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 bordered on brusqueness； pleased the Emperor；
and I have many times heard him speak in praise of his aide…de…camp； whom
he always styled； 〃My brave Rapp。〃 Rapp was not lucky in battle； for he
rarely escaped without a wound。 While thus anticipating events； I will
mention that in Russia； on the eve of the battle of La Moskwa； the
Emperor said； in my presence； to General Rapp； who had just arrived from
Dantzic； 〃See here； my brave fellow； we will beat them to…morrow； but
take great care of yourself。 You are not a favorite of fortune。〃〃That
is；〃 said the general； 〃the premium to be paid on the business； but I
shall none the less on that account do my best。〃
Savary manifested for the First Consul the same fervid zeal and unbounded
devotion which had attached him to General Desaix； and if he lacked any
of the qualities of General Rapp； it was certainly not bravery。 Of all
the men who surrounded the Emperor； no one was more absolutely devoted to
his slightest wishes。 In the course of these memoirs； I shall doubtless
have occasion to recall instances of this unparalleled enthusiasm； for
which the Duke de Rovigo I was magnificently rewarded； but it is just to
say that he did not bite the hand which rewarded him； and that he gave to
the end； and even after the end； of his old master （for thus he loved to
style the Emperor） an example of gratitude which has been imitated by
few。
A government decree； in the month of June following； determined that the
body of Desaix should be carried to the Hospice of St。 Bernard； and that
a tomb should be erected on that spot； in the country where he had
covered himself with immortal glory； as a testimonial to the grief of
France； and especially that of the First Consul。
CHAPTER V。
The victory of Marengo had rendered the conquest of Italy certain。
Therefore the First Consul； thinking his presence more necessary at Paris
than at the head of his army； gave the command in chief to General
Massena； and made preparations to repass the mountains。 On our return to
Milan； the First Consul was received with even more enthusiasm than on
his first visit。
The establishment of a republic was in accordance with the wishes of a
large number of the Milanese； and they called the First Consul their
Savior； since he had delivered them from the yoke of the Austrians。
There was； however； a party who detested equally these changes； the
French army which was the instrument of them； and the young chief who was
the author。 In this party figured a celebrated artist； the singer
Marchesi。
During our former visit； the First Consul had sent for him； and the
musician had waited to be entreated； acting as if he were much
inconvenienced； and at last presented himself with all the importance of
a man whose dignity had been offended。 The very simple costume of the
First Consul； his short stature； thin visage； and poor figure were not
calculated to make much of an impression on the hero of the theater； and
after the general…in…chief had welcomed him cordially； and very politely
asked him to sing an air； he replied by this poor pun； uttered in a tone
the impertinence of which was aggravated by his Italian accent： 〃Signor
General； if it is a good air which you desire； you will find an excellent
one in making a little tour of the garden。〃 The Signor Marchesi was for
this fine speech immediately put out of the door； and the same evening an
order was sent committing the singer to prison。 On our return the First
Consul； whose resentment against Marchesi the cannon of Marengo had
doubtless assuaged； and who thought besides that the penance of the
musician for a poor joke had been sufficiently long； sent for him again；
and asked him once more to sing； Marchesi this time was modest and
polite； and sang in a charming manner。 After the concert the First
Consul approached him； pressed his hand warmly； and complimented him in
the most affectionate manner； and from that moment peace was concluded
between the two powers； and Marchesi sang only praises of the First
Consul。
At this same concert the First Consul was struck with the beauty of a
famous singer； Madame Grassini。 He found her by no means cruel； and at
the end of a few hours the conqueror of Italy counted one conquest more。
The following day she breakfasted with the First Consul and General
Berthier in the chamber of the First Consul。 General Berthier was
ordered to provide for the journey of Madame Grassini； who was carried to
Paris； and attached to the concert…room of the court。
The First Consul left Milan on the 24th； and we returned to France by the
route of Mont Cenis； traveling as rapidly as possible。 Everywhere the
Consul was received with an enthusiasm difficult to describe。 Arches of
triumph had been erected at the entrance of each town； and in each canton
a deputation of leading citizens came to make addresses to and compliment
him。 Long ranks of young girls； dressed in white； crowned with flowers；
bearing flowers in their hands； and throwing flowers into the carriage of
the First Consul； made themselves his only escort； surrounded him；
followed him； and preceded him； until he had passed； or as soon as he set
foot on the ground wherever he stopped。
The journey was thus； throughout the whole route； a perpetual fete； and
at Lyons it amounted to an ovation； in which the whole town turned out to
meet him。 He entered； surrounded by an immense crowd； amid the most
noisy demonstrations； and alighted at the hotel of the Celestins。 In the
Reign of Terror the Jacobins had spent their fury on the town of Lyons；
the destruction of which they had sworn； and the handsome buildings which
ornamented the Place Belcour had been leveled to the ground； the hideous
cripple Couthon； at the head of the vilest mob of the clubs； striking
the first blow with the hammer。 The First Consul detested the Jacobins；
who； on their side； hated and feared him； and his constant care was to
destroy their work； or； in other words； to restore the ruins with which
they had covered France。 He thought then； and justly too； that he could
not better respond to the affection of the people of Lyons； than by
promoting with all his power the rebuilding of the houses of the Place
Belcour； and before his departure he himself laid the first stone。 The
town of Dijon gave the First Consul a reception equally as brilliant。
Between Villeneuve…le…Roi and Sens； at the descent to the bridge of
Montereau； while the eight horses； lashed to a gallop； were bearing the
carriage rapidly along （the First Consul already traveled like a king）；
the tap of one of the front wheels came off。 The inhabitants who lined
the route； witnessing this accident； and foreseeing what would be the
result； used every effort to stop the postilions； but did not succeed；
and the carriage was violently upset。 The First Consul received no
injury； General Berthier had his face slightly scratched by the windows；
which were broken； and the two footmen； who were on the steps； were
thrown； violently to a distance； and badly wounded。 The First Consul got
out； or rather was pulled out； through one of the doors。 This occurrence
made no delay in his journey； he took his seat in another carriage
immediately； and reached Paris with no other accident。 The night of the
2d of July； he alighted at the Tuileries； and the next day； as soon as
the news of his return had been circulated in Paris； the entire
population filled the courts and the garden。 They pressed around the
windows of the pavilion of Flora； in the hope of catching a glimpse of
the savior of France； the liberator of Italy。
That evening there was no one； either rich or poor； who did not take
delight in illuminating his house or his garret。 It was only a short
time after his arrival at Paris that the First Consul learned of the
death of General Kleber。 The poniard of Suleyman had slain this great
captain the same day that the cannon of Marengo laid low another hero of
the army of Egypt。 This assassination caused the First Consul the most
poignant grief； of which I was an eyewitness； and to which I can testify；
and； nevertheless； his calumniators have dared to say that he rejoiced at
an event； which； even considered apart from its political relations；
caused him to lose a conquest which had cost him so much； and France so
much blood and expense。 Other miserable wretches； still more stupid and
more infamous； have even gone so far as to fabricate and spread abroad
the report that the First Consul had himself ordered the assassination of
his companion in arms； whom he had placed in his own position at the head
of the army in Egypt。 To these I have only one answer to make； if it is
necessary to answer them at all； it is this； they never knew the Emperor。
After his return； the First Consul went often with his wife to Malmaison；
where he remained sometimes for several days。 At this time it was the
duty of the valet de chambre to follow the carriage on horseback。 One
day the First Cons