openly solicited； by certain ladies who were ambitious of the title of
favorites； although this title would have given very few rights and
privileges with the Emperor； but I would never enter into such bargains；
restricting myself to the duties which my position imposed on me； and not
going beyond them； and； although his Majesty took pleasure in reviving
the usages of the old monarchy； the secret duties of the first valet de
chambre were not re…established； and I took care not to claim them。
Many others （not valets de chambre） were less scrupulous than I。 General
L spoke to the Emperor one day of a very pretty girl whose mother
kept a gambling…house； and who desired to be presented to him； but the
Emperor received her once only； and a few days afterwards she was
married。 Some time later his Majesty wished to see her again； and asked
for her； but the young woman replied that she did not belong to herself
any longer； and refused all the invitations and offers made to her。 The
Emperor seemed in no wise dissatisfied； but on the contrary praised
Madame D for her fidelity to duty； and approved her conduct highly。
In 1804 her imperial highness Princess Murat had in her household a young
reader named Mademoiselle E； seventeen or eighteen years of age；
tall； slender； well made； a brunette； with beautiful black eyes；
sprightly； and very coquettish。 Some persons who thought it to their
interest to create differences between his Majesty and the Empress； his
wife； noticed with pleasure the inclination of this young reader to try
the power of her glances upon the Emperor； and his disposition to
encourage her； so they stirred up the fire adroitly； and one of them took
upon himself all the diplomacy of this affair。 Propositions made through
a third party were at once accepted； and the beautiful E came to the
chateau secretly； but rarely； and remained there only two or three；
hours。 When she became enceinte； the Emperor had a house rented for her
in the Rue Chantereine； where she bore a fine boy； upon whom was settled
at his birth an income of thirty thousand francs。 He was confided at
first to the care of Madame I； nurse of Prince Achille Murat； who
kept him three or four years； and then Monsieur de Meneval； his Majesty's
secretary； was ordered to provide for the education of this child； and
when the Emperor returned from the Island of Elba； the son of
Mademoiselle E was placed in the care of her Majesty； the Empress…
mother。 The liaison of the Emperor with Mademoiselle E did not last
long。 She came one day with her mother to Fontainebleau； where the court
then happened to be； went up to his Majesty's apartment； and asked me to
announce her； and the Emperor； being exceedingly displeased by this step；
directed me to say to Mademoiselle E that he forbade her to present
herself before him again without his permission； and not to remain a
moment longer at Fontainebleau。 In spite of this harshness to the
mother； the Emperor loved the son tenderly； and I brought him to him
often； on which occasions he caressed the child； gave him a great many
dainties； and was much amused by his vivacity and repartees； which showed
remarkable intelligence for his age。
This child and that of the Polish beauty； of whom I will speak later；
＇This son of Countess Walewska became Count Walewski； a leading
statesman of the Second Empire； ambassador to London； 1852； minister
of foreign affairs； 1855； minister of state； 1860； president of
Corps Legislatif； 1865。 Born 1810； died 1868。 TRANS。＇
and the King of Rome； were the only children of the Emperor。 He never
had a daughter； and I believe he desired none。
I have seen it stated； I know not where； that the Emperor； during the
long stay we made at Boulogne； indemnified himself at night for the
labors of the day with a beautiful Italian； and I will now relate what I
know of this adventure。 His Majesty complained one morning； while I was
dressing him； in the presence of Prince Murat； that he saw none but
moustached faces； which he said was very tiresome； and the prince； ever
ready on occasions of this kind to offer his services to his brother…in…
law； spoke to him of a handsome and attractive Genoese lady； who had the
greatest desire to see his Majesty。 The Emperor laughingly granted a
tete…a…tete； the prince himself offering to send the message； and two
days later； by his kind assistance； the lady arrived； and was installed
in the upper town。 The Emperor； who lodged at Pont des Briques； ordered
me one evening to take a carriage； and find this protegee of Prince
Murat。 I obeyed； and brought the beautiful Genoese； who； to avoid
scandal； although it was a dark night； was introduced through a little
garden behind his Majesty's apartments。 The poor woman was much excited；
and shed tears； but controlled herself quickly on finding that she was
kindly received； and the interview was prolonged until three o'clock in
the morning； when I was called to carry her back。 She returned
afterwards four or five times； and was with the Emperor afterwards at
