napoleon bonaparte, v12-第15部分

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That　is　to　say；　personages　of　high　rank　were　admitted；　who　had　this　right
on　account　of　their　duties；　or　by　the　special　favor　of　the　Emperor；　and　I
can　assert　that　this　favor　was　much　envied。　　It　was　granted　generally　to
all　the　officers　of　the　imperial　household；　even　if　they　were　not　on
duty；　and　every　one　remained　standing；　as　did　the　Emperor　also。　　He　made
the　tour　of　all　the　persons　present；　nearly　always　addressed　a　remark　or
a　question　to　each　one；　and　it　was　amusing　to　see　afterwards；　during　the
whole　day；　the　proud　and　haughty　bearing　of　those　to　whom　the　Emperor　had
spoken　a　little　longer　than　to　others。　　This　ceremony　usually　lasted　a
half…hour；　and　as　soon　as　it　was　finished　the　Emperor　bowed　and　each
retired。

At　half…past　nine　the　Emperor's　breakfast　was　served；　usually　on　a　small
mahogany　stand；　and　this　first　repast　commonly　lasted　only　seven　or　eight
minutes；　though　sometimes　it　was　prolonged；　and　even　lasted　quite　a　long
while。　　This；　however；　was　only　on　rare　occasions；　when　the　Emperor　was
in　unusually　good…humor；　and　wished　to　indulge　in　the　pleasure　of　a
conversation　with　men　of　great　merit；　whom　he　had　known　a　long　while；　and
who　happened　to　be　present　at　his　breakfast。　　There　he　was　no　longer　the
formal　Emperor　of　the　levee；　he　was　in　a　manner　the　hero　of　Italy；　the
conqueror　of　Egypt；　and　above　all　the　member　of　the　Institute。　　Those　who
came　most　habitually　were　Messieurs　Monge；　Berthollet；　Costaz
（superintendent　of　crown　buildings）；　Denon；　Corvisart；　David；　Gerard；
Isabey；　Talma；　and　Fontaine　（his　first　architect）。　　How　many　noble
thoughts；　how　many　elevated　sentiments；　found　vent　in　these　conversations
which　the　Emperor　was　accustomed　to　open　by　saying；　〃Come；　Messieurs；　I
close　the　door　of　my　cabinet。〃　　This　was　the　signal；　and　it　was　truly
miraculous　to　see　his　Majesty's　aptitude　in　putting　his　genius　in
communication　with　these　great　intellects　with　such　diversities　of
talent。

I　recall　that；　during　the　days　preceding　the　Emperor's　coronation；　M。
Isabey　attended　regularly　at　the　Emperor's　breakfast；　and　was　present
almost　every　morning；　and　strange；　too；　it　did　not　seem　an　absurd　thing
to　see　children's　toys　used　to　represent　the　imposing　ceremony　which　was
to　exert　such　a　great　influence　over　the　destinies　of　the　world。　　The
intelligent　painter　of　his　Majesty's　cabinet　portraits　caused　to　be
placed　on　a　large　table　a　number　of　small　figures　representing　all　the
personages　who　were　to　take　part　in　the　ceremony　of　the　coronation；　each
had　his　designated　place；　and　no　one　was　omitted；　from　the　Emperor　to　the
Pope；　and　even　to　the　choristers；　each　being　dressed　in　the　costume　he
was　expected　to　wear。

These　rehearsals　took　place　frequently；　and　all　were　eager　to　consult　the
model　in　order　to　make　no　mistake　as　to　the　place　each　was　to　occupy。　　On
those　days；　as　may　be　imagined；　the　door　of　the　cabinet　was　closed；　and
in　consequence　the　ministers　sometimes；　waited　awhile。　　Immediately　after
the　breakfast　the　Emperor　admitted　his　ministers　and　director　generals；
and　these　audiences；　devoted　to　the　special　work　of　each　minister　and　of
each　director；　lasted　until　six　o'clock　in　the　evening；　with　the
exception　of　those　days　on　which　his　Majesty　occupied　himself　exclusively
with　governmental　affairs；　and　presided　over　the　council　of　state；　or　the
ministerial　councils。

