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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 supper was by
no means so splendid as ours； for it consisted only of a roast chicken
and a dish of lentils； and yet I learned from an officer who fad attended
him constantly since he left Fontainebleau； that his Majesty had eaten
nothing since morning。 The Emperor was exceedingly fatigued； I had
opportunity to mark this each time his door was opened。 He was seated on
a chair in front of the fire； with his feet on the mantelpiece。
〃As we all remained at the Tuileries； word was sent us about one o'clock
that the Emperor had just retired； and that in case any soldiers should
arrive during the night who had accompanied him； he had given orders that
they should be on duty at the palace conjointly with the National Guard。
The poor creatures were hardly in a condition to obey such an order。 At
two o'clock in the morning we saw two of them arrive in a most pitiable
condition； they were perfectly emaciated； and their feet blistered。 All
that they could do was to throw themselves on their bags； on which they
fell sound asleep； and they did not even awake while the duty of
bandaging their feet was attended to in the room which they had reached
with so much difficulty。 All were eager to lavish every attention on
them； and I admit that I have always regretted not having inquired the
names of these two brave grenadiers； who inspired in all of us an
interest I cannot describe。
〃After retiring at one o'clock； the Emperor was on his feet at five
o'clock in the morning； and the order was immediately given to the
soldiers on half pay to hold themselves ready for a review； and at break
of day they were ranged in three ranks。 At this moment I was deputed to
watch over an officer who was pointed out as suspicious； and who； it was
said； had come from Saint…Denis。 This was M。 de Saint…Chamans。 At the
end of a quarter of an hour of arrest； which had nothing disagreeable in
it； he was simply asked to leave。 Meanwhile； the Emperor had descended
from the palace； and passed through the ranks of the soldiers on half
pay； speaking to each one； taking many of them by the hand； and saying to
them； 〃My friends； I need your services； I rely on you as you may rely on
me。〃 Magic words on the lips of Napoleon； and which drew tears of
emotion from all those brave soldiers whose services had been ignored for
a year。
〃From the morning the crowd increased rapidly on all the approaches to
the Tuileries； and a mass of people asseriabled under the windows of the
chateau； demanding with loud shouts to see Napoleon。 Marshal Bertrand
having informed him of this； the Emperor showed himself at the window；
where he was saluted by the shouts which his presence had so often
excited。 After showing himself to the people； the Emperor himself
presented to them Marshal Bertrand； his arm resting on the marshal's
shoulder； whom he pressed to his heart with demonstrations of the
liveliest affection。 During this scene； which deeply affected all the
witnesses； who cheered with all their might； officers； standing behind
the Emperor and his friend； held above their heads banners surmounted by
their eagles； of which they formed a kind of national canopy。 At eleven
o'clock the Emperor mounted his horse； and reviewed the various regiments
which were arriving from every direction； and the heroes of the island of
Elba who had returned to the Tuileries during the night。 All seemed
deeply impressed with the appearance of these brave men； whom the sun of
Italy had tanned； and who had traveled nearly two hundred leagues in
twenty days。〃
These are the curious details which were given to me by a friend； and I
can guarantee the truth of his recital the same as if I myself had been
an eye…witness of all that occurred during the memorable night of the
20th and 21st March； 1815。 Continuing in my retreat during the hundred
days； and long after； I have nothing to say which all the world would not
know as well as I concerning this important epoch in the life of the
Emperor。 I have shed many tears over his sufferings at the time of his
second abdication； and the tortures inflicted on him at St。 Helena by the
miserable Hudson Lowe； whose infamy will go down through the ages side by
side with the glory of the Emperor。 I will simply content myself by
adding to the preceding a certain document which was confided to me by
the former Queen of Westphalia； and saying a word in conclusion as to the
destination I thought best to give to the first cross of the Legion of
Honor which the First Consul had worn。
Princess Catharine of Wurtemberg； the wife；of Prince Jerome； is； as is
well known； a woman of great beauty； gifted at the same time with more
solid qualities； which time increases instead of diminishing。 She joins；
to much natural intelligence； a highly cultivated mind； a character truly
worthy of a sister…in…law of the Emperor； and carries even to enthusiasm
her love of duty。 Events did not allow her to become a great queen； but
they have not prevented her remaining an accomplished wife。 Her
sentiments are noble and elevated； but she shows haughtiness to none； and
all who surround her take pleasure in boasting of the charms of her
kindness towards her household； and she possesses the happiest gift of
nature； which consists in making herself beloved by every one。 Prince
Jerome is not without a certain grandeur of manner and formal generosity；
which he learned while on the throne of Cassel； but he is generally very
haughty。 Although in consequence of the great changes which have taken
place in Europe since the fall of the Emperor； Prince Jerome owes the
comfortable maintenance which he still enjoys to the love of the
princess； she does not any the less show a truly exemplary submission to
his will。 Princess Catharine occupies herself almost exclusively with
her three children； two boys and one girl； all of whom are very
beautiful。 The eldest was born in the month of August； 1814。 Her
daughter； the Princess Mathilde； owes her superior education to the care
her mother exercised