convent was immediately suppressed by his Majesty's orders； he even
thought at one time of issuing the same rigorous orders against all the
convents of the city。 He took time for reflection； however； and
contented himself by appointing an audience； at which all the monks of
Valladolid were to appear before him。 On the appointed day they came；
not all； however； but deputations from each convent； who prostrated
themselves at the Emperor's feet； while he showered reproaches upon them；
called them assassins and brigands； and said they all deserved to be
hung。 These poor men listened in silence and humility to the terrible
language of the irritated conqueror whom their patience alone could
appease； and finally； the Emperor's anger having exhausted itself； he
grew calmer； and at last； struck by the reflection that it was hardly
just to heap abuse on men thus prostrate on their knees and uttering not
a word in their own defense； he left the group of officers who surrounded
him； and advanced into the midst of the monks； making them a sign to rise
from their supplicating posture； and as these good men obeyed him； they
kissed the skirts of his coat； and pressed around him with an eagerness
most alarming to the persons of his Majesty's suite； for had there been
among these devotees any Dominican； nothing surely could have been easier
than an assassination。
During the Emperor's stay at Valladolid； I had with the grand marshal a
disagreement of which I retain most vivid recollections； as also of the
Emperor's intervention wherein he displayed both justice and good…will
towards me。 These are the facts of the case： one morning the Duke de
Frioul； encountering me in his Majesty's apartments； inquired in a very
brusque tone （he was very much excited） if I had ordered the carriage to
be ready； to which I replied in a most respectful manner that they were
always ready。 Three times the duke repeated the same question； raising
his voice still more each time； and three times I made him the same
reply； always in the same respectful manner。 〃Oh； you fool！〃 said he at
last； 〃you do not understand； then。〃 〃That arises evidently；
Monseigneur； from your Excellency's imperfect explanations！〃 Upon which
he explained that he was speaking of a new carriage which had come from
Paris that very day； a fact of which I was entirely ignorant。 I was on
the point of explaining this to his Excellency； but without deigning to
listen； the grand marshal rushed out of the room exclaiming； swearing；
and addressing me in terms to which I was totally unaccustomed。 I
followed him as far as his own room in order to make an explanation； but
when he reached his door he entered； and slammed it in my face。
In spite of all this I entered a few moments later； but his Excellency
had forbidden his valet de chambre to introduce me； saying that he had
nothing to say to me； nor to hear from me； all of which was repeated to
me in a very harsh and contemptuous manner。
Little accustomed to such experiences； and entirely unnerved； I went to
the Emperor's room； and when his Majesty entered I was still so agitated
that my face was wet with tears。 His Majesty wished to know what had
happened； and I related to him the attack which had just been made upon
me by the grand marshal。 〃You are very foolish to cry；〃 said the
Emperor； 〃calm yourself； and say to the grand marshal that I wish to
speak to him。〃
His Excellency came at once in response to the Emperor's invitation； and
I announced him。 〃See；〃 said he； pointing to me； 〃see into what a state
you have thrown this fellow！ What has he done to be thus treated？〃 The
grand marshal bowed without replying； but with a very dissatisfied air；
and the Emperor went on to say that he should have given me his orders
more clearly； and that any one was excusable for not executing an order
not plainly given。 Then turning toward me； his Majesty said； 〃Monsieur
Constant； you may be certain this will not occur again。〃
This simple affair furnishes a reply to many false accusations against
the Emperor。 There was an immense distance between the grand marshal of
the palace and the simple valet de chambre of his Majesty； and yet the
marshal was reprimanded for a wrong done to the valet de chambre。
The Emperor showed the utmost impartiality in meting out justice in his
domestic affairs； and never was the interior of a palace better governed
than his； owing to the fact that in his household he alone was master。
The grand marshal felt unkindly toward me for sometime after； but； as I
have already said； he was an excellent man； his bad humor soon passed
away； and so completely； that on my return to Paris he requested me to
stand for him at the baptism of the child of my father…in…law； who had
begged him to be its godfather； the godmother was Josephine； who was kind
enough to choose my wife to represent her。 M。 le Duke de Frioul did
things with as much nobility and magnanimity as grace； and afterwards I
am glad to be able to state in justice to his memory； he eagerly seized
every occasion to be useful to me； and to make me forget the discomfort