At　the　Tuileries　and　at　Saint…Cloud　dinner　was　served　at　six　o'clock；　and
the　Emperor　dined　each　day　alone　with　the　Empress；　except　on　Sunday；　when
all　the　family　were　admitted　to　dinner。　　The　Emperor；　Empress；　and　Madame
Mere　only　were　seated　in　armchairs；　all　others；　whether　kings　or　queens；
having　only　ordinary　chairs。　　There　was　only　one　course　before　the
dessert。　　His　Majesty　usually　drank　Chambertin　wine；　but　rarely　without
water；　and　hardly　more　than　one　bottle。　　To　dine　with　the　Emperor　was
rather　an　honor　than　a　pleasure　to　those　who　were　admitted；　for　it　was
necessary；　to　use　the　common　expression；　to　swallow　in　post　haste；　as　his
Majesty　never　remained　at　table　more　than　fifteen　or　eighteen　minutes。
After　his　dinner；　as　after　breakfast；　the　Emperor　habitually　took　a　cup
of　coffee；　which　the　Empress　poured　out。　　Under　the　Consulate　Madame
Bonaparte　began　this　custom；　because　the　General　often　forgot　to　take　his
coffee；　she　continued　it　after　she　became　Empress；　and　the　Empress　Marie
Louise　retained　the　same　custom。

After　dinner　the　Empress　descended　to　her　apartments；　where　she　found
assembled　her　ladies　and　the　officers　on　duty；　and　the　Emperor　sometimes
accompanied　her；　but　remained　only　a　short　while。　　Such　was　the　customary
routine　of　life　in　the　palace　at　the　Tuileries　on　those　days　when　there
was　neither　the　chase　in　the　morning；　nor　concert　nor　theater　in　the
evening；　and　the　life　at　Saint…Cloud　differed　little　from　that　at　the
Tuileries。　　Sometimes　rides　were　taken　in　coaches　when　the　weather
permitted；　and　on　Wednesday；　the　day　set　for　the　council　of　ministers；
these　officials　were　invariably　honored　by　an　invitation　to　dine　with
their　Majesties。　　When　there　was　a　hunt　at　Fontainebleau；　Rambouillet；　or
Compiegne；　the　usual　routine　was　omitted；　the　ladies　followed　in　coaches；
and　the　whole　household　dined　with　the　Emperor　and　Empress　under　a　tent
erected　in　the　forest。　　It　sometimes　happened；　though　rarely；　that　the
Emperor　invited　unexpectedly　some　members　of　his　family　to　remain　to　dine
with　him；　and　this　recalls　an　anecdote　which　should　have　a　place　in　this
connection。　　The　King　of　Naples　came　one　day　to　visit　the　Emperor；　and
being　invited　to　dine；　accepted；　forgetting　that　he　was　in　morning　dress；
and　there　was　barely　time　for　him　to　change　his　costume；　and　consequently
none　to　return　to　the　Elysee；　which　he　then　inhabited。　　The　king　ran
quickly　up　to　my　room；　and　informed　me　of　his　embarrassment；　which　I
instantly　relieved；　to　his　great　delight。　　I　had　at　that　time　a　very
handsome　wardrobe；　almost　all　the　articles　of　which　were　then　entirely
new；　so　I　gave　him　a　shirt；　vest；　breeches；　stockings；　and　shoes；　and
assisted　him　to　dress；　and　fortunately　everything　fitted　as　if　it　had
been　made　especially　for　him。　　He　showed　towards　me　the　same　kindness　and
affability　he　always　manifested；　and　thanked　me　in　the　most　charming
manner。　　In　the　evening　the　King　of　Naples；　after　taking　leave　of　the
Emperor；　returned　to　my　room　to　resume　his　morning　dress；　and　begged　me
to　come　to　him　next　day　at　the　laysee；　which　I　did　punctually　after
relating　to　the　Emperor　all　that　had　occurred；　much　to　his　amusement。
On　my　arrival　at　the　Elysee　I　was　immediately　introduced　into　the　king's
apartments；　who　repeated　his　thanks　in　the　most　gracious　manner；　and　gave
me　a　pretty　Breguet　watch。

