play； not because of
the indisposition； or fit of the blues； of an actress （as often happens
in the theaters of Paris）； but for more serious reasons。 It sometimes
happened that M。 d'Etieulette received orders to rejoin his regiment； or
an important mission was confided to Count Almaviva； though Figaro and
Rosine always remained at their posts； and the desire of pleasing the
First Consul was； besides； so general among all those who surrounded him；
that the substitutes did their best in the absence of the principals； and
the play never failed for want of an actor。
＇Michau； of the Comedic Francaise； was the instructor of the
troupe。 Wherever it happened that an actor was wanting in
animation； Michau would exclaim。 〃Warmth！ Warmth！ Warmth！〃
Note by CONSTANT。＇
CHAPTER III。
I had been only a very short time in the service of Madame Bonaparte when
I made the acquaintance of Charvet； the concierge of Malmaison； and in
connection with this estimable man became each day more and more
intimate； till at last he gave me one of his daughters in marriage。
I was eager to learn from him all that he could tell me concerning Madame
Bonaparte and the First Consul prior to my entrance into the house； and
in our frequent conversations he took the greatest pleasure in satisfying
my curiosity。 It is to him I owe the following details as to the mother
and daughter。
When General Bonaparte set out for Egypt； Madame Bonaparte accompanied
him as far as Toulon； and was extremely anxious to go with him to Egypt。
When the general made objections； she observed that having been born a
Creole； the heat of the climate would be more favorable than dangerous to
her。 By a singular coincidence it was on 'La Pomone' that she wished to
make the journey； that is to say； on the very same vessel which in her
early youth had brought her from Martinique to France。 General
Bonaparte； finally yielding to the wishes of his wife； promised to send
'La Pomone' for her； and bade her go in the meantime to take the waters
at Plombieres。 The matter being arranged between husband and wife；
Madame Bonaparte was delighted to go to the springs of Plombieres which
she had desired to visit for a long time； knowing； like every one else；
the reputation these waters enjoyed for curing barrenness in women。
Madame Bonaparte had been only a short time at Plombieres； when one
morning； while occupied in hemming a turban and chatting with the ladies
present； Madame de Cambis； who was on the balcony； called to her to come
and see a pretty little dog passing along the street。 All the company
hastened with Madame Bonaparte to the balcony； which caused it to fall
with a frightful crash。 By a most fortunate chance； no one was killed；
though Madame de Cambis had her leg broken； and Madame Bonaparte was most
painfully bruised； without； however； receiving any fracture。 Charvet；
who was in a room behind the saloon； heard the noise； and at once had a
sheep killed and skinned； and Madame Bonaparte wrapped in the skin。 It
was a long while before she regained her health； her arms and her hands
especially being so bruised that she was for a long time unable to use
them； and it was necessary to cut up her food； feed her； and； in fact；
perform the same offices for her as for an infant。
I related above that Josephine thought she was to rejoin her husband in
Egypt； and consequently that her stay at the springs of Plombieres would
be of short duration but her accident led her to think that it would be
prolonged indefinitely； she therefore desired； while waiting for her
complete recovery； to have with her her daughter Hortense； then about
fifteen years of age； who was being educated in the boarding…school of
Madame Campan。 She sent for her a mulatto woman to whom she was much
attached； named Euphemie； who was the foster…sister of Madame Bonaparte；
and passed （I do not know if the supposition was correct） as her natural
sister。 Euphemie； accompanied by Charvet； made the journey in one of
Madame Bonaparte's carriages。 Mademoiselle Hortense； on their arrival；
was delighted with the journey she was about to make； and above all with
the idea of being near her mother； for whom she felt the tenderest
affection。 Mademoiselle Hortense was； I would not say； greedy； but she
was exceedingly fond of sweets； and Charvet； in relating these details；
said to me； that at each town of any size through which they passed the
carriage was filled with bonbons and dainties； of which mademoiselle
consumed a great quantity。 One day； while Euphemie and Charvet were
sound asleep； they were suddenly awakened by a report； which sounded
frightful to them； and caused them intense anxiety； as they found when
they awoke that they were passing through a thick forest。 This ludicrous
incident threw Hortense into fits of laughter； for hardly had they
expressed their alarm when they found themselves deluged with an
odoriferous froth； which explained the cause of the explosion。 A bottle
of champagne； placed in one of the pockets of the carriage； had been
uncorked； and the heat； added to the motion of the carriage； or rather
the malice of the young traveler； had made it explode with a loud report。
When mademoiselle arrived at Plombieres； her mother's health was almost
restored； so that the pupil of Madame Campan found there all the
distractions which please and delight at the age which the daughter of
Madame Bonaparte had then attained。
There is truth in the saying that in all evil there is good； for had this
accident not happened to Madame Bonaparte； it is very probable she would
have become a prisoner of the English； in fact； she learned that
'La Pomone'； the vessel on which she wished to make the voyage； had
fallen into the power of the enemies of France。 General Bonaparte； in
all his letters； still dissuaded his wife from the plan she had of
rejoining him； and； consequently； she returned to Paris。
On her arrival Josephine devoted her attention to executing a wish
General Bonaparte had expressed to her before leaving。 He had remarked
to her that he should like； on his return； to have a country seat； and he
charged his brother to attend to this； which Joseph； however； failed to
do。 Madame Bonaparte； who； on the contrary； was always in search of what
might please her husband； charged several persons to make excursions in
the environs of Paris； in order to ascertain whether a suitable dwelling
could be found。 After having vacillated long between Ris and Malmaison；
she decided on the latter； which she bought from M。 Lecoulteux…Dumoley；
for； I think； four hundred thousand francs。 Such were the particulars
which Charvet was kind enough to give me when I first entered the service
of Madame Bonaparte。 Every one in the house loved to speak of her； and
it was certainly not to speak evil； for never was woman more beloved by
all who surrounded her； and never has one deserved it more。 General
Bonaparte was also an excellent man in the retirement of private life。
After the return of the First Consul from his campaign in Egypt； several
attempts against his life had been made； and the police had warned him
many times to be on his guard； and not to risk himself alone in the
environs of Malmaison。 The First Consul had been very careless up to
this period； but the discovery of the snares which were laid for him；
even in the privacy of his family circle； forced him to use precautions
and prudence。 It has been stated since； that these pretended plots were
only fabrications of the police to render themselves necessary to the
First Consul； or； perhaps； of the First Consul himself； t