napoleon bonaparte, v4-第2章

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recollection。　　However；　that　was　the　only　way　to　get　anything　from　her；
for　she　knew　no　better　how　to　economize　than　how　to　refuse。　　The　Emperor
asked　me　a　short　time　after　my　marriage　what　the　Empress　had　given　my
wife；　and　on　my　reply　showed　the　greatest　possible　vexation；　no　doubt
because　the　sum　that　had　been　demanded　of　him　for　Louise's　dowry　had　been
spent　otherwise。　　His　Majesty　the　Emperor　had　the　goodness；　while　on　this
subject；　to　assure　me　that　he　himself　would　hereafter　look　after　my
interests；　and　that　he　was　well　satisfied　with　my　services；　and　would
prove　it　to　me。

I　have　said　above　that　my　wife's　younger　sister　was　the　favorite　of　her
Majesty　the　Empress；　and　yet　she　received　on　her　marriage　no　richer　dowry
than　Louise；　nevertheless；　the　Empress　asked　to　have　my　sister…in…law's
husband　presented　to　her；　and　said　to　him　in　the　most　maternal　tone；
〃Monsieur；　I　recommend　my　daughter　to　you；　and　I　entreat　you　to　make　her
happy。　　She　deserves　it；　and　I　earnestly　hope　that　you　know　how　to
appreciate　her！〃　　When　my　sister…in…law；　fleeing　from　Compiegne；　in　1814；
went　with　her　husband's　mother　to　Evreux　for　her　confinement；　the　Empress
sent　by　her　first　valet　de　chambre　every　thing　necessary　for　a　young
woman　in　that　condition；　and；　even　reproached　her　with　not　having　come　to
Navarre。

My　sister…in…law　had　been　reared　in　the　same　boarding…school　as
Mademoiselle　Josephine　Tallien；　god…daughter　of　the　Empress；　who　has
since　married　M。　Pelet　de　la　Lozere；　and　another　daughter　of　Madame
Tallien；　Mademoiselle　Clemence　Cabarus。　　The　school　was　conducted　by
Madame　Vigogne；　widow　of　the　colonel　of　that　name；　and　an　old　friend　of
the　Empress；　who　had　advised　her　to　take　a　boarding…school；　and　promised
to　procure　for　her　as　many　pupils　as　she　could。　　This　institution
prospered　under　the　direction　of　this　lady；　who　was　distinguished　for　her
intelligence　and　culture；　and　she　frequently　brought　to　the　Empress　these
protegees；　with　other　young　persons　who　by　good　conduct　had　earned　this
reward；　and　this　was　made　a　powerful　means　of　exciting　the　emulation　of
these　children；　whom　her　Majesty　overwhelmed　with　caresses；　and　presented
with　little　gifts。

One　morning　just　as　Madame　Vigogne　was　about　to　visit　the　Empress；　and
was　descending　the　staircase　to　enter　her　carriage；　she　heard　piercing
cries　in　one　of　the　schoolrooms；　and；　hastening　to　the　spot；　saw　a　young
girl　with　her　clothing　on　fire。　　With　a　presence　of　mind　worthy　of　a
mother；　Madame　Vigogne　wrapped　her　pupil　in　the　long　train　of　her　dress；
and　thus　extinguished　the　flames；　not；　however；　until　the　hands　of　the
courageous　instructress　had　been　most　painfully　burned。　　She　made　the
visit　to　her　Majesty　in　this　condition；　and　related　to　her　the　sad
accident　which　had　occurred；　while　her　Majesty；　who　was　easily　moved　by
everything　noble　and　generous；　overwhelmed　her　with　praises　for　her
courage；　and　was　so　deeply　touched　that　she　wept　with　admiration；　and
ordered；　her　private　physician　to　give　his　best　services　to　Madame
Vigogne　and　her　young　pupil。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

The　Empress　Josephine　was　of　medium　height；　with　an　exquisite　figure；　and
in　all　her　movements　there　was　an　airiness　and　grace　which　gave　to　her
walk　something　ethereal；　without　detracting　from　the　majesty　of　the
sovereign。　　Her　expressive　countenance　portrayed　all　the　emotions　of　her
soul；　while　retaining　the　charming　sweetness　which　was　its　ruling
expression。　　In　pleasure；　as　in　grief；　she　was　beautiful；　and　even
against　your　will　you　would　smile　when　she　smiled；　if　she　was　sad；　you
would　be　also。　　Never　did　a　woman　justify　better　than　she　the　expression
that　the　eyes　are　the　mirror　of　the　soul。　　Hers　were　of　a　deep　blue；　and
nearly　always　half　closed　by　her　long　lids；　which　were　slightly　arched；
and　fringed　with　the　most　beautiful　lashes　in　the　world；　in　regarding　her
you　felt　yourself　drawn　to　her　by　an　irresistible　power。　　It　must　have
been　difficult　for　the　Empress　to　give　severity　to　that　seductive　look；
but　she　could　do　this；　and　well　knew　how　to　render　it　imposing　when
necessary。　　Her　hair　was　very　beautiful；　long　and　silken；　its　nut…brown
tint　contrasting　exquisitely　with　the　dazzling　whiteness　of　her　fine
fresh　complexion。　　At　the　commencement　of　her　supreme　power；　the　Empress
still　liked　to　adorn　her　head　in　the　morning　with　a　red　madras
handkerchief；　which　gave　her　a　most　piquant　Creole　air；　and　rendered　her
still　more　charming。