　　　　　＇Abraham　Louis　Breguet；　the　celebrated　watchmaker；　was　born　at
　　　　　Neuchatel；　1747；　died　1823。　　He　made　numerous　improvements　in
　　　　　watches　and　in　nautical　and　astronomical　instruments。＇

During　our　campaigns　I　sometimes　had　occasion　to　render　little　services
of　the　same　nature　to　the　King　of　Naples；　but　the　question　was　not　then；
as　at　Saint…Cloud；　one　of　silk　stockings；　for　more　than　once　on　the
bivouac　I　shared　with　him　a　bundle　of　straw；　which　I　had　been　fortunate
enough　to　procure。　　In　such　cases　I　must　avow　the　sacrifice　was　much
greater　on　my　part　than　when　I　had　shared　my　wardrobe　with　him。　　The　king
was　not　backward　in　expressing　his　gratitude；　and　I　thought　it　a　most
remarkable　thing　to　see　a　sovereign；　whose　palace　was　filled　with　all
that　luxury　can　invent　to　add　to　comfort；　and　all　that　art　can　create
which　is　splendid　and　magnificent；　only　too　happy　in　procuring　half　of　a
bundle　of　straw　on　which　to　rest　his　head。


I　will　now　give　some　fresh　souvenirs　which　have　just　recurred　to　my　mind
concerning　the　Court　theater。　　At　Saint…Cloud；　in　order　to　reach　the
theater　hall；　it　was　necessary　to　cross　the　whole　length　of　the　Orangery；
and　nothing　could　be　more　elegant　than　the　manner　in　which　it　was
decorated　on　these　occasions。　　Rows　of　rare　plants　were　arranged　in
tiers；　and　the　whole　lighted　by　lamps；　and　during　the　winter　the　boxes
were　hidden　by　covering　them　with　moss　and　flowers；　which　produced　a
charming　effect　under　the　lights。

The　parterre　of　the　theater　was　usually　filled　with　generals；　senators；
and　councilors　of　state；　the　first　boxes　were　reserved　for　the　princes
and　princesses　of　the　imperial　family；　for　foreign　princes；　marshals；
their　wives；　and　ladies　of　honor。　　In　the　second　tier　were　placed　all
persons　attached　to　the　Court。　　Between　the　acts；　ices　and　refreshments
were　served；　but　the　ancient　etiquette　had　been　re…established　in　one
particular；　which　greatly　displeased　the　actors；no　applause　was
allowed；　and　Talma　often　told　me　that　the　kind　of　coldness　produced　by
this　silence　was　very　detrimental　at　certain　parts　where　the　actor　felt
the　need　of　being　enthused。　　Nevertheless；　it　sometimes　happened　that　the
Emperor；　in　testimony　of　his　satisfaction；　made　a　slight　signal　with　his
hand；　and　then　and　also　at　the　grandest　periods　we　heard；　if　not
applause；　at　least　a　flattering　murmur　which　the　spectators　were　not
always　able　to　repress。

The　chief　charm　of　these　brilliant　assemblies　was　the　presence　of　the
Emperor；　and　consequently　an　invitation　to　the　theater　of　Saint…Cloud　was
an　honor　much　desired。　　In　the　time　of　the　Empress　Josephine　there　were
no　representations　at　the　palace　in　the　absence　of　the　Emperor；　but　when
Marie　Louise　was　alone　at　Saint…Cloud　during　the　campaign　of　Dresden；　two
representations　a　week　were　given；　and　the　whole　repertoire　of　Gretry　was
played　in　succession　before　her　Majesty。　　At　the　end　of　each　piece　there
was　always　a　little　ballet。

The　theater　of　Saint…Cloud　was；　so　to　speak；　on　more　than　one　occasion
the　theater　of　first　attempts。　　For　instance；　M。　Raynouard　played　there
for　the　first　time　the　'Etats　de　Blois'；　a　work　which　the　Emperor　would
not　allow　to　be　played　in　public；　and　which　was　not　done；　in　fact；　until
after　the　return　of　Louis　XVIII。

'The　Venetians'　by　M。　Amand　also　made　its　first　appearance　on　the　theater
of　Saint…Cloud；　or　rather　of　Malmaison。　　This　was　not　highly　considered
at　the　time；　but　the　infallible　judgment　the　Emperor