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and sometimes three in the morning。
All were admitted at Madame Bonaparte's on a footing of equality； which
was most gratifying。 There came familiarly Murat； Duroc； Berthier； and
all those who have since figured as great dignitaries； and some even as
sovereigns； in the annals of the empire。
The family of General Bonaparte were assiduous in their attentions； but
it was known among us that they had no love for Madame Bonaparte； of
which fact I had many proofs。 Mademoiselle Hortense never left her
mother； and they were devotedly attached to each other。
Besides men distinguished by their posts under the government or in the
army； there gathered others also who were not less distinguished by
personal merit； or the position which their birth had given them before
the Revolution。 It was a veritable panorama； in which we saw the persons
themselves pass before our eyes。 The scene itself； even exclusive of the
gayety which always attended the dinings of Eugene； had its attractions。
Among those whom we saw most frequently were Volney； Denon； Lemercier；
the Prince of Poix； de Laigle； Charles Baudin； General Beurnonville；
Isabey； and a number of others； celebrated in science； literature； and
art； in short； the greater part of those who composed the society of
Madame de Montesson。
Madame Bonaparte and Mademoiselle Hortense often took excursions on
horseback into the country。 On these occasions her most constant escorts
were the Prince de Poix and M。 de Laigle。 One day； as this party was
reentering the court…yard at Malmaison； the horse which Hortense rode
became frightened； and dashed off。 She was an accomplished rider； and
very active； so she attempted to spring off on the grass by the roadside；
but the band which fastened the end of her riding…skirt under her foot
prevented her freeing herself quickly； and she was thrown； and dragged by
her horse for several yards。 Fortunately the gentlemen of the party；
seeing her fall； sprang from their horses in time to rescue her； and； by
extraordinary good fortune； she was not even bruised； and was the first
to laugh at her misadventure。
During the first part of my stay at Malmaison； the First Consul always
slept with his wife； like an ordinary citizen of the middle classes in
Paris； and I heard no rumor of any intrigue in the chateau。 The persons
of this society； most of whom were young； and who were often very
numerous； frequently took part in sports which recalled college days。
In fact； one of the greatest diversions of the inhabitants of Malmaison
was to play 〃prisoners' base。〃 It was usually after dinner； and
Bonaparte； Lauriston； Didelot； de Lucay； de Bourrienne； Eugene； Rapp；
Isabey； Madame Bonaparte； and Mademoiselle Hortense would divide
themselves into two camps； in which the prisoners taken； or exchanged；
would recall to the First Consul the greater game； which he so much
preferred。 In these games the most active runners were Eugene； Isabey；
and Hortense。 As to General Bonaparte； he often fell； but rose laughing
boisterously。
General Bonaparte and his family seemed to enjoy almost unexampled
happiness； especially when at Malmaison； which residence； though
agreeable at that time； was far from being what it has since become。
This estate consisted of the chateau； which Bonaparte found in bad
condition on his return from Egypt； a park already somewhat improved； and
a farm； the income of which did not with any certainty exceed twelve
thousand francs a year。 Josephine directed in person all the
improvements made there； and no woman ever possessed better taste。
From the first； they played amateur comedy at Malmaison； which was a
relaxation the First Consul enjoyed greatly； but in which he took no part
himself except that of looker…on。 Every one in the house attended these
representations； and I must confess we felt perhaps even more pleasure
than others in seeing thus travestied on the stage those in whose service
we were。
The Malmaison Troupe； if I may thus style actors of such exalted social
rank； consisted principally of Eugene； Jerome； Lauriston； de Bourrienne；
Isabey； de Leroy； Didelot； Mademoiselle Hortense； Madame Caroline Murat；
and the two Mademoiselles Auguie； one of whom afterwards married Marshal
Ney；
＇Michel Ney； Styled by Napoleon the 〃bravest of the brave；〃 was
born 1769； at Sarre…Louis （now in Prussia）； son of a cooper。
Entered the army as a private 1787； adjutant…general 1794； general
of brigade 1796； general of division 1799； marshal 1804； Duke of
Elchingen 1805； Prince of Moskwa 1812； and commanded the rear…guard
in the famous retreat from Russia。 On the return from Elba he went
over to Napoleon； was at Waterloo。 Was afterwards taken； and in
spite of the terms of the surrender of Paris was tried for treason；
and shot in the gardens of the Luxembourg； Dec。 8； 1815。TRANS。＇
and the other M。 de Broc。 All four were very young and charming； and few
theaters in Paris could show four actresses as pretty。 In addition to
which； they showed much grace in their acting； and played their parts
with real talent； and were as natural on the stage as in the saloon；
where they bore themselves with exquisite grace and refinement。 At first
the repertoire contained little variety； though the pieces were generally
well selected。 The first representation which I attended was the 〃Barber
of Seville 〃 in which Isabey played the role of Figaro； and Mademoiselle
Hortense that of Rosineand the 〃Spiteful Lover。〃 Another time I saw
played the 〃Unexpected Wager；〃 and 〃False Consultations。〃 Hortense and
Eugene played this last piece perfectly； and I still recall that； in the
role of Madame le Blanc； Hortense appeared prettier than ever in the
character of an old woman； Eugene representing Le Noir； and Lauriston the
charlatan。 The First Consul； as I have said； confined himself to the
role of spectator； but he seemed to take in these fireside plays； so to
speak； the greatest pleasure； laughed and applauded heartily； though
sometimes he also criticised。
Madame Bonaparte was also highly entertained； and even if she could not
always boast of the successful acting of her children； 〃the chiefs of the
troupe；〃 it sufficed her that it was an agreeable relaxation to her
husband； and seemed to give him pleasure； for her constant study was to
contribute to the happiness of the great man who had united her destiny
with his own。
When the day for the presentation of a play had been appointed； there was
never any postponement； but often a change of the play； not because of
the indisposition； or fit of the blues； of an actress （as often happens
in the theaters of Paris）； but for more serious reasons。 It sometimes
happened that M。 d'Etieulette received orders to rejoin his regiment； or
an important mission was confided to Count Almaviva； though Figaro and
Rosine always remained at their posts； and the desire of pleasing the
First Consul was； besides； so general among all those who surrounded him；
that the substitutes did their best in the absence of the principals； and
the play never failed for want of an actor。
＇Michau； of th