napoleon bonaparte, v4- 第1部分

RECOLLECTIONS　OF　THE　PRIVATE　LIFE　OF　NAPOLEON；　V4

BY　CONSTANT
PREMIER　VALET　DE　CHAMBRE




TRANSLATED　BY　WALTER　CLARK




CONTENTS：
CHAPTER　XXIII。　　to　　CHAPTER　XXXI。



CHAPTER　XXIII。

It　was　the　2d　of　January；　1805；　exactly　a　month　after　the　coronation；
that　I　formed　with　the　eldest　daughter　of　M。　Charvet　a　union　which　has
been；　and　will　I　trust　ever　be；　the　greatest　happiness　of　my　life。　　I
promised　the　reader　to　say　very　little　of　myself；　and；　in　fact；　how　could
he　be　interested　in　any　details　of　my　own　private　life　which　did　not
throw　additional　light　upon　the　character　of　the　great　man　about　whom　I
have　undertaken　to　write？　　Nevertheless；　I　will　ask　permission　to　return
for　a　little　while　to　this；　the　most　interesting　of　all　periods　to　me；
and　which　exerted　such　an　influence　upon　my　whole　life。　　Surely　he　who
recalls　and　relates　his　souvenirs　is　not　forbidden　to　attach　some
importance　to　those　which　most　nearly　concern　himself。　　Moreover；　even　in
the　most　personal　events　of　my　life；　there　were　instances　in　which　their
Majesties　took　a　part；　and　which；　from　that　fact；　are　of　importance　in
enabling　the　reader　to　form　a　correct　estimate　of　the　characters　of　both
the　Emperor　and　the　Empress。

My　wife's　mother　had　been　presented　to　Madame　Bonaparte　during　the　first
campaign　in　Italy；　and　she　had　been　pleased　with　her；　for　Madame
Bonaparte；　who　was　so　perfectly　good；　had；　in　her　own　experience；　also
endured　trials；　and　knew　how　to　sympathize　with　the　sorrows　of　others。

She　promised　to　interest　the　General　in　the　fate　of　my　father…in…law；　who
had　just　lost　his　place　in　the　treasury。　　During　this　time　Madame　Charvet
was　in　correspondence　with　a　friend　of　her　husband；　who　was；　I　think；　the
courier　of　General　Bonaparte；　and　the　latter　having　opened　and　read　these
letters　addressed　to　his　courier；　inquired　who　was　this　young　woman　that
wrote　such　interesting　and　intelligent　letters；　and　Madame　Charvet　well
deserved　this　double　praise。　　My　father…in…law's　friend；　while　replying
to　the　question　of　the　General…in…chief；　took　occasion　to　relate　the
misfortunes　of　the　family；　and　the　General　remarked　that；　on　his　return
to　Paris；　he　wished　to　meet　M。　and　Madame　Charvet；　in　consequence　of
which　they　were　presented　to　him；　and　Madame　Bonaparte　rejoiced　to　learn
that　her　protegees　had　also　become　those　of　her　husband。　　It　had　been
decided　that　M。　Charvet　should　follow　the　General　to　Egypt；　but　when　my
father…in…law　arrived　at　Toulon；　Madame　Bonaparte　requested　that　he
should　accompany　her　to　the　waters　of　Plombieres。　　I　have　previously
related　the　accident　which　occurred　at　Plombieres；　and　that　M。　Charvet
was　sent　to　Saint…Germain　to　bring　Mademoiselle　Hortense　from　the
boarding…school　to　her　mother。　　On　his　return　to　Paris；　M。　Charvet
searched　through　all　the　suburbs　to　find　a　country…seat；　as　the　General
had　charged　his　wife　to　purchase　one　during　his　absence。

When　Madame　Bonaparte　decided　on　Malmaison；　M。　Charvet；　his　wife；　and
their　three　children　were　installed　in　this　charming　residence。

My　father…in…law　was　very　faithful　to　the　interests　of　these　benefactors
of　his　family；　and　Madame　Charvet　often　acted　as　private　secretary　to
Madame　Bonaparte。

Mademoiselle　Louise；　who　became　my　wife；　and　Mademoiselle　Zoe；　her
younger　sister；　were　favorites　of　Madame　Bonaparte；　especially　the
latter；　who　passed　more　time　than　Louise　at　Malmaison。　　The　condescension
of　their　noble　protectress　had　rendered　this　child　so　familiar；　that　she
said　thou　habitually　to　Madame　Bonaparte。　　One　day　she　said　to　her；　〃Thou
art　happy。　　Thou　hast　no　mamma　to　scold　thee　when　thou　tearest　thy
dresses。〃

