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director…general； count； and councillor of state。 At this period of
his reign； Napoleon was particularly absorbed in the affairs of the
interior； he overwhelmed Bridau with work； and finally wrecked the
health of that dauntless bureaucrat。 The Emperor； of whom Bridau had
never asked a favor； made inquiries into his habits and fortune。
Finding that this devoted servant literally had nothing but his
situation； Napoleon recognized him as one of the incorruptible natures
which raised the character of his government and gave moral weight to
it； and he wished to surprise him by the gift of some distinguished
reward。 But the effort to complete a certain work； involving immense
labor； before the departure of the Emperor for Spain caused the death
of the devoted servant； who was seized with an inflammatory fever。
When the Emperor； who remained in Paris for a few days after his
return to prepare for the campaign of 1809； was told of Bridau's
death he said： 〃There are men who can never be replaced。〃 Struck by
the spectacle of a devotion which could receive none of the brilliant
recognitions that reward a soldier； the Emperor resolved to create an
order to requite civil services； just as he had already created the
Legion of honor to reward the military。 The impression he received
from the death of Bridau led him to plan the order of the Reunion。 He
had not time； however； to mature this aristocratic scheme； the
recollection of which is now so completely effaced that many of my
readers may ask what were its insignia： the order was worn with a blue
ribbon。 The Emperor called it the Reunion； under the idea of uniting
the order of the Golden Fleece of Spain with the order of the Golden
Fleece of Austria。 〃Providence；〃 said a Prussian diplomatist； 〃took
care to frustrate the profanation。〃
After Bridau's death the Emperor inquired into the circumstances of
his widow。 Her two sons each received a scholarship in the Imperial
Lyceum； and the Emperor paid the whole costs of their education from
his privy purse。 He gave Madame Bridau a pension of four thousand
francs； intending； no doubt； to advance the fortune of her sons in
future years。
From the time of her marriage to the death of her husband； Agathe had
held no communication with Issoudun。 She lost her mother just as she
was on the point of giving birth to her youngest son； and when her
father； who； as she well knew； loved her little； died； the coronation
of the Emperor was at hand； and that event gave Bridau so much
additional work that she was unwilling to leave him。 Her brother；
Jean…Jacques Rouget； had not written to her since she left Issoudun。
Though grieved by the tacit repudiation of her family； Agathe had come
to think seldom of those who never thought of her。 Once a year she
received a letter from her godmother； Madame Hochon； to whom she
replied with commonplaces； paying no heed to the advice which that
pious and excellent woman gave to her； disguised in cautious words。
Some time before the death of Doctor Rouget； Madame Hochon had written
to her goddaughter warning her that she would get nothing from her
father's estate unless she gave a power of attorney to Monsieur
Hochon。 Agathe was very reluctant to harass her brother。 Whether it
were that Bridau thought the spoliation of his wife in accordance with
the laws and customs of Berry； or that； high…minded as he was； he
shared the magnanimity of his wife； certain it is that he would not
listen to Roguin； his notary； who advised him to take advantage of his
ministerial position to contest the deeds by which the father had
deprived the daughter of her legitimate inheritance。 Husband and wife
thus tacitly sanctioned what was done at Issoudun。 Nevertheless；
Roguin had forced Bridau to reflect upon the future interests of his
wife which were thus compromised。 He saw that if he died before her；
Agathe would be left without property； and this led him to look into
his own affairs。 He found that between 1793 and 1805 his wife and he
had been obliged to use nearly thirty thousand of the fifty thousand
francs in cash which old Rouget had given to his daughter at the time
of her marriage。 He at once invested the remaining twenty thousand in
the public funds； then quoted at forty； and from this source Agathe
received about two thousand francs a year。 As a widow； Madame Bridau
could live suitably on an income of six thousand francs。 With
provincial good sense； she thought of changing her residence；
dismissing the footman； and keeping no servant except a cook； but her
intimate friend； Madame Descoings； who insisted on being considered
her aunt； sold her own establishment and came to live with Agathe；
turning the study of the late Bridau into her bedroom。
The two widows clubbed their revenues； and so were in possession of a
joint income of twelve thousand francs a year。 This seems a very
simple and natural proceeding。 But nothing in life is more deserving
of attention than the things that are called natural； we are on our
guard against the unnatural and extraordinary。 For this reason； you
will find men of experiencelawyers； judges； doctors； and priests
attaching immense importance to simple matters； and they are often
thought over…scrupulous。 But the serpent amid flowers is one of the
finest myths that antiquity has bequeathed for the guidance of our
lives。 How often we hear fools； trying to excuse themselves in their
own eyes or in the eyes of others； exclaiming； 〃It was all so natural
that any one would have been taken in。〃
In 1809； Madame Descoings； who never told her age； was sixty…five。 In
her heyday she had been popularly called a beauty； and was now one of
those rare women whom time respects。 She owed to her excellent
constitution the privilege of preserving her good looks； which；
however； would not bear close examination。 She was of medium height；
plump； and fresh； with fine shoulders and a rather rosy complexion。
Her blond hair； bordering on chestnut； showed； in spite of her
husband's catastrophe； not a tinge of gray。 She loved good cheer； and
liked to concoct nice little made dishes； yet； fond as she was of
eating； she also adored the theatre and cherished a vice which she
wrapped in impenetrable mysteryshe bought into lotteries。 Can that
be the abyss of which mythology warns us under the fable of the
Danaides and their cask？ Madame Descoings； like other women who are
lucky enough to keep young for many years； spend rather too much upon
her dress； but aside from these trifling defects she was the
pleasantest of women to live with。 Of every one's opinion； never
opposing anybody； her kindly and communicative gayety gave pleasure to
all。 She had； moreover； a Parisian quality which charmed the retired
clerks and elderly merchants of her circle；she could take and give a
jest。 If she did not marry a third time it was no doubt the fault of
the times。 During the wars of the Empire； marrying men found rich and
handsome girls t