napoleon bonaparte, v3-第6节
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nevertheless； it is my duty to state that his servants were all full of
zeal and devotion； though I had been with him longest； and had never left
him。 One day the Emperor asked for tea in the middle of the day。 M。
Seneschal was on duty； consequently made the tea； and presented it to his
Majesty； who declared it to be detestable； and had me summoned。 The
Emperor complained to me that they were trying to poison him （this was
his expression when he found a bad taste in anything）； so going into the
kitchen； I poured out of the same teapot； a cup； which I prepared and
carried to his Majesty； with two silver…gilt spoons as usual； one to
taste the tea in the presence of the Emperor； and the other for him。
This time he said the tea was excellent； and complimented me on it with a
kind familiarity which he deigned at times to use towards his servants。
On returning the cup to me； he pulled my ears； and said； 〃You must teach
them how to make tea； they know nothing about it。〃 De Bourrienne； whose
excellent Memoirs I have read with the greatest pleasure； says somewhere；
that the Emperor in his moments of good humor pinched the tip of the ears
of his familiars。 I myself think that he pinched the whole ear； often；
indeed； both ears at once； and with the hand of a master。 He also says
in these same Memoirs； that the Emperor gave little friendly slaps with
two fingers； in which De Bourrienne is very moderate； for I can bear
witness in regard to this matter； that his Majesty； although his hand was
not large； bestowed his favors much more broadly； but this kind of
caress； as well as the former； was given and received as a mark of
particular favor； and the recipients were far from complaining then。 I
have heard more than one dignitary say with pride； like the sergeant in
the comedy；
〃Sir； feel there； the blow upon my cheek is still warm。〃
In his private apartments the Emperor was almost always cheerful and
approachable； conversing freely with the persons in his service；
questioning them about their families； their affairs； and even as to
their pleasures。 His toilet finished； his appearance suddenly changed；
he became grave and thoughtful； and assumed again the bearing of an
emperor。 It has been said； that he often beat the people of his
household； which statement is untrue。 I saw him once only give himself
up to a transport of this kind； and certainly the circumstances which
caused it； and the reparation which followed； ought to render it； if not
excusable； at least easily understood： This is the incident； of which I
was a witness； and which took place in the suburbs of Vienna； the day
after the death of Marshal Lannes。 The Emperor was profoundly affected；
and had not spoken a word during his toilet。 As soon as he was dressed
he asked for his horse； and as an unlucky chance would have it； Jardin；
superintendent of the stables； could not be found when the horse was
saddled； and the groom did not put on him his regular bridle； in
consequence of which his Majesty had no sooner mounted； than the animal
plunged； reared； and the rider fell heavily to the ground。 Jardin
arrived just as the Emperor was rising from the ground； beside himself
with anger； and in his first transport of rage； he gave Jardin a blow
with his riding…whip directly across his face。 Jardin withdrew；
overwhelmed by such cruel treatment； so unusual in his Majesty； and： few
hours after； Caulaincourt； grand equerry； finding himself alone with his
Majesty； described to him Jardin's grief and mortification。 The Emperor
expressed deep regret for his anger； sent for Jardin； and spoke to him
with a kindness which effaced the remembrance of his ill treatment； and
sent him a few days afterward three thousand francs。 I have been told
that a similar incident happened to Vigogne； senior； in Egypt。 But
although this may be true； two such instances alone in the entire life of
the Emperor； which was passed amid surroundings so well calculated to
make a man； even though naturally most amiable； depart from his usual
character； should not be sufficient to draw down upon Napoleon the odious
reproach of beating cruelly those in his service。
CHAPTER XVI。
In his headquarters at the Pont des Briques the Emperor worked as
regularly as in his cabinet at the Tuileries。 After his rides on
horseback； his inspections； his visits； his reviews； he took his meals in
haste； and retired into his cabinet； where he often worked most of the
night； thus leading the same life as at Paris。 In his horseback rides
