napoleon bonaparte, v12-第12章

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natural　viciousness　only　manifested　itself　the　more。　　He　was　killed　in
some　battle；　I　forget　which；　and　as　little　worthy　of　regret　as　he　was；
his　death　was　a　deep　affliction　to　his　excellent　mother；　although　he　even
forgot　himself　so　far　as　to　speak　disrespectfully　of　her　in　his　coarse
speeches。　　She　usually　made　M。　de　Fontanes　　the　confidant　of　her　sorrows；
for　the　grand　master　of　the　university；　notwithstanding　his　exquisite
politeness　and　his　admirable　literary　style；　was　very　intimately
associated　with　the　household　of　Marshal　Lefebvre。

In　this　connection　I　recall　an　anecdote　which　proves　better　than　anything
that　could　be　said　the　kindness　and　perfect　simplicity　of　the　marshal。
One　day　it　was　announced　to　him　that　some　one　whose　name　was　not　given
wished　to　speak　to　him。　　The　marshal　left　his　cabinet；　and　recognized　his
old　captain　in　the　French　Guards；　in　which；　as　we　have　said；　the　marshal
had　been　a　sergeant。　　The　marshal　begged　permission　to　embrace　him；
offered　his　services；　his　purse；　his　house；　treated　him　almost　exactly　as
if　he　had　been　under　his　orders。　　The　old　captain　was　an　emigre；　and　had
returned　undecided　what　he　would　do。　　Through　the　efforts　of　the　marshal
his　name　was　promptly　struck　out　of　the　list　of　emigres；　but　he　did　not
wish　to　re…enter　the　army；　and　yet　was　in　much　need　of　a　position。
Having　supported　himself　during　his　emigration　by　giving　lessons　in
French　and　Latin；　he　expressed　a　desire　to　obtain　a　position　in　the
university。　　〃Well；　my　colonel；〃　said　the　marshal　with　his　German　accent；
〃I　will　take　you　at　once　to　my　friend　M。　de　Fontanes。〃　　The　marshal's
carriage　is　soon　at　the　door；　and　the　respectful　protector　and　his
protoge　enter　the　apartments　of　the　grand　master　of　the　university。
M。　de　Fontanes　hastens　to　meet　the　marshal；　who；　I　have　been　informed；
made　his　presentation　speech　in　this　style：

〃My　dear　friend；　I　present　to　you　the　Marquis　of　。

He　was　my　former　captain；　my　good　captain。　　He　would　like　to　obtain　a
place　in　the　university。　　Ah！　　he　is　not　a　man　of　nothing；　a　man　of　the
Revolution　like　you　and　me。　　He　is　my　old　captain；　the　Marquis　of　　。〃
Finally　the　marshal　closed　by　saying；　〃Ah；　the　good；　excellent　man！　　I
shall　never　forget　that　when　I　went　for　orders　to　my　good　captain；　he
never　failed　to　say：　'Lefebvre；　my　child；　pass　on　to　the　kitchen；　go　and
get　something　to　eat。'　Ah；　my　good；　my　excellent　captain！〃


All　the　members　of　the　imperial　family　had　a　great　fondness　for　music；
and　especially　the　Italian；　but　they　were　not　musicians；　and　most　of　them
sang　as　badly　as　his　Majesty　himself；　with　the　exception　of　the　Princess
Pauline；　who　had　profited　by　the　lessons　of　Blangini；　and　sang　tolerably
well。　　In　respect　of　his　voice；　Prince　Eugene　showed　himself　worthy　to　be
the　adopted　son　of　the　Emperor；　for；　though　he　was　a　musician　and　sang
with　fervor；　it　was　not　in　such　a　manner　as　to　satisfy　his　auditors。
In　compensation；　however；　Prince　Eugene's　voice　was　magnificent　for
commanding　military　evolutions；　an　advantage　which　Count　Lobau　and
General　Dorsenne　also　possessed；　and　it　was　consequently　always　one　of
these　whom　his　Majesty　appointed　to　command　under　his　orders　on　great
reviews。

Notwithstanding　the　severe　etiquette　of　the　Emperor's　court；　there　were
always　a　few　privileged　persons　who　had　the　right　to　enter　his　apartment；
even　when　he　was　in　bed；　though　the　number　was　small。　　They　consisted　of
the　following　persons：

M。　de　Talleyrand；　vice　grand　elector；　de　Montesquiou；　grand　chamberlain；
de　Remusat；　first　chamberlain；　Maret；　Corvisart；　Denon；　Murat；　Yvan；
Duroc；　grand　marshal；　and　de　Caulaincourt；　grand　equerry。

