to the fate of my family； of whom I had received no news for a long
while； and； at the same time； the cruel disease from which I had long
suffered had made frightful progress； owing to the fatigue of the last
campaign。 Nevertheless； the mental suffering to which I saw the Emperor
a victim so entirely absorbed all my thoughts； that I took no precautions
against the physical suffering which I endured； and I had not even
thought of asking for a safeguard for the country…house I possessed in
the environs of Fontainebleau。 A free corps having seized it； had
established themselves there； after having pillaged and destroyed
everything； even the little flock of merino sheep which I owed to the
kindness of the Empress Josephine。 The Emperor； having been informed of
it by others than myself； said to me one morning at his toilet；
〃Constant； I owe you indemnity。〃〃Sire？〃〃Yes； my child； I know that
your place has been pillaged； I know that you have incurred considerable
losses in the Russian campaign； I have given an order that fifty thousand
francs should be handed you to cover the whole。〃 I thanked his Majesty；
who more than indemnified me for my losses。
This occurred during the first days of our last stay at Fontainebleau。
At the same period the Emperor's removal to the Island of Elba having
been already discussed； the grand marshal of the palace asked me if I
would follow his Majesty to this residence。 God is my witness that I had
no other wish than to consecrate all my life to the service of the
Emperor； therefore I did not need a moment's reflection to reply that
this could not be a matter of doubt； and I occupied myself almost
immediately with preparations for the sojourn； which proved to be not a
long one； but the duration of which no human intelligence could then have
been able to foretell。
Meanwhile； in the retirement of his chamber； the Emperor became each day
more sad and careworn； and when I saw him alone； which often occurred；
for I tried to be near him as much as possible； I remarked the extreme
agitation which the reading of the dispatches he received from Paris
caused him； this agitation was many times so great that I noticed he had
torn his leg with his nails until the blood flowed； without being aware
of it。 I then took the liberty of informing him of the fact as gently as
possible； with the hope of putting an end to this intense preoccupation；
which cut me to the heart。 Several times also the Emperor asked Roustan
for his pistols； fortunately I had taken the precaution； seeing his
Majesty so unnerved； to recommend him not to give them to him； however
much the Emperor might insist。 I thought it my duty to give an account
of all this to the Duke of Vicenza； who entirely approved of my conduct。
One morning； I do not recall whether it was the 10th or 11th of April；
but it was certainly on one of those days； the Emperor； who had said
nothing to me in the morning； had me called during the day。 I had hardly
entered his room when he said to me； in a tone of most winning kindness；
〃My dear Constant； there is a hundred thousand francs waiting for you at
Peyrache's； if your wife arrives before our departure； you will give them
to her； if she should not； put them in the corner of your country…place；
note the exact location of the spot； which you will send to her by some
safe person。 When one has served me well he should not be in want。 Your
wife will build a farm； in which she will invest this money； she will
live with your mother and sister； and you will not have the fear of
leaving her in need。〃 Even more moved by the provident kindness of the
Emperor； who thus deigned to consider the interests of my family affairs；
than delighted with the great value of the present he had made me； I
could hardly find words to express to him my gratitude； and such was；
besides； my carelessness of the future； so far from me had been the
thought that this great Empire could come to an end； that this was the
first time I had really considered the embarrassed condition in which I
would have left my family； if the Emperor had not thus generously
provided for them。 I had； in fact； no fortune； and possessed in all the
world only my pillaged house； and the fifty thousand francs destined to
repair it。
Under these circumstances； not knowing when I should see my wife again； I
made arrangements to follow the advice his Majesty had been kind enough
to give me； converted my hundred thousand francs into gold； which I put
into five bags； and taking with me the wardrobe boy Denis； whose honesty
was above suspicion； we followed the road through the forest to avoid
being seen by any of the persons who occupied my house。 We cautiously
entered a little inclosure belonging to me； the gate of which could not
be seen on account of the trees； although they were now without foliage；
and with the aid of Denis I succeeded in burying my treasure； after
taking an exact note of the place； and then returned to the palace； being
certainly very far from foreseeing how much chagrin and tribulation those
hundred thousand francs would cause me； as we shall see in the succeeding
chapters。
CHAPTER XXVII。
Here more than ever I must beg the indulgence of my readers as to the
order in which I relate the events I witnessed during the Emperor's stay
at Fontainebleau； and those connected with them which did not come to my
knowledge until later。 I must also apologize for any inaccuracy in dates
of which I may be guilty； though I remember collectively； so to speak；
all that occurred during the unhappy twenty days which ensued between the
occupation of Paris and the departure of his Majesty for the Island of
Elba； for I was so completely absorbed in the unhappy condition of my
good master that all my faculties hardly sufficed for the sensations I
experienced every moment。 We suffered in the Emperor's sufferings； it
occurred to none of us to imprint on his memory the recollection of so
much agony； for we lived； so to speak； only provisionally。
During the first days of our stay at Fontainebleau the idea that the
Emperor would soon cease to reign over France was very far from entering
the minds of any of those around him； for every one was possessed with
the conviction that the Emperor of Austria would not consent that his
son…in…law； daughter； and grandson should be dethroned； in this they were
strangely mistaken。 I remarked during these first days that even more
petitions than usual were addressed to his Majesty； but I am ignorant
whether he responded favorably； or even if he replied at all。 The
Emperor often took up the daily papers； but after casting his eyes over
them threw them down angrily； and if we recall the shameless abuse in
which those writers indulged who had so often lavished fulsome praises on
him； it may well be understood that such a transition would naturally
excite his Majesty's disgust。 The Emperor usually remained alone； and
the person whom he saw most frequently was the Duke of Bassano； the only
one of his ministers then at Fontainebleau； for the Duke of Vicenza；
being charged continually with missions； was； so to speak； constantly on
the wing； especially as long as his Majesty retained the hope of seeing a
regency in favor of his son succeed him in the government。 In seeking to
recall the varied feelings whose impress I remarked on his Majesty's
countenance； I think I may affirm that he was even more deeply affected
by being compelled to renounce the throne for his son than in resigning
it for himself。 When the marshals or the Duke of Vicenza spoke to his
Majesty of arrangements relating to his person； it was easy to see that
he forced himself to listen to them only with the greatest repugnance。
One day when they spoke of the Island of Elba； and I do not know what sum
per year； I heard his Majesty reply vehemently： 〃That is too much； much
too much for me。 If I am no longer anything more than a common soldier；
I do not need more than one louis per day。〃
Nevertheless； the time arrived when； pressed on every side； his Majesty
submitted to sign the act of abdication pure and simple； which was
demanded of him。 This memorable act was conceived in these terms：
〃The allied powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is
the only obstacle to the re…establishment of peace in Europe； the
Emperor Napoleon； faithful to his oath； declares that he renounces
for himself and his heirs the thrones of France and Italy； and that
there is no personal sacrifice； even his life； which he is not
willing to make for the interests of France。
〃Done at the palace of Fontainebleau； 11th of April； 1814。
NAPOLEON。〃
I do not need to say that I then had no knowledge of the act of
abdication above given； it was one of those state secrets which emanated
from the cabinet； and hardly entered into the confidence of the bedroom。
I only recall that there was some discussion of the matter； though very
vague； that same day in the household； and； besides； it was evident that
something extraordinary was taking place； and the whole day his Majesty
seemed more depressed t