count and his family were in despair； and child as I was； I remember that
I was deeply pained at the news； without knowing why； but doubtless
because it is natural to share the sentiments of those with whom you
live； when they treat you with as much kindness as the count and countess
had treated me。 However； I continued to enjoy the happy freedom from
care natural to youth； till one morning I was awakened by a loud noise；
and was immediately surrounded by a great number of people； none of whom
I knew； and who asked me countless questions which I could not answer。
I then learned that the count and his family had emigrated。 I was
carried to the town hall； where the same questions were renewed； with the
same fruitless result； for I knew nothing of the intentions of my late
protectors； and could only reply by a flood of tears when I saw myself
abandoned and left to my own resources； at a great distance from my
family。
I was too young then to reflect on the conduct of the count； but I have
since thought that his abandonment of me was an act of delicacy on his
part； as he did not wish to make me an emigre without the consent of my
parents。 I have always believed that； before his departure； the count
had committed me to the care of some one； who subsequently did not dare
to claim me； lest he should compromise himself； which was then； as is
well known； exceedingly dangerous。 Behold me； then； at twelve years of
age； left without a guide； without means of support； without any one to
advise me； and without money； more than a hundred leagues from my home；
and already accustomed to the comforts of a luxurious life。 It is hardly
credible that in this state of affairs I was regarded almost as a
suspect； and was required each day to present myself before the city
authorities for the greater safety of the Republic。 I remember well that
whenever the Emperor was pleased to make me relate these tribulations of
my childhood； he never failed to repeat several times； 〃the fools；〃
referring to these same city authorities。 However that may be； the
authorities of Tours； coming to the conclusion； at last； that a child of
twelve was incapable of overthrowing the Republic； gave me a passport；
with the injunction to leave the city within twenty…four hours； which I
proceeded to do with a hearty good…will； but not without deep grief also
at seeing myself alone； and on foot； with a long journey before me。
After much privation and many hardships I arrived at last in the
neighborhood of Saint…Amand； which I found in the possession of the
Austrians； and that it was impossible for me to reach the town； as the
French surrounded it。 In my despair I seated myself on the side of a
ditch and was weeping bitterly； when I was noticed by the chief of
squadron； Michau；
＇I afterwards had the happiness of obtaining for him； from the
Emperor； a position he wished； as a place of retirement； having lost
the use of his right arm。 CONSTANT。＇
who afterwards became colonel and aide…de…camp to General Loison。 Michau
approached me； questioned me with great interest； and made me relate my
sad adventures； which touched him deeply； while he did not conceal his
inability to send me back to my family。 He had just obtained leave of
absence； which he was going to spend with his family at Chinon； and
proposed to me to accompany him； which invitation I accepted with
gratitude。 I cannot say too much of the kindness and consideration shown
me by his household during the three or four months I spent with them。
At the end of that time he took me to Paris； where I was soon after
placed in the house of M。 Gobert； a rich merchant； who treated me with
the greatest； kindness。
I lately visited M。 Gobert； and he recalled to me that； when we traveled
together； he gave up to me one of the seats of his carriage； upon which I
was permitted to stretch myself out and sleep。 I mention this
circumstance； otherwise unimportant； to show the kindness he always
showed me。
Some years later I made the acquaintance of Carrat； who was in the
service of Madame Bonaparte while the general was absent on the Egyptian
expedition。 Before relating how I came to enter her household； it is
proper to mention how Carrat himself came into her service； and at the
same time narrate some anecdotes in regard to him； which will show what
were the pastimes of the inhabitants of Malmaison at that date。
Carrat happened to be at Plombieres when Madame Bonaparte
＇ Madame Bonaparte； nee Marie Joseph Rose Tascher de la Pagerie；
was born in Martinique； 1763； became the widow of Viscount Alexander
de Beauharnais； 1794； married Napoleon Bonaparte March； 1796； became
Empress May 18； 1804； was divorced Dec。 16； 1809； died at Malmaison；
May 20； 1814。 TRANS。＇
went there to take the waters。 Every day he brought her bouquets； and
addressed to her little complimentary speeches； so singular and so droll；
that Josephine was much diverted； as were also the ladies who accompanied
her； among whom were Mesdames de Cambis and de Criguy； and especially
