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deputed to accompany his Majesty to the place of his embarkment for the
Island of Elba。 These were Count Schuwaloff； aide…de…camp of the Emperor
Alexander from Russia； Colonel Neil Campbell from England； General
Kohler from Austria； and finally Count of Waldburg…Truchsess for Prussia。
Although his Majesty had himself demanded that he should be accompanied
by these four commissioners； their presence at Fontainebleau seemed to
make a most disagreeable impression on him。 However； each of these
gentlemen received from the Emperor a different welcome； and after a few
words that I heard his Majesty say； I was convinced on this； as on many
previous occasions； that he esteemed the English far more than all his
other enemies； and Colonel Campbell was； therefore； welcomed with more
distinction than the other ministers； while the ill…humor of the Emperor
vented itself especially on the commissioner of the King of Prussia； who
took no notice of it； and put on the best possible countenance。
With the exception of the very slight apparent change made at
Fontainebleau by the presence of these gentlemen； no remarkable incident；
none at least in my knowledge； came to disturb the sad and monotonous
life of the Emperor in the palace。 Everything remained gloomy and silent
among the inhabitants of this last imperial residence； but； nevertheless；
the Emperor personally seemed to me more calm since he had come to a
definite conclusion than at the time he was wavering in painful
indecision。 He spoke sometimes in my presence of the Empress and his
son； but not as often as might have been expected。 But one thing which
struck me deeply was； that never a single time did a a word escape his
lips which could recall the act of desperation of the night of the 11th；
which fortunately； as we have seen； had not the fatal results we feared。
What a night！ What a night！ In my whole life since I have never been
able to think of it without shuddering。
After the arrival of the commissioners of the allied powers； the Emperor
seemed by degrees to acclimate himself； so to speak； to their presence；
and the chief occupation of the whole household consisted of duties
relating to our preparations for departure。 One day； as I was dressing
his Majesty； he said to me smiling； 〃Ah； well； my son； prepare your cart；
we will go and plant our cabbages。〃 Alas！ I was very far from thinking；
as I heard these familiar words of his Majesty； that by an inconceivable
concurrence of events； I should be forced to yield to an inexplicable
fatality； which did not will that in spite of my ardent desire I should
accompany the Emperor to his place of exile。
The evening before the day fixed for our departure the grand marshal of
the palace had me called。 After giving me some orders relative to the
voyage； he said to me that the Emperor wished to know what was the sum of
money I had in charge for him。 I immediately gave an account to the
grand marshal； and he saw that the sum total was about three hundred
thousand francs； including the gold in a bog which Baron Fain had sent
me； since he would not be on the journey。 The grand marshal said he
would present the account to the Emperor。 An hour after he again
summoned me； and said that his Majesty thought he had one hundred
thousand francs more。 I replied that I had in my possession one hundred
thousand francs； which the Emperor had presented to me； telling me to
bury it in my garden； in fact； I related to him all the particulars I
have described above； and begged him to inquire of the Emperor if it was
these one hundred thousand francs to which his Majesty referred。 Count
Bertrand promised to do this； and I then made the great mistake of not
addressing myself directly to the Emperor。 Nothing would have been
easier in my position； and I had often found that it was always better；
when possible； to go directly to him than to have recourse to any
intermediate person whatever。 It would have been much better for me to
act thus； since； if the Emperor had demanded the one hundred thousand
francs which he had given me； which； after all； was hardly possible； I
was more than disposed to restore them to him without a moment's
hesitation。 My astonishment may be imagined when the grand marshal
reported to me that the Emperor did not remember having given me the sum
in question。 I instantly became crimson with anger。 What！ the Emperor
had allowed it to be believed by Count Bertrand that I had attempted
I； his faithful servantto appropriate a sum which he had given me under
all the circumstances I have related！ I was beside myself at this
thought。 I left in a state impossible to be described； assuring the
grand marshal that in an hour at most I would restore to him the fatal
present of his Majesty。
While rapidly crossing the court of the palace I met M。 de Turenne； to
whom I related all that had occurred。 〃That does not astonish me；〃 he
replied； 〃and we will see many other similar cases。〃 A prey to a sort of
moral fever； my head distracted； my heart oppressed； I sought Denis； the
wardrobe boy； of whom I have spoken previously； I found him most
fortunately； and hastened with him to my country place； and God is my
witness that the loss of the hundred thousand francs was not the cause of
my distress； and I hardly thought of it。 As on the first occasion； we
passed along the side of the woods in order not to be seen； and began to
dig up the earth to find the money we had placed there； and in the
eagerness with which I hunted for this miserable gold； in order to
restore it to the grand marshal； I dug up more than was necessary。 I
cannot describe my despair when I saw that we had found nothing； I
thought that some one had seen and followed us； in fact； that I had been
robbed。 This was a more crushing blow to me than the first； and I
foresaw the consequences with horror； what would be said； what would be
thought； of me？ Would my word be taken？ The grand marshal； already
prejudiced by the inexplicable reply of the Emperor； would consider me a
person totally devoid of honor。 I was overwhelmed by these fatal
thoughts when Denis suggested to me that we had not dug in the right
spot； and had made a mistake of some feet。 I eagerly embraced this ray
of hope； we began again to dig up the earth with more eagerness than
ever； and I can say without exaggeration that my joy bordered almost on
delirium when I saw the first of the bags。 We drew out in succession all
the five； and with the assistance of Denis I carried them to the palace；
and placed them without delay in the hands of the grand marshal； with the
keys of the Emperor's trunk； and the casket which M。 Fain had committed
to me。 I said to him as I left； 〃Monseigneur； be good enough to say to
his Majesty that I will not accompany him。〃〃I will tell him。〃
After this cold and laconic reply I immediately left the palace； and was
soon after in Rue du Coq…Gris； with M。 Clement； a bailiff； who for a long
time had been charged with my small affairs； and had given the necessary
attention to my farm during the long absences which the journeys and
campaigns of the Emperor necessitated。 Then I gave f