In the States…General he sided with the Revolution。 During the
Reign of Terror he visited England and the United States。 Recalled
in 1796； he became minister of foreign affairs under the Directory；
which post he retained under the Consulate。 In 1806 he was made
Prince of Benevento。 He soon fell into disgrace。 Sided with the
Bourbons in 1814； and was minister at the congress of Vienna；
president of the council； and minister under the king。 Died 1838。
TRANS。＇
giving his hand to Madame Bonaparte； had the honor of presenting to her；
one after another； the members of the Diplomatic Corps； not according to
their names； but that of the courts they represented。 He then made with
her the tour of the two saloons； and the circuit of the second was only
half finished when the First Consul entered without being announced。 He
was dressed in a very plain uniform； with a tricolored silk scarf； with
fringes of the same around his waist。 He wore close…fitting pantaloons
of white cassimere； and top…boots； and held his hat in his hand。 This
plain dress； in the midst of the embroidered coats loaded with cordons
and orders worn by the ambassadors and foreign dignitaries； presented a
contrast as striking as the toilette of Madame Bonaparte compared with
that of the other ladies present。
Before relating how I exchanged the service of Madame Bonaparte for that
of the chief of state； and a sojourn at Malmaison for the second campaign
of Italy； I think I should pause to recall one or two incidents which
belong to the time spent in the service of Madame Bonaparte。 She loved
to sit up late； and； when almost everybody else had retired； to play a
game of billiards； or more often of backgammon。 It happened on one
occasion that； having dismissed every one else； and not yet being sleepy；
she asked if I knew how to play billiards； and upon my replying in the
affirmative； requested me with charming grace to play with her； and I had
often afterwards the honor of doing so。 Although I had some skill； I
always managed to let her beat me； which pleased her exceedingly。 If
this was flattery； I must admit it； but I would have done the same
towards any other woman； whatever her rank and her relation to me； had
she been even half as lovely as was Madame Bonaparte。
The concierge of Malmaison； who possessed the entire confidence of his
employers； among other means of precaution and watchfulness conceived by
him in order to protect the residence and person of the First Consul from
any sudden attack； had trained for the chateau several large dogs； among
which were two very handsome Newfoundlands。 Work on the improvements of
Malmaison went on incessantly； and a large number of workmen lodged there
at night； who were carefully warned not to venture out alone； but one
night as some of the watchdogs were with the workmen in their lodgings；
and allowed themselves to be caressed； their apparent docility encouraged
one of these men to attempt the imprudence of venturing out。 Believing
that the surest way to avoid danger was to put himself under the
protection of one of those powerful animals； he took one of them with
him； and in a very friendly manner they passed out of the door together；
but no sooner had they reached the outside； than the dog sprang upon his
unfortunate companion and threw him down。 The cries of the poor workman
brought some of the guard； who ran to his aid。 Just in time； for the dog
was holding him fast to the ground； and had seized him by the throat。 He
was rescued； badly wounded。 Madame Bonaparte； when she was informed of
this accident； had him nursed till perfectly cured； and gave him a
handsome gratuity； but recommended him to be more prudent in the future。
Every moment that the First Consul could snatch from affairs of state he
passed at Malmaison。 The evening of each decadii
＇Under the Republic； Sunday was abolished。 A decade of ten days
was substituted for the week； and the decadi； or tenth day； took the
place of the Sabbath。TRANS。＇
was a time of expectation and joy at the chateau。 Madame Bonaparte sent
domestics on horseback and on foot to meet her husband； and often went
herself； accompanied by her daughter and her Malmaison friends。 When not
on duty； I went myself and alone： for everybody felt for the First
Consul the same affection； and experienced in regard to him the same
anxiety； and such was the bitterness and boldness of his enemies that the
road； though short； between Paris and Malmaison was full of dangers and
snares。 We knew that many plans had been laid to kidnap him on this
