napoleon bonaparte, v2-第7部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


am　not　writing　only　for　those　who　lived　during　the　Empire。　　The
generation　which　witnessed　such　great　deeds；　and　which；　under　their　very
eyes；　and　from　the　beginning　of　his　career；　saw　the　greatest　man　of　this
century；　has　already　given　place　to　another　generation；　which　can　judge
him　only　by　what　others　may　narrate　of　him。　　What　may　be　familiar　to
those　who　saw　with　their　own　eyes　is　not　so　to　others；　who　can　only　take
at　second…hand　those　things　which　they　had　no　opportunity　of　seeing　for
themselves。　　Besides；　details　omitted　as　frivolous　or　commonplace　by
history；　which　makes　a　profession　of　more　gravity；　are　perfectly
appropriate　in　simple　memoirs；　and　often　enable　one　to　understand　and
judge　the　epoch　more　correctly。　　For　instance；　it　seems　to　me　that　the
enthusiasm　displayed　by　the　entire　population　and　all　the　local
authorities　for　the　First　Consul　and　his　wife　during　their　tour　in
Normandy　showed　clearly　that　the　chief　of　the　state　would　have　no　great
opposition　to　fear；　certainly　none　on　the　part　of　the　nation；　whenever　it
should　please　him　to　change　his　title；　and　proclaim　himself　Emperor。

Soon　after　our　return；　by　a　decree　of　the　consuls　four　ladies　were
assigned　to　Madame　Bonaparte　to　assist　her　in　doing　the　honors　of　the
palace。　　They　were　Mesdames　de　Remusat；　de　Tallouet；　de　Lucay；　and　de
Lauriston。　　Under　the　Empire　they　became　ladies…in…waiting。　　Madame　de
Lauriston　often　raised　a　smile　by　little　exhibitions　of　parsimony；　but
she　was　good　and　obliging。　　Madame　de　Remusat　possessed　great　merit；　and
had　sound　judgment；　though　she　appeared　somewhat　haughty；　which　was　the
more　remarkable　as　M。　de　Remusat　was　exactly　the　reverse。　　Subsequently
there　was　another　lady　of　honor；　Madame　de　La　Rochefoucault；　of　whom　I
shall　have　occasion　to　speak　later。

The　lady　of　the　robes；　Madame　de　Lucay；　was　succeeded　by　Madame　La
Vallette；　so　gloriously　known　afterwards　by　her　devotion　to　her　husband。
There　were　twenty…four　French　ladies…in…waiting；　among　whom　were　Mesdames
de　Remusat；　de　Tallouet；　de　Lauriston；　Ney；　d'Arberg；　Louise　d'Arberg
（afterwards　the　Countess　of　Lobau）；　de　Walsh…Serent；　de　Colbert；　Lannes；
Savary；　de　Turenne；　Octave　de　Segur；　de　Montalivet；　de　Marescot；　de
Bouille　Solar；　Lascaris；　de　Brignole；　de　Canisy；　de　Chevreuse；　Victor　de
Mortemart；　de　Montmorency；　Matignon；　and　Maret。　　There　were　also　twelve
Italian　ladies…in…waiting。

These　ladies　served　in　turn　one　month　each；　there　being　thus　two　French
and　one　Italian　lady　on　duty　together。　　The　Emperor　at　first　did　not
admit　unmarried　ladies　among　the　ladies…in…waiting；　but　he　relaxed　this
rule　first　in　favor　of　Mademoiselle　Louise　d'Arberg　（afterwards　Countess
of　Lobau）；　and　then　in　favor　of　Mademoiselle　de　Lucay；　who　has　since
married　Count　Philip　de　Segur；　author　of　the　excellent　history　of　the
campaign　in　Russia；　and　these　two　young　ladies　by　their　prudence　and
circumspect　conduct　proved　themselves　above　criticism　even　at　court。

There　were　four　lady　ushers；　Mesdames　Soustras；　Ducrest…Villeneuve；
Felicite　Longroy；　and　Egle　Marchery。

Two　first　ladies'　maids；　Mesdames　Roy　and　Marco　de　St。　Hilaire；　who　had
under　their　charge　the　grand　wardrobe　and　the　jewel…box。