his temporary excitement had caused me。
I fell ill at Valladolid with a violent fever a few days before his
Majesty's departure。 On the day appointed for leaving； my illness was at
its height； aid as the Emperor feared that the journey might increase； or
at any rate prolong； my illness； he forbade my going； and set out without
me； recommending to the persons whom he left at Valladolid to take care
of my health。 When I had gotten somewhat better I was told that his
Majesty had left； whereupon I could no longer be controlled； and against
my physician's orders； and in spite of my feebleness； in spite of
everything； in fact； had myself placed in a carriage and set out。 This
was wise； for hardly had I put Valladolid two leagues behind me； than I
felt better； and the fever left me。 I arrived at Paris five or six days
after the Emperor； just after his Majesty had appointed the Count
Montesquiou grand chamberlain in place of Prince Talleyrand； whom I met
that very day； and who seemed in no wise affected by this disgrace；
perhaps he was consoled by the dignity of vice…grand elector which was
bestowed on him in exchange。
CHAPTER XIV。
The Emperor arrived at Paris on the 23d of January； and passed the
remainder of the winter there； with the exception of a few days spent at
Rambouillet and Saint…Cloud。
On the very day of his arrival in Paris； although he must have been much
fatigued by an almost uninterrupted ride from Valladolid； the Emperor
visited the buildings of the Louvre and the rue de Rivoli。
His mind was full of what he had seen at Madrid； and repeated suggestions
to M。 Fontaine and the other architects showed plainly his desire to make
the Louvre the finest palace in the world。 His Majesty then had a report
made him as to the chateau of Chambord； which he wished to present to the
Prince of Neuchatel。 M。 Fontaine found that repairs sufficient to make
this place a comfortable residence would amount to 1；700；000 francs； as
the buildings were in a state of decay； and it had hardly been touched
since the death of Marshal Sage。
His Majesty passed the two months and a half of his stay working in his
cabinet； which he rarely left； and always unwillingly； his amusements
being； as always； the theater and concerts。 He loved music passionately；
especially Italian music； and like all great amateurs was hard to please。
He would have much liked to sing had he been able； but he had no voice；
though this did not prevent his humming now and then pieces which struck
his fancy； and as these little reminiscences usually recurred to him in
the mornings； he regaled me with them while he was being dressed。 The
air that I have heard him thus mutilate most frequently was that of The
Marseillaise。 The Emperor also whistled sometimes； but very rarely； and
the air； 'Malbrook s'en va…t…en guerre'； whistled by his Majesty was an
unerring announcement to me of his approaching departure for the army。
I remember that he never whistled so much； and was never so gay； as just
before he set out for the Russian campaign。
His Majesty's； favorite singer were Crescentini and Madame Grassini。
I saw Crescentini's debut at Paris in the role of Romeo； in Romeo and
Juliet。 He came preceded by a reputation as the first singer of Italy；
and this reputation was found to be well deserved； notwithstanding all
the prejudices he had to overcome； for I remember well the disparaging
statements made concerning him before his debut at the court theater。
According to these self…appointed connoisseurs； he was a bawler without
taste； without method； a maker of absurd trills； an unimpassioned actor
of little intelligence； and many other things besides。 He knew； when he
appeared on the stage； how little disposed in his favor his audience
were； yet he showed not the slightest embarrassment； this； and his noble；
dignified mien； agreeably surprised those who expected from what they had
been told to behold an awkward man with an ungainly figure。 A murmur of
approbation ran through the hall on his appearance； and electrified by
this welcome； he gained all hearts from the first act。 His movements
were full of grace and dignity； he had a perfect knowledge of the scene；
modest gestures perfectly in harmony with the dialogue； and a countenance
on which all shades of passion were depicted with the most astonishing
accuracy； and all these rare and precious qualities combined to give to
the enchanting accents of this artist a charm of which it is impossible
to give an idea。
At each scene the interest he inspired became more marked； until in the
third act the emotion and delight of the spectator were carried almost to
frenzy。 In this act； played almost solely by Crescentini； this admirable
singer communicated to the hearts of his audience all that is touching
and； pathetic in a love expressed by means of delicious melody； and by
all that grief and despair can find sublime in song。
The Emperor was enraptured； and sent Crescentini a considerable
compensation； accompanied by most flattering testimonials of the pleasur