those toads and frogs in the water will get on him。〃 These words； joined
to the utter darkness； served only to increase the terror of Carrat； who；
becoming seriously frightened； cried out； 〃It is horrible； Madame； it is
horrible； to amuse yourself thus at the expense of your servants。〃
I do not say that the complaints of Carrat were entirely wrong； but they。
served only to increase the gayety of the ladies who had taken him for
the object of their pleasantries。
However that may be； such was the character and position of Carrat； whom
I had known for some time； when General Bonaparte returned from his
expedition into Egypt； and Carrat said to me that Eugene de Beauharnais
had applied to him for a confidential valet； his own having been detained
in Cairo by severe illness at the time of his departure。 He was named
Lefebvre； and was an old servant entirely devoted to his master； as was
every one who knew Prince Eugene； for I do not believe that there has
ever lived a better man； or one more polite； more considerate； or indeed
more attentive； to those who served him。
Carrat having told me that Eugene de Beauharnais
＇Born 1781； viceroy of Italy 1805。 In 1806 married the daughter
of the King of Bavaria。 Died 1824。 Among his descendants are the
present King of Sweden and the late Emperor of Brazil。 TRANS。＇
desired a young man to replace Lefebvre； and having recommended me for
the place； I had the good fortune to be presented to Eugene； and to give
satisfaction； indeed； he was so kind as to say to me that my appearance
pleased him； and he wished me to enter upon my duties immediately。 I was
delighted with this situation； which； I know not why； painted itself to
my imagination in the brightest colors； and without loss of time； went to
find my modest baggage； and behold me valet de chambre； ad interim； of M。
de Beauharnais； not dreaming that I should one day be admitted to the
personal service of General Bonaparte； and still less that I should
become the chief valet of an Emperor。
CHAPTER II。
It was on Oct。 16； 1799； that Eugene de Beauharnais arrived in Paris on
his return from Egypt； and almost immediately thereafter I had the good
fortune to be taken into his service； M。 Eugene being then twenty…one
years of age。 I soon after learned a few particulars； which I think are
little known； relative to his former life； and the marriage of his mother
with General Bonaparte。
His father； as is well known； was one of the victims of the Revolution；
and when the Marquis de Beauharnais had perished on the scaffold； his
widow； whose property had been confiscated； fearing that her son；
although still very young； might also be in danger on account of his
belonging to the nobility； placed him in the home of a carpenter on the
rue de l'Echelle where； a lady of my acquaintance； who lived on that
street； has often seen him passing； carrying a plank on his shoulder。 It
seems a long distance from this position to the colonelcy of a regiment
of the Consular guards； and the vice…royalty of Italy。
I learned； from hearing Eugene himself relate it； by what a singular
circumstance he had been the cause of the first meeting between his
mother and his step…father。 Eugene； being then not more than fourteen or
fifteen years of age； having been informed that General Bonaparte had
become possessor of the sword of the Marquis de Beauharnais； took a step
which seemed hazardous； but was crowned with success。 The general having
received him graciously； Eugene explained that he came to beg of him the
restoration of his father's sword。 His face； his bearing； his frank
request； all made such a pleasant impression on Bonaparte； that he
immediately presented him with the sword which he requested。 As soon as
this sword was in his hands he covered it with kisses and tears； and the
whole was done in so artless a manner； that Bonaparte was delighted with
him。
Madame de Beauharnais； being informed of the welcome the general had
given her son； thought it her duty to make him a visit of gratitude。
Bonaparte； being much pleased with Josephine in this first interview；
returned her visit。 They met again frequently； and as is well known； one
event led to another； until she became the first Empress of the French；
and I can assert from the numerous proofs that I have had of this fact；
that Bonaparte never ceased to love Eugene as well as if he； had been his
own son。
The qualities of Eugene were both attractive and solid。 His features
were not regular； and yet his countenance prepossessed every one in his
favor。 He had a well…proportioned figure； but did not make a
distinguished appearance； on account of the habit he had of swinging
himself as he walked。 He was about five feet three or four inches
＇About five feet six or seven inches in English measurement。 TRANS。＇
in height。 He was kind； gay； amiable； full of wit； intelligent；
generous； and it might well be said that his frank and open countenance
was the mirror of his soul。 How many services he has rendered others
during the course of his life； and at the very period when in order to do
