napoleon bonaparte, v12-第14部分

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French　and　the　magnificence　of　the　imperial　equipages　furnished　such　a
contrast　to　all　this　that　it　rendered　them　indescribably　ridiculous。　　The
Emperor；　who　had　such　exquisite　tact　in　all　matters；　was　not　one　of　the
last　to　perceive　this；　but；　nevertheless；　was　not　pleased　that　an
opportunity　should　be　found　to　ridicule　crowned　heads。　　One　morning　at
his　toilet　he　said　to　me；　〃I　say；　then；　Monsieur　le　drole；　you；　who　are
so　well　versed　in　these　matters；　give　a　few　hints　to　the　valet　de　chambre
of　the　King　and　Queen　of　Spain。　　They　appear　so　awkward　they　really
excite　my　pity。〃　　I　eagerly　did　what　his　Majesty　suggested；　but　he　did
not　content　himself　with　this；　but　also　communicated　to　the　Empress
Josephine　his　observations　on　the　queen　and　her　ladies。　　The　Empress
Josephine；　who　was　the　embodiment　of　taste；　gave　orders　accordingly；　and
for　two　days　her　hairdressers　and　women　were　occupied　exclusively　in
giving　lessons　in　taste　and　elegance　to　their　Spanish　brethren。　　This　is
a　striking　evidence　of　how　the　Emperor　found　time　for　everything；　and
could　descend　from　his　elevated　duties　to　the　most　insignificant　affairs。


The　grand　marshal　of　the　palace　（Duroc）　was　almost　the　same　height　as　the
Emperor。　　He　walked　badly　and　ungracefully；　but　had　a　tolerably　good　head
and　features。　　He　was　quick　tempered；　impulsive；　and　swore　like　a
soldier；　but　he　had　much　administrative　ability；　of　which　he　gave　more
than　one　proof　in　the　organization　of　the　imperial　household；　which　was
ably　and　wisely　regulated。　　When　the　enemy's　cannon　deprived　his　Majesty
of　this　devoted　servitor　and　sincere　friend；　the　Empress　Josephine　said
that　she　knew　only　two　men　capable　of　filling　his　place；　these　were
General　Drouot　and　M。　de　Flahaut；　and　the　whole　household　hoped　that　one
of　these　two　gentlemen　would　be　nominated；　this；　however；　was　not　the
case。

M。　de　Caulaincourt；　Duke　of　Vicenza；　was　extremely　severe　towards　the
household；　but　he　was　just　and　of　a　chivalrous　loyalty；　and　his　word　was
as　good　as　a　contract：　He　was　feared　and　yet　beloved。　　He　had　a　piercing
eye；　spoke　quickly　and　with　great　ease。　　The　Emperor's　regard　for　him　was
well　known；　and　certainly　no　one　was　more　worthy　of　it　than　he。

The　Count　de　Remusat　was　of　medium　height；　with　a　smooth；　white　face；
obliging；　amiable；　and　with　natural　politeness　and　good　taste；　but　he　was
extravagant；　lacked　order　in　managing　his　own　affairs　and　consequently
those　of　the　Emperor。　　This　lavish　expenditure；　which　is　admirable　from
one　point　of　view；　might　have　suited　any　other　sovereign；　but　the　Emperor
was　economical；　and　though；　much　attached　to　M。　de　Remusat；　dismissed　him
from　the　head　of　the　wardrobe　bureau；　and　put　in　his　place　Monsieur　de
Turenne；　who　exercised　the　strictest　economy。　　M。　de　Turenne　possessed
perhaps　a　little　too　much　of　what　his　predecessor　lacked；　but　it　was
exactly　this　that　pleased　the　Emperor。　　M。　de　Turenne　was　quite　a　pretty
man；　thinking　perhaps　a　little　too　much　of　himself；　a　great　talker　and
Anglo…maniac；　which　led　the　Emperor　to　give　him　the　name　of　my　lord
Kinsester　（who　cannot　be　silent）；　but　he　told　a　story　well；　and　sometimes
his　Majesty　took　pleasure　in　making　him　relate　the　chronicles　of　Paris。

