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第14节

napoleon bonaparte, v3-第14节

小说: napoleon bonaparte, v3 字数: 每页4000字

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this excessive delicacy; which I have seen few persons above or below my
condition imitate。  On rising; the Emperor habitually took a cup of tea
or orange water; and if he desired a bath; had it immediately on getting
out of bed; and while in it had his dispatches and newspapers read to him
by his secretary (Bourrienne till 1804)。  If he did not take a bath; he
seated himself by the fire; and had them read to him there; often reading
them himself。  He dictated to the secretary his replies; and the
observations which the reading of these suggested to him; as he went
through each; throwing it on the floor without any order。  The secretary
afterwards gathered them all up; and arranged them to be carried into the
Emperor's private room。  His Majesty; before making his toilet; in
summer; put on pantaloons of white pique and a dressing…gown of the same;
and in winter; pantaloons and dressing…gown of swanskin; while on his
head was a turban tied in front; the two ends hanging down on his neck
behind。  When the Emperor donned this headdress; his appearance was far
from elegant。  When he came out of the bath; we gave him another turban;
for the one he wore was always wet in the bath; where he turned and
splashed himself incessantly。  Having taken his bath and read his
dispatches; he began his toilet; and I shaved him before he learned to
shave himself。  When the Emperor began this habit; he used at first; like
every one; a mirror attached to the window; but he came up so close to
it; and lathered himself so vigorously with soap; that the mirror;
window…panes; curtains; his dressing…gown; and the Emperor himself; were
all covered with it。  To remedy this inconvenience; the servants
assembled in council; and it was decided that Roustan should hold the
looking…glass for his Majesty。  When the Emperor had shaved one side; he
turned the other side to view; and made Roustan pass from left to right;
or from right to left; according to the side on which he commenced。
After shaving; the Emperor washed his face and hands; and had his nails
carefully cleaned; then I took off his flannel vest and shirt; and rubbed
his whole bust with an extremely soft silk brush; afterwards rubbing him
with eau…de…cologne; of which he used a great quantity; for every day he
was rubbed and dressed thus。  It was in the East he had acquired this
hygienic custom; which he enjoyed greatly; and which is really excellent。
All these preparations ended; I put on him light flannel or cashmere
slippers; white silk stockings; the only kind he ever wore; and very fine
linen or fustian drawers; sometimes knee…breeches of white cassimere;
with soft riding…boots; sometimes pantaloons of the same stuff and color;
with little English half…boots which came to the middle of the leg; and
were finished with small silver spurs which were never more than six
lines in length。  All his; boots were finished with these spurs。  I then
put on him his flannel vest and shirt; a neck…cloth of very fine muslin;
and over all a black silk stock; finally a round vest of white pique; and
either a chasseur's or grenadier's coat; usually the former。  His toilet
ended; he was presented with his handkerchief; his tobacco…box; and a
little shell bog filled with aniseed and licorice; ground very fine。  It
will be seen by the above that the Emperor had himself dressed by his
attendants from head to foot。  He put his hand to nothing; but let
himself be dressed like an infant; his mind filled with business during
the entire performance。

I had forgotten to say that he used boxwood toothpicks; and a brush
dipped in some opiate。  The Emperor was born; so to speak; to be waited
on (homme d valets de chambre)。  When only a general; he had as many as
three valets; and had himself served with as much luxury as at the height
of his fortunes; and from that time received all the attentions I have
just described; and which it was almost impossible for him to do without;
and in this particular the etiquette was never changed。  He increased the
number of his servants; and decorated them with new titles; but he could
not have more services rendered him personally。  He subjected himself
very rarely to the grand etiquette of royalty; and never; for example;
did the grand chamberlain hand him his shirt; and on one occasion only;
when the city of Paris gave him a dinner at the time of his coronation;
did the grand marshal hand him water to wash his hands。  I shall give a
description of his toilet on the day of his coronation; and it will be
seen that even on that day his Majesty; the Emperor of the French; did
not require any other ceremonial than that to which he had been
accustomed as general and First Consul of the Republic。