During　one　of　the　campaigns　that　I　made　while　in　the　service　of　the
Emperor；　I　wrote　to　my　wife；　inquiring　about　the　life　that　her　sister　led
at　Malmaison。　　In　her　answer；　among　other　things；　she　said　（I　copy　a
passage　from　one　of　her　letters）：　〃Sometimes　we　take　part　in　performances
such　as　I　had　never　dreamed　of。　　For　instance；　one　evening　the　saloon　was
divided　in　half　by　a　gauze　curtain；　behind　which　was　a　bed　arranged　in
Greek　style；　on　which　a　man　lay　asleep；　clothed　in　long　white　drapery。
Near　the　sleeper　Madame　Bonaparte　and　the　other　ladies　beat　in　unison
（not　in　perfect　accord；　however）　on　bronze　vases；　making；　as　you　may
imagine；　a　terrible　kind　of　music。　　During　this　charivari；　one　of　the
gentlemen　held　me　around　the　waist；　and　raised　me　from　the　ground；　while
I　shook　my　arms　and　legs　in　time　to　the　music。　　The　concert　of　these
ladies　awoke　the　sleeper；　who　stared　wildly　at　me；　frightened　at　my
gestures；　then　sprang　up　and　ran　with　all　his　might；　followed　by　my
brother；　who　crept　on　all　fours；　representing　a　dog；　I　think；　which
belonged　to　this　strange　person。　　As　I　was　then　a　mere　child；　I　have　only
a　confused　idea　of　all　this；　but　the　society　of　Madame　Bonaparte　seemed
to　be　much　occupied　with　similar　amusements。〃

When　the　First　Consul　went　to　live　at　Saint…Cloud；　he　expressed　his　high
opinion　of　my　father…in…law　in　the　most　flattering　manner；　and　made　him
concierge　of　the　chateau；　which　was　a　confidential　position；　the　duties
and　responsibilities　of　which　were　considerable。

M。　Charvet　was　charged　with　organizing　the　household；　and；　by　orders　of
the　First　Consul；　he　selected　from　among　the　old　servants　of　the　queen
those　to　whom　he　gave　places　as　porters；　scrubbers；　and　grooms　of　the
chateau；　and　he　gave　pensions　to　those　unable　to　work。

When　the　chateau　took　fire　in　1802；　as　I　have　related　previously；　Madame
Charvet；　being　several　months　pregnant；　was　terribly　frightened；　and　as
it　was　not　thought　best　to　bleed　her；　she　became　very　ill；　and　died　at
the　age　of　thirty　years。　　Louise　had　been　at　a　boarding…school　for
several　years；　but　her　father　now　brought　her　home　to　keep　house　for　him；
though　she　was　then　only　twelve　years　old。　　One　of　her　friends　has　kindly
allowed　me　to　see　a　letter　which　Louise　addressed　to　her　a　short　time
after　our　marriage；　and　from　which　I　have　made　the　following　extracts：

　　　　　〃On　my　return　from　boarding…school　I　went　to　see　her　Majesty　the
　　　　　Empress　（then　Madame　Bonaparte）　at　the　Tuileries。　　I　was　in　deep
　　　　　mourning。　　She　took　me　on　her　knee；　and　tried　to　console　me；　saying
　　　　　that　she　would　be　a　mother　to　me；　and　would　find　me　a　husband。　　I
　　　　　wept；　and　said　that　I　did　not　wish　to　marry。　　Not　at　present；'
　　　　　replied　her　Majesty；　I　but　that　will　come；　be　sure　of　it。　　I　was；
　　　　　however；　by　no　means　persuaded　that　this　would　be　the　case。　　She
　　　　　caressed　me　a　while　longer；　and　I　withdrew。　　When　the　First　Consul
　　　　　was　at　Saint…Cloud；　all　the　chiefs　of　the　different　departments　of
　　　　　the　household　service　assembled　in　the　apartments　of　my　father；　who
　　　　　was　the　most　popular；　as　well　as　the　eldest；　member　of　the
　　　　　household。　　M。　Constant；　who　had　seen　me　as　a　child　at　Malmaison；
　　　　　found　me　sufficiently　attractive　at　Saint…Cloud　to　ask　me　of　my
　　　　　father；　subject　to　the　approval　of　their　Majesties；　and　it　was
　　　　　decided　that　we　should　be　married　after　the　coronation。　　I　was
　　　　　fourteen　years　old　fifteen　days　after　our　marriage。

　　　　　〃Both　my　sister　and　I　are　always　received　with　extreme　kindness　by
　　　　　her　Majesty　the　Empress；　and　whenever；　for　fear　of　annoying　her；　we
　　　　　let　some　time　pass　without　going　to　see　her；　she　complains　of　it　to
　　　　　my　father。　　She　sometimes　admits　us　to　her　morning　toilet；　which　is
　　　　　conducted　in　our　presence；　and　to　which　are　admitted　in　her
　　　　　apartments　only　her　women；　and　a　few　persons　of　her　household；　who；
　　　　　like　us；　count　among　their　happiest　moments　those　in　which　they　can
　　　　　thus　behold　this　adored　princess。　　The　conversations　are　almost
　　　　　always　delightful；　and　her　Majesty　frequently　relates　anecdotes
　　　　　which　a　word　from　one　or　another　of　us　recalls　to　her。〃

Her　Majesty　the　Empress　had　promised　Louise　a　dowry；　but　the　money　which
she　intended　for　that　she　spent　otherwise；　and　consequently　my　wife　had
only　a　few　jewels　of　little　value　and　two　or　three　pieces　of　stuff。

M。　Charvet　was　too　refined　to　recall　this　promise　to　her　Majesty's
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　exci