When　the　Count　of　Turenne　replaced　the　Count　of　Remusat　in　the　office　of
grand　master　of　the　wardrobe；　in　order　not　to　exceed　the　sum　of　twenty
thousand　francs　which　his　Majesty　allowed　for　his　toilet；　he　exercised
the　greatest　possible　economy　in　the　quantity；　price；　and　quality　of
things　indispensable　to　the　household。　　I　have　been　told；　but　I　do　not
know　whether　it　is　true；　that；　in　order　to　ascertain　exactly　what　were
the　profits　of　the　Emperor's　furnishers；　he　went　to　the　various　factories
of　Paris　with　samples　of　gloves；　silk　stockings；　aloes　wood；　etc。；　but；
even　if　this　is　true；　it　only　does　honor　to　the　zeal　and　probity　of　M。　de
Turenne。

I　knew　very　little　of　Count　Segur；　grand　master　of　ceremonies。　　It　was
said　in　the　household　that　he　was　haughty　and　somewhat　abrupt；　but
perfectly　polite　and　intelligent；　with　a　delicate　and　refined　face。

It　would　be　necessary　to　have　witnessed　the　perfect　order　which　reigned
in　the　Emperor's　household　to　comprehend　it　fully。　　From　the　time　of　the
Consulate；　General　Duroc　had　brought　into　the　administration　of　the
interior　affairs　of　the　palace　that　spirit　of　order　and　economy　which
especially　characterized　him。　　But；　great　as　was　the　Emperor's　confidence
in　General　Duroc；　he　did　not　disdain　to　throw　the　glance　of　a　master　over
things　which　seemed　insignificant；　and　with　which；　in　general；　sovereigns
rarely　occupy　themselves。　　Thus；　for　example；　in　the　beginning　of　the
Empire　there　was　some　little　extravagance　in　certain　parts　of　the　palace；
notably　at　Saint…Cloud；　where　the　aides…de…camp　kept　open　table；　but　this
was；　nevertheless；　far　from　equaling　the　excessive　prodigality　of　the
ancient　regime。　　Champagne　and　other　wines　especially　were　used　in　great
quantities；　and　it　was　very　necessary　that　the　Emperor　should　establish
regulations　as　to　his　cellar。　　He　summoned　the　chief　of　the　household
service；　Soupe　Pierrugues；　and　said　to　him；　〃Monsieur；　I　commit　to　you
the　keys　of　my　imperial　cellars；　you　will　there　have　charge　of　the　wines
of　all　kinds；　some　are　needed　in　my　palaces　of　the　Tuileries；　Saint…
Cloud；　Compiegne；　Fontainebleau；　Marrac；　Lacken；　and　Turin。　　Establish　a
moderate　price　at　all　these　residences；　and　you　alone　will　furnish　wines
to　my　household。〃　　This　arrangement　was　made；　and　all　kinds　of　fraud　were
impossible；　as　the　deputy　of　M。　Soupe　Pierrugues　delivered　wines　only　on
a　note　signed　by　the　controller　of　the　kitchen；　all　the　bottles　not
opened　were　returned；　and　each　evening　an　account　was　given　of　what　had
been　used　for　that　day。

The　service　had　the　same　regulations　while　we　were　on　campaigns。　　During
the　second　campaign　of　Vienna；　I　recollect　that　the　house　deputy　of　Soupe
Pierrugues　was　M。　Eugene　Pierrugues；　frank；　gay；　witty；　and　much　beloved
by　us　all。　　An　imprudence　cost　him　dear；　for　in　consequence　of　a
heedlessness　natural　at　his　age　he　had　his　arm　broken。　　We　were　then　at
Schoenbrunn。　　Those　who　have　seen　this　imperial　residence　know　that
splendid　avenues　extend　in　front　of　the　palace；　leading　to　the　road　to
Vienna。　　As　I　often　took　horseback　rides　through　the　town；　M。　Eugene
Pierrugues　wished　to　accompany　me　one　day；　and　borrowed　a　horse　from　one
of　the　quartermasters　of　the　palace。　　He　was　forewarned　that　the　horse
was　very　fiery；　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　that；　and　immediately　put　him
into　a　gallop。　　I　reined　mine　in；　in　order　not　to　excite　my　companion's；
but　in　spite　of　this　precaution　the　horse　ran　away；　dashed　into　the
woods；　and　broke　the　arm　of　his　unfortunate　and　imprudent　rider。
M。　Eugene　Pierrugues　was；　however；　not　unhorsed　by　the　blow；　and　kept　his
seat　a　short　while　after　the　injury；　but　it　was　very　serious；　and　it　was
necessary　to　carry　him　back　to　the　palace。　　I；　more　than　any　one　else；
was　distressed　by　this　frightful　accident；　and　we　established　a　regular
attendance　on　him；　so　that　one　at　least　could　always　be　with　him　when　our
duties　allowed。　　I　have　never　seen　suffering　borne　with　more　fortitude；
and　it　was　carried　to　such　a　remarkable　degree；　that；　finding　his　arm
badly　set；　at　the　end　of　a　few　days　he　had　it　again　fractured；　an
operation　which　caused　him　horrible　suffering。


