consumed a great quantity。 One day； while Euphemie and Charvet were
sound asleep； they were suddenly awakened by a report； which sounded
frightful to them； and caused them intense anxiety； as they found when
they awoke that they were passing through a thick forest。 This ludicrous
incident threw Hortense into fits of laughter； for hardly had they
expressed their alarm when they found themselves deluged with an
odoriferous froth； which explained the cause of the explosion。 A bottle
of champagne； placed in one of the pockets of the carriage； had been
uncorked； and the heat； added to the motion of the carriage； or rather
the malice of the young traveler； had made it explode with a loud report。
When mademoiselle arrived at Plombieres； her mother's health was almost
restored； so that the pupil of Madame Campan found there all the
distractions which please and delight at the age which the daughter of
Madame Bonaparte had then attained。
There is truth in the saying that in all evil there is good； for had this
accident not happened to Madame Bonaparte； it is very probable she would
have become a prisoner of the English； in fact； she learned that
'La Pomone'； the vessel on which she wished to make the voyage； had
fallen into the power of the enemies of France。 General Bonaparte； in
all his letters； still dissuaded his wife from the plan she had of
rejoining him； and； consequently； she returned to Paris。
On her arrival Josephine devoted her attention to executing a wish
General Bonaparte had expressed to her before leaving。 He had remarked
to her that he should like； on his return； to have a country seat； and he
charged his brother to attend to this； which Joseph； however； failed to
do。 Madame Bonaparte； who； on the contrary； was always in search of what
might please her husband； charged several persons to make excursions in
the environs of Paris； in order to ascertain whether a suitable dwelling
could be found。 After having vacillated long between Ris and Malmaison；
she decided on the latter； which she bought from M。 Lecoulteux…Dumoley；
for； I think； four hundred thousand francs。 Such were the particulars
which Charvet was kind enough to give me when I first entered the service
of Madame Bonaparte。 Every one in the house loved to speak of her； and
it was certainly not to speak evil； for never was woman more beloved by
all who surrounded her； and never has one deserved it more。 General
Bonaparte was also an excellent man in the retirement of private life。
After the return of the First Consul from his campaign in Egypt； several
attempts against his life had been made； and the police had warned him
many times to be on his guard； and not to risk himself alone in the
environs of Malmaison。 The First Consul had been very careless up to
this period； but the discovery of the snares which were laid for him；
even in the privacy of his family circle； forced him to use precautions
and prudence。 It has been stated since； that these pretended plots were
only fabrications of the police to render themselves necessary to the
First Consul； or； perhaps； of the First Consul himself； to redouble the
interest which attached to his person； through fear of the perils which
menaced his life； and the absurdity of these attempts is alleged as proof
of this。 I could not pretend to elucidate such mysteries； but it seems
to me that in such matters absurdity proves nothing； or； at least； it
does not prove that such plots did not exist。 The conspirators of that
period set no bounds to their extravagance； for what could be more
absurd； and at the same time more real； than the atrocious folly of the
infernal machine？
Be that as it may； I shall relate what passed under my own eyes during
the first month of my stay at Malmaison。 No one there； or； at least； no
one in my presence； showed the least doubt of the reality of these
attempts。
In order to get rid of the First Consul； all means appeared good to his
enemies： they noted everything in their calculations； even his absence of
mind。 The following occurrence is proof of this：
There were repairs and ornamentations to be made to the mantel in the
rooms of the First Consul at Malmaison。 The contractor in charge of this
work had sent marblecutters； amongst whom had slipped in； it seems； a few
miserable wretches employed by the conspirators。 The persons attached to
the First Consul were incessantly on the alert； and exercised the
greatest watchfulness； and it was observed that among these workmen there
were men who pretended to work； but whose air and manner contrasted
strongly with their occupation。 These suspicions were unfortunately only
too well founded； for when the apartments had been made ready to receive
the First Consul； and just as he was on the eve of occupying them； some
one making a final inspection found on the desk at which he would first
seat himself； a snuff…box； in every respect like one of those which he
constantly used。 It was thought at first that this box really belonged
to him； and that it had been forgotten and left there by his valet； but
