the least connection with her husband interested the Empress to a degree
which proved well the singular devotion that she still felt for him
after； as before； their separation。 Too generous； and unable to keep her
expenses within her income； it often happened that the Empress was
obliged to send away her furnishers unpaid the very day she had herself
fixed for the settlement of their bills； and as this reached the ears of
the Emperor on one occasion； there ensued a very unpleasant scene between
the Empress and himself； ending in a decision； that in future no merchant
or furnisher should come to the chateau without a letter from the lady of
attire or secretary of orders； and this plan； once decided upon； was
followed very closely until the divorce。 During this explanation the
Empress wept freely； and promised to be more economical； upon which the
Emperor pardoned and embraced her； and peace was made； this being； I
think； the last quarrel of this nature which disturbed the imperial
household。
I have heard that after the divorce； the allowance of the Empress having
been exceeded； the Emperor reproached the superintendent of Malmaison
with this fact； who in turn informed Josephine。 His kind…hearted
mistress； much distressed at the annoyance which her steward had
experienced； and not knowing how to establish a better order of things；
assembled a council of her household； over which she presided in a linen
dress without ornament； this dress had been made in great haste； and was
used only this once。 The Empress； whom the necessity for a refusal
always reduced to despair； was continually besieged by merchants； who
assured her that they had made such or such a thing expressly for her own
use； begging her not to return it because they would not be able to
dispose of it； in consequence of which the Empress kept everything they
brought； though they afterwards had to be paid for。
The Empress was always extremely polite in her intercourse with the
ladies of her household； and a reproach never came from those lips which
seemed formed to say only pleasant things； and if any of her ladies gave
her cause of dissatisfaction； the only punishment she inflicted was an
absolute silence on her part； which lasted one； two； three； or even eight
days； the time being longer or shorter according to the gravity of the
fault。 And indeed this penalty； apparently so mild； was really very
cruel to many； so well did the Empress know how to make herself adored by
those around her。
In the time of the Consulate； Madame Bonaparte often received from cities
which had been conquered by her husband； or from those persons who
desired to obtain her intercession with the First Consul； quantities of
valuable furniture； curiosities of all kinds； pictures； stuffs； etc。 At
first these presents delighted Madame Bonaparte greatly； and she took a
childish pleasure in having the cases opened to find what was inside；
personally assisting in unpacking them； and rummaging through all these
pretty things。 But soon these consignments became so considerable； and
were so often repeated； that it was found necessary to place them in an
apartment； of which my father…in…law kept the key； and where the boxes
remained untouched until it pleased Madame Bonaparte to have them opened。
When the First。 Consul decided that he would take up his residence at
Saint…Cloud； my father…in…law was obliged to leave Malmaison； and install
himself in the new palace； as the master wished him to take charge there。
Before leaving Malmaison； my father…in…law rendered an account to Madame
Bonaparte of everything committed to his care； and all the cases which
were piled up from floor to ceiling in two rooms were opened in her
presence。 Madame Bonaparte was astonished at such marvelous riches；
comprising marbles； bronzes； and magnificent pictures； of which Eugene；
Hortense； and the sisters of the First Consul received a large part； and
the remainder was used in decorating the apartments of Malmaison。
The Empress's love of ornaments included for a while antique curiosities；
cut stones； and medals。 M。 Denon flattered this whim； and ended by
persuading the good Josephine that she was a perfect connoisseur in
antiques； and that she should have at Malmaison a cabinet； a keeper for
it； etc。 This proposition； which flattered the self…love of the Empress；
was favorably received； the room was selected； M。 de M made keeper；
and the new cabinet enriched by diminishing in the same proportion the
rich furniture of the apartments of the chateau。 M。 Denon； who had
originated this idea； took upon himself to make a collection of medals；
but this idea； which came so suddenly； vanished as suddenly； the cabinet
was changed into a saloon for guests； and the antiques relegated to the
antechamber of the bathing hall； while M。 de M； having no longer
anything to keep； remained constantly in Paris。
A short time after this； two ladies of the palace took a fancy to
persuade the Empress that nothing could be handsomer or more worthy of
her than a necklace of Greek and Roman antique stones perfectly matched。
