napoleon bonaparte, v3-第15部分

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immediately。　　It　is　true　that　the　place　where　he　had　been　was　covered
with　it；　but　his　handkerchiefs；　irreproachable　witnesses　in　such　matters；
were　scarcely　stained；　and　although　they　were　white　and　of　very　fine
linen；　certainly　bore　no　marks　of　a　snuff…taker。　　Sometimes　he　simply
passed　his　open　snuff…box　under　his　nose　in　order　to　breathe　the　odor　of
the　tobacco　it　contained。　　These　boxes　were　of　black　shell；　with　hinges；
and　of　a　narrow；　oval　shape；　they　were　lined　with　gold；　and　ornamented
with　antique　cameos；　or　medallions；　in　gold　or　silver。　　At　one　time　he
used　round　tobacco…boxes；　but　as　it　took　two　hands　to　open　them；　and　in
this　operation　he　sometimes　dropped　either　the　box　or　the　top；　he　became
disgusted　with　them。　　His　tobacco　was　grated　very　coarse；　and　was　usually
composed　of　several　kinds　of　tobacco　mixed　together。　　Frequently　he
amused　himself　by　making　the　gazelles　that　he　had　at　Saint…Cloud　eat　it。
They　were　very　fond　of　it；　and　although　exceedingly　afraid　of　every　one
else；　came　close　to　his　Majesty　without　the　slightest　fear。

The　Emperor　took　a　fancy　on　one　occasion；　but　only　one；　to　try　a　pipe；　as
I　shall　now　relate。　　The　Persian　ambassador　（or　perhaps　it　was　the
Turkish　ambassador　who　came　to　Paris　under　the　Consulate）　had　made　his
Majesty　a　present　of　a　very　handsome　pipe　such　as　is　used　by　the
Orientals。　　One　day　he　was　seized　with　a　desire　to　try　it；　and　had
everything　necessary　for　this　purpose　prepared。　　The　fire　having　been
applied　to　the　bowl；　the　only　question　now　was　to　light　the　tobacco；　but
from　the　manner　in　which　his　Majesty　attempted　this　it　was　impossible　for
him　to　succeed；　as　he　alternately　opened　and　closed　his　lips　repeatedly
without　drawing　in　his　breath　at　all。　　〃Why；　what　is　the　matter？〃　cried
he；　〃it　does　not　work　at　all。〃　　I　called　his　attention　to　the　fact　that
he　was　not　inhaling　properly；　and　showed　him　how　it　ought　to　be　done；　but
the　Emperor　still　continued　his　performances；　which　were　like　some
peculiar　kind　of　yawning。　　Tired　out　by　his　fruitless　efforts　at　last；　he
told　me　to　light　it　for　him；　which　I　did；　and　instantly　handed　it　back　to
him。　　But　he　had　hardly　taken　a　whiff　when　the　smoke；　which　he　did　not
know　how　to　breathe　out　again；　filled　his　throat；　got　into　his　windpipe；
and　came　out　through　his　nose　and　eyes　in　great　puffs。　　As　soon　as　he
could　get　his　breath；　he　panted　forth；　〃Take　it　away！　　what　a　pest！　　Oh；
the　wretches！　it　has　made　me　sick。〃　　In　fact；　he　felt　ill　for　at　least　an
hour　after；　and　renounced　forever　the　〃pleasure　of　a　habit；　which；〃　said
he；　〃is　only　good　to　enable　do…nothings　to　kill　time。〃

