Among those whom we saw most frequently were Volney； Denon； Lemercier；
the Prince of Poix； de Laigle； Charles Baudin； General Beurnonville；
Isabey； and a number of others； celebrated in science； literature； and
art； in short； the greater part of those who composed the society of
Madame de Montesson。
Madame Bonaparte and Mademoiselle Hortense often took excursions on
horseback into the country。 On these occasions her most constant escorts
were the Prince de Poix and M。 de Laigle。 One day； as this party was
reentering the court…yard at Malmaison； the horse which Hortense rode
became frightened； and dashed off。 She was an accomplished rider； and
very active； so she attempted to spring off on the grass by the roadside；
but the band which fastened the end of her riding…skirt under her foot
prevented her freeing herself quickly； and she was thrown； and dragged by
her horse for several yards。 Fortunately the gentlemen of the party；
seeing her fall； sprang from their horses in time to rescue her； and； by
extraordinary good fortune； she was not even bruised； and was the first
to laugh at her misadventure。
During the first part of my stay at Malmaison； the First Consul always
slept with his wife； like an ordinary citizen of the middle classes in
Paris； and I heard no rumor of any intrigue in the chateau。 The persons
of this society； most of whom were young； and who were often very
numerous； frequently took part in sports which recalled college days。
In fact； one of the greatest diversions of the inhabitants of Malmaison
was to play 〃prisoners' base。〃 It was usually after dinner； and
Bonaparte； Lauriston； Didelot； de Lucay； de Bourrienne； Eugene； Rapp；
Isabey； Madame Bonaparte； and Mademoiselle Hortense would divide
themselves into two camps； in which the prisoners taken； or exchanged；
would recall to the First Consul the greater game； which he so much
preferred。 In these games the most active runners were Eugene； Isabey；
and Hortense。 As to General Bonaparte； he often fell； but rose laughing
boisterously。
General Bonaparte and his family seemed to enjoy almost unexampled
happiness； especially when at Malmaison； which residence； though
agreeable at that time； was far from being what it has since become。
This estate consisted of the chateau； which Bonaparte found in bad
condition on his return from Egypt； a park already somewhat improved； and
a farm； the income of which did not with any certainty exceed twelve
thousand francs a year。 Josephine directed in person all the
improvements made there； and no woman ever possessed better taste。
From the first； they played amateur comedy at Malmaison； which was a
relaxation the First Consul enjoyed greatly； but in which he took no part
himself except that of looker…on。 Every one in the house attended these
representations； and I must confess we felt perhaps even more pleasure
than others in seeing thus travestied on the stage those in whose service
we were。
The Malmaison Troupe； if I may thus style actors of such exalted social
rank； consisted principally of Eugene； Jerome； Lauriston； de Bourrienne；
Isabey； de Leroy； Didelot； Mademoiselle Hortense； Madame Caroline Murat；
and the two Mademoiselles Auguie； one of whom afterwards married Marshal
Ney；
＇Michel Ney； Styled by Napoleon the 〃bravest of the brave；〃 was
born 1769； at Sarre…Louis （now in Prussia）； son of a cooper。
Entered the army as a private 1787； adjutant…general 1794； general
of brigade 1796； general of division 1799； marshal 1804； Duke of
Elchingen 1805； Prince of Moskwa 1812； and commanded the rear…guard
in the famous retreat from Russia。 On the return from Elba he went
over to Napoleon； was at Waterloo。 Was afterwards taken； and in
spite of the terms of the surrender of Paris was tried for treason；
and shot in the gardens of the Luxembourg； Dec。 8； 1815。TRANS。＇
and the other M。 de Broc。 All four were very young and charming； and few
theaters in Paris could show four actresses as pretty。 In addition to
which； they showed much grace in their acting； and played their parts
with real talent； and were as natural on the stage as in the saloon；
where they bore themselves with exquisite grace and refinement。 At first
the repertoire contained little variety； though the pieces were generally
well selected。 The first representation which I attended was the 〃Barber
of Seville 〃 in which Isabey played the role of Figaro； and Mademoiselle
Hortense that of Rosineand the 〃Spiteful Lover。〃 Another time I saw
played the 〃Unexpected Wager；〃 and 〃False Consultations。〃 Hortense and
Eugene played this last piece perfectly； and I still recall that； in the
role of Madame le Blanc； Hortense appeared prettier than ever in the
character of an old woman； Eugene representing Le Noir； and Lauriston the
charlatan。 The First Consul； as I have said； confined himself to the
role of spectator； but he seemed to take in these fireside plays； so to
speak； the greatest pleasure； laughed and applauded heartily； though
sometimes he also criticised。
