am not writing only for those who lived during the Empire。 The
generation which witnessed such great deeds； and which； under their very
eyes； and from the beginning of his career； saw the greatest man of this
century； has already given place to another generation； which can judge
him only by what others may narrate of him。 What may be familiar to
those who saw with their own eyes is not so to others； who can only take
at second…hand those things which they had no opportunity of seeing for
themselves。 Besides； details omitted as frivolous or commonplace by
history； which makes a profession of more gravity； are perfectly
appropriate in simple memoirs； and often enable one to understand and
judge the epoch more correctly。 For instance； it seems to me that the
enthusiasm displayed by the entire population and all the local
authorities for the First Consul and his wife during their tour in
Normandy showed clearly that the chief of the state would have no great
opposition to fear； certainly none on the part of the nation； whenever it
should please him to change his title； and proclaim himself Emperor。
Soon after our return； by a decree of the consuls four ladies were
assigned to Madame Bonaparte to assist her in doing the honors of the
palace。 They were Mesdames de Remusat； de Tallouet； de Lucay； and de
Lauriston。 Under the Empire they became ladies…in…waiting。 Madame de
Lauriston often raised a smile by little exhibitions of parsimony； but
she was good and obliging。 Madame de Remusat possessed great merit； and
had sound judgment； though she appeared somewhat haughty； which was the
more remarkable as M。 de Remusat was exactly the reverse。 Subsequently
there was another lady of honor； Madame de La Rochefoucault； of whom I
shall have occasion to speak later。
The lady of the robes； Madame de Lucay； was succeeded by Madame La
Vallette； so gloriously known afterwards by her devotion to her husband。
There were twenty…four French ladies…in…waiting； among whom were Mesdames
de Remusat； de Tallouet； de Lauriston； Ney； d'Arberg； Louise d'Arberg
（afterwards the Countess of Lobau）； de Walsh…Serent； de Colbert； Lannes；
Savary； de Turenne； Octave de Segur； de Montalivet； de Marescot； de
Bouille Solar； Lascaris； de Brignole； de Canisy； de Chevreuse； Victor de
Mortemart； de Montmorency； Matignon； and Maret。 There were also twelve
Italian ladies…in…waiting。
These ladies served in turn one month each； there being thus two French
and one Italian lady on duty together。 The Emperor at first did not
admit unmarried ladies among the ladies…in…waiting； but he relaxed this
rule first in favor of Mademoiselle Louise d'Arberg （afterwards Countess
of Lobau）； and then in favor of Mademoiselle de Lucay； who has since
married Count Philip de Segur； author of the excellent history of the
campaign in Russia； and these two young ladies by their prudence and
circumspect conduct proved themselves above criticism even at court。
There were four lady ushers； Mesdames Soustras； Ducrest…Villeneuve；
Felicite Longroy； and Egle Marchery。
Two first ladies' maids； Mesdames Roy and Marco de St。 Hilaire； who had
under their charge the grand wardrobe and the jewel…box。
There were four ladies' maids in ordinary。
A lady reader。
The men on the staff of the Empress's household were the following：
A grand equerry； Senator Harville； who discharged the duties of a
chevalier of honor。
A head chamberlain； the general of division； Nansouty。
A vice…chamberlain； introducer of the ambassadors； de Beaumont。
Four chamberlains in ordinary； de Courtomer； Degrave； Galard de Bearn；
Hector d'Aubusson de la Feuillade。
Four equerries； Corbineau； Berckheim； d'Audenarde； and Fouler。
A superintendent…general of her Majesty's household； Hinguerlot。
A secretary of commands； Deschamps。
Two head valets； Frere and Douville。
Four valets in ordinary。
Four men servants。
Two head footmen； L'Esperance and d'Argens。 Six ordinary footmen。 The
staff of the kitchen and sanitation were the same as in the household of
the Emperor； and besides these； six pages of the Emperor were always in
attendance upon the Empress。
The chief almoner was Ferdinand de Rohan； former archbishop of Cambray。
Another decree of the same date fixed the duties of the prefects of the
palace。 The four head prefects of the consular palace were de Remusat；
de Crayamel （afterwards appointed introduces of ambassadors； and master
of ceremonies）； de Lugay； and Didelot。 The latter subsequently became
prefect of the Department of the Cher。
Malmaison was no longer sufficient for the First Consul； whose household；
like that of Madame Bonaparte； became daily more numerous。 A much larger
building had become necessary； and the First Consul fixed his choice upon
Saint…Cloud。
The inhabitants of Saint…Cloud addressed a petition to the Corps
Legislatif； praying that the First Consul would make their chateau his
summer residence； and this body hastened to transmit it to him； adding
their prayers to the same effect； and making comparisons which they
believed would be agreeable to him。 The general refused formally； saying
