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the English； in which he received a bayonet wound in the left thigh； the
scar of which he often showed me。 The wound in the foot which he
received at the battle of Ratisbonne left no trace； and yet； when the
Emperor received it； the whole army became alarmed。
We were about twelve hundred yards from Ratisbonne； when the Emperor；
seeing the Austrians fleeing on all sides； thought the combat was over。
His dinner had been brought in a hamper to a place which the Emperor had
designated； and as he was walking towards it； he turned to Marshal
Berthier； and exclaimed； 〃I am wounded！〃 The shock was so great that the
Emperor fell in a sitting posture； a bullet having； in fact； struck his
heel。 From the size of this ball it was apparent that it had been fired
by a Tyrolean rifleman； whose weapon easily carried the distance we were
from the town。 It can well be understood that such an event troubled and
frightened the whole staff。
An aide…de…camp summoned me； and when I arrived I found Dr。 Yvan cutting
his Majesty's boot； and assisted him in dressing the wound。 Although the
pain was still quite severe； the Emperor was not willing to take time to
put on his boot again； and in order to turn the enemy； and reassure the
army as to his condition； he mounted his horse； and galloped along the
line accompanied by his whole staff。 That day； as may be believed； no
one delayed to take breakfast； but all dined at Ratisbonne。
His Majesty showed an invincible repugnance to all medicine； and when he
used any； which was very rarely； it was chicken broth； chicory； or cream
of tartar。
Corvisart recommended him to refuse every drink which had a bitter or
disagreeable taste； which he did； I believe； in the fear that an attempt
might be made to poison him。
At whatever hour the Emperor had retired； I entered his room at seven or
eight o'clock in the morning； and I have already said that his first
questions invariably were as to the hour and the kind of weather。
Sometimes he complained to me of looking badly； and if this was true； I
agreed with him； and if it were not； I told him the truth。 In this case
he pulled my ears； and called me； laughing； 〃grosse bete；〃 and asked for
a mirror； sometimes saying he was trying to fool me and that he was very
well。 He read the daily papers； asked the names of the people in the
waiting…room； named those he wished to see； and conversed with each one。
When Corvisart came； he entered without waiting for orders； and the
Emperor took pleasure in teasing him by speaking of medicine； which he
said was only a conjectural art； that the doctors were charlatans； and
cited instances in proof of it； especially in his own experience； the
doctor never yielding a point when he thought he was right。 During these
conversations； the Emperor shaved himself； for I had prevailed on him to
take this duty on himself； often forgetting that he had shaved only one
side of his face； and when I called his attention to this； he laughed；
and finished his work。 Yvan； doctor…in…ordinary； as well as Corvisart；
came in for his share in the criticisms and attacks on his profession；
and these discussions were extremely amusing。 The Emperor was very gay
and talkative at such times； and I believe； when he had at hand no
examples to cite in support of his theories； did not scruple to invent
them； consequently these gentlemen did not always rely upon his
statements。 One day his Majesty pulled the ears of one of his physicians
（Halle； I believe）。 The doctor abruptly drew himself away； crying；
〃Sire； you hurt me。〃 Perhaps this speech was tinged with some
irritation； and perhaps； also； the doctor was right。 However that may
be； his ears were never in danger again。
Sometimes before beginning my labors； his Majesty questioned me as to
what I had done the evening before； asked me if I had dined in the city；
and with whom； if I had enjoyed myself； and what we had for dinner。 He
often inquired also what such or such a part of my clothing cost me； and
when I told him he would exclaim at the price； and tell me that when he
was a sub…lieutenant everything was much cheaper； and that he had often
during that time taken his meals at Roze's restaurant； and dined very
well for forty cents。 Several times he spoke to me of my family； and of
my sister； who was a nun before the Revolution； and who had been
compelled to leave her convent； and one day asked me if she had a
pension； and how much it was。 I told him； and added； that this not being
sufficient for her wants； I myself gave an allowance to her； and also to
my mother。 His Majesty told me to apply to the Duke of Bassano； and
report the matter to him； as he wished to treat my family handsomely。
I did not avail myself of this kind intention of his Majesty； for at that
time I had sufficient means to be able to assist my relatives； and did
not foresee the future； which I thought would not change my condition；
and felt a delicacy in putting my people； so to speak； on the charge of
the state。 I confess that I have been more than once tempted to repent
this excessive delicacy； which I have seen few persons above or below my
condition imitate。 On rising； the Emperor habitually took a cup of tea
or orange water； and if he desired a bath； had it immediately on getting
out of bed； and while in it had his dispatches and newspapers read to him
by his secretary （Bourrienne till 1804）。 If he did not take a bath； he
seated himself by the fire； and had them read to him there； often reading
them himself。 He dictated to the secretary his replies； and the
observations which the reading of these suggested to him； as he went
through each； throwing it on the floor without any order。 The secretary
afterwards gathered them all up； and arranged them to be carried into the
Emperor's private room。 His Majesty； before making his toilet； in
summer； put on pantaloons of white pique and a dressing…gown of the same；
and in winter； pantaloons and dressing…gown of swanskin； while on his
head was a turban tied in front； the two ends hanging down on his neck
behind。 When the Emperor donned this headdress； his appearance was far
from elegant。 When he came out of the bath； we gave him another turban；
for the one he wore was always wet in the bath； where he turned and
splashed himself incessantly。 Having taken his bath and read his
dispatches； he began his toilet； and I shaved him before he learned to
shave himself。 When the Emperor began this habit； he used at first； like
every one； a mirror attached to the window； but he came up so close to
it； and lathered himself so vigorously with soap； that the mirror；
window…panes； curtains； his dressing…gown； and the Emperor himself； were
all covered with it。 To remedy this inconvenience； the servants
assembled in council； and it was decided that Roustan should hold the
looking…glass for his Majesty。 When the Emperor had shaved one side； he
turned the other side to view； and made Roustan pass from left to right；
or from right to left； according to the side on which he commenced。
After shaving； the Emperor washed his face and hands； and had his nails
carefully cleaned； then I took off his