French and the magnificence of the imperial equipages furnished such a
contrast to all this that it rendered them indescribably ridiculous。 The
Emperor； who had such exquisite tact in all matters； was not one of the
last to perceive this； but； nevertheless； was not pleased that an
opportunity should be found to ridicule crowned heads。 One morning at
his toilet he said to me； 〃I say； then； Monsieur le drole； you； who are
so well versed in these matters； give a few hints to the valet de chambre
of the King and Queen of Spain。 They appear so awkward they really
excite my pity。〃 I eagerly did what his Majesty suggested； but he did
not content himself with this； but also communicated to the Empress
Josephine his observations on the queen and her ladies。 The Empress
Josephine； who was the embodiment of taste； gave orders accordingly； and
for two days her hairdressers and women were occupied exclusively in
giving lessons in taste and elegance to their Spanish brethren。 This is
a striking evidence of how the Emperor found time for everything； and
could descend from his elevated duties to the most insignificant affairs。
The grand marshal of the palace （Duroc） was almost the same height as the
Emperor。 He walked badly and ungracefully； but had a tolerably good head
and features。 He was quick tempered； impulsive； and swore like a
soldier； but he had much administrative ability； of which he gave more
than one proof in the organization of the imperial household； which was
ably and wisely regulated。 When the enemy's cannon deprived his Majesty
of this devoted servitor and sincere friend； the Empress Josephine said
that she knew only two men capable of filling his place； these were
General Drouot and M。 de Flahaut； and the whole household hoped that one
of these two gentlemen would be nominated； this； however； was not the
case。
M。 de Caulaincourt； Duke of Vicenza； was extremely severe towards the
household； but he was just and of a chivalrous loyalty； and his word was
as good as a contract： He was feared and yet beloved。 He had a piercing
eye； spoke quickly and with great ease。 The Emperor's regard for him was
well known； and certainly no one was more worthy of it than he。
The Count de Remusat was of medium height； with a smooth； white face；
obliging； amiable； and with natural politeness and good taste； but he was
extravagant； lacked order in managing his own affairs and consequently
those of the Emperor。 This lavish expenditure； which is admirable from
one point of view； might have suited any other sovereign； but the Emperor
was economical； and though； much attached to M。 de Remusat； dismissed him
from the head of the wardrobe bureau； and put in his place Monsieur de
Turenne； who exercised the strictest economy。 M。 de Turenne possessed
perhaps a little too much of what his predecessor lacked； but it was
exactly this that pleased the Emperor。 M。 de Turenne was quite a pretty
man； thinking perhaps a little too much of himself； a great talker and
Anglo…maniac； which led the Emperor to give him the name of my lord
Kinsester （who cannot be silent）； but he told a story well； and sometimes
his Majesty took pleasure in making him relate the chronicles of Paris。
When the Count of Turenne replaced the Count of Remusat in the office of
grand master of the wardrobe； in order not to exceed the sum of twenty
thousand francs which his Majesty allowed for his toilet； he exercised
the greatest possible economy in the quantity； price； and quality of
things indispensable to the household。 I have been told； but I do not
know whether it is true； that； in order to ascertain exactly what were
the profits of the Emperor's furnishers； he went to the various factories
of Paris with samples of gloves； silk stockings； aloes wood； etc。； but；
even if this is true； it only does honor to the zeal and probity of M。 de
Turenne。
I knew very little of Count Segur； grand master of ceremonies。 It was
said in the household that he was haughty and somewhat abrupt； but
perfectly polite and intelligent； with a delicate and refined face。
It would be necessary to have witnessed the perfect order which reigned
in the Emperor's household to comprehend it fully。 From the time of the
Consulate； General Duroc had brought into the administration of the
interior affairs of the palace that spirit of order and economy which
especially characterized him。 But； great as was the Emperor's confidence
in General Duroc； he did not disdain to throw the glance of a master over
things which seemed insignificant； and with which； in general； sovereigns
rarely occupy themselves。 Thus； for example； in the beginning of the
Empire there was some little extravagance in certain parts of the palace；
notably at Saint…Cloud； where the aides…de…camp kept open table； but this
was； nevertheless； far from equaling the excessive prodigality of the
ancient regime。 Champagne and other wines especially were used in great
quantities； and it was very necessary that the Emperor should establish
regulations as to his cellar。 He summoned the chief of the household