But　what　more　than　all　else　constituted　the　inexpressible　charm　of　the
Empress's　presence　were　the　ravishing　tones　of　her　voice。　　How　many　times
have　I；　like　many　others；　stopped　suddenly　on　hearing　that　voice；　simply
to　enjoy　the　pleasure　of　listening　to　it。　　It　cannot　perhaps　be　said　that
the　Empress　was　a　strictly　beautiful　woman；　but　her　lovely　countenance；
expressing　sweetness　and　good　nature；　and　the　angelic　grace　diffused
around　her　person；　made　her　the　most　attractive　of　women。

During　her　stay　at　Saint…Cloud；　the　Empress　rose　habitually　at　nine
o'clock；　and　made　her　first　toilet；　which　lasted　till　ten；　then　she
passed　into　a　saloon；　where　she　found　assembled　those　persons　who　had
solicited　and　obtained　the　favor　of　an　audience；　and　sometimes　also　at
this　hour；　and　in　the　same　saloon；　her　Majesty　received　her　tradespeople；
and　at　eleven　o'clock；　when　the　Emperor　was　absent；　she　breakfasted　with
her　first　lady　of　honor　and　a　few　others。　　Madame　de　la　Rochefoucauld；
first　lady　of　honor　to　the　Empress；　was　a　hunchback；　and　so　small　that　it
was　necessary；　when　she　was　to　have　a　place　at　the　table；　to　heighten　the
seat　of　her　chair　by　another　very　thick　cushion　made　of　violet　satin。
Madame　de　la　Rochefoucauld　knew　well　how　to　efface；　by　means　of　her
bright　and　sparkling；　though　somewhat　caustic　wit；　her　striking　elegance；
and　her　exquisite　court　manners；　any　unpleasant　impression　which　might　be
made　by　her　physical　deformity。

Before　breakfast　the　Empress　had　a　game　of　billiards；　or；　when　the
weather　was　good；　she　walked　in　the　gardens　or　in　the　inclosed　park；
which　recreation　lasted　only　a　short　while；　and　her　Majesty　soon　returned
to　her　apartments；　and　occupied　herself　with　embroidery；　while　talking
with　her　ladies；　like　herself；　occupied　with　some　kind　of　needlework。
When　it　happened　that　they　were　not　interrupted　by　visits；　between　two
and　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　the　Empress　took　a　drive　in　an　open
barouche；　and　on　her　return　from　this　the　grand　toilet　took　place；　at
which　the　Emperor　was　sometimes　present。

Now　and　then；　also；　his　Majesty　surprised　the　Empress　in　her　saloon；　and
we　were　sure　to　find　him；　on　those　occasions；　amusing；　amiable；　and　in
fine　spirits。

At　six　o'clock　dinner　was　served；　this　the　Emperor　frequently　forgot；　and
delayed　it　indefinitely；　in　consequence　of　which　dinner　was　more　than
once　eaten　at　nine　or　ten　o'clock　in　the　evening。　　Their　Majesties　dined
together　alone；　or　in　the　company　of　a　few　invited　guests；　princes　of　the
imperial　family；　or　ministers；　after　which　there　was　a　concert；
reception；　or　the　theater；　and　at　midnight　every　one　retired　except　the
Empress；　who　greatly　enjoyed　sitting　up　late；　and　then　played　backgammon
with　one　of　the　chamberlains。　　The　Count　de　Beaumont　was　thus　honored
most　frequently。

On　the　days　of　the　chase　the　Empress　and　her　ladies　followed　in　the
coach。　　They　had　a　special　costume　for　this　occasion；　consisting　of　a
kind　of　green　riding…habit；　and　a　hat　ornamented　with　white　plumes。　　All
the　ladies　who　followed　the　chase　dined　with　their　Majesties。

When　the　Empress　spent　the　night　in　the　Emperor's　apartment；　I　entered　in
the　morning；　as　usual；　between　seven　and　eight　o'clock；　and　nearly　always
found　the　august　spouses　awake。　　The　Emperor　usually　ordered　tea；　or　an
infusion　of　orange　flowers；　and　rose　immediately；　the　Empress　saying　to
him；　with　a　laugh；　〃What；　rising　already？　　Rest　a　little　longer。〃〃Well；
you　are　not　asleep；　then？〃　replied　his　Majesty；　rolling　her　over　in　the
covering；　giving　her　little　slaps　on　her　cheeks　and　shoulders；　laughing；
and　kissing　her。

At　the　end　of　a　few　moments　the　Empress　rose　also；　put　on　a　wrapper；　and
read　the　journals；　or　descended　by　t