the First Consul。 It happened one day in Egypt that the latter； who had
never been able to shave himself （it was I who taught him how to shave
himself； as I shall relate elsewhere at length）； called Hebert to shave
him； in the absence of Hambard； who ordinarily discharged that duty。 As
it had sometimes happened that Hebert； on account of his great timidity；
had cut his master's chin； on that day the latter； who held a pair of
scissors in his hand； when Hebert approached him； holding his razor；
said； 〃Take care； you scamp； if you cut me； I will stick my scissors into
your stomach。〃 This threat； made with an air of pretended seriousness；
but which was in fact only a jest； such as I have seen the Emperor
indulge in a hundred times； produced such an impression on Hebert； that
it was impossible for him to finish his work。 He was seized with a
convulsive trembling； the razor fell from his hand； and the general…in…
chief in vain bent his neck； and said to him many times； laughing 〃Come；
finish； you scamp。〃 Not only was Hebert unable to complete his task that
day； but from that time he had to renounce the duty of barber。 The
Emperor did not like this excessive timidity in the servants of his
household； but this did not prevent him； when he restored the castle of
Rambouillet； from giving to Hebert the place of concierge which he
requested。
Roustan； so well known under the name of Mameluke； belonged to a good
family of Georgia； carried off at the age of six or seven； and taken to
Cairo； he was there brought up among the young slaves who attended upon
the mamelukes； until he should be of sufficient age to enter this warlike
militia。 The Sheik of Cairo； in making a present to General Bonaparte of
a magnificent Arab horse； had given him at the same time Roustan and
Ibrahim； another mameluke； who was afterwards attached to the service of
Madame Bonaparte； under the name of Ali。 It is well known that Roustan
became an indispensable accompaniment on all occasions when the Emperor
appeared in public。 He was with him in all his expeditions； in all
processions； and； which was especially to his honor； in all his battles。
In the brilliant staff which followed the Emperor he shone more than all
others by the richness of his Oriental costume； and his appearance made a
decided impression； especially upon the common people and in the
provinces。 He was believed to have great influence with the Emperor；
because； as credulous people said； Roustan had saved his master's life by
throwing himself between him and the saber of an enemy who was about to
strike him。 I think that this belief was unfounded； and that the
especial favor he enjoyed was due to the habitual kindness of his Majesty
towards every one in his service。 Besides； this favor affected in no
wise his domestic relations； for when Roustan； who had married a young
and pretty French girl； a certain Mademoiselle Douville； whose father was
valet to the Empress Josephine； was reproached by certain journals in
1814 and 1815 with not having followed to the end of his fortunes the man
for whom he had always expressed such intense devotion； Roustan replied
that the family ties which he had formed prevented his leaving France；
and that he could not destroy the happiness of his own household。
Ibrahim took the name of Ali when he passed into the service of Madame
Bonaparte。 He was of more than Arabic ugliness； and had a wicked look。
I recall in this connection a little incident which took place at
Malmaison； which will give an idea of his character。 One day； while
playing on the lawn of the chateau； I unintentionally threw him down
while running； and furious at his fall； he rose up； drew his poniard；
which he always wore； and dashed after me to strike me。 I laughed at
first； like every one else； at the accident； and amused myself by making
him run； but warned by the cries of my comrades； and looking back to see
how close he was； I perceived at the same time his dagger and his rage。
I stopped at once； and planted my foot； with my eye fixed upon his
poniard； and was fortunate enough to avoid his blow； which； however；
grazed my breast。 Furious in my turn； as may be imagined； I seized him
by his flowing pantaloons； and pitched him ten feet into the stream of
Malmaison； which was barely two feet deep。 The plunge brought him at
once to his senses； and besides； his poniard had gone to the bottom；
which made him much less dangerous。 But in his disappointment he yelled
so loudly that Madame Bonaparte heard him； and as she had quite a fancy
for her mameluke； I was sharply scolded。 However； this poor Ali was of
such an unsocial temperament that he got into difficulties with almost
every one in the household； and at last was sent away to Fontainebleau；
to take the place of manservant there。
I now return to our campaign。 On the 13th of June the First Consul spent
the night at Torre…di…Galifolo； where he established his headquarters。
From the day of our entry into Milan the advance of the army had not
slackened； General Murat had passed the Po； and taken possession of
Piacenza； and General Lannes； still pushing forward with his brave
advance guard； had fought a bloody battle at Montebello； a name which he
afterwards rendered illustrious by bearing it。 The recent arrival of
General Desaix； who had just returned from Egypt； completed the joy of
the general…in…chief； and also added much to the confidence of the
soldiers； by whom the good and modest Desaix was adored。 The First
Consul received him with the frankest and most cordial friendship； and
they remained together three consecutive hours in private conversation。
At the end of this conference； an order of the day announced to the army
that General Desaix would take command of the division Boudet。 I heard
some persons in the suite of General Desaix say that his patience and
evenness of temper were rudely tried during his voyage； by contrary
winds； forced delays； the ennui of quarantine； and above all by the bad
conduct of the English； who had kept him for some time a prisoner in
their fleet； in sight of the shores of France； although he bore a
passport； signed by the English authorities in Egypt； in consequence of
the capitulation which had been mutually agreed upon。 Consequently his
resentment against them was very ardent； and he regretted much； he said；
that the enemy he was about to fight was not the English。
In spite of the simplicity of his tastes and habits； no one was more
ambitious of glory than this brave general。 All his rage against the
English was caused by the fear that he might not arrive in time to gather
new laurels。 He did indeed arrive in time； but only to find a glorious
death； alas； so premature！
It was on the fourteenth that the celebrated battle of Marengo took
place； which began early in the morning； and lasted throughout the day。
I remained at headquarters with all the household of the First Consul；
where we were almost within range of the cannon on the battlefield。
Contradictory news constantly came； one report declaring the battle
completely lost； the next giving us the victory。 At one time the
increase in the number of our wounded； and the redoubled firing of the
Austrian cannon； made us believe that all was lost； and then suddenly
came the news that this apparent falling back was only a bold maneuver of
the First Consul； and that a charge of General Desaix had gained the
battle。 But the victory was bought at a price dear to France and to the
heart of the First Consul。 Desaix； struck by a bullet； fell dead on the
field； and the grief of his soldiers serving only to exasperate their
courage； they routed； by a bayonet charge； the enemy； who were already
shaken by the brilliant cavalry charge of General Kellermann。 The First
Consul slept upon the field of battle； and notwithstanding the decisive
victory that he had gained； was very sad； and said that evening； in the
presence of Hambard and myself； many things which showed the profound
grief he experienced in the death of General Desaix。 He said； 〃France
has lost one of her bravest defenders； and I one of my best friends； no
one knew how much courage there was in the heart of Desaix； nor how much
genius in his head。〃 He thus solaced his grief by making to each and all
a eulogy on the hero who had died on the field of honor。
〃My brave Desaix；〃 he further said； 〃always wished to die thus；〃 and then
added； almost with tears in his eyes； 〃but ought death to have been so
prompt to grant his wish？〃
There was not a soldier in our victorious army who did not share so just
a sorrow。 Rapp and Savary； the aides…de…camp of Desaix； remained plunged
in the most despairing grief beside the body of their chief； whom they
called their father； rather to express his unfailing kindness to them
than the dignity of his character。 Out of respect to the memory of his
friend； the general…in…chief； although his staff was full； added these
two young officers in the quality of aides…de…camp。
Commandant Rapp （for such only was his rank at that time） was then； as he
has ever been； good； full of courage； and universally beloved。 His
frankness； which sometimes bo