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emigrant； had been in the service of Spain since the emigration； and had
the command of a part of the capital。 The post which he defended was
exactly in front of that which the Emperor commanded at the gates of
Madrid； and he had held out long after all the other leaders had
surrendered。
The Emperor； impatient at being so long withstood at this point； gave
orders to make a still more vigorous charge； and in this the marquis was
taken prisoner。 In his extreme anger the Emperor sent him to be tried
before a military commission； who ordered him to be shot； and this order
was on the point of being executed； when Mademoiselle de Saint…Simon； a
charming young person； threw herself at his Majesty's feet； and her
father's pardon was quickly granted。
The king immediately re…entered his capital； and with him returned the
noble families of Madrid； who had withdrawn from the stirring scenes
enacted at the center of the insurrection； and soon balls； fetes；
festivities； and plays were resumed as of yore。
The Emperor left Champ…Martin on the 22d of December； and directed his
march towards Astorga； with the intention of meeting the English； who had
just landed at Corunna； but dispatches sent to Astorga by a courier from
Paris decided him to return to France； and he consequently gave orders to
set out for Valladolid。
We found the road from Benavente to Astorga covered with corpses； slain
horses； artillery carriages； and broken wagons； and at every step met
detachments of soldiers with torn clothing； without shoes； and； indeed；
in a most deplorable condition。 These unfortunates were all fleeing
towards Astorga； which they regarded as a port of safety； but which soon
could not contain them all。 It was terrible weather； the snow falling so
fast that it was almost blinding； and； added to this； I was ill； and
suffered greatly during this painful journey。
The Emperor while at Tordesillas had established his headquarters in the
buildings outside the convent of Saint…Claire； and the abbess of this
convent was presented to his Majesty。 She was then more than sixty…five
years old； and from the age of ten years back never left this place。 Her
intelligent and refined conversation made a most agreeable impression on
the Emperor； who inquired what were her wishes； and granted each one。
We arrived at Valladolid the 6th of January； 1809； and found it in a
state of great disorder。 Two or three days after our arrival； a cavalry
officer was assassinated by Dominican monks； and as Hubert； one of our
comrades； was passing in the evening through a secluded street； three men
threw themselves on him and wounded him severely； and he would doubtless
have been killed if the grenadiers of the guard had not hastened to his
assistance； and delivered him from their hands。 It was the monks again。
At length the Emperor； much incensed； gave orders that the convent of the
Dominicans should be searched； and in a well was found the corpse of the
aforesaid officer； in the midst of a considerable mass of bones； and the
convent was immediately suppressed by his Majesty's orders； he even
thought at one time of issuing the same rigorous orders against all the
convents of the city。 He took time for reflection； however； and
contented himself by appointing an audience； at which all the monks of
Valladolid were to appear before him。 On the appointed day they came；
not all； however； but deputations from each convent； who prostrated
themselves at the Emperor's feet； while he showered reproaches upon them；
called them assassins and brigands； and said they all deserved to be
hung。 These poor men listened in silence and humility to the terrible
language of the irritated conqueror whom their patience alone could
appease； and finally； the Emperor's anger having exhausted itself； he
grew calmer； and at last； struck by the reflection that it was hardly
just to heap abuse on men thus prostrate on their knees and uttering not
a word in their own defense； he left the group of officers who surrounded
him； and advanced into the midst of the monks； making them a sign to rise
from their supplicating posture； and as these good men obeyed him； they
kissed the skirts of his coat； and pressed around him with an eagerness
most alarming to the persons of his Majesty's suite； for had there been
among these devotees any Dominican； nothing surely could have been easier
than an assassination。
During the Emperor's stay at Valladolid； I had with the grand marshal a
disagreement of which I retain most vivid recollections； as also of the
Emperor's intervention wherein he displayed both justice and good…will
towards me。 These are the facts of the case： one morning the Duke de
Frioul； encountering me in his Majesty's apartments； inquired in a very
brusque tone （he was very much excited） if I had ordered the carriage to
be ready； to which I replied in a most respectful manner that they were
always ready。 Three times the duke repeated the same question； raising
his voice still more each time； and three times I made him the same
reply； always in the same respectful manner。 〃Oh； you fool！〃 said he at
last； 〃you do not understand； then。〃 〃That arises evidently；
Monseigneur； from your Excellency's imperfect explanations！〃 Upon which
he explained that he was speaking of a new carriage which had come from
Paris that very day； a fact of which I was entirely ignorant。 I was on
the point of explaining this to his Excellency； but without deigning to
listen； the grand marshal rushed out of the room exclaiming； swearing；
and addressing me in terms to which I was totally unaccustomed。 I
followed him as far as his own room in order to make an explanation； but
when he reached his door he entered； and slammed it in my face。
In spite of all this I entered a few moments later； but his Excellency
had forbidden his valet de chambre to introduce me； saying that he had
nothing to say to me； nor to hear from me； all of which was repeated to
me in a very harsh and contemptuous manner。
Little accustomed to such experiences； and entirely unnerved； I went to
the Emperor's room； and when his Majesty entered I was still so agitated
that my face was wet with tears。 His Majesty wished to know what had
happened； and I related to him the attack which had just been made upon
me by the grand marshal。 〃You are very foolish to cry；〃 said the
Emperor； 〃calm yourself； and say to the grand marshal that I wish to
speak to him。〃
His Excellency came at once in response to the Emperor's invitation； and
I announced him。 〃See；〃 said he； pointing to me； 〃see into what a state
you have thrown this fellow！ What has he done to be thus treated？〃 The
grand marshal bowed without replying； but with a very dissatisfied air；
and the Emperor went on to say that he should have given me his orders
more clearly； and that any one was excusable for not executing an order
not plainly given。 Then turning toward me； his Majesty said； 〃Monsieur
Constant； you may be certain this will not occur again。〃
This simple affair furnishes a reply to many false accusations against
the Emperor。 There was an immense distance between the grand marshal of
t