me and said； 〃Well； you queer fellow； since you are so skilled； you shall
make proof of it at once。 We must see how you will do。〃 I knew the
misadventure of poor Hebert； which I have already related； and not
wishing a like experience； I had been for some time practicing the art of
shaving。 I had paid a hairdresser to teach me his trade； and I had even；
in my moments of leisure； served an apprenticeship in his shop； where I
had shaved； without distinction； all his customers。 The chins of these
good people had suffered somewhat before I had acquired sufficient
dexterity to lay a razor on the consular chin； but by dint of repeated
experiments on the beards of the commonalty I had achieved a degree of
skill which inspired me with the greatest confidence； so； in obedience to
the order of the First Consul； I brought the warm water； opened the razor
boldly； and began operations。 Just as I was going to place the razor
upon the face of the First Consul； he raised himself abruptly； turned；
and fastened both eyes upon me； with an expression of severity and
interrogation which I am unable to describe。 Seeing that I was not at
all embarrassed； he seated himself again； saying to me in a mild tone；
〃Proceed。〃 This I did with sufficient skill to satisfy him； and when I
had finished； he said to me； 〃Hereafter you are to shave me；〃 and； in
fact； after that he was unwilling to be shaved by any one else。 From
that time also my duties became much more exacting； for every day I had
to shave the First Consul； and I admit that it was not an easy thing to
do； for while he was being shaved； he often spoke； read the papers； moved
about in his chair； turned himself abruptly； and I was obliged to use the
greatest precautions in order not to cut him。 Happily this never
occurred。 When by chance he did not speak； he remained immobile and
stiff as a statue； and could not be made to lower； nor raise； nor bend
his head to one side； as was necessary to accomplish the task easily。 He
also had a singular fancy of having one half of his face lathered and
shaved before beginning the other； and would not allow me to pass to the
other side of his face until the first half was completely finished； as
the First Consul found that plan suited him best。
Later； when I had become his chief valet； and he deigned to give me
proofs of his kindness and esteem； and I could talk with him as freely
as his rank permitted； I took the liberty of persuading him to shave
himself； for； as I have just said； not wishing to be shaved by any one
except me； he was obliged to wait till I could be notified； especially in
the army； when his hour of rising was not regular。 He refused for a long
time to take my advice； though I often repeated it。 〃Ah； ha； Mr。 Idler！〃
he would say to me； laughing； 〃you are very anxious for me to do half
your work；〃 but at last I succeeded in satisfying him of my
disinterestedness and the wisdom of my advice。 The fact is； I was most
anxious to persuade him to this； for； considering what would necessarily
happen if an unavoidable absence； an illness； or some other reason； had
separated me from the First Consul； I could not reflect； without a
shudder； of his life being at the mercy of the first comer。 As for him；
I am sure he never gave the matter a thought； for whatever tales have
been related of his suspicious nature； he never took any precaution
against the snares which treason might set for him。 His sense of
security； in this regard； amounted even to imprudence； and consequently
all who loved him； especially those who surrounded him； endeavored to
make up for this want of precaution by all the vigilance of which they
were capable； and it is unnecessary to assert that it was this solicitude
for the precious life of my master which had caused me to insist upon the
advice I had given him to shave himself。
On the first occasions on which he attempted to put my lessons into
practice； it was even more alarming than laughable to watch the Emperor
（for such he was then）； as in spite of the lessons that I had given him
with repeated illustrations； he did not yet know how to hold his razor。
He would seize it by the handle； and apply it perpendicularly to his
cheek； instead of laying it flat； he would make a sudden dash with the
razor； never failing to give himself a cut； and then draw back his hand
quickly； crying out； 〃See there； you scamp； you have made me cut myself。〃
I would then take the razor and finish the operation The next day the
same scene would be repeated； but with less bloodshed； and each day the
skill of the Emperor improved； until at last； by dint of numberless
lessons； he became sufficiently an adept to dispense with me； though he
still cut himself now and then； for which he would always mildly reproach
me； though jestingly and in kindness。 Besides； from the manner in which
he began； and which he would never change； it was impossible for him not
to cut his face sometimes； for he shaved himself downward； and not
upward； like every one else； and this bad method； which all my efforts