doubts inspired by the suspicious manner of a few of the marble…cutters；
leading to further investigation； the tobacco was examined and analyzed。
It was found to be poisoned。
The authors of this perfidy had； it is said； at this time； communication
with other conspirators； who engaged to attempt another means of ridding
themselves of the First Consul。 They promised to attack the guard of the
chateau （Malmaison）； and to carry off by force the chief of the
government。 With this intention； they had uniforms made like those of
the consular guards； who then stood sentinel； day and night； over the
First Consul； and followed him on horseback in his excursions。 In this
costume； and by the aid of signals； with their accomplices （the pretended
marble…cutters） on the inside； they could easily have approached and
mingled with the guard； who were fed and quartered at the chateau。 They
could even have reached the First Consul； and carried him off。 However；
this first project was abandoned as too uncertain； and the conspirators
flattered themselves that they would succeed in their undertaking more
surely； and with less danger； by taking advantage of the frequent
journeys of the First Consul to Paris。 By means of their disguise they
planned to distribute themselves on the road； among the guides of the
escort； and massacre them； their rallying…point being the quarries of
Nanterre； but their plots were for the second time foiled。 There was in
the park at Malmaison a deep quarry； and fears being entertained that
they would profit by it to conceal themselves therein； and exercise some
violence against the First Consul on one of his solitary walks； it was
decided to secure it with an iron door。
On the 19th of February； at one in the afternoon； the First Consul went
in state to the Tuileries； which was then called the Government palace；
to install himself there with all his household。 With him were his two
colleagues； one of whom； the third consul； was to occupy the same
residence； and be located in the Pavilion de Flore。 The carriage of the
consuls was drawn by six white horses； which the Emperor of Germany had
presented to the conqueror of Italy after the signature of the treaty of
peace of Campo…Formio。 The saber that the First Consul wore at this
ceremony was magnificent； and had also been presented to him by this
monarch on the same occasion。
A remarkable thing in this formal change of residence was that the
acclamations and enthusiasm of the crowd； and even of the most
distinguished spectators； who filled the windows of rue Thionville and of
the quai Voltaire； were addressed only to the First Consul； and to the
young warriors of his brilliant staff； who were yet bronzed by the sun of
the Pyramids or of Italy。 At their head rode General Lannes and Murat；
the first easy to recognize by his bold bearing and soldierly manners；
the second by the same qualities； and further by a striking elegance；
both of costume and equipments。 His new title of brother…in…law of the
First Consul contributed； also； greatly to fix upon him the attention of
all。 As for myself； all my attention was absorbed by the principal
personage of the cortege； whom； like every one around me； I regarded with
something like a religious reverence； and by his stepson； the son of my
excellent mistress； himself once my master；the brave； modest； good
Prince Eugene； who at that time； however； was not yet a prince。 On his
arrival at the Tuileries； the First Consul took possession at once of the
apartments which he afterwards occupied； and which were formerly part of
the royal apartments。 These apartments consisted of a bed…chamber； a
bathroom； a cabinet； and a saloon； in which he gave audience in the
forenoon； of a second saloon； in which were stationed his aides…de…camp
on duty； and which he used as a dining…room； and also a very large
antechamber。 Madame Bonaparte had her separate apartments on the ground
floor； the same which she afterwards occupied as Empress。 Beneath the
suite of rooms occupied by the First Consul was the room of Bourrienne；
his private secretary； which communicated with the apartments of the
First Consul by means of a private staircase。
Although at this period there were already courtiers； there was not；
however； yet a court； and the etiquette was exceedingly simple。 The
First Consul； as I believe I have already said； slept in the same bed
with his wife； and they lived together； sometimes at the Tuileries；
sometimes at Malmaison。 As yet there were neither grand marshal； nor
chamberlains； nor prefects of the palace； nor ladies of honor； nor lady
ushers； nor ladies of the wardrobe； nor pages。 The household of the
First Consul was composed only of M。 Pfister； steward； Venard； chief
cook； Galliot； and Dauger； head servants； Colin； butler。 Ripeau was
librarian； Vigogne； senior； in charge of the stables。 Those attached to
his personal service were Hambard； head valet； Herbert； ordinary valet；
and Roustan； mameluke of the First Consul。 There were； beside these；
fifteen persons to discharge the ordinary duties of the hous