dinner； should be served to her； and came in person to beg her to take
some nourishment； but their entreaties were all in vain； for the poor
girl had no other thought； no other desire； than that of obtaining her
father's life。 At last； at five o'clock in the afternoon； the Emperor
appeared； and a sign being made to Mademoiselle Lajolais by which she
could designate the Emperor； who was surrounded by several councilors of
state and officers of his household； she sprang towards him； and there
followed a touching scene； which lasted a long while。 The young girl；
prostrating herself at the feet of the Emperor； supplicated him with
clasped hands； and in the most touching terms； to grant her father's
pardon。 The Emperor at first repulsed her； and said in a tone of great
severity； 〃Your father is a traitor； this is the second time he has
committed a crime against the state； I can grant you nothing。〃
Mademoiselle Lajolais replied to this outburst of the Emperor； 〃The first
time my father was tried and found innocent； this time it is his pardon I
implore！〃 Finally the Emperor； conquered by so much courage and
devotion； and a little fatigued besides by an interview which the
perseverance of the young girl would doubtless have prolonged
indefinitely； yielded to her prayers； and the life of General Lajolais
was spared。
＇It is well known that the sentence of General Lajolais was
commuted to four years detention in a prison of state； that his
property was confiscated and sold； and that he died in the Chateau
d'If much beyond the time set for the expiration of his captivity。
Note by CONSTANT。＇
Exhausted by fatigue and hunger； the daughter fell unconscious at the
Emperor's feet； he himself raised her； gave her every attention； and
presenting her to the persons who witnessed this scene； praised her
filial piety in unmeasured terms。
His Majesty at once gave orders that she should be reconducted to Paris；
and several superior officers disputed with each other the pleasure of
accompanying her。 Generals Wolff； aide…de…camp of Prince Louis； and
Lavalette were charged with this duty； and conducted her to the
conciergerie where her father was confined。 On entering his cell； she
threw herself on his neck and tried to tell him of the pardon she had
just obtained； but overcome by so many emotions； she was unable to utter
a word； and it was General Lavalette
＇Marie Chamans； Count de Lavalette； was born in Paris； 1769。
Entered the army 1792； made Captain at Arcola 1796； and served in
Egyptian campaign。 Married Emilie de Beauharnais； a niece of
Josephine。 Postmaster…general； 1800…1814。 Condemned to death
during the Hundred Days； he escaped from prison in his wife's dress。
His wife was tried； but became insane from excitement。 He was
pardoned 1822； and died 1830； leaving two volumes of Memoirs。 ＇
who announced to the prisoner what he owed to the brave persistence of
his daughter。 The next day she obtained； through the favor of the
Empress Josephine； the liberty of her mother； who was to have been
transported。
Having obtained the life of her father and the liberty of her mother； as
I have just related； she still further exerted herself to save their
companions in misfortune； who had been condemned to death； and for this
purpose joined the ladies of Brittany； who had been led to seek her
cooperation by the success of her former petitions； and went with them to
Malmaison to beg these additional pardons。
These ladies had succeeded in getting the execution of the condemned
delayed for two hours； with the hope that the Empress Josephine would be
able to influence the Emperor； but he remained inflexible； and their
generous attempt met with no success； whereupon Mademoiselle Lajolais
returned to Paris； much grieved that she had not been able to snatch a
few more unfortunates from the rigor of the law。
I have already said two things which I am compelled to repeat here： the
first is； that； not feeling obliged to relate events in their
chronological order； I shall narrate them as they present themselves to
my memory； the second is； that I deem it both an obligation and a duty
which I owe to the Emperor to relate every event which may serve to make
his true character better known； and which has been omitted； whether
involuntarily or by design； by those who have written his life。 I care
little if I am accused of monotony on this subject； or of writing only a
panegyric； but； if this should be done； I would reply： So much the worse
for him who grows weary of the recital of good deeds！ I have undertaken
to tell the truth concerning the Emperor； be it good or bad； and every
reader who expects to find in my memoirs of the Emperor only evil； as
well as he who expects to find only good； will be wise to go no farther；
for I have firmly resolved to relate all that I know； and it is not my
fault if the kind acts performed by the Emperor are so numerous that my
recitals should often turn to praises。
I thought it best to make these short observations before giving an