so he had often to impose privations on himself。
It will soon be seen how it happened that I passed only a month with
Eugene； but during this short space of time； I recall that； while
fulfilling scrupulously his duties to his mother and his step…father； he
was much addicted to the pleasures so natural to his age and position。
One of his greatest pleasures was entertaining his friends at breakfast；
which he did very often。 This amused me much on account of the comical
scenes of which I was often a witness。 Besides the young officers of
Bonaparte's staff； his most frequent guests； he had also frequently at
his table the ventriloquist Thiemet； Dugazon； Dazincourt； and Michau of
the Theatre Francais； and a few other persons； whose names escape me at
this moment。 As may be imagined； these reunions were extremely gay；
these young officers especially； who had returned like Eugene from the
expedition to Egypt； seemed trying to indemnify themselves for the recent
privations they had had to suffer。 At this time ventriloquists； among
whom Thiemet held a very distinguished position； were the fashion in
Paris； and were invited to private gatherings。 I remember on one
occasion； at one of these breakfasts of Eugene's； Thiemet called by their
names several persons present； imitating the voices of their servants； as
if they were just outside the door； while he remained quietly in his
seat； appearing to be using his lips only to eat and drink； two duties'
which he performed admirably。 Each of the officers called in this manner
went out； and found no one； and then Thiemet went out with them； under
the pretext of assisting them in the search； and increased their
perplexity by continuing to make them hear some well…known voice。 Most
of them laughed heartily at the joke of which they had just been the
victims； but there was one who； having himself less under control than
his comrades； took the thing seriously； and became very angry； whereupon
Eugene had to avow that he was the author of the conspiracy。
I recall still another amusing scene； the two heroes of which were this
same Thiemet； of whom I have just spoken； and Dugazon。 Several
foreigners were present at a breakfast given by Eugene； the parts having
been assigned； and learned in advance； and the two victims selected。
When each had taken his place at table； Dugazon； pretending to stammer；
addressed a remark to Thiemet； who； playing the same role； replied to
him； stammering likewise； then each of them pretended to believe that the
other was making fun of him； and there followed a stuttering quarrel
between the two parties； each one finding it more and more difficult to
express himself as his anger rose。 Thiemet； who besides his role of
stammering was also playing that of deafness； addressed his neighbor； his
trumpet in his ear：
〃Wha…wha…what…do…does he say？〃 〃Nothing；〃 replied the officious
neighbor； wishing to prevent a quarrel； and to supply facts while
defending the other stammerer。〃Soso…he…he…he…he's mamaking fun of me！〃
Then the quarrel became more violent still； they were about to come to
blows； when each of the two stammerers seizing a carafe of water； hurled
it at the head of his antagonist； and a copious deluge of water from the
bottles taught the officious neighbors the great danger of acting as
peacemakers。 The two stammerers continued to scream as is the custom of
deaf persons； until the last drop of water was spilt； and I remember that
Eugene； the originator of this practical joke； laughed immoderately the
whole time this scene lasted。 The water was wiped off； and all were soon
reconciled； glass in hand。 Eugene； when he had perpetrated a joke of
this sort； never failed to relate it to his mother； and sometimes to his
stepfather； who were much amused thereby； Josephine especially。
I had led for one month a very pleasant life with Eugene； when Lefebvre；
the valet de chambre whom he had left sick at Cairo； returned in restored
health； and asked to resume his place。 Eugene； whom I suited better on
account of my age and activity； proposed to him to enter his mother's
service； suggesting to him that he would there have an easier time than
with himself； but Lefebvre； who was extremely attached to his master；
sought Madame Bonaparte； and confided to her his chagrin at this
decision。
Josephine promised to assist him； and consoled him by assurances that she
would suggest to her son that Lefebvre should reassume his former
position； and that she would take me into her own service。 This was done
according to promise； and one morning Eugene announced to me； in the most
gratifying manner； my change of abode。 〃Constant；〃 he said to me；
〃I regret very much that circumstances require us to part； but you know
Lefebvre followed me to Egypt； he is an old servant； and I feel compelled
to give him his former position。 Besides； you will not be far removed；
as you will enter my mother's service； where you will be well treated；
and we will see each other often。 Go to her this morning； I have spoken
to her of you。 Th