papers： they were three bank…bills； each for a thousand francs！ I was
moved to tears by so great a kindness。 We must remember that at this
period the First Consul was not rich； although he was the first
magistrate of the republic。 How deeply the remembrance of this generous
deed touches me； even to…day。 I do not know if details so personal to me
will be found interesting； but they seem to me proper as evidence of the
true character of the Emperor； which has been so outrageously
misrepresented； and also as an instance of his ordinary conduct towards
the servants of his house； it shows too； at the same time； whether the
severe economy that he required in his domestic management； and of which
I will speak elsewhere； was the result； as has been stated； of sordid
avarice； or whether it was not rather a rule of prudence； from which he
departed willingly whenever his kindness of heart or his humanity urged
him thereto。
I am not certain that my memory does not deceive me in leading me to put
in this place a circumstance which shows the esteem in which the First
Consul held the brave soldiers of his army； and how he loved to manifest
it on all occasions。 I was one day in his sleeping…room； at the usual
hour for his toilet； and was performing that day the duties of chief
valet； Hambard being temporarily absent or indisposed； there being in the
room； besides the body servants； only the brave ；and modest Colonel
Gerard Lacuee； one of the aides…de…camp of the First Consul。 Jerome
Bonaparte； then hardly seventeen years of age； was introduced。 This
young man gave his family frequent cause of complaint； and feared no one
except his brother Napoleon； who reprimanded； lectured； and scolded him
as if he had been his own son。 There was a question at the time of
making him a sailor； less with the object of giving him a career； than of
removing him from the seductive temptations which the high position of
his brother caused to spring up incessantly around his path； and which he
had little strength to resist。 It may be imagined what it cost him to
renounce pleasures so accessible and so delightful to a young man。 He
did not fail to protest； on all occasions； his unfitness for sea…service；
going so far； it is said； that he even caused himself to be rejected by
the examining board of the navy as incompetent； though he could easily
have prepared himself to answer the few questions asked。 However； the
will of the First Consul must be obeyed； and Jerome was compelled to
embark。 On the day of which I have spoken； after some moments of
conversation and scolding； still on the subject of the navy； Jerome said
to his brother； 〃Instead of sending me to perish of ennui at sea； you
ought to take me for an aide…de…camp。〃〃What； take you； greenhorn；〃
warmly replied the First Consul； 〃wait till a ball has furrowed your face
and then I will see about it；〃 at the same time calling his attention to
Colonel Lacuee； who blushed； and dropped his eyes to the floor like a
young girl； for； as is well known； he bore on his face the scar made by a
bullet。 This gallant colonel was killed in 1805 before Guntzbourg； and
the Emperor deeply regretted his loss； for he ways one of the bravest and
most skillful officers of the army。
It was； I believe； about this time that the First Consul conceived a
strong passion for a very intelligent and handsome young woman； Madame D。
Madame Bonaparte； suspecting this intrigue； showed jealousy； and her
husband did all he could to allay her wifely suspicions。 Before going to
the chamber of his mistress he would wait until every one was asleep in
the chateau； and he even carried his precautions so far as to go from his
room to hers in his night…dress； without shoes or slippers。 Once I found
that day was about to break before his return； and fearing scandal； I
went； as the First Consul had ordered me to do in such a case； to notify
the chambermaid of Madame D。 to go to her mistress and tell her the hour。
It was hardly five minutes after this timely notice had been given； when
I saw the First Consul returning； in great excitement； of which I soon
learned the cause。 He had discovered； on his return； one of Madame
Bonaparte's women； lying in wait； and who had seen him through the window
of a closet opening upon the corridor。 The First Consul； after a
vigorous outburst against the curiosity of the fair sex； sent me to the
young scout from the enemy's camp to intimate to her his orders to hold
her tongue； unless she wished to be discharged without hope of return。
I do not know whether I added a milder argument to these threats to buy
her silence； but； whether from fear or for compensation； she had the good
sense not to talk。 Nevertheless； the successful lover； fearing another
surprise； directed me to rent in the Allee des Ireuves a little house
where he and Madame D。 met from time to time。 Such were； and continued
to be； the precautions of the First Consul towards his wife。 He had the
highest regard for her； and took all imaginable care to prevent his