Roustan followed him everywhere； always taking with him a little silver
flask of brandy for the use of his Majesty； who rarely asked for it。
The army of Boulogne was composed of about one hundred and fifty thousand
infantry and ninety thousand cavalry； divided into four principal camps；
the camp of the right wing； the camp of the left wing； the camp of
Wimereux； and the camp of Ambleteuse。
His Majesty the Emperor had his headquarters at Pont de Briques； thus
named； I was told； because the brick foundations of an old camp of
Caesar's had been discovered there。 The Pont de Briques； as I have said
above； is about half a league from Boulogne； and the headquarters of his
Majesty were established in the only house of the place which was then
habitable； and guarded by a detachment of the cavalry of the Imperial
Guard。
The four camps were on a very high cliff overlooking the sea； so situated
that in fine weather the coast of England could be seen。
In the camp on the right they had established barracks for the Emperor；
Admiral Bruix； Marshal Soult； and Decres； who was then minister of the
navy。
The Emperor's barrack was constructed under the direction of Sordi；
engineer； performing the functions of engineer…in…chief of military
roads； and his nephew； Lecat de Rue； attached at that time to the staff
of Marshal Soult as aide…de…camp； has been kind enough to furnish me with
information which did not come within my province。
The Emperor's barrack was built of plank； like the booths of a country
fair； with this difference； that the planks were neatly planed； and
painted a grayish white。 In form it was a long square； having at each
end two pavilions of semicircular shape。 A fence formed of wooden
lattice inclosed this barrack； which was lighted on the outside by lamps
placed four feet apart； and the windows were placed laterally。 The
pavilion next to the sea consisted of three rooms and a hall； the
principal room； used as a council…chamber； being decorated with silver…
gray paper。 On the ceiling were painted golden clouds； in the midst of
which appeared； upon the blue vault of the sky； an eagle holding the
lightning； and guided towards England by a star； the guardian star of the
Emperor。 In the middle of this chamber was a large oval table with a
plain cover of green cloth； and before this table was placed only his
Majesty's armchair； which could be taken to pieces； and was made of
natural wood； unpainted； and covered with green morocco stuffed with
hair； while upon the table was a boxwood writing…desk。 This was the
entire furniture of the council…chamber； in which his Majesty alone could
be seated。 The generals stood before him； and had during these councils；
which sometimes lasted three or four hours； no other support than the
handles of their sabers。
The council…chamber was entered from a hall。 On the right of this hall
was his Majesty's bedroom； which had a glass door； and was lighted by a
window which looked out upon the camp of the right wing； while the sea
could be seen on the left。 In this room was the Emperor's iron bed； with
a large curtain of plain green sarsenet fastened to the ceiling by a
gilded copper ring； and upon this bed were two mattresses； one made of
hair； two bolsters； one at the head； the other at the foot； no pillow；
and two coverlets； one of white cotton； the other of green sarsenet；
wadded and quilted； by the side of the bed two very simple folding…seats；
and at the window short curtains of green sarsenet。
This room was papered with rose…colored paper； stamped with a pattern in
lace…work； with an Etruscan border。
Opposite the…bedroom was a similar chamber； in which was a peculiar kind
of telescope which had cost twelve thousand francs。 This instrument was
about four feet long； and about a foot in diameter； and was mounted on a
mahogany support； with three feet； the box in which it was kept being
almost in the shape of a piano。 In the same room； upon two stools； was a
little square chest； which contained three complete suits and the linen
which formed the campaign wardrobe of his Majesty。 Above this was a
single extra hat； lined with white satin； and much the worse for wear；
for the Emperor； as I shall say later in speaking of his personal
peculiarities； having a very tender scalp； did not like new hats； and
wore the same a long time。
The main body of the imperial barrack was divided into three rooms； a
saloon； a vestibule； and a grand dining…room； which communicated with the
kitchens by a passage parallel to that I have just mentioned。 Outside
the barrack； and connected with the kitchen； was a little shed； covere
