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shall be old； and I will send you to the Senate to drivel at your
ease。〃
Evidently；＇81 the nearer one is to his person the more disagreeable
life becomes。＇82＇ 〃Admirably served； promptly obeyed to the minute； he
still delights in keeping everybody around him in terror concerning
the details of all that goes on in his palace。〃 Has any difficult task
been accomplished？ He expresses no thanks； never or scarcely ever
praises； and； which happens but once； in the case of M。 de Champagny；
Minister of Foreign Affairs； who is praised for having finished the
treaty of Vienna in one night； and with unexpected advantages；＇83＇
this time； the Emperor has thought aloud； is taken by surprise；
〃ordinarily； he manifests approbation only by his silence。〃 … When M。
de Rémusat； prefect of the palace； has arranged 〃one of those
magnificent fêtes in which all the arts minister to his enjoyment；〃
economically； correctly； with splendor and success； his wife never
asks her husband＇84＇ if the Emperor is satisfied； but whether he has
scolded more or less。
〃His leading general principle； which he applies in every way； in
great things as well as in small ones； is that a man's zeal depends
upon his anxiety。〃
How insupportable the constraint he exercises； with what crushing
weight his absolutism bears down on the most tried devotion and on the
most pliable characters； with what excess he tramples on and wounds
the best dispositions； up to what point he represses and stifles the
respiration of the human being； he knows as well as anybody。 He was
heard to say；
〃The lucky man is he who hides away from me in the depths of some
province。〃
And； another day； having asked M。 de Ségur what people would say of
him after his death； the latter enlarged on the regrets which would be
universally expressed。 〃Not at all；〃 replied the Emperor； and then；
drawing in his breath in a significant manner indicative of universal
relief； he replied；
〃They'll say； 'Whew！'〃＇85＇
IV。 His Bad Manners。
His bearings in Society。 … His deportment toward Women。 … His disdain
of Politeness。
There are very few monarchs； even absolute； who persistently； arid
from morning to night； maintain a despotic attitude。 Generally； and
especially in France； the sovereign makes two divisions of his time；
one for business and the other for social duties； and； in the latter
case； while always head of the State； he is also head of his house：
for he welcomes visitors； entertains his guests； and； that his guests
may not be robots； he tries to put them at their ease。 … That was the
case with Louis XIV。＇86＇ … polite to everybody； always affable with
men； and sometimes gracious； always courteous with women； and some
times gallant； carefully avoiding brusqueness； ostentation； and
sarcasms； never allowing himself to use an offensive word； never
making people feel their inferiority and dependence； but； on the
contrary； encouraging them to express opinions； and even to converse；
tolerating in conversation a semblance of equality； smiling at a
repartee； playfully telling a story … such was his drawing…room
constitution。 The drawing…room as well as every human society needs
one； and a liberal one； otherwise life dies out。 Accordingly； the
observance of this constitution in by…gone society is known by the
phrase savoir…vivre； and； more rigidly than anybody else； Louis XIV。
submitted himself to this code of proprieties。 Traditionally； and
through education； he had consideration for others； at least for the
people around him； his courtiers becoming his guests without ceasing
to be his subjects。
There is nothing of this sort with Napoleon。 He preserves nothing of
the etiquette he borrows from the old court but its rigid discipline
and its pompous parade。 〃The ceremonial system；〃 says an eyewitness；
〃was carried out as if it had been regulated by the tap of a drum；
everything was done； in a certain sense； 'double…quick。'＇87＇ 。 。 。
This air of precipitation； this constant anxiety which it inspires；〃
puts an end to all comfort； all ease； all entertainment； all agreeable
intercourse； there is no common bond but that of command and
obedience。 〃 The few individuals he singles out； Savary； Duroc；
Maret； keep silent and simply transmit orders。 。 。 。 We did not appear
to them； in doing what we were ordered to do； and we did not appear to
ourselves； other than veritable machines； all resembling； or but
little short of it； the elegant gilded arm…chairs with which the
palaces of Saint…Cloud and the Tuileries had just been embellished。〃
For a machine to work well it is important that the machinist should
overhaul it frequently； which this one never fails to do； especially
after a long absence。 Whilst he is on his way from Tilsit； 〃everybody
anxiously examines his conscience to ascertain what he has done that
this rigid master will find fault with on his return。 Whether spouse；
family； or grand dignitary； each is more or less disturbed； while the
Empress； who knows him better than any one； naively says； 'As the
Emperor is so happy it is certain that he will do a deal of
scolding！'〃＇88＇ Actually； he has scarcely arrived when he gives a rude
and vigorous wrench of the bolt； and then； 〃satisfied at having
excited terror all around； he appears to have forgotten what has
passed and resumes the usual tenor of his life。〃 〃Through calculation
as well as from taste；＇89＇ he never ceases to be a monarch〃； hence； 〃a
mute； frigid court 。 。 。 。 more dismal than dignified； every face
wears an expression of uneasiness 。 。 。 a silence both dull and
constrained。〃 At Fontainebleau； 〃amidst splendors and pleasures；〃
there is no real enjoyment nor anything agreeable； not even for
himself。 〃I pity you；〃 said M。 de Talleyrand to M。 de Rémusat； 〃you
have to amuse the unamusable。〃 At the theatre he is abstracted or
yawns。 Applause is prohibited； the court； sitting out 〃the file of
eternal tragedies； is mortally bored 。 。 。 。 the young ladies fall
asleep； people leave the theatre； gloomy and discontented。〃 … There is
the same constraint in the drawing…room。 〃He did not know how to
appear at ease； and I believe that he never wanted anybody else to be
so； afraid of the slightest approach to familiarity； and inspiring
each with a fear of saying something offensive to his neighbor before
witnesses。 。 。 。 During the quadrille； he moves around amongst the
rows of ladies； addressing them with some trifling or disagreeable
remark；〃 and never does he accost them otherwise than 〃awkwardly and
ill at his ease。〃 At bottom； he distrusts them and is ill…disposed
toward them。＇90＇ It is because 〃the power they have acquired in
society seems to him an intolerable usurpation。 … 〃Never did he utter
to a woman a graceful or even a well…turned compliment； although the
effort to find one was often apparent on his face and in the tone of
his voice。 。 。 。 He talks to them only of their toilet； of which he