interpreter； told the carpenter to explain himself； and inquired of what
he complained。 Now； the general's interpreting secretary was a
quartermaster who had been attached to the general's staff since the
Peace of Presburg； and happened to be； as luck would have it； the first
cousin of this Varengo against whom the complaint was made。 Without
hesitation the quartermaster； as soon as he heard his cousin's name； gave
an entirely incorrect translation of the report； assuring the general
that this peasant； although in very comfortable circumstances； disobeyed
the order of the day； in refusing to furnish fresh meat for the brave
soldier who lodged with him； and this was the origin of the disagreement
on which the complaint was based； no other motive being alleged for
demanding a change。 The general was much irritated； and gave orders to
his secretary to require the peasant； under severe penalties； to furnish
fresh meat for his guest。 The order was written； but instead of
submitting it to the supervision of the general； the interpreting
secretary wrote out at length that the carpenter should pay two florins
per day to Varengo。 The poor fellow； having read this in German； could
not restrain a movement of anger； seeing which； the general； thinking he
had resisted the order； ordered him out； threatening him with his riding…
whip。 Thus； thanks to his cousin； the interpreter； Varengo regularly
received two florins per day； which enabled him to be one of the jolliest
soldiers in his company。
The Emperor did not like duelling。 He often pretended to be ignorant of
duels； but when he had to admit his knowledge of one； loudly expressed
his dissatisfaction。 I recall in this connection two or three
circumstances which I shall attempt to relate。
A short time after the foundation of the Empire； a duel occurred； which
created much stir in Paris； on account of the rank of the two
adversaries。 The Emperor had just authorized the formation of the first
foreign regiment which he wished to admit into the service of France；
the regiment of Aremberg。 Notwithstanding the title of this corps； most
of the officers who were admitted were French； and this was a good
opening； discreetly made； for rich and titled young men； who； in
purchasing companies by the authority of the minister of war； could thus
pass more rapidly through the first grades。 Among the officers of the
Aremberg regiment； were M。 Charles de Sainte…Croix； who had recently
served in the ministry of foreign affairs； and a charming young man whom
I saw often at Malmaison； M。 de Mariolles； who was nearly related to the
Empress Josephine。 It seems that the same position had been promised
both； and they resolved to settle the dispute by private combat。 M。 de
Mariolles fell； and died on the spot； and his death created consternation
among the ladies of the salon at Malmaison。
His family and relations united in making complaint to the Emperor； who
was very indignant； and spoke of sending M。 de Sainte…Croix to the Temple
prison and having him tried for murder。 He prudently concealed himself
during the first outburst over this affair； and the police； who were put
on his track； would have had much difficulty in finding him； as he was
especially protected by M。 Fouche； who had recently re…entered the
ministry； and was intimately connected with his mother； Madame de Sainte…
Croix。 Everything ended with the threats of his Majesty； since M。 Fouche
had remarked to him that by such unaccustomed severity the malevolent
would not fail to say that he was performing less an act of sovereignty
than one of personal vengeance； as the victim had the honor of being
connected with himself。
The affair was thus suffered to drop； and I am here struck with the
manner in which one recollection leads on to another； for I remember that
in process of time the Emperor became much attached to M。 de Sainte…
Croix； whose advancement in the army was both brilliant and rapid； since；
although he entered the service when twenty…two years of age； he was only
twenty…eight when he was killed in Spain； being already then general of
division。 I often saw M。 de Sainte…Croix at the Emperor's headquarters。
I think I see him still； small； delicate； with an attractive countenance；
and very little beard。 He might have been taken for a young woman；
rather than the brave young soldier he was； and； in fact； his features
were so delicate； his cheeks so rosy； his blond hair curled in such
natural ringlets； that when the Emperor was in a good humor he called him
nothing but Mademoiselle de Sainte…Croix！
Another circumstance which I should not omit is a duel which took place
at Burgos； in 1808； between General Franceschi； aide…de…camp to King
Joseph； and Colonel Filangieri； colonel of his guard； both of whom were
equerries of his Majesty。 The subject of the quarrel was almost the same
as that between M。 de Mariolles and de Sainte…Croix； since both disputed
for the position of first equerry to King Joseph； both maintaining that
it had been promised them。
We had hardly been in the palace of Burgos five minutes when the Emperor