could not change； added to the habitual abruptness of his movements； made
me shudder every time I saw him take his razor in hand。
Madame Bonaparte accompanied the First Consul on the first of these
journeys； and there was； as on that to Lyons； a continued succession of
fetes and rejoicing。
The inhabitants of Boulogne had； in anticipation of the arrival of the
First Consul； raised several triumphal arches； extending from the
Montreuil gate as far as the great road which led to his barrack； which
was situated in the camp on the right。 Each arch of triumph was
decorated with evergreens； and thereon could be read the names of the
skirmishes and battles in which he had been victorious。 These domes and
arches of verdure and flowers presented an admirable coup…d'…oeil。 One
arch of triumph； higher than the others； was placed in the midst of the
Rue de l'Ecu （the main street）； and the elite of the citizens had
assembled around it； while more than a hundred young people with garlands
of flowers； children； old men； and a great number of brave men whom
military duty had not detained in the camp； awaited with impatience the
arrival of the First Consul。 At his approach the joyful booming of
cannon announced to the English； whose fleet was near by in the sea off
Boulogne； the appearance of Napoleon upon the shore on which he had
assembled the formidable army he had determined to hurl against England。
The First Consul was mounted upon a small gray horse； which was active as
a squirrel。 He dismounted； and followed by his brilliant staff；
addressed these paternal words to the citizens of the town： 〃I come to
assure the happiness of France。 The sentiments which you express； and
all your evidences of gratitude； touch me； I shall never forget my
entrance into Boulogne； which I have chosen as the center of the reunion
of my armies。 Citizens； do not be alarmed by this multitude。 It is that
of the defenders of your country； soon to be the conquerors of haughty
England。〃
The First Consul proceeded on his route； surrounded by the whole
populace； who accompanied him to the door of his headquarters； where more
than thirty generals received him； though the firing of cannon； the
ringing of bells； the cries of joy； ceased only when this great day
ended。
The day after our arrival； the First Consul visited the Pont de Brique； a
little village situated about half a league from Boulogne。 A farmer read
to him the following complimentary address：
〃General； in the name of twenty fathers we offer you a score of fine
fellows who are； and always will be； at your command。 Lead them；
General。 They can strike a good blow for you when you march into
England。 As to us； we will discharge another duty。 We will till the
earth in order that bread may not be wanting to the brave men who will
crush the English。〃
Napoleon； smiling； thanked the patriotic countrymen； and glancing towards
the little country house； built on the edge of the highway； spoke to
General Berthier； saying； 〃This is where I wish my headquarters
established。〃 Then he spurred his horse and rode off； while a general
and some officers remained to execute the order of the First Consul； who；
on the very night of his arrival at Boulogne； returned to sleep at Pont
de Brique。
They related to me at Boulogne the details of a naval combat which had
taken place a short time before our arrival between the French fleet；
commanded by Admiral Bruix； and the English squadron with which Nelson
blockaded the port of Boulogne。 I will relate this as told to me；
deeming very unusual the comfortable mode in which the French admiral
directed the operations of the sailors。
About two hundred boats； counting gunboats and mortars； barges and
sloops； formed the line of defense； the shore and the forts bristling
with batteries。 Some frigates advanced from the hostile line； and；
preceded by two or three brigs； ranged themselves in line of battle
before us and in reach of the cannon of our flotilla； and the combat
began。 Balls flew in every direction。 Nelson； who had promised the
destruction of the flotilla； re…enforced his line of battle with two
other lines of vessels and frigates； and thus placed en echelon； they
fought with a vastly superior force。 For more than seven hours the sea；
covered with fire and smoke； offered to the entire population of Boulogne
the superb and frightful spectacle of a naval combat in which more than
eighteen hundred cannon were fired at the same time； but the genius of
Nelson could not avail against our sailors or soldiers。 Admiral Bruix
was at his headquarters near the signal station； and from this position
directed the fight against Nelson； while drinking with his staff and some
ladies of Boulogne whom he had invited to dinner。 The guests sang the
early victories of the First Consul； while the admiral； without leaving
the table； maneuvered the flotilla by means of the signals he ordered。
Nelson； eager to conquer； ordered all his naval forces to advance； but
the wind being in favor of the French； he was not able to keep the
promise he had made in London to burn our fleet；