Rambouillet。 She was gentle； simple； credulous； and not at all
intriguing； and did not try to draw any benefit from a liaison which at
best was only temporary。
Another of these favorites of the moment； who threw themselves so to
speak into the arms of the Emperor without giving him time to make his
court to them； was Mademoiselle L。 B； a very pretty girl。 She was
intelligent； and possessed a kind heart； and； had she received a less
frivolous education； would doubtless have been an estimable woman； but I
have reason to believe that her mother had from the first the design of
acquiring a protector for her second husband； by utilizing the youth and
attractions of the daughter of her first。 I do not now recall her name；
but she was of a noble family； of which fact the mother and daughter were
very proud； and the young girl was a good musician； and sang agreeably；
but； which appeared to me as ridiculous as indecent； she danced the
ballet before a large company in her mother's house； in a costume almost
as light as those of the opera； with castanets or tambourines； and ended
her dance with a multiplicity of attitudes and graces。 With such an
education she naturally thought her position not at all unusual； and was
very much chagrined at the short duration of her liaison with the
Emperor； while the mother was in despair； and said to me with disgusting
simplicity； 〃See my poor Lise； how she has ruined her complexion in her
vexation at seeing herself neglected； poor child。 How good you will be；
if you can manage to have her sent for。〃 To secure an interview for
which the mother and daughter were both so desirous； they came together
to the chapel at Saint…Cloud； and during mass the poor Lise threw glances
at the Emperor which made the young ladies blush who witnessed them； and
were； nevertheless； all in vain； for the Emperor remained unmoved。
Colonel L。 B was aide…de…camp to General L； the governor of
Saint…Cloud； and the general was a widower； which facts alone furnish an
excuse for the intimacy of his only daughter with the family of L。 B；
which astonished me greatly。 One day； when I was dining at the house of
the colonel； with his wife； his step…daughter； and Mademoiselle L；
the general sent for his aides…de…camp； and I was left alone； with the
ladies； who so earnestly begged me to accompany them on a visit to
Mademoiselle le Normand； that it would have been impolite to refuse；
consequently we ordered a carriage and went to the Rue de Tournon。
Mademoiselle L。 B was first to enter the Sybil's cave； where she
remained a long while； but on her return was very reserved as to any
communications made to her； though Mademoiselle L told us very
frankly that she had good news； and would soon marry the man she loved；
which event soon occurred。 These ladies having urged me to consult the
prophetess in my turn； I perceived plainly that I was recognized； for
Mademoiselle le Normand at once discovered in my hand that I had the
happiness of being near a great man and being highly esteemed by him；
adding much other nonsense of the same kind； which was so tiresome that I
thanked her； and made my adieux as quickly as possible。
CHAPTER XXXI。
While the Emperor was giving crowns to his brothers and sisters；to
Prince Louis； the throne of Holland； Naples to Prince Joseph； the Duchy
of Berg to Prince Murat； to the Princess Eliza； Lucca and Massa…Carrara；
and Guastalla to the Princess Pauline Borghese； and while； by means of
treaties and family alliances； he was assuring still more the co…
operation of the different states which had entered into the
Confederation of the Rhine；war was renewed between France and Prussia。
It is not my province to investigate the causes of this war； nor to
decide which first gave cause of offense。
All I can certify is this； frequently at the Tuileries； and on the
campaign； I heard the Emperor； in conversation with his intimate friends；
accuse the old Duke of Brunswick； whose name had been so odious in France
since 1792； and also the young and beautiful Queen of Prussia； of having
influenced King Frederic William to break the treaty of peace。 The Queen
was； according to the Emperor； more disposed to war than General Blucher
himself。 She wore the uniform of the regiment to which she had given her
name； appeared at all reviews； and commanded the maneuvers。
We left Paris at the end of September。 I will not enter into the details
of this wonderful campaign； in which the Emperor in an incredibly short
time crushed to pieces an army of one hundred and fifty thousand men；
perfectly disciplined； full of enthusiasm and courage； and fighting in
defense of their country。 In one of the first battles； the young Prince
Louis of Prussia； brother of the king； was killed at the head of his
troops by Guinde； quartermaster of the Tenth Hussars。 The prince fought
hand to hand with this brave sub…officer； who said to him； 〃Surrender；
Colonel； or you are a dead man；〃 to which Prince Louis replied only by a
saber stroke； whereupon Guinde plunged his own into the body of his
opponent； and he fell dead on the spot