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her than a necklace of Greek and Roman antique stones perfectly matched。
Several chamberlains approved the idea； which； of course； pleased the
Empress； for she was very fond of anything unique； and consequently one
morning； as I was dressing the Emperor； the Empress entered； and； after a
little conversation； said； 〃Bonaparte； some ladies have advised me to
have a necklace made of antique stones； and I came to ask you to urge M。
Denon to select only very handsome ones。〃 The Emperor burst out
laughing； and refused flatly at first； but just then the grand marshal of
the palace arrived； and the Emperor informed him of this request of the
Empress； asking his opinion。 M。 le due de Frioul thought it very
reasonable； and joined his entreaties to those of the Empress。 〃It is an
egregious folly；〃 said the Emperor； 〃but we are obliged to grant it；
because the women wish it； so； Duroc； go to the cabinet of antiques； and
choose whatever is necessary。〃
M。 le due de Frioul soon returned with the finest stones in the
collection； which the crown jeweler mounted magnificently； but this
ornament was of such enormous weight that the Empress never wore it。
Though I may be accused of making tiresome repetitions； I must say that
the Empress seized； with an eagerness which cannot be described； on all
occasions of making benefactions。 For instance； one morning when she was
breakfasting alone with his Majesty； the cries of an infant were suddenly
heard proceeding from a private staircase。 The Emperor was annoyed at
this； and with a frown； asked sharply what that meant。 I went to
investigate； and found a new…born child； carefully and neatly dressed；
asleep in a kind of cradle； with a ribbon around its body from which hung
a folded paper。 I returned to tell what I had seen； and the Empress at
once exclaimed； 〃O Constant！ bring me the cradle。〃 The Emperor would
not permit this at first； and expressed his surprise and disapprobation
that it should have been thus introduced into the interior of his
apartments； whereupon her Majesty； having pointed out to him that it must
have been done by some one of the household； he turned towards me； and
gave me a searching look； as if to ask if it was I who had originated
this idea。 I shook my head in denial。 At that moment the baby began to
cry； and the Emperor could not keep from smiling； still growling； and
saying； 〃Josephine； send away that monkey！〃
The Empress； wishing to profit by this return of good humor； sent me for
the cradle； which I brought to her。 She caressed the little new…born
babe； quieted it； and read the paper attached to which was a petition
from its parents。 Then she approached the Emperor； insisting on his
caressing the infant himself； and pinching its fat little cheeks； which
he did without much urging； for the Emperor himself loved to play with
children。 At last her Majesty the Empress； having placed a roll of
napoleons in the cradle； had the little bundle in swaddling clothes
carried to the concierge of the palace； in order that he might restore it
to its parents。
I will now give another instance of the kindness of heart of her Majesty
the Empress； of which I had the honor to be a witness； as well as of the
preceding。
A few days before the coronation； a little girl four and a half years old
had been rescued from the Seine； and a charitable lady； Madame Fabien
Pillet； was much interested in providing a home for the poor orphan。 At
the time of the coronation； the Empress； who had been informed of this
occurrence； asked to see this child； and having regarded it a few moments
with much emotion； offered her protection most gracefully and sincerely
to Madame Pillet and her husband； and announced to them that she would
take upon herself the care of the little girl's future； then； with her
usual delicacy and in the affectionate tone which was so natural to her；
the Empress added； 〃Your good action has given you too many claims over
the poor little girl for me to deprive you of the pleasure of completing
your work； I therefore beg your permission to furnish the expenses of her
education。 You have the privilege of putting her in boarding…school； and
watching over her；；and I wish to take only a secondary position； as her
benefactress。〃 It was the most touching sight imaginable to see her
Majesty； while uttering these delicate and generous words； pass her hands
through the hair of the poor little girl； as she had just called her； and
kiss her brow with the tenderness of a mother。 M。 and Madame Pillet
withdrew； for they could no longer bear this touching scene。
CHAPTER XXV。
The appointment of General Junot as ambassador to Portugal recalled to my
recollection a laughable anecdote concerning him； which greatly amused
the Emperor。 While in camp at Boulogne； the Emperor had published in the
order of the day that every soldier should discard powder； and arrange
his hair 'a la Titus'； on which there was much murmuring； but at last all
submitted to the order of the chief； except one old grenadier belonging
to the corps commanded by General Junot。 Not being able to decide on the
sacrifice of his oily tresses or his queue； the old soldier swore he
would submit to it only in case his general would himself cut off the
first lock； and all the officers interested in this affair having
succeeded in getting no other reply； at last reported him to the general。
〃That can be managed； bring the idiot to me！〃 replied he。 The grenadier
was called； and General Junot himself applied the scissors to an oiled
and powdered lock； after which he gave twenty francs to the grumbler； who
went away satisfied to let the barber of the regiment finish the
operation。
The Emperor having been informed of this adventure； laughed most
heartily； and praised Junot； complimenting him on his condescension。
I could cite a thousand similar instances of the kindness of heart joined
to military brusqueness which characterized General Junot； and could also
cite those of another kind； which would do less honor to his name。 The
slight control he had over himself often threw him into transports of
rage； the most ordinary effect of which was forgetfulness of his rank and
the dignity of demeanor which it demanded of him。 Every one has heard
the adventure of the gambling…house； when he tore up the cards； upset the
furniture； and beat both bankers and croupiers； to indemnify himself for
the loss of his money； and the worst of it was； he was at that very time
Governor of Paris。 The Emperor； informed of this scandal； sent for him；
and demanded of him （he was still very angry）； if he had sworn to live
and die mad。 This might have been； from the sequel； taken as a
prediction； for the unfortunate general died at last in a fit of mental
aberration。 He replied in such improper terms to the reprimands of the
Emperor that he was sent； perhaps in order that he might have time to
calm himself； to the army of England。 It was not only in gaming…houses；
however； that the governor thus compromised his dignity； for I have heard
other stories about him of a still more shocking character； which I will
not allow myself to repeat。 T