There　were　four　ladies'　maids　in　ordinary。

A　lady　reader。

The　men　on　the　staff　of　the　Empress's　household　were　the　following：
A　grand　equerry；　Senator　Harville；　who　discharged　the　duties　of　a
chevalier　of　honor。

A　head　chamberlain；　the　general　of　division；　Nansouty。

A　vice…chamberlain；　introducer　of　the　ambassadors；　de　Beaumont。

Four　chamberlains　in　ordinary；　de　Courtomer；　Degrave；　Galard　de　Bearn；
Hector　d'Aubusson　de　la　Feuillade。

Four　equerries；　Corbineau；　Berckheim；　d'Audenarde；　and　Fouler。

A　superintendent…general　of　her　Majesty's　household；　Hinguerlot。

A　secretary　of　commands；　Deschamps。

Two　head　valets；　Frere　and　Douville。

Four　valets　in　ordinary。

Four　men　servants。

Two　head　footmen；　L'Esperance　and　d'Argens。　　Six　ordinary　footmen。　　The
staff　of　the　kitchen　and　sanitation　were　the　same　as　in　the　household　of
the　Emperor；　and　besides　these；　six　pages　of　the　Emperor　were　always　in
attendance　upon　the　Empress。

The　chief　almoner　was　Ferdinand　de　Rohan；　former　archbishop　of　Cambray。

Another　decree　of　the　same　date　fixed　the　duties　of　the　prefects　of　the
palace。　　The　four　head　prefects　of　the　consular　palace　were　de　Remusat；
de　Crayamel　（afterwards　appointed　introduces　of　ambassadors；　and　master
of　ceremonies）；　de　Lugay；　and　Didelot。　　The　latter　subsequently　became
prefect　of　the　Department　of　the　Cher。

Malmaison　was　no　longer　sufficient　for　the　First　Consul；　whose　household；
like　that　of　Madame　Bonaparte；　became　daily　more　numerous。　　A　much　larger
building　had　become　necessary；　and　the　First　Consul　fixed　his　choice　upon
Saint…Cloud。

The　inhabitants　of　Saint…Cloud　addressed　a　petition　to　the　Corps
Legislatif；　praying　that　the　First　Consul　would　make　their　chateau　his
summer　residence；　and　this　body　hastened　to　transmit　it　to　him；　adding
their　prayers　to　the　same　effect；　and　making　comparisons　which　they
believed　would　be　agreeable　to　him。　　The　general　refused　formally；　saying
that　when　he　should　have　finished　and　laid　down　the　duties　with　which　the
people　had　charged　him；　he　would　feel　honored　by　any　recompense　which　the
popular　will　might　award　him；　but　that　so　long　as　he　was　the　chief　of　the
Government　he　would　accept　nothing。

Notwithstanding　the　determined　tone　of　this　reply；　the　inhabitants　of　the
village　of　Saint…Cloud；　who　had　the　greatest　interest　in　the　petition
being　granted；　renewed　it　when　the　First　Consul　was　chosen　consul　for
life；　and　he　then　consented　to　accept。　　The　expenses　of　the　repairs　and
furnishing　were　immense；　and　greatly　exceeded　the　calculations　that　had
been　made　for　him；　nevertheless；　he　was　not　satisfied　either　with　the
furniture　or　ornaments；　and　complained　to　Charvet；　the　concierge　at
Malmaison；　whom　he　appointed　to　the　same　post　in　the　new　palace；　and　whom
he　had　charged　with　the　general　supervision　of　the　furnishing　and　the
placing　of　the　furniture；　that　he　had　fitted　up　apartments　suitable　only
for　a　mistress；　and　that　they　contained　only　gewgaws　and　spangles；　and
nothing　substantial。　　On　this　occasion；　also；　he　gave　another　proof　of
his　habitual　desire　to　do　good；　in　spite　of　prejudices　which　had　not　yet
spent　their　force。　　Knowing　that　there　were　at　Saint…Cloud　a　large　number
of　the　former　servants　of　Queen　Marie　Antoinette；　he　charged　Charvet　to
offer　them　either　their　old　places　or　pensions；　and　most　of　them　resumed
their　former　posts。　　In　1814　the　Bourbons　were　far　from　acting　so
generously；　for　they　discharged　all　employees；　even　those　who　had　served
Marie　Antoinette。

