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till then does he know himself； and see his way open before him。 In
fact； it is only then that he begins to live。
Reasoning in this manner； my life from my twentieth year has been thirty
years； which can be divided into equal parts； so far as days and months
are counted； but very unequal parts； considering the events which
transpired in each of those two periods of my life。
Attached to the person of the Emperor Napoleon for fifteen years； I have
seen all the men； and witnessed all the important events； which centered
around him。 I have seen far more than that； for I have had under my eyes
all the circumstances of his life； the least as well as the greatest； the
most secret as well as those which are known to history；I have had； I
repeat； incessantly under my eyes the man whose name； solitary and alone；
fills the most glorious pages of our history。 Fifteen years I followed
him in his travels and his campaigns； was at his court； and saw him in
the privacy of his family。 Whatever step he wished to take； whatever
order he gave； it was necessarily very difficult for the Emperor not to
admit me； even though involuntarily； into his confidence； so that without
desiring it； I have more than once found myself in the possession of
secrets I should have preferred not to know。 What wonderful things
happened during those fifteen years！ Those near the Emperor lived as if
in the center of a whirlwind； and so quick was the succession of
overwhelming events； that one felt dazed； as it were； and if he wished to
pause and fix his attention for a moment； there instantly came； like
another flood； a succession of events which carried him along with them
without giving him time to fix his thoughts。
Succeeding these times of activity which made one's brain whirl； there
came to me the most absolute repose in an isolated retreat where I passed
another interval of fifteen years after leaving the Emperor。 But what a
contrast！ To those who have lived； like myself； amid the conquests and
wonders of the Empire； what is left to…day？ If the strength of our
manhood was passed amid the bustle of years so short； yet so fully
occupied； our careers were sufficiently long and fruitful； and it is time
to give ourselves up to repose。 We can withdraw from the world； and
close our eyes。 Can it be possible to see anything equal to what we have
seen？ Such scenes do not come twice in the lifetime of any man； and
having seen them； they suffice to occupy his memory through all his
remaining years； and in retirement he can find nothing better to occupy
his leisure moments than the recollections of what he has witnessed。
Thus it has been with me。 The reader will readily believe that I have
had no greater pleasure than that of recalling the memories of the years
passed in the service of the Emperor。 As far as possible； I have kept
myself informed as to everything that has been written of my former
master； his family； and his court； and while listening to these
narrations read by my wife and sister at our fireside； the long evenings
have passed like an instant！ When I found in these books； some of which
are truly only miserable rhapsodies； statements which were incorrect；
false； or slanderous； I； took pleasure in correcting such statements； or
in showing their absurdity。 My wife； who lived； as I did； in the midst
of these events； also made her corrections； and； without other object
than our own satisfaction； made notes of our joint observations。
All who came to see us in our retreat； and took pleasure in having me
narrate what I had seen； were astonished and often indignant at the
falsehoods with which ignorance or malevolence had calumniated the
Emperor and the Empire； and expressing their gratitude for the correct
information I was able to give them； advised me also to furnish it to the
public。 But I attached no importance to the suggestion； and was far from
dreaming that some day I should be the author of a book； until M。
Ladvocat came to our hermitage； and urged me earnestly to publish my
memoirs； offering himself to become the publisher。
At the very time my wife and I received this unexpected visit； we were
reading together the Memoirs of Bourrienne； which the Ladvocat
publishing…house had just issued； and we had remarked more than once how
exempt these Memoirs were from both that spirit of disparagement and of
adulation which we had noticed with disgust in other books on the same
subject。 M。 Ladvocat advised me to complete the sketch of the Emperor；
which； owing to his elevated position and habitual occupations；
Bourrienne had been able to make only from a political point of view； and
in accordance with his advice； I shall relate in simple words； and in a
manner suited to my relations with the Emperor； those things which
Bourrienne has necessarily omitted； and which no one could know so well
as I。
I candidly admit that my objections to M。 Ladvocat's advice were entirely
overcome when he called my attention to this passage in the introduction
to Bourrienne's memoirs： 〃If every one who had any relations with
Napoleon； whatever the time and place； will accurately and without
prejudice record what he saw and heard； the future historian of his life
will be rich in materials。 I hope that whoever undertakes that difficult
task will find in my notes some information which may be useful in
perfecting his work。〃
Having re…read these lines attentively； I said to myself that I could
furnish memoranda and information which would refute errors； brand
falsehoods； and bring to light what I knew to be the truth。 In a word； I
felt that I could give in my testimony； and that it was my duty to do so；
in the long trial which has been held ever since the overthrow of the
Emperor； for I had been an eye…witness； had seen everything； and could
say； 〃I was there。〃 Others also have been close to the Emperor and his
court； and I may often repeat what they have said； for the feats which
they describe I had the same opportunity of witnessing； but； on the other
hand； whatever I know of private matters； and whatever I may reveal which
was secret and unknown； no one till this time could possibly have known；
or consequently have related。
From the departure of the First Consul for the campaign of Marengo；
whither I went with him； until the departure from Fontainebleau； when I
was compelled to leave him； I was absent only twice； once for three days
and once for seven or eight days。 Excepting these short leaves of
absence； the latter of which was on account of my health； I quitted the
Emperor no more than his shadow。
It has been said that no one is a hero to his valet de chambre。 I beg
leave to dissent from this。 The Emperor； as near as I was to him； was
always a hero； and it was a great advantage also to see the man as he
was。 At a distance you were sensible only of the prestige of his glory
and his power； but on getting closer to him you enjoyed； besides； the
surprising charm of his conversation； the entire simplicity of his family
life； and I do not hesitate to say； the habitual kindliness of his
character。
The reader； if curious to learn beforehand in what spi