For　a　long　time　all　these　personages　came　to　the　Emperor's　apartment
almost　every　morning；　and　their　visits　were　the　origin　of　what　was
afterwards　called　'le　petit　lever'。　　M。　de　Lavalette　also　came
frequently；　and　also　M。　Real　and　Messieurs　Fouche　and　Savary　while　each
of　them　was　minister　of　police。

The　princes　of　the　imperial　family　also　enjoyed　the　right　to　enter　the
Emperor's　apartment　in　the　morning。　　I　often　saw　the　Emperor's　mother。
The　Emperor　kissed　her　hand　with　much　respect　and　tenderness；　but　I　have
many　times　heard　him　reproach　her　for　her　excessive　economy。　　Madame　Mere
listened；　and　then　gave　as　excuse　for　not　changing　her　style　of　living
reasons　which　often　vexed　his　Majesty；　but　which　events　have
unfortunately　justified。

Madame　Mere　had　been　a　great　beauty；　and　was　still　very　pretty；
especially　when　I　saw　her　for　the　first　time。　　It　was　impossible　to　find
a　better　mother；　devoted　to　her　children；　she　lavished　on　them　the　sagest
counsels；　and　always　intervened　in　family　quarrels　to　sustain　those　whom
she　thought　in　the　right；　for　a　long　time　she　took　Lucien's　part；　and　I
have　often　heard　her　warmly　defend　Jerome　when　the　First　Consul　was　most
severe　towards　his　young　brother。　　The　only　fault　in　Madame　Mere's
character　was　her　excessive　economy；　and　on　this　point　astonishing　things
could　be　said　without　fear　of　exaggeration；　but　she　was　beloved　by　every
one　in　the　palace　for　her　kindness　and　affability。

I　recall　in　reference　to　Madame　Mere　an　incident　which　greatly　amused　the
Empress　Josephine。　　Madame　was　spending　several　days　at　Malmaison；　when
one　day　one　of　her　ladies；　whom　she　had　caused　to　be　sent　for；　found；　on
entering　the　room；　to　her　great　astonishment；　Cardinal　Fesch　discharging
the　duty　of　a　lady's　maid　by　lacing　up　his　sister；　who　had　on　only　her
underclothing　and　her　corset。

One　of　the　subjects　on　which　the　Emperor　would　listen　to　no　raillery　was
that　of　custom…house　duties；　and　towards　all　contraband　proceeding　he
showed　inflexible　severity；　and　this　reached　such　a　point；　that　one　day
M。　Soiris；　director　of　the　custom…house　at　Verceil；　having　seized　a
package　of　sixty　cashmere　shawls；　sent　from　Constantinople　to　the
Empress；　the　Emperor　approved　his　action；　and　the　cashmeres　were　sold　for
the　benefit　of　the　state。　　In　such　cases　the　Emperor　always　said；　〃How
can　a　sovereign　have　the　laws　respected　if　he　does　not　respect　them
himself？〃　　I　recall　another　occasion；　and　I　think　the　only　instance　in
which　he　permitted　an　infraction　of　the　custom…house　regulations；　but　we
shall　see　the　question　was　not　that　of　ordinary　smuggling。

