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bivouac I shared with him a bundle of straw； which I had been fortunate
enough to procure。 In such cases I must avow the sacrifice was much
greater on my part than when I had shared my wardrobe with him。 The king
was not backward in expressing his gratitude； and I thought it a most
remarkable thing to see a sovereign； whose palace was filled with all
that luxury can invent to add to comfort； and all that art can create
which is splendid and magnificent； only too happy in procuring half of a
bundle of straw on which to rest his head。
I will now give some fresh souvenirs which have just recurred to my mind
concerning the Court theater。 At Saint…Cloud； in order to reach the
theater hall； it was necessary to cross the whole length of the Orangery；
and nothing could be more elegant than the manner in which it was
decorated on these occasions。 Rows of rare plants were arranged in
tiers； and the whole lighted by lamps； and during the winter the boxes
were hidden by covering them with moss and flowers； which produced a
charming effect under the lights。
The parterre of the theater was usually filled with generals； senators；
and councilors of state； the first boxes were reserved for the princes
and princesses of the imperial family； for foreign princes； marshals；
their wives； and ladies of honor。 In the second tier were placed all
persons attached to the Court。 Between the acts； ices and refreshments
were served； but the ancient etiquette had been re…established in one
particular； which greatly displeased the actors；no applause was
allowed； and Talma often told me that the kind of coldness produced by
this silence was very detrimental at certain parts where the actor felt
the need of being enthused。 Nevertheless； it sometimes happened that the
Emperor； in testimony of his satisfaction； made a slight signal with his
hand； and then and also at the grandest periods we heard； if not
applause； at least a flattering murmur which the spectators were not
always able to repress。
The chief charm of these brilliant assemblies was the presence of the
Emperor； and consequently an invitation to the theater of Saint…Cloud was
an honor much desired。 In the time of the Empress Josephine there were
no representations at the palace in the absence of the Emperor； but when
Marie Louise was alone at Saint…Cloud during the campaign of Dresden； two
representations a week were given； and the whole repertoire of Gretry was
played in succession before her Majesty。 At the end of each piece there
was always a little ballet。
The theater of Saint…Cloud was； so to speak； on more than one occasion
the theater of first attempts。 For instance； M。 Raynouard played there
for the first time the 'Etats de Blois'； a work which the Emperor would
not allow to be played in public； and which was not done； in fact； until
after the return of Louis XVIII。
'The Venetians' by M。 Amand also made its first appearance on the theater
of Saint…Cloud； or rather of Malmaison。 This was not highly considered
at the time； but the infallible judgment the Emperor displayed in his
choice of plays and actors was most remarkable。 He generally gave M。
Corvisart the preference in deciding these matters； on which he descanted
with much complacence when his more weighty occupations allowed。 He was
usually less severe and more just than Geoffroy； and it is much to be
desired that the criticisms and opinions of the Emperor concerning
authors and actors could have been preserved。 They would have been of
much benefit to the progress of art。
In speaking of the retreat from Moscow； I related previously in my
memoirs that I had the good fortune to offer a place in my carriage to
the young Prince of Aremborg； and assisted him in continuing his journey。
I recall another occasion in the life of this prince； when one of my
friends was very useful to him； some particulars of which may not be
without interest。
The Prince of Aremberg； an ordnance officer of the Emperor； had； as we
know； married Mademoiselle Tascher； niece of the Empress Josephine。
Having been sent into Spain； he was there taken by the English； and
afterwards carried a prisoner to England。 His captivity was at first
very disagreeable； and he told me himself that he was very unhappy； until
he made the acquaintance of one of my friends； M。 Herz； commissary of
war； who possessed a fine mind； was very intelligent； spoke several
languages； and was； like the prince； a prisoner in England。 The
acquaintance formed at once between the prince and M。 Herz soon became so
intimate that they were constantly together； and thus passed the time as
happily as it can with one far from his native land and deprived of his
liberty。
They were living thus； ameliorating for each other the ennui of
captivity； when M。 Herz was exchanged； which was； perhaps； a great
misfortune for him； as we shall afterwards see。 At all events； the
prince was deeply distressed at being left alone； but； nevertheless； gave
M。 Herz several letters to his family； and at the same time sent his
mother his mustache； which he had mounted in a medallion with a chain。
One day the Princess of Aremberg arrived at SaintCloud and demanded a
private audience of the Emperor。
〃My son；〃 said she； 〃demands your Majesty's permission to attempt his
escape from England。〃〃Madame；〃 said the Emperor； 〃your request is most
embarrassing！ I do not forbid your son； but I can by no means authorize
him。〃
It was at the time I had the honor of saving the Prince of Aremberg's
life that I learned from him these particulars。 As for my poor friend
Herz； his liberty became fatal to him； owing to an inexplicable
succession of events。 Having been sent by Marshal Augereau to Stralsund
to perform a secret mission； he died there； suffocated by the fire of a
brass stove in the room in which he slept。 His secretary and his servant
nearly fell victims to the same accident； but； more fortunate than he；
their lives were saved。 The Prince of Aremberg spoke to me of the death
of M。 Herz with real feeling； and it was easy to see that； prince as he
was and allied to the Emperor； he entertained a most sincere friendship
for his companion in captivity。
CHAPTER； XXXI。
MILITARY ANECDOTES。
I have collected under the title of Military Anecdotes some facts which
came to my knowledge while I accompanied the Emperor on his campaigns；
and the authenticity of which I guarantee。 I might have scattered them
through my memoirs； and placed them in their proper periods； my not
having done so is not owing to forgetfulness on my part； but because I
thought that these incidents would have an added interest by being
collected together； since in them we see the direct influence of the
Emperor upon his soldiers； and thus can more easily form an exact idea of
the manner in which his Majesty treated them； his consideration for them；
and their attachment to his person。
During the autumn of 1804； between the time of the creation of the empire
and the coronation of the Emperor； his Majesty made several journeys to
the camp of Boulogne； and from this fact rumors arose that the expedition
against England would