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destroy their work； or； in other words； to restore the ruins with which
they had covered France。 He thought then； and justly too； that he could
not better respond to the affection of the people of Lyons； than by
promoting with all his power the rebuilding of the houses of the Place
Belcour； and before his departure he himself laid the first stone。 The
town of Dijon gave the First Consul a reception equally as brilliant。
Between Villeneuve…le…Roi and Sens； at the descent to the bridge of
Montereau； while the eight horses； lashed to a gallop； were bearing the
carriage rapidly along （the First Consul already traveled like a king）；
the tap of one of the front wheels came off。 The inhabitants who lined
the route； witnessing this accident； and foreseeing what would be the
result； used every effort to stop the postilions； but did not succeed；
and the carriage was violently upset。 The First Consul received no
injury； General Berthier had his face slightly scratched by the windows；
which were broken； and the two footmen； who were on the steps； were
thrown； violently to a distance； and badly wounded。 The First Consul got
out； or rather was pulled out； through one of the doors。 This occurrence
made no delay in his journey； he took his seat in another carriage
immediately； and reached Paris with no other accident。 The night of the
2d of July； he alighted at the Tuileries； and the next day； as soon as
the news of his return had been circulated in Paris； the entire
population filled the courts and the garden。 They pressed around the
windows of the pavilion of Flora； in the hope of catching a glimpse of
the savior of France； the liberator of Italy。
That evening there was no one； either rich or poor； who did not take
delight in illuminating his house or his garret。 It was only a short
time after his arrival at Paris that the First Consul learned of the
death of General Kleber。 The poniard of Suleyman had slain this great
captain the same day that the cannon of Marengo laid low another hero of
the army of Egypt。 This assassination caused the First Consul the most
poignant grief； of which I was an eyewitness； and to which I can testify；
and； nevertheless； his calumniators have dared to say that he rejoiced at
an event； which； even considered apart from its political relations；
caused him to lose a conquest which had cost him so much； and France so
much blood and expense。 Other miserable wretches； still more stupid and
more infamous； have even gone so far as to fabricate and spread abroad
the report that the First Consul had himself ordered the assassination of
his companion in arms； whom he had placed in his own position at the head
of the army in Egypt。 To these I have only one answer to make； if it is
necessary to answer them at all； it is this； they never knew the Emperor。
After his return； the First Consul went often with his wife to Malmaison；
where he remained sometimes for several days。 At this time it was the
duty of the valet de chambre to follow the carriage on horseback。 One
day the First Consul； while returning to Paris； ascertained a short
distance from the chateau that he had forgotten his snuff…box； and sent
me for it。 I turned my bridle； set off at a gallop； and； having found
the snuff…box on his desk； retraced my steps to overtake him； but did not
succeed in doing so till he had reached Ruelle。 Just as I drew near the
carriage my horse slipped on a stone； fell； and threw me some distance
into a ditch。 The fall was very severe； and I remained stretched on the
ground； with one shoulder dislocated； and an arm badly bruised。 The
First Consul ordered the horses stopped； himself gave orders to have me
taken up； and cautioned them to be very careful in moving me； and I was
borne； attended by…him； to the barracks of Ruelle； where he took pains
before continuing his journey to satisfy himself that I was in no danger。
The physician of his household was sent to Ruelle； my shoulder set； and
my arm dressed； and from there I was carried as gently as possible to
Malmaison； where； good Madame； Bonaparte had the kindness to come to see
me； and lavished on me every attention。
The day I returned to service； after my recovery； I was in the
antechamber of the First Consul as he came out of his cabinet。 He drew
near me； and inquired with great interest how I was。 I replied that；
thanks to the care taken of me； according to the orders of my excellent
master and mistress； I was quite well again。 〃So much the better；〃 said
the First Consul。 〃Constant； make haste； and get your strength back。
Continue to serve me well； and I will take care of you。 Here；〃 added he；
placing in my hand three little crumpled papers； 〃these are to replenish
your wardrobe；〃 and he passed on； without listening to the profuse thanks
which； with great emotion； I was attempting to express； much more for the
consideration and interest in me shown by him than for his present； for I
did not then know of what it consisted。 After he passed on I unrolled my
papers： they were three bank…bills； each for a thousand francs！ I was
moved to tears by so great a kindness。 We must remember that at this
period the First Consul was not rich； although he was the first
magistrate of the republic。 How deeply the remembrance of this generous
deed touches me； even to…day。 I do not know if details so personal to me
will be found interesting； but they seem to me proper as evidence of the
true character of the Emperor； which has been so outrageously
misrepresented； and also as an instance of his ordinary conduct towards
the servants of his house； it shows too； at the same time； whether the
severe economy that he required in his domestic management； and of which
I will speak elsewhere； was the result； as has been stated； of sordid
avarice； or whether it was not rather a rule of prudence； from which he
departed willingly whenever his kindness of heart or his humanity urged
him thereto。
I am not certain that my memory does not deceive me in leading me to put
in this place a circumstance which shows the esteem in which the First
Consul held the brave soldiers of his army； and how he loved to manifest
it on all occasions。 I was one day in his sleeping…room； at the usual
hour for his toilet； and was performing that day the duties of chief
valet； Hambard being temporarily absent or indisposed； there being in the
room； besides the body servants； only the brave ；and modest Colonel
Gerard Lacuee； one of the aides…de…camp of the First Consul。 Jerome
Bonaparte； then hardly seventeen years of age； was introduced。 This
young man gave his family frequent cause of complaint； and feared no one
except his brother Napoleon； who reprimanded； lectured； and scolded him
as if he had been his own son。 There was a question at the time of
making him a sailor； less with the object of giving him a career； than of
removing him from the seductive temptations which the high position of
his brother caused to spring up incessantly around his path； and which he
had little strength to resist。 It may be imagined what it cost him to
renounce pleasures so accessible and so delightful to a young man。 He