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his voice。 。 。 。 He talks to them only of their toilet； of which he
declares himself a severe and minute judge； and on which he indulges
in not very delicate jests； or again； on the number of their children；
demanding of them in rude language whether they nurse them themselves；
or again； lecturing them on their social relations。〃＇91＇ Hence； 〃there
is not one who does not rejoice when he moves off。〃＇92＇ He would often
amuse himself by putting them out of countenance； scandalizing and
bantering them to their faces； driving them into a corner the same as
a colonel worries his canteen women。 〃Yes； ladies； you furnish the
good people of the Faubourg Saint…Germain with something to talk
about。 It is said； Madame A。。。； that you are intimate with Monsieur
B。。。； and you Madame C。。。。； with Monsieur D 。〃 On any intrigue
chancing to appear in the police reports； 〃he loses no time in
informing the husband of what is going on。〃 … He is no less indiscreet
in relation to his own affairs；＇93＇ when it is over he divulges the
fact and gives the name； furthermore； he informs Josephine in detail
and will not listen to any reproach： 〃I have a right to answer all
your objections with an eternal I！〃
This term； indeed； answers to everything； and he explains it by
adding： 〃I stand apart from other men。 I accept nobody's conditions；〃
nor any species of obligation； no code whatever； not even the common
code of outward civility； which； diminishing or dissimulating
primitive brutality； allows men to associate together without
clashing。 He does not comprehend it； and he repudiates it。 〃I have
little liking；〃＇94＇ he says； 〃for that vague； leveling word propriety
（convenances）； which you people fling out every chance you get。 It is
an invention of fools who want to pass for clever men； a kind of
social muzzle which annoys the strong and is useful only to the
mediocre。 。 。 Ah； good taste ！ Another classic expression which I do
not accept。〃 〃It is your personal enemy〃； says Talleyrand to him； one
day； 〃if you could have shot it away with bullets； it would have
disappeared long ago！〃 … It is because good taste is the highest
attainment of civilization； the innermost vestment which drapes human
nudity； which best fits the person； the last garment retained after
the others have been cast off； and which delicate tissue continues to
hamper Napoleon； he throws it off instinctively； because it interferes
with his natural behavior； with the uncurbed； dominating； savage ways
of the vanquisher who knocks down his adversary and treats him as he
pleases。
V。 His Policy。
His tone and bearing towards Sovereigns。 … His Policy。 … His means and
ends。… After Sovereigns he sets populations against him。 … Final
opinion of Europe。
Such behavior render social intercourse impossible； especially among
the independent and armed personages known as nations or States。 This
is why they are outlawed in politics and in diplomacy and every head
of a State or representative of a country； carefully and on principle；
abstains from them； at least with those on his own level。 He is bound
to treat these as his equals； humor them； and； accordingly； not to
give way to the irritation of the moment or to personal feeling； in
short； to exercise self…control and measure his words。 To this is due
the tone of manifestos； protocols； dispatches； and other public
documents the formal language of legations； so cold； dry； and
elaborated； those expressions purposely attenuated and smoothed down；
those long phrases apparently spun out mechanically and always after
the same pattern； a sort of soft wadding or international buffer
interposed between contestants to lessen the shocks of collision。 The
reciprocal irritations between States are already too great； there are
ever too many unavoidable and regrettable encounters； too many causes
of conflict； the consequences of which are too serious； it is
unnecessary to add to the wounds of interest the wounds of imagination
and of pride； and above all； it is unnecessary to amplify these
without reason； at the risk of increasing the obstacles of to…day and
the resentments of to…morrow。 … With Napoleon it is just the opposite：
his attitude； even at peaceful interviews； remains aggressive and
militant； purposely or in…voluntarily； he raises his hand and the blow
is felt to be coming； while； in the meantime； he insults。 In his
correspondence with sovereigns； in his official proclamations； in his
deliberations with ambassadors； and even at public audiences；＇95＇ he
provokes； threatens； and defies。＇96＇ He treats his adversary with a
lofty air； insults him often to his face； and charges him with the
most disgraceful imputations。＇97＇ He divulges the secrets of his
private life； of his closet； and of his bed； he defames or calumniates
his ministers； his court； and his wife；＇98＇ he purposely stabs him in
the most sensitive part。 He tells one that he is a dupe； a betrayed
husband； another that he is an abettor of assassination； he assumes
the air of a judge condemning a criminal； or the tone of a superior
reprimanding an inferior； or； at best； that of a teacher taking a
scholar to task。 With a smile of pity； he points out mistakes； weak
points； and incapacity； and shows him beforehand that he must be
defeated。 On receiving the envoy of the Emperor Alexander at
Wilna；＇99＇ be says to him：
〃Russia does not want this war； none of the European powers are in
favor of it； England herself does not want it； for she foresees the
harm it will do to Russia； and even； perhaps； the greatest。 。 。 I know
as well as yourself； and perhaps even better； how many troops you
have。 Your infantry in all amounts to 120；000 men and your cavalry to
about 60；000 or 70；000； I have three times as many。 。 。 。 The Emperor
Alexander is badly advised。 How can he tolerate such vile people
around him … an Armfeld； an intriguing； depraved； rascally fellow； a
ruined debauchee； who is known only by his crimes and who is the enemy
of Russia； a Stein； driven from his country like an outcast； a
miscreant with a price on his head； a Bennigsen； who； it is said； has
some military talent； of which I know nothing； but whose hands are
steeped in blood？＇100＇ 。 。 。 。 Let him surround himself with the
Russians and I will say nothing。 。 。 。 Have you no Russian gentlemen
among you who are certainly more attached to him than these
mercenaries？ Does he imagine that they are fond of him personally？ Let
him put Armfeld in command in Finland and I have nothing to say； but
to have him about his person； for shame ！ 。 。 。 。 What a superb
perspective opened out to the Emperor Alexander at Tilsit； and
especially at Erfurt！ 。 。 。 。 He has spoilt the finest reign Russia
ever saw。 。 。 。 How can he admit to his society such men as a Stein；
an Armfeld； a Vinzingerode？ Say to the Emperor Alexander； that as he
gathers around him my personal enemies it means a desire to insult me
personally； and； consequentl