infidelities coming to her knowledge。 Besides； these passing fancies did
not lessen the tenderness he felt for her； and although other women
inspired him with love； no other woman had his confidence and friendship
to the same extent as Madame Bonaparte。 There have been a thousand and
one calumnies repeated of the harshness and brutality of the First Consul
towards women。 He was not always gallant； but I have never seen him
rude； and； however singular it may seem after what I have just related；
he professed the greatest veneration for a wife of exemplary conduct；
speaking in admiring terms of happy households； and he did not admire
cynicism； either in morals or in language。 When he had any liaisons he
kept them secret； and concealed them with great care。
CHAPTER VI。
The 3d Nivose； year IX。 （Dec。 21； 1800）；
＇Under the Republican regime the years were counted from the
proclamation of the Republic； Sept。 22； 1792。 The year was divided
into twelve months of thirty days each； re…named from some
peculiarity； as Brumaire （foggy）； Nivose （snowy）； Thermidor （hot）；
Fructidor （fruit）； etc。； besides five supplementary days of
festivals； called 'sans…culottides'。 The months were divided into
three decades of ten days instead of weeks； the tenth day （decadi）
being in lieu of Sunday。 The Republican calendar lasted till Jan。
1； 1806； as to the years and months at least； though the Concordat
had restored the weeks and Sabbaths。TRANS。
the Opera presented； by order； The Creation of Haydn； and the First
Consul had announced that he would be present； with all his household； at
this magnificent oratorio。 He dined on that day with Madame Bonaparte；
her daughter； and Generals Rapp； Lauriston； Lannes； and Berthier。 I was
on duty； but as the First Consul was going to the Opera； I knew that I
should not be needed at the chateau； and resolved； for my part； to go to
the Feydeau； occupying the box which Madame Bonaparte allowed us； and
which was situated under hers。 After dinner； which the First Consul
bolted with his usual rapidity； he rose from the table； followed by his
officers； with the exception of General Rapp； who remained with Madame
Josephine and Hortense。 About seven o'clock the First Consul entered his
carriage with Lannes； Berthier； and Lauriston； to go to the Opera。 When
they arrived in the middle of Rue Sainte…Nicaise； the escort who preceded
the carriage found the road obstructed by a cart； which seemed to be
abandoned； and on which a cask was found fastened strongly with ropes。
The chief of the escort had this cart removed to the side of the street；
and the First Consul's coachman； whom this delay had made impatient；
urged on his horses vigorously； and they shot off like lightning。
Scarcely two seconds had passed when the barrel which was on the cart
burst with a frightful explosion。 No one of the escort or of the
companions of the First Consul was slain； but several were wounded； and
the loss among the residents in the street and the passers…by near the
horrible machine was much greater。 More than twenty of these were
killed； and more than sixty seriously wounded。 Trepsat； the architect；
had his thigh broken。 The First Consul afterwards decorated him； and
made him the architect of the Invalides； saying that he had long enough
been the most invalid of architects。 All the panes of glass at the
Tuileries were broken； and many houses thrown down。 All those of the
Rue Sainte…Nicaise； and even some in the adjacent streets； were badly
damaged； some fragments being blown into the house of the Consul
Cambaceres。 The glass of the First Consul's carriage was shivered to
fragments。 By a fortunate chance； the carriages of the suite； which
should have been immediately behind that of the First Consul； were some
distance in the rear； which happened in this way： Madame Bonaparte； after
dinner； had a shawl brought to wear to the opera； and when it came；
General Rapp jestingly criticised the color； and begged her to choose
another。 Madame Bonaparte defended her shawl； and said to the general
that he knew as much about criticising a toilet as she did about
attacking a fort。 This friendly banter continued for some moments； and
in the interval； the First Consul； who never waited； set out in advance；
and the miserable assassins and authors of the conspiracy set fire to the
infernal machine。 Had the coachman of the First Consul driven less
rapidly； and thereby been two seconds later； it would have been all over
with his master； while； on the other hand； if Madame Bonaparte had
followed her husband promptly； it would have been certain death to her
and all her suite。
It was； in fact； the delay of an instant which saved her life； as well as
that of her daughter； her sister…in…law； Madame Murat； and all who were
to accompany them； since the carriage of these ladies； instead of being
immediately behind that of the First Consul； was just leaving the Place
Carrousel； when the machine exploded。 The glass was shivered； and though
Madame Bonaparte received no injury except the terrible fright； Hortense
was sl