that when he should have finished and laid down the duties with which the
people had charged him； he would feel honored by any recompense which the
popular will might award him； but that so long as he was the chief of the
Government he would accept nothing。
Notwithstanding the determined tone of this reply； the inhabitants of the
village of Saint…Cloud； who had the greatest interest in the petition
being granted； renewed it when the First Consul was chosen consul for
life； and he then consented to accept。 The expenses of the repairs and
furnishing were immense； and greatly exceeded the calculations that had
been made for him； nevertheless； he was not satisfied either with the
furniture or ornaments； and complained to Charvet； the concierge at
Malmaison； whom he appointed to the same post in the new palace； and whom
he had charged with the general supervision of the furnishing and the
placing of the furniture； that he had fitted up apartments suitable only
for a mistress； and that they contained only gewgaws and spangles； and
nothing substantial。 On this occasion； also； he gave another proof of
his habitual desire to do good； in spite of prejudices which had not yet
spent their force。 Knowing that there were at Saint…Cloud a large number
of the former servants of Queen Marie Antoinette； he charged Charvet to
offer them either their old places or pensions； and most of them resumed
their former posts。 In 1814 the Bourbons were far from acting so
generously； for they discharged all employees； even those who had served
Marie Antoinette。
The First Consul had been installed at Saint…Cloud only a short while；
when the chateau； which had thus again become the residence of the
sovereign at enormous expense； came near falling a prey to the flames。
The guard room was under the vestibule； in the center of the palace； and
one night； the soldiers having made an unusually large fire； the stove
became so hot that a sofa； whose back touched one of the flues which
warmed the saloon； took fire； and the games were quickly communicated to
the other furniture。 The officer on duty perceiving this； immediately
notified the concierge； and together they ran to General Duroc's room and
awoke him。 The general rose in haste； and； commanding perfect silence；
made a chain of men。 He took his position at the pool； in company with
the concierge； and thence passed buckets of water to the soldiers for two
or three hours； at the end of which time the fire was extinguished； but
only after devouring all the furniture； and it was not until the next
morning that the First Consul； Josephine； Hortense； in short； all the
other occupants of the chateau； learned of the accident； all of whom； the
First Consul especially； expressed their appreciation of the
consideration shown in not alarming them。
To prevent； or at least to render such accidents less likely in future；
the First Consul organized a night…guard at Saint…Cloud； and subsequently
did the same at all his residences； which guard…was called 〃the watch。〃
During his early occupation of Saint…Cloud the First Consul slept in the
same bed with his wife； afterwards etiquette forbade this； and as a
result； conjugal affection was somewhat chilled； and finally the First
Consul occupied an apartment at some distance from that of Madame
Bonaparte。 To reach her room it was necessary to cross a long corridor；
on the right and left of which were the rooms of the ladies…in…waiting；
the women of the service； etc。 When he wished to pass the night with his
wife； he undressed in his own room； and went thence in his wrapper and
night…cap； I going before him with a candle。 At the end of this corridor
a staircase of fifteen or sixteen steps led to the apartment of Madame
Bonaparte。 It was a great joy to her to receive a visit from her
husband； and every one was informed of it next morning。 I can see her
now rubbing her little hands； saying； 〃I rose late to…day； but； you see；
it is because Bonaparte spent the night with me。〃 On such days she was
more amiable than ever； refused no one； and all got whatever they
requested。 I experienced proofs of this myself many times。
One evening as I was conducting the First Consul on one of these visits
to his wife； we perceived in the corridor a handsome young fellow coming
out of the apartment of one of Madame Bonaparte's women servants。 He
tried to steal away； but the First Consul cried in a loud voice； 〃Who
goes there？ Where are you going？ What do you want？ What is your name？〃
He was merely a valet of Madame Bonaparte； and； stupefied by these
startling inquiries； replied in a frightened voice that he had just
executed an errand for Madame Bonaparte。 〃Very well；〃 replied the First
Consul； 〃but do not let me catch you again。〃 Satisfied that the gallant
would profit by the lesson； the general did not seek to learn his name；
nor that of his inamorata。 This reminds me of an occasion on which he
was much more severe in regard to another chambermaid of Madame
Bonaparte。 She was young； and very pretty；