The　only　requirements　the　Emperor　made　as　to　his　clothing　was　that　it
should　be　of　fine　quality　and　perfectly　comfortable；　and　his　coats　for
ordinary　use；　dress…coats；　and　even　the　famous　gray　overcoat；　were　made
of　the　finest　cloth　from　Louviers。　　Under　the　Consulate　he　wore；　as　was
then　the　fashion；　the　skirts　of　his　coat　extremely　long；　afterwards
fashion　changed；　and　they　were　worn　shorter；　but　the　Emperor　held　with
singular　tenacity　to　the　length　of　his；　and　I　had　much　trouble　in
inducing　him　to　abandon　this　fashion；　and　it　was　only　by　a　subterfuge
that　I　at　last　succeeded。　　Each　time　I　ordered　a　new　coat　for　his
Majesty；　I　directed　the　tailor　to　shorten　the　skirts　by　an　inch　at　least；
until　at　last；　without　his　being　aware　of　it；　they　were　no　longer
ridiculous。　　He　did　not　abandon　his　old　habits　any　more　readily　on　this
point　than　on　all　others；　and　his　greatest　desire　was　that　his　clothes
should　not　be　too　tight；　in　consequence　of　which　there　were　times　when　he
did　not　make　a　very　elegant　appearance。　　The　King　of　Naples；　the　man　in
all　France　who　dressed　with　the　most　care；　and　nearly　always　in　good
taste；　sometimes　took　the　liberty　of　bantering　the　Emperor　slightly　about
his　dress。　　〃Sire；〃　said　he　to　the　Emperor；　〃your　Majesty　dresses　too
much　like　a　good　family　man。　　Pray；　Sire；　be　an　example　to　your　faithful
subjects　of　good　taste　in　dress。〃〃Would　you　like　me；　in　order　to　please
you；〃　replied　the　Emperor；　〃to　dress　like　a　scented　fop；　like　a　dandy；　in
fine；　like　the　King　of　Naples　and　the　Two　Sicilies。　　As　for　me；　I　must
hold　on　to　my　old　habitudes。〃〃Yes；　Sire；　and　to　your　'habits　tues'；〃
added　the　king　on　one　occasion。　　〃Detestable　！〃　　cried　the　Emperor；　〃that
is　worthy　of　Brunet；〃　and　they　laughed　heartily　over　this　play　on　words；
while　declaring　it　what　the　Emperor　called　it。

However；　these　discussions　as　to　his　dress　being　renewed　at　the　time　of
his　Majesty's　marriage　to　the　Empress　Marie　Louise；　the　King　of　Naples
begged　the　Emperor　to　allow　him　to　send　him　his　tailor。　　His　Majesty；　who
sought　at　that　time　every　means　of　pleasing　his　young　wife；　accepted　the
offer　of　his　brother…in…law；　and　that　very　day　I　went　for　Leger；　King
Joachim's　tailor；　and　brought　him　with　me　to　the　chateau；　recommending
him　to　make　the　suits　which　would　be　ordered　as　loose　as　possible；
certain　as　I　was　in　advance；　that；　Monsieur　Jourdain　＇a　character　in　a
Moliere　comedy。＇to　the　contrary；　if　the　Emperor　could　not　get　into　them
easily；　he　would　not　wear　them。　　Leger　paid　no　attention　to　my　advice；
but　took　his　measure　very　closely。　　The　two　coats　were　beautifully　made；
but　the　Emperor　pronounced　them　uncomfortable；　and　wore　them　only　once；
and　Leger　did　no　more　work　for　his　Majesty。　　At　one　time；　long　before
this；　he　had　ordered　a　very　handsome　coat　of　chestnut　brown　velvet；　with
diamond　buttons；　which　he　wore　to　a　reception　of　her　Majesty　the　Empress；
with　a　black　cravat；　though　the　Empress　Josephine　had　prepared　for　him　an
elegant　lace　stock；　which　all　my　entreaties　could　not　induce　him　to　put
on。

The　Emperor's　vest　and　breeches　were　always　of　white　cassimere；　he
changed　them　every　morning；　and　they　were　washed　only　three　or　four
times。　　Two　hours　after　he　had　left　his　room；　it　often　happened　that　his
breeches　were　all　stained　with　ink；　owing　to　his　habit　of　wiping　his　pen
on　them；　and　scattering　ink　all　around　him　by　knocking　his　pen　against
the　table。　　Nevertheless；　as　he　dressed　in　the　morning　for　the　whole　day；
he　did　not　change　his　clothes　on　that　account；　and　remained　in　that
condition　the　remainder　of　the　day。　　I　have　already　said　that　he　wore
none　but　white　silk　stockings；　his　shoes；　which　were　very　light　and　thin；
being　lined　with　silk；　and　his　boots　lined　throughout　inside　with　white
fustian；　and　when　he　felt　an　itching　on　one　of　his　legs；　he　rubbed　it
with　the　heel　of　his　shoe　or　the　boot　on　the　other　leg；　which　added　still
more　to　the　effect　of　the　ink　blotches。　　His　shoe…buckles　were　oval；
either　plain　gold　or　with　medallions；　and　he　also　wore　gold　buckles　on
his　garters。　　I　never　saw　him　wear　pantaloons　under　the　Empire。

