182 Constant's Memoirs of Buonaparte. Ai7G. 



peror would then cry, and quit the tent, accompanied by the Prince de 

 Neufchatel, one or two aides-de-camp, and Roustan, who was always pro- 

 vided with a silver flask filled with brandy, but which the emperor seldom, 

 tasted. He then inspected the different regiments, addressed the officers, 

 the soldiers, questioned them, and saw every thing with his own eyes. In 

 the event of an engagement, the dinner was forgotten, and the emperor eat 

 nothing till his return. If the action was prolonged, some one in attend- 

 ance, without receiving any orders, brought him a crust of bread, and a little 

 wine. At the termination of the bloody scene, Napoleon never failed to 

 visit the field of battle, and to distribute assistance to the wounded. 



" It is worthy of remark, then whenever an unexpected incident com- 

 pelled an aide-de-camp to rouse the emperor from sleep, he was as clear, and 

 as apt for business, as he could have been in the morning, or during the 

 middle of the day : nor was the slightest movement of ill humour percep- 

 tible, how unseasonable soever the hour at which he was awakened. The 

 aide-de-camp's report terminated, Napoleon immediately lay down again, 

 and in a moment slept as soundly as if his repose had not been interrupted. 



" During the three or four days that preceded an engagement, Napoleon 

 passed the greatest part of his time in pricking large cards with pins headed 

 with sealing-wax of different colours." 



Having quoted these details on the subject of Napoleon, we beg leave, 

 by way of pendant, to lay before our readers the following brief sketch 

 of Josephine and her habits, during the fleeting epoch of her imperial 

 fortunes : . 



" The Empress Josephine was of the middle stature, but gracefully formed. 

 The lightness and elasticity of her movements, without excluding the idea of 

 majesty, might have reminded the poet of the sylph-like creations of his 

 fancy. Her countenance, though ever marked by its natural expression of 

 softness, yet varied with her feelings. In pleasure, as in grief, she was 

 beautiful to look at ; the beholder smiled, when she smiled, wept, when she 

 wept. Never did woman, in her own person, more fully justify the pro- 

 verbial expression ' the eyes are the mirror of the soul.' Her's were of deep 

 blue, and were generally half-closed by her long eyelids slightly arched, and 

 terminating in eye-lashes of no ordinary beauty: with their expression, 

 though not wanting in dignity, severity was almost incompatible. Her long 

 auburn tresses, were admirably in unison with the freshness and delicacy of 

 her complexion, 



" The ravishing tone of her voice contributed not a little to enhance the 

 power of Josephine's charms. How frequently have I, as well as others, 

 suddenly stopped, solely for the pleasure of hearing her delightful accents ! 

 It would be absurd to say with her flatterers, that the empress was the finest 

 woman in France, but her features, characterized by the expression of genuine 

 feeling, and the angelic grace diffused over her whole person,, rendered her, 

 perhaps, the most attractive. 



" When the empress was at Saint Cloud, she generally rose at nine o'clock, 

 and arranged her morning toilette, which lasted till ten : she then passed into 

 an apartment where were assembled such as had solicited and obtained the 

 favour of a private audience. At eleven o'clock, when the emperor was 

 absent, Josephine breakfasted with her first lady of honour and other ladies. 

 Madame de la Rochefoucault, first lady of honour to the empress, was hunch- 

 backed, and of such diminutive size, that, before she sat down to table, it 

 was necessary to elevate her chair by the addition of a second thick cushion. 

 These physical deformities were redeemed by the lady's brilliant, though 

 rather caustic wit, and by her exquisite ton, and courtly manners. 



" After breakfast, the empress sometimes played at billiards, or, when the 

 weather was fine, took a walk in the gardens, or in the park, which on those 

 occasions was closed to the public. Her walks were never long, and when 