Madame Bonaparte was also highly entertained； and even if she could not
always boast of the successful acting of her children； 〃the chiefs of the
troupe；〃 it sufficed her that it was an agreeable relaxation to her
husband； and seemed to give him pleasure； for her constant study was to
contribute to the happiness of the great man who had united her destiny
with his own。
When the day for the presentation of a play had been appointed； there was
never any postponement； but often a change of the play； not because of
the indisposition； or fit of the blues； of an actress （as often happens
in the theaters of Paris）； but for more serious reasons。 It sometimes
happened that M。 d'Etieulette received orders to rejoin his regiment； or
an important mission was confided to Count Almaviva； though Figaro and
Rosine always remained at their posts； and the desire of pleasing the
First Consul was； besides； so general among all those who surrounded him；
that the substitutes did their best in the absence of the principals； and
the play never failed for want of an actor。
＇Michau； of the Comedic Francaise； was the instructor of the
troupe。 Wherever it happened that an actor was wanting in
animation； Michau would exclaim。 〃Warmth！ Warmth！ Warmth！〃
Note by CONSTANT。＇
CHAPTER III。
I had been only a very short time in the service of Madame Bonaparte when
I made the acquaintance of Charvet； the concierge of Malmaison； and in
connection with this estimable man became each day more and more
intimate； till at last he gave me one of his daughters in marriage。
I was eager to learn from him all that he could tell me concerning Madame
Bonaparte and the First Consul prior to my entrance into the house； and
in our frequent conversations he took the greatest pleasure in satisfying
my curiosity。 It is to him I owe the following details as to the mother
and daughter。
When General Bonaparte set out for Egypt； Madame Bonaparte accompanied
him as far as Toulon； and was extremely anxious to go with him to Egypt。
When the general made objections； she observed that having been born a
Creole； the heat of the climate would be more favorable than dangerous to
her。 By a singular coincidence it was on 'La Pomone' that she wished to
make the journey； that is to say； on the very same vessel which in her
early youth had brought her from Martinique to France。 General
Bonaparte； finally yielding to the wishes of his wife； promised to send
'La Pomone' for her； and bade her go in the meantime to take the waters
at Plombieres。 The matter being arranged between husband and wife；
Madame Bonaparte was delighted to go to the springs of Plombieres which
she had desired to visit for a long time； knowing； like every one else；
the reputation these waters enjoyed for curing barrenness in women。
Madame Bonaparte had been only a short time at Plombieres； when one
morning； while occupied in hemming a turban and chatting with the ladies
present； Madame de Cambis； who was on the balcony； called to her to come
and see a pretty little dog passing along the street。 All the company
hastened with Madame Bonaparte to the balcony； which caused it to fall
with a frightful crash。 By a most fortunate chance； no one was killed；
though Madame de Cambis had her leg broken； and Madame Bonaparte was most
painfully bruised； without； however； receiving any fracture。 Charvet；
who was in a room behind the saloon； heard the noise； and at once had a
sheep killed and skinned； and Madame Bonaparte wrapped in the skin。 It
was a long while before she regained her health； her arms and her hands
especially being so bruised that she was for a long time unable to use
them； and it was necessary to cut up her food； feed her； and； in fact；
perform the same offices for her as for an infant。
I related above that Josephine thought she was to rejoin her husband in
Egypt； and consequently that her stay at the springs of Plombieres would
be of short duration but her accident led her to think that it would be
prolonged indefinitely； she therefore desired； while waiting for her
complete recovery； to have with her her daughter Hortense； then about
fifteen years of age； who was being educated in the boarding…school of
Madame Campan。 She sent for her a mulatto woman to whom she was much
attached； named Euphemie； who was the foster…sister of Madame Bonaparte；
and passed （I do not know if the supposition was correct） as her natural
sister。 Euphemie； accompanied by Charvet； made the journey in one of
Madame Bonaparte's carriages。 Mademoiselle Hortense； on their arrival；
was delighted with the journey she was about to make； and above all with
the idea of being near her mother； for whom she felt the tenderest
affection。 Mademoiselle Hortense was； I would not say； greedy； but she
was exceedingly fond of sweets； and Charvet； in relating these details；
said to me； that at each town of any size through which they passed the
carriage was filled with bonbons and dainties； of which mademoiselle
consumed a great quantity。 One day； while Euphemie and Charvet were
sound asleep； they were sudd