Owing　to　the　Emperor's　tenacity　to　old　customs；　his　shoemaker　in　the
first　days　of　the　Empire　was　still　the　same　he　employed　at　the　military
school；　and　as　his　shoes　had　been　made　by　the　same　measure；　from　that
time；　and　no　new　one　ever　taken；　his　shoes；　as　well　as　his　boots；　were
always　badly　made　and　ungraceful。　　For　a　long　time　he　wore　them　pointed；
but　I　persuaded　him　to　have　them　'en　bec　de　canne'；　as　that　was　the
fashion。　　At　last　his　old　measure　was　found　too　small；　and　I　got　his
Majesty's　consent　to　have　a　new　one…taken；　so　I　summoned　the　shoemaker；
who　had　succeeded　his　father；　and　was　exceedingly　stupid。　　He　had　never
seen　the　Emperor；　although　he　worked　for　him；　and　when　he　learned　that　he
was　expected　to　appear　before　his　Majesty；　his　head　was　completely
turned。　　How　could　he　dare　to　present　himself　before　the　Emperor？　　What
costume　must　he　wear？　　I　encouraged　him；　and　told　him　he　would　need　a
black　French　coat；　with　breeches；　and　hat；　etc。；　and　he　presented　himself
thus　adorned　at　the　Tuileries。　　On　entering　his　Majesty's　chamber　he　made
a　deep　bow；　and　stood　much　embarrassed。　　〃It　surely　cannot　be　you　who
made　shoes　for　me　at　the　l'ecole　militaire？〃〃No；　your　Majesty；　Emperor
and　King；　it　was　my　father。〃〃And　why　don't　he　do　so　now？〃〃Sire；　the
Emperor　and　King；　because　he　is　dead。〃〃How　much　do　you　make　me　pay　for
my　shoes？〃〃Your　Majesty；　Emperor　and　King；　pays　eighteen　francs　for
them。〃〃That　is　very　dear。〃〃Your　Majesty；　Emperor　and　King；　could　pay
much　more　for　them　if　he　would。〃　　The　Emperor　laughed　heartily　at　this
simplicity；　and　let　him　take　his　measure；　but　the　Emperor's　laughter　had
so　completely　disconcerted　the　poor　man　that；　when　he　approached　him；
his　hat　under　his　arm；　making　a　thousand　bows；　his　sword　caught　between
his　legs；　was　broken　in　two；　and　made　him　fall　on　his　hands　and　knees；
not　to　remain　there　long；　however；　for　his　Majesty's　roars　of　laughter
increasing；　and　being　at　last　freed　from　his　sword；　the　poor　shoemaker
took　the　Emperor's　measure　with　more　ease；　and　withdrew　amidst　profuse
apologies。

All　his　Majesty's　linen　was　of　extremely　fine　quality；　marked　with　an　〃N〃
in　a　coronet；　at　first　he　wore　no　suspenders；　but　at　last　began　using
them；　and　found　them　very　comfortable。　　He　wore　next　his　body　vests　made
of　English　flannel；　and　the　Empress　Josephine　had　a　dozen　cashmere　vests
made　for　his　use　in　summer。

Many　persons　have　believed　that　the　Emperor　wore　a　cuirass　under　his
clothes　when　walking　and　while　in　the　army。　　This　is　entirely　false：　the
Emperor　never　put　on　a　cuirass；　nor　anything　resembling　one；　under　his
coat　any　more　than　over　it。

The　Emperor　wore　no　jewelry；　he　never　had　in　his　pockets　either　purse　or
silver；　but　only　his　handkerchief；　his　snuff…box；　and　his　bonbon…box。

He　wore　on　his　coat　only　a　star　and　two　crosses；　that　of　the　Legion　of
Honor；　and　that　of　the　Iron　Crown。　　Under　his　uniform　and　on　his　vest　he
wore　a　red　ribbon；　the　ends　of　which　could　just　be　seen。

When　there　was　a　reception　at　the　chateau；　or　he　held　a　review；　he　put
this　grand　cordon　outside　his　coat。

His　hat；　the　shape　of　which　it　will　be　useless　to　describe　while
portraits　of　his　Majesty　exist；　was…extremely　fine　and　very　light；　lined
with　silk　and　wadded；　and　on　it　he　wore　neither　tassels　nor　plumes；　but
simply　a　narrow；　flat　band　of　silk　and　a　little　tricolored　cockade。

The　Emperor　purchased　several　watches　from　Breguet　and　Meunier；very
plain　repeaters；　without　or