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the grenadiers of the Consular Guard。
〃Why did you quit the service？〃 resumed the First Consul； who appeared
to take great interest in the conversation。
〃My faith； General； each one in his turn； and there are saber strokes
enough for every one。 One fell on me there 〃 （the worthy laborer bent
his head and divided the locks of his hair）； 〃and after some weeks in the
field hospital； they gave me a discharge to return to my wife and my
plow。〃
〃Have you any children？〃
〃I have three； General； two boys and a girl。〃
〃You must make a soldier of the oldest。 If he will conduct himself well；
I will take care of him。 Adieu； my brave man。 Whenever I can help you；
come to see me again。〃 The First Consul rose； made de Bourrienne give
him some louis； which he added to those the laborer had already received
from him； and directed me to show him out； and we had already reached the
antechamber； when the First Consul called the peasant back to say to him；
〃You were at Fleurus？〃〃Yes； General。〃〃Can you tell me the name of
your general…in…chief？〃〃Indeed； I should think so。 It was General
Jourdan。〃〃That is correct。 Au revoir；〃 and I carried off the old
soldier of the Republic； enchanted with his reception。
CHAPTER XI。
At the beginning of this year （1803）； there arrived at Paris an envoy
from Tunis； who presented the First Consul； on the part of the Bey； with
ten Arab horses。 The Bey at that time feared the anger of England； and
hoped to find in France a powerful ally； capable of protecting him； and
he could not have found a better time to make the application； for
everything announced the rupture of the peace of Amiens； over which all
Europe had so greatly rejoiced； for England had kept none of her
promises； and had executed no article of the treaty。 On his side； the
First Consul； shocked by such bad faith； and not wishing to be a dupe；
openly prepared for war； and ordered the filling up of the ranks； and a
new levy of one hundred and twenty thousand conscripts。 War was
officially declared in June； but hostilities had already begun before
this time。
At the end of this month the First Consul made a journey to Boulogne； and
visited Picardy； Flanders； and Belgium； in order to organize an
expedition which he was meditating against the English； and to place the
northern seacoast in a state of defense。 He returned to Paris in August；
but set out in November for a second visit to Boulogne。
This constant traveling was too much for Hambard； who for a long time had
been in feeble health； and when the First Consul was on the point of
setting out for his first tour in the North； Hambard had asked to be
excused； alleging； which was only too true； the bad state of his health。
〃See how you are；〃 said the First Consul； 〃always sick and complaining；
and if you stay here； who then will shave me？〃〃General；〃 replied
Hambard； 〃Constant knows how to shave as well as I。〃 I was present； and
occupied at that very moment in dressing the First Consul。 He looked at
me and said； 〃Well； you queer fellow； since you are so skilled； you shall
make proof of it at once。 We must see how you will do。〃 I knew the
misadventure of poor Hebert； which I have already related； and not
wishing a like experience； I had been for some time practicing the art of
shaving。 I had paid a hairdresser to teach me his trade； and I had even；
in my moments of leisure； served an apprenticeship in his shop； where I
had shaved； without distinction； all his customers。 The chins of these
good people had suffered somewhat before I had acquired sufficient
dexterity to lay a razor on the consular chin； but by dint of repeated
experiments on the beards of the commonalty I had achieved a degree of
skill which inspired me with the greatest confidence； so； in obedience to
the order of the First Consul； I brought the warm water； opened the razor
boldly； and began operations。 Just as I was going to place the razor
upon the face of the First Consul； he raised himself abruptly； turned；
and fastened both eyes upon me； with an expression of severity and
interrogation which I am unable to describe。 Seeing that I was not at
all embarrassed； he seated himself again； saying to me in a mild tone；
〃Proceed。〃 This I did with sufficient skill to satisfy him； and when I
had finished； he said to me； 〃Hereafter you are to shave me；〃 and； in
fact； after that he was unwilling to be shaved by any one else。 From
that time also my duties became much more exacting； for every day I had
to shave the First Consul； and I admit that it was not an easy thing to
do； for while he was being shaved； he often spoke； read the papers； moved
about in his chair； turned himself abruptly； and I was obliged to use the
greatest precautions in order not to cut him。 Happily this never
occurred。 When by chance he did not speak； he remained immobile and
stiff as a statue； and could not be made to lower； nor raise； nor bend
his head to one side； as was necessary to accomplish the task easily。 He
also had a singular fancy of having one half of his face lathered and
shaved before beginning the other； and would not allow me to pass to the
other side of his face until the first half was completely finished； as
the First Consul found that plan suited him best。
Later； when I had become his chief valet； and he deigned to give me
proofs of his kindness and esteem； and I could talk with him as freely
as his rank permitted； I took the liberty of persuading him to shave
himself； for； as I have just said； not wishing to be shaved by any one
except me； he was obliged to wait till I could be notified； especially in
the army； when his hour of rising was not regular。 He refused for a long
time to take my advice； though I often repeated it。 〃Ah； ha； Mr。 Idler！〃
he would say to me； laughing； 〃you are very anxious for me to do half
your work；〃 but at last I succeeded in satisfying him of my
disinterestedness and the wisdom of my advice。 The fact is； I was most
anxious to persuade him to this； for； considering what would necessarily
happen if an unavoidable absence； an illness； or some other reason； had
separated me from the First Consul； I could not reflect； without a
shudder； of his life being at the mercy of the first comer。 As for him；
I am sure he never gave the matter a thought； for whatever tales have
been related of his suspicious nature； he never took any precaution
against the snares which treason might set for him。 His sense of
security； in this regard； amounted even to imprudence； and consequently
all who loved him； especially those who surrounded him； endeavored to
make up for this want of precaution by all the vigilance of which they
were capable； and it is unnecessary to assert that it was this solicitude
for the precious life of my master which had caused me to insist upon the
advice I had given him to shave himself。
On the first occasions on which he attempted to put my lessons into
practice； it was even more alarming than laughable to watch the Emperor
（for such he was then）； as in spite of the lessons that I had given him
with repeated illustrations； he did not yet know how to hold his razor。
He would seize it