napoleon bonaparte, v1-第3节

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during　the　whole　of　that　time。　　Notwithstanding；　I　ask　permission　to　say
a　few　words　as　to　my　childhood；　and　the　circumstances　which　made　me　valet
de　chambre　of　the　Emperor。

I　was　born　Dec。　2；　1778；　at　Peruelz；　a　town　which　became　French　on　the
annexation　of　Belgium　to　the　Republic；　and　which　then　belonged　to　the
Department　of　Jemmapes。　　Soon　after　my　birth　at　the　baths　of　Saint　Amand；
my　father　took　charge　of　a　small　establishment　called　the　Little　Chateau；
at　which　visitors　to　the　waters　were　boarding；　being　aided　in　this
enterprise　by　the　Prince　de　Croi；　in　whose　house　he　had　been　steward。
Business　prospered　beyond　my　father's　hopes；　for　a　great　number　of
invalids　of　rank　came　to　his　house。　　When　I　attained　my　eleventh　year；
the　Count　de　Lure；　head　of　one　of　the　chief　families　of　Valenciennes；
happened　to　be　one　of　the　boarders　at　the　Little　Chateau；　and　as　that
excellent　man　had　taken　a　great　fancy　to　me；　he　asked　my　parents
permission　that　I　should　become　a　companion　to　his　son；　who　was　about。
the　same　age。　　My　family　had　intended　me　for　the　church；　to　gratify　one
of　my　uncles；　who　was　Dean　of　Lessine；　a　man　of　great　wisdom　and　rigid
virtue；　and　thinking　that　the　offer　of　the　Count　de　Lure　would　not　affect
my　intended　destination；　my　father　accepted　it；　judging　that　some　years
passed　in　a　family　so　distinguished　would　give　me　a　taste　for　the　more
serious　studies　necessary　to　fit　me　for　the　priesthood。　　I　set　out；
therefore；　with　the　Count　de　Lure；　much　grieved　at　leaving　my　parents；
but　pleased　also　at　the　same　time；　as　is　usual　with　one　at　my　age；　with
new　scenes。　　The　count　took　me　to　one　of　his　estates　near　Tours；　where　I
was　received　with　the　greatest　kindness　by　the　countess　and　her　children；
with　whom　I　was　placed　on　a　footing　of　perfect　equality。

Unfortunately　I　did　not　profit　very　long　by　the　kindness　of　the　count　and
the　lessons。　　I　was　taught　at　his　house；　for　hardly　a　year　had　passed　at
the　chateau　when　we　learned　of　the　arrest　of　the　king　at　Varennes。　　The
count　and　his　family　were　in　despair；　and　child　as　I　was；　I　remember　that
I　was　deeply　pained　at　the　news；　without　knowing　why；　but　doubtless
because　it　is　natural　to　share　the　sentiments　of　those　with　whom　you
live；　when　they　treat　you　with　as　much　kindness　as　the　count　and　countess
had　treated　me。　　However；　I　continued　to　enjoy　the　happy　freedom　from
care　natural　to　youth；　till　one　morning　I　was　awakened　by　a　loud　noise；
and　was　immediately　surrounded　by　a　great　number　of　people；　none　of　whom
I　knew；　and　who　asked　me　countless　questions　which　I　could　not　answer。
I　then　learned　that　the　count　and　his　family　had　emigrated。　　I　was
carried　to　the　town　hall；　where　the　same　questions　were　renewed；　with　the
same　fruitless　result；　for　I　knew　nothing　of　the　intentions　of　my　late
protectors；　and　could　only　reply　by　a　flood　of　tears　when　I　saw　myself
abandoned　and　left　to　my　own　resources；　at　a　great　distance　from　my
family。

I　was　too　young　then　to　reflect　on　the　conduct　of　the　count；　but　I　have
since　thought　that　his　abandonment　of　me　was　an　act　of　delicacy　on　his
part；　as　he　did　not　wish　to　make　me　an　emigre　without　the　consent　of　my
parents。　　I　have　always　believed　that；　before　his　departure；　the　count
had　committed　me　to　the　care　of　some　one；　who　subsequently　did　not　dare
to　claim　me；　lest　he　should　compromise　himself；　which　was　then；　as　is
well　known；　exceedingly　dangerous。　　Behold　me；　then；　at　twelve　years　of
age；　left　without　a　guide；　without　means　of　support；　without　any　one　to
advise　me；　and　without　money；　more　than　a　hundred　leagues　from　my　home；
and　already　accustomed　to　the　comforts　of　a　luxurious　life。　　It　is　hardly
credible　that　in　this　state　of　affairs　I　was　regarded　almost　as　a
suspect；　and　was　required　each　day　to　present　myself　before　the　city
authorities　for　the　greater　safety　of　the　Republic。　　I　remember　well　that
whenever　the　Emperor　was　pleased　to　make　me　relate　these　tribulations　of
my　childhood；　he　never　failed　to　repeat　several　times；　〃the　fools；〃
referring　to　these　same　city　authorities。　　However　that　may　be；　the
authorities　of　Tours；　coming　to　the　conclusion；　at　last；　that　a　child　of
twelve　was　incapable　of　overthrowing　the　Republic；　gave　me　a　passport；
with　the　injunction　to　leave　the　city　within　twenty…four　hours；　which　I
proceeded　to　do　with　a　hearty　good…will；　but　not　without　deep　grief　also
at　seeing　myself　alone；　and　on　foot；　with　a　long　journey　before　me。
After　much　privation　and　many　hardships　I　arrived　at　last　in　the
neighborhood　of　Saint…Amand；　which　I　found　in　the　possession　of　the
Austrians；　and　that　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　reach　the　town；　as　the
French　surrounded　it。　　In　my　despair　I　seated　myself　on　the　side　of　a
ditch　and　was　weeping　bitterly；　when　I　was　noticed　by　the　chief　of
squadron；　Michau；