My　uncle；　who　was　usher　of　the　Emperor's　cabinet；　related　to　me　an
anecdote　which　is　probably　entirely　unknown；　since　everything；　as　we
shall　see；　occurred　under　cover　of　the　most　profound　mystery。　　〃One
evening；〃　he　said　to　me；　〃Marshal　Duroc　gave　me　in　person　orders　to
extinguish　the　lights　in　the　saloon　in　front　of　his　Majesty's　cabinet；
and　to　leave　only　a　few　candles　lighted。　　I　was　surprised　at　such　a　novel
order；　especially　as　the　grand　marshal　was　not　accustomed　to　give　them
thus　directly；　but；　nevertheless；　executed　it　precisely；　and　waited　at　my
post。　　At　ten　o'clock　Marshal　Duroc　returned；　accompanied　by　a　personage
whose　features　it　was　impossible　to　distinguish；　as　he　was　entirely
wrapped　in　a　large　cloak；　his　head　covered；　and　his　hat　pulled　down　over
his　eyes。　　I　withdrew；　leaving　the　two　alone；　but　had　hardly　left　the
saloon　when　the　Emperor　entered；　and　Marshal　Duroc　also　retired；　leaving
the　stranger　alone　with　his　Majesty。　　From　the　tone　in　which　the　Emperor
spoke　it　was　easy　to　see　that　he　was　greatly　irritated。　　He　spoke　very
loud；　and　I　heard　him　say；　'Well；　Monsieur；　you　will　never　change　then。
It　is　gold　you　want；　always　gold。　　You　draw　on　all　foreign　banks；　and
have　no　confidence　in　that　of　Paris。　　You　have　ruined　the　bank　of
Hamburg；　you　have　caused　M。　Drouet　（or　Drouaut；　for　the　name　was
pronounced　very　quickly）　to　lose　two　millions：

〃The　Emperor；〃　my　uncle　continued；　〃conversed　in　this　strain　for　a　long
while；　though　the　stranger　did　not　reply；　or　replied　in　so　low　a　tone
that　it　was　impossible　to　hear　a　word；　and　the　scene；　which　must　have
been　most　trying　to　the　mysterious　personage；　lasted　about　twenty
minutes。　　At　last　he　was　permitted　to　leave；　which　he　did　with　the　same
precautions　as　on　his　arrival；　and　retired　from　the　palace　as　secretly　as
he　had　come。〃

Nothing　of　this　scene　was　known　in　Paris；　and；　moreover；　neither　my　uncle
nor　I　have　ever　sought　to　ascertain　the　name　of　the　person　whom　the
Emperor　overwhelmed　with　such　numerous　and　severe　reproaches。

Whenever　circumstances　allowed；　the　Emperor's　habits　of　life　were　very
regular；　his　time　being　almost　uniformly　divided　as　follows。　　Every
morning；　at　nine　o'clock　precisely；　the　Emperor　left　the　imperial
apartments；　his　exactness　in　observing　hours　was　carried　to　an　extreme；
and　I　have　sometimes　seen　him　wait　two　or　three　moments　in　order　that　no
one　might　be　taken　by　surprise。　　At　nine　o'clock　his　toilet　was　made　for
the　whole　day。　　When　he　had　reached　the　reception…room；　the　officers　on
duty　were　first　admitted；　and　received　his　Majesty's　orders　for　their
time　of　service。

Immediately　after　this；　what　was　called　the　grandes　entrees　took　place。
That　is　to　say；　personages　of　high　rank　were　admitted；　who　had　this　right
on　account　of　their　duties；　or　by　the　special　favor　o