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of his brother to obtain him a kingdom。 I guarantee the authenticity of
the following incident； which was related to me by a reliable person：
Lucien had in charge of his establishment a friend of his early youth；
the same age as himself； and like him born in Corsica； who was named
Campi； and enjoyed the most confidential relations in the count's
household。 On the day that the 'Moniteur' gave a list of the new French
princes； Campi was promenading in the handsome gallery of pictures
collected by Lucien； with the latter's young secretary； when the
following conversation occurred between them。 〃You have no doubt read
the 'Moniteur' of to…day？〃〃Yes。〃〃You have seen that all the members
of the family have had the title of French princes bestowed on them； and
the name of monsieur le count alone is wanting to the list。〃〃What
matters that？ There are kingdoms。〃〃Considering the care that
sovereigns take to keep them； there will hardly be any vacancy。〃
〃Ah； well； they will be made。 All the royal families of Europe are worn
out； and we must have new ones。〃 Thereupon Campi was silent； and advised
the young man to hold his tongue； if he wished to preserve the favor of
the count。 However； it was not long after this before the young
secretary repeated this confidential conversation； which； without being
singularly striking； gives； however； an idea of the amount of confidence
which should be placed in the pretended moderation of Count Lucien； and
in the epigrams against his brother and his family which have been
attributed to him。
No one in the chateau was ignorant of the hostility which existed between
Lucien Bonaparte and the Empress Josephine； and to make their court to
the latter the former habitues of Malmaison； now become the courtiers of
the Tuileries； were in the habit of relating to her the most piquant
anecdotes they could collect relative to the younger brother of the
Emperor。 Thus it happened that by chance one day I heard a dignified
person and a senator of the Empire give the Empress； in the gayest manner
imaginable； very minute details as to one of the temporary liaisons of
Count Lucien。 I do not guarantee the authenticity of the anecdote； and I
experience in writing it more embarrassment than the senator displayed in
relating it； and omit； indeed； a mass of details which the narrator gave
without blushing； and without driving off his audience； for my object is
to throw light upon the family secrets of the imperial household； and on
the habits of the persons who were nearest the Emperor； and not to
publish scandal； though I could justify myself by the example of a
dignitary of the Empire。
Count Lucien （I do not know in what year） established himself in the good
graces of Mademoiselle Meserai； an actress of the Theatre Francais； who
was both pretty and sprightly。 The conquest was not difficult； in the
first place； because this had never been her character towards any one；
and； secondly； because the artiste knew the great wealth of the count；
and believed him to be prodigal。 The first attentions of her lover
confirmed her in this opinion； and she demanded a house。 He at once
presented her with one richly and elegantly furnished； the deed being put
in her hands on the day she took possession； and each visit of the count
added to the actress's wardrobe or jewel…case some new gifts。 This
lasted some months； at the end of which Lucien became disgusted with his
bargain； and began to consider by what means to break it without losing
too much。 Among other things； he had made mademoiselle a present of a
pair of girandoles； containing diamonds of great value。 In one of the
last interviews； before the count had allowed any signs of coldness to be
seen； he perceived the girandoles on the toilet…table of his mistress；
and； taking them in his hands； said； 〃Really； my dear； you do me
injustice； why do you not show more confidence in me？ I do not wish you
to wear jewelry so much out of date as these。〃〃Why； it has been only
six months since you gave them to me。〃〃I know it； but a woman of good
taste； a woman who respects herself； should never wear anything six
months old。 I will take the ear…rings and send them to de Villiers ＇he
was the count's jeweler＇ with orders to mount them as I wish。〃 The count
was tenderly thanked for so delicate an attention； and put the girandoles
in his pocket； with one or two necklaces which had also been his gift；
and which did not appear to him sufficiently new in style； and the breach
took place before any of these had been returned。
Notwithstanding this； Mademoiselle believed herself well provided for
with her furniture and her house； until one morning the true proprietor
came to ask her wishes as to making a new lease。 She ran to examine her
deed； which she had not yet thought to do； and found that it was simply a
description of the property； at the end of which was a receipt for two
years' rent。
During our stay at Genoa the heat was insupportable； from this the
Emperor suffered greatly； saying he had never experienced the like in
Egypt； and undressed many times a day。 His bed was covered with a
mosquito netting； for the insects were numerous and worrying。 The
windows of the bedroom looked out upon a grand terrace on the margin of
the sea； and from them could be seen the gulf and all the surrounding
country。 The fetes given by the city were superb。 An immense number of
vessels were fastened together； and filled with orange and citrontrees
and shrubs； some covered with flowers； some with fruits； and all combined
formed a most exquisite floating garden which their Majesties visited on
a magnificent yacht。
On his return to France； the Emperor made no halt between Turin and
Fontainebleau。 He traveled incognito； in the name of the minister of the
interior； and went at such speed that at each relay they were obliged to
throw water on the wheels； but in spite of this his Majesty complained of
the slowness of the postilions； and cried continually； 〃Hurry up！ hurry
up！ we are hardly moving。〃 Many of the servants' carriages were； left
in the rear； though mine experienced no delay； and I arrived at each
relay at the same time as the Emperor。
In ascending the steep hill of Tarare； the Emperor alighted from the
carriage； as did also Berthier； who accompanied him； the carriages of the
suite being some distance behind； as the drivers had stopped to breathe
their horses。
His Majesty saw； climbing the hill a few steps before him； an old；
decrepit woman； who hobbled along with great difficulty。 As the Emperor
approached her he inquired why； infirm as she was； and apparently so
fatigued； she should attempt to travel so difficult a road。
〃Sir；〃 replied she； 〃they tell me the Emperor is to pass along here； and
I wish to see him before I die。〃 His Majesty； who liked to be amused；
said to her； 〃Ah； but why trouble yourself about him？ He is a tyrant；
like all the rest。〃 The good woman； indignant at this remark； angrily
replied； 〃At least； Sir； he is our choice； and since we must have a
master； it is at least right that we should choose him。〃 I was not an
eye…witness of this incident； but I he