became the secretary of state； and the Duke of Vicenza received the
portfolio of foreign relations。
As I have said； during the autumn of 1813 his Majesty frequently visited
the public works。 He usually went almost unattended； and on foot； to
visit those of the Tuileries and the Louvre； and afterwards mounted his
horse； accompanied by one or two officers at most； and M。 Fontaine； and
went to examine those which were more distant。 One day；it was about
the end of November； having seized the opportunity of his Majesty's
absence to take a walk through the Faubourg Saint Germain； I unexpectedly
encountered his Majesty on his way to the Luxembourg； just as he arrived
at the entrance of the Rue de Tournon； and it is impossible to describe
the intense satisfaction with which I heard shouts of 〃Vive l'Empereur〃
break forth as he approached。 I found myself driven by the crowd very
near the Emperor's horse； and yet I did not imagine for a moment that he
had recognized me。 On his return； however； I had proofs to the contrary。
His Majesty had seen me； and as I assisted him to change his clothing the
Emperor gayly remarked to me； 〃Well； M。 le Drole！ Ah！ ah！ what were
you doing in the Faubourg Saint Germain？ I see just how it is！ A fine
thing really！ You spy on me when I go out；〃 and many other jests of the
same kind； for on that day the Emperor was in such fine spirits that I
concluded he had been much pleased with his visit。
Whenever at this time the Emperor experienced any unusual anxiety； I
noticed that in order to dispel it he took pleasure in exhibiting himself
in public more frequently； perhaps； than during his other sojourns in
Paris； but always without any ostentation。 He went frequently to the
theater； and； thanks to the obliging kindness of Count de Remusat； I
myself frequently attended these assemblies； which at that time always
had the appearance of a fete。 Assuredly； when on the occasion of the
first representation of the ballet of Nina； their Majesties entered their
box； it would have been difficult to imagine that the Emperor had already
enemies among his subjects。 It is true that the mothers and widows in
mourning were not there； but I can affirm that I have never seen more
perfect enthusiasm。 The Emperor enjoyed this from the depths of his
heart； even more； perhaps； than after his victories。 The conviction that
he was beloved by the French people impressed him deeply； and in the
evening he condescended to speak to me of itshall I dare to say like a
child puffed up with pride at the reward he has just received？ Then in
the perfect freedom of privacy he said repeatedly； 〃My wife！ my good
Louise！ Truly； she should be well satisfied。〃 The truth is； that the
desire to see the Emperor at the theater was so great in Paris； that as
he always took his place in the box at the side； opening on the
proscenium； each time that he made his appearance there the boxes
situated on the opposite side of the hall were rented at incredible
figures； and even the uppermost tiers were preferred to those from which
they could not see him easily。 No one who lived in Paris at that time
can fail to recognize the correctness of this statement。
Some time after the first representation of the ballet of Nina； the
Emperor again attended the theater； and I was also present。 As formerly；
the Emperor accompanied her Majesty； and I could not keep back the
thought； as the play proceeded； that the Emperor had some memories
sufficient to distract his attention from the exquisite music。 It was at
the Italian theater then occupying the Odeon。 The Cleopatra of Nazzolini
was played； and the representation was among the number of those called
extraordinary； since it was on the occasion of Madame Grassini's benefit。
It had been only a short while since this singer； celebrated in more ways
than one； had first appeared in public on a Parisian stage； I think this
was really only the third or fourth time； and I should state； in order to
be exactly correct； that she did not produce on the Parisian public
exactly the impression which had been expected from her immense
reputation。 It had been long since the Emperor had received her
privately； but； nevertheless； her voice and Crescentini's had been
reserved until then for the privileged ears of the spectators of Saint…
Cloud and the theater of the Tuileries。 On； this occasion the Emperor
was very generous towards the beneficiary； but no interview resulted；
for； in the language of a poet of that period； the Cleopatra of Paris did
not conquer another Antony。
Thus； as we see； the Emperor on a few occasions laid aside the important
affairs which occupied him； less to enjoy the theater than for the
purpose of showing himself in public。 All useful undertakings were the
objects of his care； and he did not depend entirely even on the
information of men to whom he had most worthily committed them； but saw
everything for himself。 Among the institutions especially protected by
his Majesty； there was one in which he took an especial interest。 I do
not think that in any of the intervals between his wars the Emperor had
come to Paris without making a visit to the institution of the Daughters
of the Legion of Honor； of which Madame Campan was in charge； first at
Ecouen； and afterwards at Saint…Denis。 The Emperor visited it in the
month of November； and I remember an anecdote which I heard related to
his Majesty on this occasion which diverted him exceedingly。
Nevertheless； I cannot remember positively whether this anecdote relates
to the visit of 1813； or one made previously。
In the first place； it must be explained that； in accordance with the
regulation of the household of the young ladies of the Legion of Honor；
no man； with the exception of the Emperor； was admitted into the interior
of the establishment。 But as the Emperor was always attended by an
escort； his suite formed in some sort a part of himself； and entered with
him。 Besides his officers； the pages usually accompanied him。 In the
evening on his return from SaintDenis； the Emperor said to me； laughing；
as he entered his room； where I was waiting to undress him； 〃Well； my
pages wish to resemble the pages of former times！ The little idiots！
Do you know what they do？ When I go to Saint…Denis； they have a contest
among themselves as to who shall be on duty。 Ha！ ha！〃 The Emperor；
while speaking； laughed and rubbed his hands together； and then； having
repeated several times in the same tone； 〃The little idiots；〃 he added；
following out one of those singular reflections which sometimes struck
him； 〃I； Constant； would have made a very poor page； I would never have
had such an idea。 Moreover； these are good young men； good officers have
already come from among them。 This will lead one day to some marriages。〃
It was very rare； in fact； that a thing； though frivolous in appearance；
did not lead； on the Emperor's part； to some serious conclusion。
Hereafter； indeed； with the exception of a few remembrances of the past；
I shall have only serious and often very sad events to relate； for we
have now arrived at the point where everything has taken a serious turn；
and clothed itself in most somber tints。
CHAPTER XIX。
For the last time we celebrated in Paris the anniversary fete of his
Majesty's coronation。 The gifts to the Emperor on this occasion were
innumerable addresses made to him by all the towns of the Empire； in
which offers of sacrifices and protestations of devotion seemed to
increase in intensity in proportion to the difficulty of the
circumstances。 Alas！ in four months the full value of these
protestations was proved； and； nevertheless； how was it possible to
believe that this enthusiasm； which was so universal； was not entirely
sincere？ This would have been an impossibility with the Emperor； who；
until the very end of his reign； believed himself beloved by France with
the same devotion which he felt for her。 A truth； which was well proved
by succeeding events； is that the Emperor became more popular among that
part of the inhabitants called the people when misfortunes began to
overwhelm him。 His Majesty had proofs of this in a visit he made to the
Faubourg Saint…Antoine； and it is very certain that； if under other
circumstances he had been able to bend from his dignity to propitiate the
people； a means which was most repugnant to the Emperor in consequence of
his remembrances of the Revolution； all the faubourgs of Paris would have
armed themselves in his defense。 How can this be doubted after the event
which I here describe？
The Emperor； towards the end of 1813 or the beginning of 1814； on one
occasion visited the Faubourg Saint…Antoine。 I cannot to…day give the
precise date of this unexpected visit； but at any rate he showed himself
on this occasion familiar； even to the point of good fellowship； which
emboldened those immediately around to address him。 I now relate the
conversation which occurred between his Majesty and several of the
inhabitants； which has been faithfully recorded； and admitted to be true
by several witnesses of this really touching scene。
An Inhabitant。〃Is it true； as I am t