Several chamberlains approved the idea； which； of course； pleased the
Empress； for she was very fond of anything unique； and consequently one
morning； as I was dressing the Emperor； the Empress entered； and； after a
little conversation； said； 〃Bonaparte； some ladies have advised me to
have a necklace made of antique stones； and I came to ask you to urge M。
Denon to select only very handsome ones。〃 The Emperor burst out
laughing； and refused flatly at first； but just then the grand marshal of
the palace arrived； and the Emperor informed him of this request of the
Empress； asking his opinion。 M。 le due de Frioul thought it very
reasonable； and joined his entreaties to those of the Empress。 〃It is an
egregious folly；〃 said the Emperor； 〃but we are obliged to grant it；
because the women wish it； so； Duroc； go to the cabinet of antiques； and
choose whatever is necessary。〃
M。 le due de Frioul soon returned with the finest stones in the
collection； which the crown jeweler mounted magnificently； but this
ornament was of such enormous weight that the Empress never wore it。
Though I may be accused of making tiresome repetitions； I must say that
the Empress seized； with an eagerness which cannot be described； on all
occasions of making benefactions。 For instance； one morning when she was
breakfasting alone with his Majesty； the cries of an infant were suddenly
heard proceeding from a private staircase。 The Emperor was annoyed at
this； and with a frown； asked sharply what that meant。 I went to
investigate； and found a new…born child； carefully and neatly dressed；
asleep in a kind of cradle； with a ribbon around its body from which hung
a folded paper。 I returned to tell what I had seen； and the Empress at
once exclaimed； 〃O Constant！ bring me the cradle。〃 The Emperor would
not permit this at first； and expressed his surprise and disapprobation
that it should have been thus introduced into the interior of his
apartments； whereupon her Majesty； having pointed out to him that it must
have been done by some one of the household； he turned towards me； and
gave me a searching look； as if to ask if it was I who had originated
this idea。 I shook my head in denial。 At that moment the baby began to
cry； and the Emperor could not keep from smiling； still growling； and
saying； 〃Josephine； send away that monkey！〃
The Empress； wishing to profit by this return of good humor； sent me for
the cradle； which I brought to her。 She caressed the little new…born
babe； quieted it； and read the paper attached to which was a petition
from its parents。 Then she approached the Emperor； insisting on his
caressing the infant himself； and pinching its fat little cheeks； which
he did without much urging； for the Emperor himself loved to play with
children。 At last her Majesty the Empress； having placed a roll of
napoleons in the cradle； had the little bundle in swaddling clothes
carried to the concierge of the palace； in order that he might restore it
to its parents。
I will now give another instance of the kindness of heart of her Majesty
the Empress； of which I had the honor to be a witness； as well as of the
preceding。
A few days before the coronation； a little girl four and a half years old
had been rescued from the Seine； and a charitable lady； Madame Fabien
Pillet； was much interested in providing a home for the poor orphan。 At
the time of the coronation； the Empress； who had been informed of this
occurrence； asked to see this child； and having regarded it a few moments
with much emotion； offered her protection most gracefully and sincerely
to Madame Pillet and her husband； and announced to them that she would
take upon herself the care of the little girl's future； then； with her
usual delicacy and in the affectionate tone which was so natural to her；
the Empress added； 〃Your good action has given you too many claims over
the poor little girl for me to deprive you of the pleasure of completing
your work； I therefore beg your permission to furnish the expenses of her
education。 You have the privilege of putting her in boarding…school； and
watching over her；；and I wish to take only a secondary position； as her
benefactress。〃 It was the most touching sight imaginable to see her
Majesty； while uttering these delicate and generous words； pass her hands
through the hair of the poor little girl； as she had just called her； and
kiss her brow with the tenderness of a mother。 M。 and Madame Pillet
withdrew； for they could no longer bear this touching scene。
CHAPTER XXV。
The appointment of General Junot as ambassador to Portugal recalled to my
recollection a laughable anecdote concerning him； which greatly amused
the Emperor。 While in camp at Boulogne； the Emperor had published in the
order of the day that every soldier should discard powder； and arrange
his hair 'a la Titus'； on which there was much murmuring； but at last all
submitted to the order of the chief； except one old grenadier belonging
to the corps commanded by General Junot。 Not being able to decide on the
sacrifice of his oily tress