her own daughter Hortense； who was convulsed at his oddities。 The truth
is； he was exceedingly amusing； by reason of a certain simplicity and
originality of character； which； however； did not prevent him from being
a person of intelligence； and his eccentricities did not displease Madame
Bonaparte。 A sentimental scene took place when this excellent lady left
the springs。 Carrat wept； bemoaned himself； and expressed his lasting
grief at not being able to see Madame Bonaparte daily； as he had been
accustomed； and Madame Bonaparte was so kind…hearted that she at once
decided to carry him to Paris with her。 She taught him to dress hair；
and finally appointed him her hair…dresser and valet； at least such were
the duties he had to perform when I made his acquaintance。 He was
permitted a most astonishing freedom of speech； sometimes even scolding
her； and when Madame Bonaparte； who was extremely generous and always
gracious towards every one； made presents to her women； or chatted
familiarly with them； Carrat would reproach her。 〃Why give that？〃 he
would say； adding； 〃See how you do； Madame； you allow yourself to jest
with your domestics。 Some day they will show you a want of respect。〃
But if he thus endeavored to restrain the generosity of his mistress
towards those around her； he did not hesitate to stimulate her generosity
towards himself； and whenever he took a fancy to anything； would simply
say； 〃You ought to give me that。〃
Bravery is not always the inseparable companion of wit； and Carrat gave
more than once proof of this。 Being endowed with a kind of simple and
uncontrollable poltroonery； which never fails in comedies to excite the
laughter of the spectators； it was a great pleasure to Madame Bonaparte
to play on him such pranks as would bring out his singular want of
courage。
It should be stated； first of all； that one of the greatest pleasures of
Madame Bonaparte； at Malmaison； was to take walks on the road just
outside the walls of the park； and she always preferred this outside
road； in spite of the clouds of dust which were constantly rising there；
to the delightful walks inside the park。 One day； accompanied by her
daughter Hortense； she told Carrat to follow her in her walk； and he was
delighted to be thus honored until he saw rise suddenly out of a ditch； a
great figure covered with a white sheet； in fact； a genuine ghost； such
as I have seen described in the translations of some old English
romances。
It is unnecessary to say； that the ghost was some one placed there by
order of these ladies； in order to frighten Carrat； and certainly the
comedy succeeded marvelously well； for as soon as Carrat perceived the
ghost； he was very much frightened； and clutching Madame Bonaparte； said
to her in a tremor； 〃Madame； Madame； do you see that ghost？ It is the
spirit of the lady who died lately at Plombieres。〃〃Be quiet； Carrat；
you are a coward。〃〃Ah； but indeed it is her spirit which has come
back。〃 As Carrat thus spoke； the man in the white sheet advanced toward
him； shaking it； and poor Carrat； overcome with terror； fell backwards in
a faint； and it required all the attentions which were bestowed upon him
to restore him to consciousness。
Another day； while the general was still in Egypt； and consequently
before I was in the service of any member of his family； Madame Bonaparte
wished to give some of her ladies an exhibition of Carrat's cowardice；
and for this purpose there was concerted among the ladies of Malmaison
a plot； in which Mademoiselle Hortense
＇Hortense Beauharnais； born at Paris； 1783； was then just sixteen
years of age。 Married Louis Bonaparte and became Queen of Holland；
1806。 Died 1837。 She was the mother of Napoleon III。 TRANS。＇
was chief conspirator。 This incident has been so often narrated in my
presence by Madame Bonaparte； that I am familiar with the ludicrous
details。 Carrat slept in a room adjoining which there was a closet。
A hole was made in the wall between these rooms； and a string passed
through； at the end of which was tied a can filled with water； this
cooling element being suspended exactly over the head ；of the patient's
bed。 This was not all； for they had also taken the precaution to remove
the slats which supported the mattress； and as Carrat was in the habit of
going to sleep without a light； he saw neither the preparations for his
downfall； nor the can of water provided for his new baptism。 All the
members of the plot had been waiting for some moments in the adjoining
closet； when he threw himself heavily upon his bed； it crashed in； and at
the same instant the play of the string made the can of water do its
effective work。 The victim at the same time of a fall； and of a
nocturnal shower…bath； Carrat cried out against his double misfortune。
〃This is horrible；〃 he yelled at the top of his voice； while Hortense
maliciously said aloud to her mother； Madame de Crigny （afterwards Madame
Denon）； Madame Charvet； and to several others in the room； 〃Oh； Mamma；
those toads and frogs in the water will get on him。〃 These words； joined
to the