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his Majesty； there was one in which he took an especial interest。 I do
not think that in any of the intervals between his wars the Emperor had
come to Paris without making a visit to the institution of the Daughters
of the Legion of Honor； of which Madame Campan was in charge； first at
Ecouen； and afterwards at Saint…Denis。 The Emperor visited it in the
month of November； and I remember an anecdote which I heard related to
his Majesty on this occasion which diverted him exceedingly。
Nevertheless； I cannot remember positively whether this anecdote relates
to the visit of 1813； or one made previously。
In the first place； it must be explained that； in accordance with the
regulation of the household of the young ladies of the Legion of Honor；
no man； with the exception of the Emperor； was admitted into the interior
of the establishment。 But as the Emperor was always attended by an
escort； his suite formed in some sort a part of himself； and entered with
him。 Besides his officers； the pages usually accompanied him。 In the
evening on his return from SaintDenis； the Emperor said to me； laughing；
as he entered his room； where I was waiting to undress him； 〃Well； my
pages wish to resemble the pages of former times！ The little idiots！
Do you know what they do？ When I go to Saint…Denis； they have a contest
among themselves as to who shall be on duty。 Ha！ ha！〃 The Emperor；
while speaking； laughed and rubbed his hands together； and then； having
repeated several times in the same tone； 〃The little idiots；〃 he added；
following out one of those singular reflections which sometimes struck
him； 〃I； Constant； would have made a very poor page； I would never have
had such an idea。 Moreover； these are good young men； good officers have
already come from among them。 This will lead one day to some marriages。〃
It was very rare； in fact； that a thing； though frivolous in appearance；
did not lead； on the Emperor's part； to some serious conclusion。
Hereafter； indeed； with the exception of a few remembrances of the past；
I shall have only serious and often very sad events to relate； for we
have now arrived at the point where everything has taken a serious turn；
and clothed itself in most somber tints。
CHAPTER XIX。
For the last time we celebrated in Paris the anniversary fete of his
Majesty's coronation。 The gifts to the Emperor on this occasion were
innumerable addresses made to him by all the towns of the Empire； in
which offers of sacrifices and protestations of devotion seemed to
increase in intensity in proportion to the difficulty of the
circumstances。 Alas！ in four months the full value of these
protestations was proved； and； nevertheless； how was it possible to
believe that this enthusiasm； which was so universal； was not entirely
sincere？ This would have been an impossibility with the Emperor； who；
until the very end of his reign； believed himself beloved by France with
the same devotion which he felt for her。 A truth； which was well proved
by succeeding events； is that the Emperor became more popular among that
part of the inhabitants called the people when misfortunes began to
overwhelm him。 His Majesty had proofs of this in a visit he made to the
Faubourg Saint…Antoine； and it is very certain that； if under other
circumstances he had been able to bend from his dignity to propitiate the
people； a means which was most repugnant to the Emperor in consequence of
his remembrances of the Revolution； all the faubourgs of Paris would have
armed themselves in his defense。 How can this be doubted after the event
which I here describe？
The Emperor； towards the end of 1813 or the beginning of 1814； on one
occasion visited the Faubourg Saint…Antoine。 I cannot to…day give the
precise date of this unexpected visit； but at any rate he showed himself
on this occasion familiar； even to the point of good fellowship； which
emboldened those immediately around to address him。 I now relate the
conversation which occurred between his Majesty and several of the
inhabitants； which has been faithfully recorded； and admitted to be true
by several witnesses of this really touching scene。
An Inhabitant。〃Is it true； as I am told； that the condition of affairs
is so bad？〃
The Emperor。 〃I cannot say that they are in a very good condition。〃
The Inhabitant。〃But how； then； will all this end？
The Emperor。〃By my faith； God alone knows。〃
The Inhabitant。〃But what！ Is it possible the enemy could really enter
France？〃
The Emperor。〃That might occur； and they might even penetrate as far as
this place； if you do not come to my aid。 I have not a million arms。 I
cannot do everything alone。〃
Numerous Voices。〃We will uphold you； we will uphold you。〃
Still more Voices。〃Yes； yes。 Count on us。〃
The Emperor。〃In that case the enemy will be beaten； and we will
preserve our glory untarnished。〃
Several Voices。〃But what； then； shall we do？〃
The Emperor。〃Be enrolled and fight。〃
A New Voice。〃We would do this gladly； but we would like to make certain
conditions。〃
The Emperor。〃Well； speak out frankly。 Let us know； what are these
conditions？〃
Several Voices。〃That we are not to pass the frontiers。〃
The Emperor。〃You shall not pass them。〃
Several Voices。〃We wish to enter the guard。〃
The Emperor。〃Well； then； you shall enter the guard。〃
His Majesty had hardly pronounced these last words； when the immense
crowd which surrounded him made the air resound with cries of 〃Vive
l'Empereur！〃 and their number continued to increase all the way as the
Emperor slowly returned to the Tuileries； until； by the time he reached
the gates of the Carrousel； he was accompanied by an innumerable cortege。
We heard these noisy acclamations； but they were so badly interpreted by
the commandant of the post at the palace； that he thought it was an
insurrection； and the iron gates of the Tuileries on that side of the
court were closed。
When I saw the Emperor； a few moments after his return； he appeared more
annoyed than pleased； for everything having an appearance of disorder was
excessively distasteful to him； and a popular tumult； whatever its cause；
had always in it something unpleasant to him。
Meanwhile this scene； which his Majesty might well have repeated；
produced a deep impression on the people； and this enthusiasm had
positive and immediate results； since on that day more than two thousand
men were voluntarily enrolled； and formed a new regiment of the guard。
On the anniversary fete of the coronation and of the battle of
Austerlitz； there were as usual free representations in all the theaters
of Paris； but at these the Emperor did not appear； as he had so often
done。 There were also amusements； a free distribution of eatables； and
also illuminations； and twelve young girls； whose marriage dowries were
given by the city of Paris； were married to old soldiers。 I remember
that among everything which marked the ceremonials of the Empire； the
custom of performing these marriages was the one most pleasing to the
Emperor； and he often spoke of it in terms of approbation； for； if I may
be allowed to make the observation； his Majesty had what might b