service； Soupe Pierrugues； and said to him； 〃Monsieur； I commit to you
the keys of my imperial cellars； you will there have charge of the wines
of all kinds； some are needed in my palaces of the Tuileries； Saint…
Cloud； Compiegne； Fontainebleau； Marrac； Lacken； and Turin。 Establish a
moderate price at all these residences； and you alone will furnish wines
to my household。〃 This arrangement was made； and all kinds of fraud were
impossible； as the deputy of M。 Soupe Pierrugues delivered wines only on
a note signed by the controller of the kitchen； all the bottles not
opened were returned； and each evening an account was given of what had
been used for that day。
The service had the same regulations while we were on campaigns。 During
the second campaign of Vienna； I recollect that the house deputy of Soupe
Pierrugues was M。 Eugene Pierrugues； frank； gay； witty； and much beloved
by us all。 An imprudence cost him dear； for in consequence of a
heedlessness natural at his age he had his arm broken。 We were then at
Schoenbrunn。 Those who have seen this imperial residence know that
splendid avenues extend in front of the palace； leading to the road to
Vienna。 As I often took horseback rides through the town； M。 Eugene
Pierrugues wished to accompany me one day； and borrowed a horse from one
of the quartermasters of the palace。 He was forewarned that the horse
was very fiery； but he paid no attention to that； and immediately put him
into a gallop。 I reined mine in； in order not to excite my companion's；
but in spite of this precaution the horse ran away； dashed into the
woods； and broke the arm of his unfortunate and imprudent rider。
M。 Eugene Pierrugues was； however； not unhorsed by the blow； and kept his
seat a short while after the injury； but it was very serious； and it was
necessary to carry him back to the palace。 I； more than any one else；
was distressed by this frightful accident； and we established a regular
attendance on him； so that one at least could always be with him when our
duties allowed。 I have never seen suffering borne with more fortitude；
and it was carried to such a remarkable degree； that； finding his arm
badly set； at the end of a few days he had it again fractured； an
operation which caused him horrible suffering。
My uncle； who was usher of the Emperor's cabinet； related to me an
anecdote which is probably entirely unknown； since everything； as we
shall see； occurred under cover of the most profound mystery。 〃One
evening；〃 he said to me； 〃Marshal Duroc gave me in person orders to
extinguish the lights in the saloon in front of his Majesty's cabinet；
and to leave only a few candles lighted。 I was surprised at such a novel
order； especially as the grand marshal was not accustomed to give them
thus directly； but； nevertheless； executed it precisely； and waited at my
post。 At ten o'clock Marshal Duroc returned； accompanied by a personage
whose features it was impossible to distinguish； as he was entirely
wrapped in a large cloak； his head covered； and his hat pulled down over
his eyes。 I withdrew； leaving the two alone； but had hardly left the
saloon when the Emperor entered； and Marshal Duroc also retired； leaving
the stranger alone with his Majesty。 From the tone in which the Emperor
spoke it was easy to see that he was greatly irritated。 He spoke very
loud； and I heard him say； 'Well； Monsieur； you will never change then。
It is gold you want； always gold。 You draw on all foreign banks； and
have no confidence in that of Paris。 You have ruined the bank of
Hamburg； you have caused M。 Drouet （or Drouaut； for the name was
pronounced very quickly） to lose two millions：
〃The Emperor；〃 my uncle continued； 〃conversed in this strain for a long
while； though the stranger did not reply； or replied in so low a tone
that it was impossible to hear a word； and the scene； which must have
been most trying to the mysterious personage； lasted about twenty
minutes。 At last he was permitted to leave； which he did with the same
precautions as on his arrival； and retired from the palace as secretly as
he had come。〃
Nothing of this scene was known in Paris； and； moreover； neither my uncle
nor I have ever sought to ascertain the name of the person whom the
Emperor overwhelmed with such numerous and severe reproaches。
Whenever circumstances allowed； the Emperor's habits of life were very
regular； his time being almost uniformly divided as follows。 Every
morning； at nine o'clock precisely； the Emperor left the imperial
apartments； his exactness in observing hours was carried to an extreme；
and I have sometimes seen him wait two or three moments in order that no
one might be taken by surprise。 At nine o'clock his toilet was made for
the whole day。 When he had reached the reception…room； the officers on
duty were first admitted； and received his Majesty's orders for their
time of service。
Immediately after this； what was called the grandes entrees took place。
That is to say； personages of high rank were admitted； who had this right
on account of their duties； or by the special favor o