account of another pardon granted by his Majesty at the time of the
coronation； and which the story of Mademoiselle Lajolais has recalled to
my recollection。
On the day of the last distribution of the decoration of the Legion of
Honor in the Church of the Invalides； as the Emperor was about to retire
at the conclusion of this imposing ceremony； a very young man threw
himself on his knees on the steps of the throne； crying out； 〃Pardon；
pardon for my father。〃 His Majesty； touched by his interesting
countenance and deep emotion； approached him and attempted to raise him；
but the young man still retained his beseeching posture； repeating his
demand in moving tones。 〃What is your father's name？〃 demanded the
Emperor。 〃Sire；〃 replied the young man； hardly able to make himself
heard； 〃it is well known； and has been only too often calumniated by the
enemies of my father before your Majesty； but I swear that he is
innocent。 I am the son of Hugues Destrem。〃〃Your father； sir； is
gravely compromised by his connection with incorrigible revolutionists；
but I will consider your application。 Monsieur Destrem is happy in
having so devoted a son。〃 The Emperor added a few consoling words； and
the young man retired with the certainty that his father would be
pardoned； but unfortunately this pardon which was granted by the Emperor
came too late； and Hugues Destrem； who had been transported to the Island
of Oleron after the attempt of the 3d Nivose；＇The affair of the
infernal machine in the Rue Sainte Nicaise＇in which he had taken no
part； died in his exile before he had even learned that the solicitations
of his son had met with such complete success。
On our return from the glorious campaign of Austerlitz； the commune of
Saint…Cloud； so favored by the sojourn of the court； had decided that it
would distinguish itself on this occasion； and take the opportunity of
manifesting its great affection for the Emperor。
The mayor of Saint…Cloud was Monsieur Barre； a well informed man； with a
very kind heart。 Napoleon esteemed him highly； and took much pleasure in
his conversation； and he was sincerely regretted by his subordinates when
death removed him。
M。 Barre had erected an arch of triumph； of simple but noble design； in
excellent taste； at the foot of the avenue leading to the palace； which
was adorned with the following inscription：
〃TO HER BELOVED SOVEREIGN；
THE MOST FORTUNATE OF THE COMMUNES。〃
The evening on which the Emperor was expected； the mayor and his
associates； armed with the necessary harangue； passed a part of the night
at the foot of the monument。 M。 Barre； who was old and feeble； then
retired； after having placed as sentinel one of his associates； whose
duty it was to inform him of the arrival of the first courier； and a
ladder was placed across the entrance of the arch of triumph； so that no
one might pass under it before his Majesty。 Unfortunately； the municipal
argus went to sleep； and the Emperor arrived in the early morning； and
passed by the side of the arch of triumph； much amused at the obstacle
which prevented his enjoying the distinguished honor which the good
inhabitants of Saint…Cloud had prepared for him。
On the day succeeding this event； a little drawing was circulated in the
palace representing the authorities asleep near the monument； a prominent
place being accorded the ladder； which barred the passage； and underneath
was written the arch barre； alluding to the name of the mayor。 As for
the inscription； they had travestied it in this manner：
〃TO HER BELOVED SOVEREIGN；
THE SLEEPIEST OF THE COMMUNES。〃
Their Majesties were much amused by this episode。
While the court was at Saint…Cloud； the Emperor； who had worked very late
one evening with Monsieur de Talleyrand； invited the latter to sleep at
the chateau； but the prince； who preferred returning to Paris； refused；
giving as an excuse that the beds had a very disagreeable odor。 There
was no truth whatever in this statement； for there was； as may be
believed； the greatest care taken of the furniture； even in the store…
rooms of the different imperial palaces； and the reason assigned by M。 de
Talleyrand being given at random； he could just as well have given any
other； but； nevertheless； the remark struck the Emperor's attention； and
that evening on entering his bedroom he complained that his bed had an
unpleasant odor。 I assured him to the contrary； and told his Majesty
that he would next day be convinced of his error； but； far from being
persuaded； the Emperor； when he rose next morning； repeated the assertion
that his bed had a very disagreeable odor； and that it was absolutely
necessary to change it。 M。 Charvet； concierge of the palace； was at once
summoned； his Majesty complained of his bed； and ordered another to be
brought。
M。 Desmasis； keeper of the furniture…room； was also called； who examined
mattress； feather…beds； and covering； turned and returned them in every
direction； other persons did the same； and each was co