　　　　　＇I　afterwards　had　the　happiness　of　obtaining　for　him；　from　the
　　　　　Emperor；　a　position　he　wished；　as　a　place　of　retirement；　having　lost
　　　　　the　use　of　his　right　arm。　CONSTANT。＇

who　afterwards　became　colonel　and　aide…de…camp　to　General　Loison。　　Michau
approached　me；　questioned　me　with　great　interest；　and　made　me　relate　my
sad　adventures；　which　touched　him　deeply；　while　he　did　not　conceal　his
inability　to　send　me　back　to　my　family。　　He　had　just　obtained　leave　of
absence；　which　he　was　going　to　spend　with　his　family　at　Chinon；　and
proposed　to　me　to　accompany　him；　which　invitation　I　accepted　with
gratitude。　　I　cannot　say　too　much　of　the　kindness　and　consideration　shown
me　by　his　household　during　the　three　or　four　months　I　spent　with　them。
At　the　end　of　that　time　he　took　me　to　Paris；　where　I　was　soon　after
placed　in　the　house　of　M。　Gobert；　a　rich　merchant；　who　treated　me　with
the　greatest；　kindness。

I　lately　visited　M。　Gobert；　and　he　recalled　to　me　that；　when　we　traveled
together；　he　gave　up　to　me　one　of　the　seats　of　his　carriage；　upon　which　I
was　permitted　to　stretch　myself　out　and　sleep。　　I　mention　this
circumstance；　otherwise　unimportant；　to　show　the　kindness　he　always
showed　me。

Some　years　later　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　Carrat；　who　was　in　the
service　of　Madame　Bonaparte　while　the　general　was　absent　on　the　Egyptian
expedition。　　Before　relating　how　I　came　to　enter　her　household；　it　is
proper　to　mention　how　Carrat　himself　came　into　her　service；　and　at　the
same　time　narrate　some　anecdotes　in　regard　to　him；　which　will　show　what
were　the　pastimes　of　the　inhabitants　of　Malmaison　at　that　date。

Carrat　happened　to　be　at　Plombieres　when　Madame　Bonaparte

　　　　　＇　Madame　Bonaparte；　nee　Marie　Joseph　Rose　Tascher　de　la　Pagerie；
　　　　　was　born　in　Martinique；　1763；　became　the　widow　of　Viscount　Alexander
　　　　　de　Beauharnais；　1794；　married　Napoleon　Bonaparte　March；　1796；　became
　　　　　Empress　May　18；　1804；　was　divorced　Dec。　16；　1809；　died　at　Malmaison；
　　　　　May　20；　1814。　TRANS。＇

went　there　to　take　the　waters。　　Every　day　he　brought　her　bouquets；　and
addressed　to　her　little　complimentary　speeches；　so　singular　and　so　droll；
that　Josephine　was　much　diverted；　as　were　also　the　ladies　who　accompanied
her；　among　whom　were　Mesdames　de　Cambis　and　de　Criguy；　　and　especially
her　own　daughter　Hortense；　who　was　convulsed　at　his　oddities。　　The　truth
is；　he　was　exceedingly　amusing；　by　reason　of　a　certain　simplicity　and
originality　of　character；　which；　however；　did　not　prevent　him　from　being
a　person　of　intelligence；　and　his　eccentricities　did　not　displease　Madame
Bonaparte。　　A　sentimental　scene　took　place　when　this　excellent　lady　left
the　springs。　　Carrat　wept；　bemoaned　himself；　and　expressed　his　lasting
grief　at　not　being　able　to　see　Madame　Bonaparte　daily；　as　he　had　been
accustomed；　and　Madame　Bonaparte　was　so　kind…hearted　that　she　at　once
decided　to　carry　him　to　Paris　with　her。　　She　taught　him　to　dress　hair；
and　finally　appointed　him　her　hair…dresser　and　valet；　at　least　such　were
the　duties　he　had　to　perform　when　I　made　his　acquaintance。　　He　was
permitted　a　most　astonishing　freedom　of　speech；　sometimes　even　scolding
her；　and　when　Madame　Bonaparte；　who　was　extremely　generous　and　always
gracious　towards　every　one；　made　presents　to　her　women；　or　chatted
familiarly　with　them；　Carrat　would　reproach　her。　　〃Why　give　that？〃　he
would　say；　adding；　〃See　how　you　do；　Madame；　you　allow　yourself　to　jest
with　your　domestics。　　Some　day　they　will　show　you　a　want　of　respect。〃
But　if　he　thus　endeavored　to　restrain　the　generosity　of　his　mistress
towards　those　around　her；　he　did　not　hesitate　to　stimulate　her　generosity
towards　himself；　and　whenever　he　took　a　fancy　to　anything；　would　simply
say；　〃You　ought　to　give　me　that。〃

Bravery　is　not　always　the　inseparable　companion　of　wit；　and　Carrat　gave
more　than　once　proof　of　this。　　Being　endowed　with　a　kind　of　simple　and
uncontrollable　poltroonery；　which　never　fails　in　comedies　to　excite　the
laughter　of　the　spectators；　it　was　a　great　pleasure　to　Madame　Bonaparte
to　play　on　him　such　pranks　as　would　bring　out　his　singular　want　of
courage。

It　should　be　stated；　first　of　all；　that　one　of　the　greatest　pleasures　of
Madame　Bonaparte；　at　Malmaison；　was　to　take　walks　on　the　road　just
outside　the　walls　of　the　park；　and　she　always　preferred　this　outside
road；　in　spite　of　the　clouds　of　dust　which　were　consta