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 the little communicating stairway to
her own apartment； never leaving the Emperor without a few words
expressing the most touching affection and good…will。
Elegant and simple in her dress； the Empress submitted with regret to the
necessity of toilets of state。 Jewels； however； were much to her taste；
and； as she had always been fond of them； the Emperor presented her with
them often and in great quantities； and she greatly enjoyed adorning
herself with them； and still more exhibiting them to the admiration of
others。
One morning； when my wife was present at her toilet； her Majesty related
that； being newly married to M。 de Beauharnais； and much delighted with
the ornaments he had given her； she was in the habit of carrying them
around in her reticule （reticules were then an essential part of a
woman's dress）； and showing them to her young friends。
As the Empress spoke of her reticule； she ordered one of her ladies to
hunt for one to show my wife。 The lady whom the Empress addressed could
scarcely repress a laugh at this singular request； and assured her
Majesty that there was nothing similar to that now in her wardrobe； to
which the Empress replied； with an air of regret； that she would have
really liked to see again one of her old reticules； and that the years
hall brought great changes。 The jewels of the Empress Josephine could
hardly have been contained in the reticule of Madame de Beauharnais；
however long or deep it might have been； for the jewel case which had
belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette； and which had never been quite full；
was too small for the Empress。 One day； when she wished to exhibit all
her ornaments to several ladies who expressed a desire to see them； it
was necessary to prepare a large table on which to place the caskets；
and； as this table was not sufficient； several other pieces of furniture
were also covered with them。
Good to excess； as everyone knows； sympathetic beyond all expression；
generous even to prodigality； the Empress made the happiness of all who
surrounded her； loving her husband with a devotion which nothing ever
changed； and which was as deep in her last moments as at the period when
Madame Beauharnais and General Bonaparte made to each other a mutual
avowal of their love。 Josephine was long the only woman loved by the
Emperor； as she well deserved to have ever been； and for several years
the harmony of this imperial household was most touching。 Attentive；
loving； and entirely devoted to Josephine； the Emperor took pleasure in
embracing her neck； her figure； giving her taps； and calling her 'ma
grosse bete'； all of which did not prevent； it is true； his being guilty
of some infidelities； but without failing otherwise in his conjugal
duties。 On her side the Empress adored him； sought by every means to
please him； to divine his wishes； and to forestall his least desires。
At first she gave her husband cause for jealousy。 Having been strongly
prejudiced against her by indiscreet reports； during the campaign of
Egypt； the Emperor on his return had explanations with her； which did not
always end without lamentations and violent scenes； but peace was soon
restored； and was thereafter very rarely broken； for the Emperor could
not fail to feel the influence of so many attractions and such
loveliness。
The Empress had a remarkable memory； of which the Emperor often availed
himself； she was also an excellent musician； played well on the harp； and
sang with taste。 She had perfect tact； an exquisite perception of what
was suitable； the soundest； most infallible judgment imaginable； and；
with a disposition always lovely； always the same； indulgent to her
enemies as to her friends； she restored peace wherever there was quarrel
or discord。 When the Emperor was vexed with his brothers or other
persons； which often happened； the Empress spoke a few words； and
everything was settled。 If she demanded a pardon； it was very rare that
the Emperor did not grant it； however grave the crime committed； and I
could cite a thousa