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during the course of his life； and at the very period when in order to do
so he had often to impose privations on himself。
It will soon be seen how it happened that I passed only a month with
Eugene； but during this short space of time； I recall that； while
fulfilling scrupulously his duties to his mother and his step…father； he
was much addicted to the pleasures so natural to his age and position。
One of his greatest pleasures was entertaining his friends at breakfast；
which he did very often。 This amused me much on account of the comical
scenes of which I was often a witness。 Besides the young officers of
Bonaparte's staff； his most frequent guests； he had also frequently at
his table the ventriloquist Thiemet； Dugazon； Dazincourt； and Michau of
the Theatre Francais； and a few other persons； whose names escape me at
this moment。 As may be imagined； these reunions were extremely gay；
these young officers especially； who had returned like Eugene from the
expedition to Egypt； seemed trying to indemnify themselves for the recent
privations they had had to suffer。 At this time ventriloquists； among
whom Thiemet held a very distinguished position； were the fashion in
Paris； and were invited to private gatherings。 I remember on one
occasion； at one of these breakfasts of Eugene's； Thiemet called by their
names several persons present； imitating the voices of their servants； as
if they were just outside the door； while he remained quietly in his
seat； appearing to be using his lips only to eat and drink； two duties'
which he performed admirably。 Each of the officers called in this manner
went out； and found no one； and then Thiemet went out with them； under
the pretext of assisting them in the search； and increased their
perplexity by continuing to make them hear some well…known voice。 Most
of them laughed heartily at the joke of which they had just been the
victims； but there was one who； having himself less under control than
his comrades； took the thing seriously； and became very angry； whereupon
Eugene had to avow that he was the author of the conspiracy。
I recall still another amusing scene； the two heroes of which were this
same Thiemet； of whom I have just spoken； and Dugazon。 Several
foreigners were present at a breakfast given by Eugene； the parts having
been assigned； and learned in advance； and the two victims selected。
When each had taken his place at table； Dugazon； pretending to stammer；
addressed a remark to Thiemet； who； playing the same role； replied to
him； stammering likewise； then each of them pretended to believe that the
other was making fun of him； and there followed a stuttering quarrel
between the two parties； each one finding it more and more difficult to
express himself as his anger rose。 Thiemet； who besides his role of
stammering was also playing that of deafness； addressed his neighbor； his
trumpet in his ear：
〃Wha…wha…what…do…does he say？〃 〃Nothing；〃 replied the officious
neighbor； wishing to prevent a quarrel； and to supply facts while
defending the other stammerer。〃Soso…he…he…he…he's mamaking fun of me！〃
Then the quarrel became more violent still； they were about to come to
blows； when each of the two stammerers seizing a carafe of water； hurled
it at the head of his antagonist； and a copious deluge of water from the
bottles taught the officious neighbors the great danger of acting as
peacemakers。 The two stammerers continued to scream as is the custom of
deaf persons； until the last drop of water was spilt； and I remember that
Eugene； the originator of this practical joke； laughed immoderately the
whole time this scene lasted。 The water was wiped off； and all were soon
reconciled； glass in hand。 Eugene； when he had perpetrated a joke of
this sort； never failed to relate it to his mother； and sometimes to his
stepfather； who were much amused thereby； Josephine especially。
I had led for one month a very pleasant life with Eugene； when Lefebvre；
the valet de chambre whom he had left sick at Cairo； returned in restored
health； and asked to resume his place。 Eugene； whom I suited better on
account of my age and activity； proposed to him to enter his mother's
service； suggesting to him that he would there have an easier time than
with himself； but Lefebvre； who was extremely attached to his master；
sought Madame Bonaparte； and confided to her his chagrin at this
decision。
Josephine promised to assist him； and consoled him by assurances that she
would suggest to her son that Lefebvre should reassume his former
position； and that she would take me into her own service。 This was done
according to promise； and one morning Eugene announced to me； in the most
gratifying manner； my change of abode。 〃Constant；〃 he said to me；
〃I regret very much that circumstances require us to part； but you know
Lefebvre followed me to Egypt； he is an old servant； and I feel compelled
to give him his former position。 Besides； you will not be far removed；
as you will enter my mother's service； where you will be well treated；
and we will see each other often。 Go to her this morning； I have spoken
to her of you。 The matter is already arranged； and she expects you。〃
As may be believed； I lost no time in presenting myself to Madame
Bonaparte。 Knowing that she was at Malmaison； I went there immediately；
and was received by her with a kindness which overwhelmed me with
gratitude； as I was not then aware that she manifested this same
graciousness to every one； and that it was as inseparable from her
character as was grace from her person。 The duties required of me； in
her service； were altogether nominal； and nearly all my time was at my
own disposal； of which I took advantage to visit Paris frequently。 The
life that I led at this time was very pleasant to a young man like
myself； who could not foresee that in a short while he would be as much
under subjection as he was then at liberty。
Before bidding adieu to a service in which I had found so much that was
agreeable； I will relate some incidents which belong to that period； and
which my situation with the stepson of General Bonaparte gave me the
opportunity of learning。
M。 de Bourrienne has related circumstantially in his memoirs the events
of the 18th Brumaire； ＇The 18th Brumaire； Nov。 9； 1799； was the day
Napoleon overthrew the Directory and made himself First Consul。…TRANS。＇
and the account which he has given of that famous day is as correct as it
is interesting； so that any one curious to know the secret causes which
led to these political changes will find them faithfully pointed out in
the narration of that minister of state。 I am very far from intending to
excite an interest of this； kind； but reading the work of M。 Bourrienne
put me again on the track of my own recollections。 These memoirs relate
to circumstances of which he was ignorant； or possibly may have omitted
purposely as being of little importance； and whatever he has let fall on
his road I think myself fortunate in being permitted to glean。
I was still with Eugene de Beauharnais when General Bonaparte overthrew
the Directory； but I found myself in as favorable a situation to know