come！ M。 Constant； don't excite yourself。〃 Adorable kindness in a man
of such elevated rank！ Ah； well I this was the only impression it made
on me in the privacy of his chamber； but since then I have learned to
estimate it at its true value。
On learning that the Emperor was to be restored to us； my first impulse
was to repair at once to the palace； that I might be there on his
arrival； but more mature reflection and the advice of my family made me
realize that it would be more suitable for me to await his orders； in
case he wished to recall me to my former service。 I congratulated myself
on deciding to take the latter course； since I had the happiness to learn
that his Majesty had been kind enough to express his approval of my
former conduct。 I learned from most reliable authority； that he had
hardly arrived at the Tuileries； when he condescended to inquire of M。
Eible； then concierge of the palace； 〃Well； what is Constant doing？ How
is he succeeding？ Where is he？〃〃Sire； he is at his country…place；
which he has not left。〃〃Ah； very good。 He is happy raising his
cabbages。〃 I learned also that； during the first days of the Emperor's
return； his Majesty had been investigating the list of pensions； and had
been good enough to make a note that mine should be increased。 Finally；
I experienced an intense satisfaction of another kind； no doubt； but none
the less sincere in the certainty of not being considered an ingrate。
I have stated that I had been fortunate enough to procure a position for
M。 Marchand with the Emperor； and this is what was related to me by an
eye…witness。 M。 Marchand； in the beginning of the Hundred Days； happened
to be in one of the saloons of the palace of the Tuileries； where several
persons were assembled； and some of them were expressing themselves most
unkindly in regard to me。 My successor with the Emperor interrupted them
brusquely； saying that there was not a word of truth in the calumnies
which were asserted of me； and added that； while I held the position； I
had uniformly been most obliging to all persons of the household who had
addressed themselves to me； and had done no injury to any one。 In this
respect I can affirm that M。 Marchand told only the truth； but I was none
the less deeply grateful to him for so honorably defending me； especially
in my absence。
Not being in Paris on the 20th of March； 1815； as we have just seen； I
could have nothing to say of the circumstances of this memorable epoch；
had I not collected from some of my friends particulars of what occurred
on the night following the re…entrance of the Emperor into the palace；
once again become Imperial； and it may be imagined how eager I was to
know everything relating to the great man whom we regarded at this moment
as the savior of France。
I will begin by repeating exactly the account which was given me by one
of my friends； a brave and excellent man； at that time sergeant in the
National Guard of Paris； who happened to be on duty at the Tuileries
exactly on the 20th of March。 〃At noon；〃 he said； 〃three companies of
National Guards entered the court of the Tuileries； to occupy all the
interior and exterior posts of the palace。 I belonged to one of these
companies； which formed a part of the fourth legion。 My comrades and I
were struck with the inexpressible sadness produced by the sight of an
abandoned palace。 Everything； in fact； was deserted。 Only a few men
were seen here and there in the livery of the king； occupied in taking
down and removing portraits of the various members of the Bourbon family。
Outside could be heard the clamorous shouts of a frantic mob； who climbed
on the gates； tried to scale them； and pressed against them with such
force that at last they bent in several places so far that it was feared
they would be thrown down。 This multitude of people presented a
frightful spectacle； and seemed as if determined to pillage the palace。
〃Hardly a quarter of an hour after we entered the interior court an
accident occurred which； though not serious in itself； threw
consternation into our ranks； as well as among those who were pressing
against the grating of the Carrousel。 We saw flames issuing from the
chimney of the King's apartments； which had been accidentally set on fire
by a quantity of papers which had just been burned therein。 This
accident gave rise to most sinister conjectures； and soon the rumor
spread that the Tuileries had been undermined ready for an explosion
before the departure of Louis XVIII。 A patrol was immediately formed of
fifteen men of the National Guard； commanded by a sergeant； they explored
the chateau most thoroughly； visited each apartment； descended into the
cellars； and assured themselves that there was nowhere the slightest
indication of danger。
〃Reassured on this point； we were nevertheless not without anxiety。 In
returning to our posts we had heard numerous groups shouting； 'Vive le
Roi！ Vivent les Bourbons！' and we soon had proofs of the exasperation
and fury of a part of the people against Napoleon； for we witnessed the
arrival in our midst； in a most pitiable condition； of a superior officer
who had imprudently donned too soon the tricolored cockade； and
consequently had been pursued by the mob from the Rue Saint…Denis。 We
took him under our protection； and made him enter the interior of the
palace； as he was almost exhausted。 At this moment we received orders to
force the people to withdraw； as they had become still more determined to
scale the gates； and in order to accomplish this we were compelled to
have recourse to arms。
We had occupied the post at the Tuileries an hour at most when General
Excelmans； who had received the chief command of the guard at the
chateau； gave orders to raise the tricolored banner over the middle
pavilion。
〃The reappearance of the national colors excited among us all emotions of
the most intense satisfaction； and immediately the populace substituted
the cry of 'Vive l'Empereur' for that of 'Vive le Roi；' and nothing else
was heard the whole day。 As for us； when we were ordered to don the
tricolored cockade it was a very easy performance； as a large number of
the guard had preserved their old ones； which they had simply covered
with a piece of white cambric。 We were ordered to stack arms in front of
the arch of triumph； and nothing extraordinary occurred until six
o'clock； then lights began to shine on the expected route of the Emperor；
and a large number of officers on half pay collected near the pavilion of
Flora； and I learned from one of them； M。 Saunier； a decorated officer；
that it was on that side the Emperor would re…enter the palace of the
Tuileries。 I repaired there in all haste； and as I was hurrying to place
myself on his route； I was so fortunate as to meet a commanding officer；
who assigned me to duty at the very door of Napoleon's apartment； and to
this circumstance I owe the fact that I witnessed what now remains to be
related。
〃I had for some time remained in expectation； and in almost perfect
solitude； when； at fifteen minutes before nine； an extraordinary noise
that I heard outside announced to me the Emperor's arrival； and a few
moments after I saw him appear； amidst cries of enthusiasm； borne on the
arms of the officers who had escorted him from the island of Elba。 The
Emperor begged them earnestly to let him walk； but his entreaties were
useless； and they bore him thus to the very door of his apartment； where
they deposited him near me。 I had not seen the Emperor since the day of
his farewell to the National Guard in the great court of the palace； and
in spite of the great agitation into which I was thrown by all this
commotion； I could not help noticing how much stouter he had become。
〃The Emperor had hardly entered his apartments than I was assigned to
duty in the interior。 Marshal Bertrand； who had just replaced General
Excelmans in the command of the Tuileries； gave me an order to allow no
one to enter without informing him； and to give him the names of all who
requested to see the Emperor。 One of the first to present himself was
Cambaceres； who appeared to me even more pallid than usual。 A short time
after came the father of General Bertrand； and as this venerable old man
attempted to pay his respects first to the Emperor； Napoleon said to him；
'No； monsieur！ nature first；' and in saying this； with a movement as
quick as his words； the Emperor； so to speak； threw him into the arms of
his son。 Next came Queen Hortense； accompanied by her two children；
then； Count Regnault de Saint…Jean d'Angely； and many other persons whose
names have escaped me。 I did not see again those I announced to Marshal
Bertrand； as they all went out by another door。 I continued this duty
till eleven o'clock in the evening； at which time I was relieved of my
duties； and was invited to supper at an immense table of about three
hundred covers。 All the persons presented at the palace took their
places at this table； one after the other。 I there saw the Duke of
Vicenza； and found myself placed opposite General Excelmans。 The Emperor
supped alone in his room with Marshal Bertrand； and their