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The Emperor had a habit of taking； when he thus worked at night； coffee
with cream； or chocolate； but he gave that up； and under the Empire no
longer took anything； except from time to time； but very rarely； either
punch mild and light as lemonade； or when he first awoke； an infusion of
orange…leaves or tea。
The Emperor； who so magnificently endowed the most of his generals； who
showed himself so liberal to his armies； and to whom； on the other hand；
France owes so many and such handsome monuments； was not generous； and it
must even be admitted was a little niggardly； in his domestic affairs。
Perhaps he resembled those foolishly vain rich persons； who economize
very closely at home； and in their own households； in order to shine more
outside。 He made very few； not to say no； presents to members of his
household； and the first day of the year even passed without loosening
his purse…strings。 While I was undressing him the evening before； he
said； pinching my ear； 〃Well； Monsieur Constant； what will you give me
for my present？〃 The first time he asked this question I replied I would
give him whatever he wished； but I must confess that I very much hoped it
would not be I who would give presents next day。 It seemed that the idea
never occurred to him； for no one had to thank him for his gifts； and he
never departed afterwards from this rule of domestic economy。 Apropos of
this pinching of ears； to which I have recurred so often； because his
Majesty repeated it so often； it is necessary that I should say； while I
think of it； and in closing this subject； that any one would be much
mistaken in supposing that he touched lightly the party exposed to his
marks of favor； he pinched； on the contrary； very hard； and pinched as
much stronger in proportion as he happened to be in a better humor。
Sometimes； when I entered his room to dress him； he would run at me like
a mad man； and saluting me with his favorite greeting； 〃Well； Monsieur le
drole；〃 would pinch my ears in such a manner as to make me cry out； he
often added to these gentle caresses one or two taps； also well applied。
I was then sure of finding him all the rest of the day in a charming
humor； and full of good…will； as I have seen him； so often。 Roustan； and
even Marshal Berthier； received their due proportion of these imperial
tendernesses。
CHAPTER XX。
The allowance made by his Majesty for the yearly expenses of his dress
was twenty thousand francs； and the year of； the coronation he became
very angry because that sum had been exceeded。 It was never without
trepidation that the various accounts of household expenses were
presented to him； and he invariably retrenched and cut down； and
recommended all sort of reforms。 I remember after asking for some one a
place of three thousand francs； which he granted me； I heard him exclaim；
〃Three thousand francs！ but do you understand that this is the revenue
of one of my communes？ When I was sub…lieutenant I did not spend as much
as that。〃 This expression recurred incessantly in his conversations with
those with whom he was familiar； and 〃when I had the honor of being sub…
lieutenant〃 was often on his lips； and always in illustration of
comparisons or exhortations to economy。
While on the subject of accounts； I recall a circumstance which should
have a place in my memoirs； since it concerns me personally； and moreover
gives an idea of the manner in which his Majesty understood economy。 He
set out with the idea； which was； I think； often very correct； that in
private expenses as in public ones； even granting the honesty of agents
（which the Emperor was always； I admit； very slow to do）； the same things
could have been done with much less money。 Thus； when he required
retrenchment； it was not in the number of objects of expense； but only in
the prices charged for these articles by the furnishers； and I will
elsewhere cite some examples of the effect which this idea produced on
the conduct of his Majesty towards the accounting agents of his
government。 Now I am relating only private matters。 One day when
investigating various accounts； the Emperor complained much of the
expenses of the stables； and cut off a considerable sum； and the grand
equerry； in order to put into effect the required economy； found it
necessary to deprive several persons in the household of their carriages；
mine being included in this number。 Some days after the execution of
this measure； his Majesty charged me with a commission； which
necessitated a carriage； and I was obliged to inform him that； no longer
having mine； I should not be able to execute his orders。 The Emperor
then exclaimed that he had not intended this； and M。 Caulaincourt must
have a poor idea of economy。 When he again saw the Duke of Vicenza； he
said to him that he did not wish anything of mine to be touched。
The Emperor occasionally read in the morning the new works and romances
of the day； and when a work displeased him； he threw it into the fire。
This does not mean that only improper books were thus destroyed； for if
the author was not among his favorites； or if he spoke too well of a
foreign country； that was sufficient to condemn the volume to the flames。
On this account I saw his Majesty throw into the fire a volume of the
works of Madame de Stael； on Germany。 If he found us in the evening
enjoying a book in the little saloon； where we awaited the hour for
retiring； he examined what we were reading； and if he found they were
romances； they were burned without pity； his Majesty rarely failing to
add a little lecture to this confiscation； and to ask the delinquent 〃if
a man could not find better reading than that。〃 One morning he had
glanced over and thrown in the fire a book （by what author I do not
know）； and when Roustan stooped down to take it out the Emperor stopped
him； saying； 〃Let that filthy thing burn； it is all that it deserves。〃
The Emperor mounted his horse most ungracefully； and I think would not
have always been very safe when there； if so much care had not been taken
to give him only those which were perfectly trained； but every precaution
was taken； and horses destined for the special service of the Emperor
passed through a rude novitiate before arriving at the honor of carrying
him。 They were habituated to endure； without making the least movement；
torments of all kinds； blows with a whip over the head and ears； the drum
was beaten； pistols were fired； fireworks exploded in their ears； flags
were shaken before their eyes； heavy weights were thrown against their
legs； sometimes even sheep and hogs。 It was required that in the midst
of the most rapid gallop （the Emperor liked no other pace）； he should be
able to stop his horse suddenly； and in short； it was absolutely
necessary to have only the most perfectly trained animals。
M。 Jardin； senior； equerry of his Majesty； acquitted himself of this
laborious duty with much skill and ability； as the Emperor attached such
importance to it； he also insisted strongly that his horses should be
very handsome； and in the last years of his reign would ride only Arab
horses。
There were a few of those