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localities he passed。 A peasant； seeing him thus some distance from his
suite； cried out to him familiarly； 〃Oh； citizen； is the Emperor going to
pass soon？〃〃Yes；〃 replied the Emperor； 〃have patience。〃
The Emperor had inquired the evening before； of Madame Brienne； news of
Mother Marguerite。 Thus was styled a good woman who dwelt in a cottage；
in the midst of the forest； and on whom the； pupils of the military
academy were accustomed to make frequent visits。 He had not forgotten
her name； and learning； with as much joy as surprise； that she still
lived； the Emperor； extended his morning ride； and galloping up to the
door of the cottage； alighted from his horse； and entered the home of the
good old peasant。 Her sight was impaired by age； and besides； the
Emperor had changed so much since she had seen him that it would have
been difficult even for the best eyes to recognize him。 〃Good…day；
Mother Marguerite；〃 said his Majesty； saluting the old woman； 〃so you are
not curious to see the Emperor？〃〃Yes； indeed； my good sir； I am very
curious to see him； so much so； that here is a little basket of fresh
eggs that I am going to carry to Madame； and I shall then remain at the
chateau； and endeavor to see the Emperor。 But the trouble is； I shall
not be able to see him so well to…day as formerly； when he came with his
comrades to drink milk at Mother Marguerite's。 He was not Emperor then；
but that was nothing； he made the others step around！ Indeed； you should
have seen him！ The milk； the eggs； the brown bread； the broken dishes
though he took care to have me paid for everything； and began by paying
his own bill。〃〃What！ Mother Marguerite；〃 replied his Majesty； smiling；
〃you have not forgotten Bonaparte！〃〃Forgotten！ my good sir； you think
that any one would forget such a young man as he； who was wise； serious；
and sometimes even sad； but always good to poor people？ I am only a poor
peasant woman； but I could have predicted that this young man would make
his way。 He has not done it very badly； has he？ Ah； no； indeed！〃
During this short dialogue； the Emperor had at first turned his back to
the door； and consequently to the light； which entered the cottage only
by that means。 But； by degrees； the Emperor approached the good woman；
and when he was quite near her； with the light shining full on his face
from the door； he began to rub his hands and say； trying to recall the
tone and manner of the days of his early youth； when he came to the
peasant's house； 〃Come； Mother Marguerite； some milk and fresh eggs； we
are famishing。〃 The good old woman seemed trying to revive her memories；
and began to observe the Emperor with the closest attention。 〃Oh； yes；
Mother； you were so sure a while ago of knowing Bonaparte again。 Are we
not old acquaintances； we two？〃 The peasant； while the Emperor was
addressing these last words to her； had fallen at his feet； but he raised
her with the most touching kindness； and said to her； 〃The truth is；
Mother Marguerite； I have still a schoolboy's appetite。 Have you nothing
to give me？〃 The good woman； almost beside herself with happiness；
served his Majesty with eggs and milk； and when this simple repast was
ended； his Majesty gave his aged hostess a purse full of gold； saying to
her； 〃You know； Mother Marguerite； that I believe in paying my bills。
Adieu； I shall not forget you。〃 And while the Emperor remounted his
horse； the good old woman； standing on the threshold of her door；
promised him； with tears of joy； to pray to the good God for him。
One morning； when he awoke； his Majesty was speaking of the possibility
of finding some of his old acquaintances； and an anecdote concerning
General Junot was related to him； which amused him greatly。 The General
finding himself； on his return from Egypt； at Montbard； where he had
passed several years of his childhood； had sought with the greatest care
for his companions in school and mischief； and had found several； with
whom he had talked gayly and freely of his early frolics and his
schoolboy excursions。 As they went together to revisit the different
localities； each of which awakened in them some memory of their youth；
the general saw an old man majestically promenading on the public square
with a large cane in his hand。 He immediately ran up to him； threw his
arms around him； and embraced him many times； almost suffocating him。
The promenader disengaged himself with great difficulty from his warm
embraces； regarded General Junot with an amazed air； and remarked that he
was ignorant to what he could attribute such excessive tenderness from a
soldier wearing the uniform of a superior officer； and all the
indications of high rank。 〃What；〃 cried he； 〃do you not recognize me？〃
〃Citizen General； I pray you to excuse me； but I have no idea〃
〃Ah； morbleu； my dear master； have you forgotten the most idle； the most
lawless； the most incorrigible of your scholars？〃〃A thousand pardons；
you are Monsieur Junot。〃〃Himself！〃 replied Junot； renewing his
embraces； and laughing with his friends at the singular characteristics
by which he had caused himself to be recognized。 As for his Majesty the
Emperor； if any of his old masters had failed to recognize him； it could
not be by reminiscences of this kind that he could have recalled himself
to them； for every one knows that he was distinguished at the military
school for his application to work； and the regularity and sobriety of
his life。
A meeting of the same nature； saving the difference in recollections；
awaited the Emperor at Brienne。 While he was visiting the old military
school； now falling to ruin； and pointing out to the persons who
surrounded him the situation of the study halls； dormitories；
refectories； etc。； an ecclesiastic who had been tutor of one of the
classes in the school was presented to him。 The Emperor recognized him
immediately； and； uttering an exclamation of surprise； his Majesty
conversed more than twenty minutes with this gentleman； leaving him full
of gratitude。
The Emperor； before leaving Brienne to return to Fontainebleau； required
the mayor to give him a written account of the most pressing needs of the
commune； and left on his departure a considerable sum for the poor and
the hospitals。
Passing through Troyes； the Emperor left there； as everywhere else；
souvenirs of his generosity。 The widow of a general officer； living in
retirement at Joinville （I regret that I have forgotten the name of this
venerable lady； who was more than an octogenarian）； came to Troyes；
notwithstanding her great age； to ask aid from his Majesty。 Her husband
having served only before the Revolution； the pension which she had
enjoyed had been taken from her under the Republic； and she was in the
greatest destitution。 The brother of General Vouittemont； mayor of a
commune in the suburbs of Troyes； was kind enough to consult me as to
what should be done in order to present this lady to the Emperor； and I
advised him to have her name placed on the list of his Majesty's private
audiences。 I myself took the liberty of speaking of Madame de to the
Emperor； and the audience was granted； though I do not p