The　First　Consul　had　been　installed　at　Saint…Cloud　only　a　short　while；
when　the　chateau；　which　had　thus　again　become　the　residence　of　the
sovereign　at　enormous　expense；　came　near　falling　a　prey　to　the　flames。
The　guard　room　was　under　the　vestibule；　in　the　center　of　the　palace；　and
one　night；　the　soldiers　having　made　an　unusually　large　fire；　the　stove
became　so　hot　that　a　sofa；　whose　back　touched　one　of　the　flues　which
warmed　the　saloon；　took　fire；　and　the　games　were　quickly　communicated　to
the　other　furniture。　　The　officer　on　duty　perceiving　this；　immediately
notified　the　concierge；　and　together　they　ran　to　General　Duroc's　room　and
awoke　him。　　The　general　rose　in　haste；　and；　commanding　perfect　silence；
made　a　chain　of　men。　　He　took　his　position　at　the　pool；　in　company　with
the　concierge；　and　thence　passed　buckets　of　water　to　the　soldiers　for　two
or　three　hours；　at　the　end　of　which　time　the　fire　was　extinguished；　but
only　after　devouring　all　the　furniture；　and　it　was　not　until　the　next
morning　that　the　First　Consul；　Josephine；　Hortense；　in　short；　all　the
other　occupants　of　the　chateau；　learned　of　the　accident；　all　of　whom；　the
First　Consul　especially；　expressed　their　appreciation　of　the
consideration　shown　in　not　alarming　them。

To　prevent；　or　at　least　to　render　such　accidents　less　likely　in　future；
the　First　Consul　organized　a　night…guard　at　Saint…Cloud；　and　subsequently
did　the　same　at　all　his　residences；　which　guard…was　called　〃the　watch。〃

During　his　early　occupation　of　Saint…Cloud　the　First　Consul　slept　in　the
same　bed　with　his　wife；　afterwards　etiquette　forbade　this；　and　as　a
result；　conjugal　affection　was　somewhat　chilled；　and　finally　the　First
Consul　occupied　an　apartment　at　some　distance　from　that　of　Madame
Bonaparte。　　To　reach　her　room　it　was　necessary　to　cross　a　long　corridor；
on　the　right　and　left　of　which　were　the　rooms　of　the　ladies…in…waiting；
the　women　of　the　service；　etc。　　When　he　wished　to　pass　the　night　with　his
wife；　he　undressed　in　his　own　room；　and　went　thence　in　his　wrapper　and
night…cap；　I　going　before　him　with　a　candle。　　At　the　end　of　this　corridor
a　staircase　of　fifteen　or　sixteen　steps　led　to　the　apartment　of　Madame
Bonaparte。　　It　was　a　great　joy　to　her　to　receive　a　visit　from　her
husband；　and　every　one　was　informed　of　it　next　morning。　　I　can　see　her
now　rubbing　her　little　hands；　saying；　〃I　rose　late　to…day；　but；　you　see；
it　is　because　Bonaparte　spent　the　night　with　me。〃　　On　such　days　she　was
more　amiable　than　ever；　refused　no　one；　and　all　got　whatever　they
requested。　　I　experienced　proofs　of　this　myself　many　times。

One　evening　as　I　was　conducting　the　First　Consul　on　one　of　these　visits
to　his　wife；　we　perceived　in　the　corridor　a　handsome　young　fellow　coming
out　of　the　apartment　of　one　of　Madame　Bonaparte's　women　servants。　　He
tried　to　steal　away；　but　the　First　Consul　cried　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Who
goes　there？　　Where　are　you　going？　　What　do　you　want？　　What　is　your　name？〃
He　was　merely　a　valet　of　Madame　Bonaparte；　and；　stupefied　by　these
startling　inquiries；　replied　in　a　frightened　voice　that　he　had　just
executed　an　errand　for　Madame　Bonaparte。　　〃Very　well；〃　replied　the　First
Consul；　〃but　do　not　let　me　catch　you　again。〃　　Satisfied　that　the　gallant
would　profit　by　the　lesson；　the　general　did　not　seek　to　learn　his　name；
nor　that　of　his　inamorata。　　This　reminds　me　of　an　occasion　on　which　he
was　much　more　severe　in　regard　to　another　chambermaid　of　Madame
Bonaparte。　　She　was　young；　and　very　pretty；