was informed of this duel； which had taken place almost under the walls
of the palace itself； and only a few hours before。 The Emperor learned
at the same time that General Franceschi had been killed； and on account
of the difference in their rank； in order not to compromise military
etiquette； they had fought in their uniforms of equerry。 The Emperor was
struck with the fact that the first news he received was bad news； and
with his ideas of fatality； this really excited a great influence over
him。 He gave orders to have Colonel Filangieri found and brought to him；
and he came in a few moments。 I did not see him； as I was in another
apartment； but the Emperor spoke to him in so loud and sharp a tone that
I heard distinctly all he said。 〃Duels！ duels！ always duels！〃 cried
the Emperor。 〃I will not allow it。 I will punish it！ You know how I
abhor them！〃〃Sire； have me tried if you will； but hear me。〃〃What can
you have to say to me； you crater of Vesuvius？ I have already pardoned
your affair with Saint Simon； I will not do the like again。 Moreover； I
cannot； at the very beginning of the campaign； when all should be
thoroughly united！ It produces a most unfortunate effect！〃 Here the
Emperor kept silence a moment； then he resumed； although in a somewhat
sharper tone： 〃Yes！ you have a head of Vesuvius。 See what a fine
condition of affairs I arrive and find blood in my palace！〃 After
another pause； and in a somewhat calmer tone： 〃See what you have done！
Joseph needs good officers； and here you have deprived him of two by a
single blow；Franceschi； whom you have killed； and yourself； who can no
longer remain in his service。〃 Here the Emperor was silent for some
moments； and then added： 〃Now retire； leave！ Give yourself up as a
prisoner at the citadel of Turin。 There await my orders； or rather place
yourself in Murat's hands； he will know what to do with you； he also has
Vesuvius in his head； and he will give you a warm welcome。 Now take
yourself off at once。〃
Colonel Filangieri needed no urging； I think； to hasten the execution of
the Emperor's orders。 I do not know the conclusion of thus adventure；
but I do know that the affair affected his Majesty deeply； for that
evening when I was undressing him he repeated several times； 〃Duels！
What a disgraceful thing！ It is the kind of courage cannibals have！〃
If； moreover； the Emperor's anger was softened on this occasion； it was
on account of his affection for young Filangieri； at first on account of
his father； whom the Emperor highly esteemed； and also； because the young
man having been educated at his expense； at the French Prytanee； he
regarded him as one of his children by adoption； especially since he knew
that M。 Filangieri； godson of the queen of Naples； had refused a
regiment； which the latter had offered him while he was still only a
simple lieutenant in the Consular Guard； and further； because he had not
consented to become a Neapolitan again until a French prince had been
called to the throne of Naples。
What remains to be said on the subject of duels under the Empire； and the
Emperor's conduct regarding them which came to my knowledge； somewhat
resembles the little piece which is played on the theater after a
tragedy。 I will now relate how it happened that the Emperor himself
played the role of peacemaker between two sub…officers who were enamored
of the same beauty。
When the French army occupied Vienna； some time after the battle of
Austerlitz； two sub…officers belonging to the forty…sixth and fiftieth
regiments of the line； having had a dispute； determined to fight a duel；
and chose for the place of combat a spot situated at the extremity of a
plain which adjoined the palace of Schoenbrunn； the Emperor's place of
residence。 Our two champions had already unsheathed and exchanged blows
with their short swords； which happily each had warded off； when the
Emperor happened to pass near them； accompanied by several generals。
Their stupefaction at the sight of the Emperor may be imagined。 Their
arms fell； so to speak； from their hands。
The Emperor inquired the cause of their quarrel； and learned that a woman
who granted her favors to both was the real motive； each of them desiring
to have no rival。
These two champions found by chance that they were known to one of the
generals who accompanied his Majesty； and informed him that they were two
brave soldiers of Marengo and Austerlitz； belonging to such and such
regiments； whose names had already been put on the list for the Cross of
Honor； whereupon the Emperor addressed them after this style： 〃My
children； woman is capricious； as fortune is also； and since you are
soldiers of Marengo and Austerlitz； you need to give no new proofs of
your courage。 Return to your corps； and be friends henceforth； like good
knights。〃 These two soldiers lost all desire to fight； and soon
perceived that their august peacemaker had not forgotten them； as they
promptly received the Cross of the Legion of Honor。
In the beginning of the campaign of Tilsit； the Empero