The　grenadiers　of　the　Old　Guard；　under　the　orders　of　General　Soules；
returned　to　France　after　the　peace　of　Tilsit。　　On　their　arrival　at
Mayence；　the　custom…house　officers　endeavored　to　perform　their　duty；　and
consequently　inspected　the　chests　of　the　Guard　and　those　of　the　general。
Meanwhile；　the　director　of　the　custom…house；　in　doubt　what　proceedings　to
take；　sought　the　general　to　inform　him　of　the　necessity　he　was　under　of
executing　the　laws；　and　of　carrying　out　the　direct　orders　of　the　Emperor。
The　general's　reply　to　this　courteous　overture　was　plain　and　energetic：
〃If　a　single　officer　dares　to　place　his　hand　on　the　boxes　of　my　old
mustaches；　I'll　throw　him　into　the　Rhine！〃　　The　officer　insisted。　　The
custom…house　employees　were　quite　numerous；　and　were　preparing　to　proceed
with　the　inspection；　when　General　Soules　had　the　boxes　put　in　the　middle
of　the　square；　and　a　regiment　detailed　to　guard　them。　　The　director　of
the　custom…house；　not　daring　to　proceed　further；　sent　to　the　director…
general　a　report　to　be　submitted　to　the　Emperor。　　Under　any　other
circumstances　the　case　would　have　been　serious；　but　the　Emperor　had　just
returned　to　Paris；　where　he　had　been　welcomed　more　heartily　than　ever
before　by　the　acclamations　of　the　people　on　the　occasion　of　the　fetes
celebrated　in　honor　of　peace；　and　this　old　Guard　was　returning　home
resplendent　with　glory；　and　after　most　admirable　behavior　at　Eylau。　　All
these　things　combined　to　quell　the　Emperor's　anger；　and　having　decided
not　to　punish；　he　wished　to　reward　them；　and　not　to　take　seriously　their
infraction　of　his　custom…house　regulations。　　General　Soules；　on　reaching
Paris；　presented　himself　before　the　Emperor；　who　received　him　cordially；
and；　after　some　remarks　relative　to　the　Guard；　added：　〃By　the　by；　what　is
this　you　have　been　doing？　　I　heard　of　you。　　What！　　you　really　threatened
to　throw　my　custom…house　officers　into　the　Rhine！　　Would　you　have　done
it？〃〃Yes；　Sire；〃　replied　the　general；　with　his　German　accent；　〃yes；　I
would　have　done　it。　　It　was　an　insult　to　my　old　grenadiers　to　attempt
to　inspect　their　boxes。〃〃Come；　now；〃　said　the　Emperor　very　affably；
〃I　see　just　how　it　is。　　You　have　been　smuggling。〃〃I；　Sire？〃〃Yes；　I
say。　　You　have　been　smuggling。　　You　bought　linen　in　Hanover。　　You　wanted
to　furnish　your　house　handsomely；　as　you　imagined　I　would　appoint　you
senator。　　You　were　not　mistaken。　　Go　and　have　your　senator's　coat　made；
but　do　not　repeat　this　performance；　for　next　time　I　will　have　you　shot。〃

During　our　stay　at　Bayonne；　in　1808；　every　one　was　struck　with　the
awkward　manners　of　the　King　and　Queen　of　Spain；　and　the　poor　taste
displayed　in　their　toilets；　the　disgraceful　appearance　of　their
equipages；　and　a　certain　air　of　constraint　and　embarrassment　which　was
general　among　all　the　persons　of　their　suite。　　The　elegant　manners　of　the
French　and　the　magnificence　of　the　imperial　equipages　furnished　such　a
contrast　to　all　this　that　it　rendered　them　indescribably　ridiculous。　　The
Emperor；　who　had　such　exquisite　tact　in　all　matters；　was　not　one　of　the
last　to　perceive　this；　but；　nevertheless；　was　not　pleased　that　an
opportunity　should　be　found　to　ridicule　crowned　heads。　　One　morning　at
his　toilet　he　said　to　me；　〃I　say；　then；　Monsieur　le　drole；　you；　who　are
so　well　versed　in　these　matters；　give　a　few　hints　to　the　valet　de　chambre
of　the　King　and　Queen　of　Spain。　　They　appear　so　awkward　they　really
excite　my　pity。〃　　I　eagerly　did　what　his　Majesty　suggested；　but　he　did
not　content　himself　with　this；　but　also　communicated　to　the　Empress
Josephine　his　observations　on　the　queen　and　her　ladies。　　The　Empress
Josephine；　who　was　the　embodiment　of　taste；　gave　orders　accordingly；　and
for　two　days　her　hairdressers　and　women　were　occupied　exclusively　in
giving　lessons　in　taste　and　elegance　to　their　Spanish　brethren。　　This　is
a　striking　evidence　of　how　the　Emperor　found　time　for　everything；　and
could　descend　from　his　elevated　duties　to　the　most　insignificant　affairs。


The　grand　marshal　of　the　palace　（Duroc）　was　almost　the　same　height　as　the
Emperor。　　He　walked　badly　and　ungracefully；　but　had　a　tolerably　good　head
and　features。　　He　was　quick　tempered；　impulsive；　and　swore　like　a
soldier；　but　he　had　much　administrative　ability；　of　which　he　gave　more
than　one　proof　in　the　organization　of　the　imperial　household；　which　was
ably　and　wisely　regulated。　　When　the　enemy's　cannon　deprived　his　Majesty
of　this　devoted　servitor　and　sincere　friend；　the　Empress　Josephine　said
that　she　knew　only　two　men　capable　of　filling　his　place；　these　were
General　Drouot　and　M。　de　Flahaut；　and　the　whole　household　hoped　that　one
of　these　two　gentlemen　would　be　nominated；　this；　however；　was　not　the
case。

M。　de　Caulaincourt；　Duke　of　Vicenza；　was　extremely　severe　towards　the
household；　but　he　was　just　and　of　a　chivalrous　loyalty；　and　his　word　was
as　good　as　a　contract：　He　was　feared　and　yet　beloved。　　He　had　a　piercing
eye；　spoke　quickly　and　wi