The Emperor had no fixed hour for retiring: sometimes he retired at ten
or eleven o'clock in the evening; oftener he stayed awake till two;
three; or four o'clock in the morning。  He was soon undressed; for it was
his habit; on entering the room; to throw each garment right and left; …
his coat on the floor; his grand cordon on the rug; his watch hap…hazard
at the bed; his hat far off on a piece of furniture; thus with all his
clothing; one piece after another。  When he was in a good humor; he
called me in a loud voice; with this kind of a cry: 〃Ohe; oh!  oh!〃 at
other times; when he was not in good humor; 〃Monsieur; Monsieur
Constant!〃

At all seasons his bed had to be warmed with a warming…pan; and it was
only during the very hottest weather that he would dispense with this。
His habit of undressing himself in haste rarely left me anything to do;
except to hand him his night…cap。  I then lighted his night…lamp; which
was of gilded silver; and shaded it so that it would give less light。
When he did not go to sleep at once; he had one of his secretaries
called; or perhaps the Empress Josephine; to read to him; which duty no
one could discharge better than her Majesty; for which reason the Emperor
preferred her to all his readers; for she read with that especial charm
which was natural to her in all she did。  By order of the Emperor; there
was burnt in his bedroom; in little silver perfume…boxes; sometimes aloes
wood; and sometimes sugar or vinegar; and almost the year round it was
necessary to have a fire in all his apartments; as he was habitually very
sensitive to cold。  When he wished to sleep; I returned to take out his
lamp; and went up to my own room; my bedroom being just above that of his
Majesty。  Roustan and a valet on service slept in a little apartment
adjoining the Emperor's bedroom; and if he needed me during the night;
the boy of the wardrobe; who slept in an antechamber; came for me。  Water
was always kept hot for his bath; for often at any hour of the night as
well as the day he might suddenly be seized with a fancy to take one。

Doctor Yvan appeared every morning and evening; at the rising and
retiring of his Majesty。

It is well known that the Emperor often had his secretaries; and even his
ministers; called during the night。  During his stay at Warsaw; the
Prince de Talleyrand once received a message after midnight; he came at
once; and had a long interview with the Emperor; and work was prolonged
late into the night; when his Majesty; fatigued; at last fell into a deep
slumber。  The Prince of Benevento; who was afraid to go out; fearing lest
he might awaken the Emperor or be recalled to continue the conversation;
casting his eyes around; perceived a comfortable sofa; so he stretched
himself out on it; and went to sleep。  Meneval;  secretary to his
Majesty; not wishing to retire till after the minister had left; knowing
that the Emperor would probably call for him as soon as Talleyrand had
retired; became impatient at such a long interview; and as for me; I was
not in the best humor; since it was impossible for me to retire without
taking away his Majesty's lamp。  Meneval came a dozen times to ask me if
Prince Talleyrand had left。  〃He is there yet;〃 said I。  〃I am sure of
it; and yet I hear nothing。〃  At last I begged him to place himself in
the room where I then was; and on which the street…door opened; whilst I
went to act as sentinel in a vestibule on which the Emperor's room had
another opening; and it was arranged that the one of us who saw the
prince go out would inform the other。  Two o'clock sounded; then three;
then four; no one appeared; and there was not the least movement in his
Majesty's room。  Losing patience at last; I half opened the door as
gently as possible; but the Emperor; whose sleep was very light; woke
with a start; and asked in a loud tone: 〃Who is that?  Who comes there?
What is that?〃  I replied; that; thinking the Prince of Benevento had
gone out; I had come for his Majesty's lamp。  〃Talleyrand!  Talleyrand!〃
cried out his Majesty vehemently。  〃Where is he; then?〃  and seeing him
waking up; well; I declare he is asleep!  Come; you wretch; how dare you
sleep in my room!  ah!  ah!〃 I left without taking out the lamp; they
began talking again; and Meneval and I awaited the end of the tete…a…
tete; until five o'clock in the morning。

The Emperor had a habit of taking; when he thus worked at night; coffee
with cream; or chocolate; but he

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