road； and that these attempts might be renewed。 The most dangerous spot
was the quarries of Nanterre； of which I have already spoken； so they
were carefully examined； and guarded by his followers each day on which
the First Consul was to pass； and finally the depressions nearest the
road were filled up。 The First Consul was gratified by our devotion to
him； and gave us proofs of his satisfaction； though he himself seemed
always free from fear or uneasiness。 Very often； indeed； he mildly
ridiculed our anxiety； and would relate very seriously to the good
Josephine what a narrow escape he had on the road； how men of a sinister
appearance had shown themselves many times on his way； how one of them
had had the boldness to aim at him； etc。 And when he saw her well
frightened； he would burst out laughing； give her some taps or kisses on
her cheek and neck； saying to her； 〃Have no fear； little goose； they
would not dare。〃 On these 〃days of furlough；〃 as he called them； he was
occupied more with his private affairs than with those of state； but
never could he remain idle。 He would make them pull down； put up again；
build； enlarge； set out； prune； incessantly； both in the chateau and in
the park； while he examined the bills of expenses； estimated receipts；
and ordered economies。 Time passed quickly in all these occupations； and
the moment soon came when it was necessary to return； and； as he
expressed it； put on again the yoke of misery。
CHAPTER IV。
Towards the end of March； 1800； five or six months after my entrance into
the service of Madame。 Bonaparte； the First Consul while at dinner one
day regarded me intently； and having carefully scrutinized and measured
me from head to foot； 〃Young man；〃 said he； 〃would you like to go with me
on the campaign？〃 I replied； with much emotion； that I would ask nothing
better。 〃Very well； then； you shall go with me！〃 and on rising from the
table； he ordered Pfister； the steward； to place my name on the list of
the persons of his household who would accompany him。 My preparations
did not require much time； for I was delighted with the idea of being
attached to the personal service of so great a man； and in imagination
saw myself already beyond the Alps。 But the First Consul set out without
me。 Pfister； by a defect of memory； perhaps intentional； had forgotten
to place my name on the list。 I was in despair； and went to relate； with
tears； my misfortune to my excellent mistress； who was good enough to
endeavor to console me； saying； 〃Well； Constant； everything is not lost；
you will stay with me。 You can hunt in the park to pass the time； and
perhaps the First Consul may yet send for you。〃 However； Madame
Bonaparte did not really believe this； for she thought； as I did；
although out of kindness she did not wish to say this to me； that the
First Consul having changed his mind； and no longer wishing my services
on the campaign； had himself given the counter orders。 However； I soon
had proof to the contrary。 In passing through Dijon； on his way to Mt。
St。 Bernard； the First Consul asked for me； and learning that they had
forgotten me； expressed his dissatisfaction； and directed Bourrienne to
write immediately to Madame Bonaparte； requesting her to send me on
without delay。
One morning； when my chagrin was more acute than ever； Madame Bonaparte
sent for me； and said； holding Bourrienne's letter in her hand；
〃Constant； since you have determined to quit us to make the campaign； you
may rejoice； for you are now about to leave。 The First Consul has sent
for you。 Go to the office of Maret； and ascertain if he will not soon
send a courier。 You will accompany him。〃 I was inexpressibly delighted
at this good news； and did not try to conceal my pleasure。 〃You are very
well satisfied to leave us；〃 said Madame Bonaparte with a kind smile。
〃It is not leaving Madame； but joining the First Consul； which delights
me。〃〃I hope so；〃 replied she。 〃Go； Constant； and take good care of
him。〃 If any incentive had been needed； this injunction of my noble
mistress would have added to the zeal and fidelity with which I had
determined to discharge my new duties。 I hurried without delay to the
office of Maret； secretary of state； who already knew me； and had shown
his good…will for me。 〃Get ready at once；〃 said he； 〃a courier will set
out this evening or to…morrow morning。〃 I returned in all haste to
Malmaison； and announced to Madame Bonaparte my immediate departure。 She
immediately had a good post…chaise made ready for me； and T