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never forgotten the impression made on me by this sad news； and I still
find no explanation of the strange mental distress which gave warning to
this brave soldier of his approaching end。
Poland was relying upon the Emperor to re…establish her independence； and
consequently the Poles were filled with hope and enthusiasm on witnessing
the arrival of the French army。 As for our soldiers； this winter
campaign was most distasteful to them； for cold and wretchedness； bad
weather and bad roads； had inspired them with an extreme aversion to this
country。
In a review at Warsaw； at which the inhabitants crowded around our
troops； a soldier began to swear roundly against the snow and mud； and；
as a consequence； against Poland and the Poles。 〃You are wrong； Monsieur
soldier；〃 replied a young lady of a good bourgeois family of the town； 〃
not to love our country； for we love the French very much。〃〃You are
doubtless very lovable； mademoiselle；〃 replied the soldier； 〃but if you
wish to persuade me of the truth of what you say； you will prepare us a
good dinner； my comrade and I。〃〃Come； then； messieurs；〃 said the
parents of the young Pole now advancing； 〃and we will drink together to
the health of your Emperor。〃 And they really carried off with them the
two soldiers； who partook of the best dinner the country afforded。
The soldiers were accustomed to say that four words formed the basis of
the Polish language； kleba？ niema； 〃bread？ there is none；〃 voia？
sara； 〃water？ they have gone to draw it。〃
As the Emperor was one day passing through a column of infantry in the
suburbs of Mysigniez； where the troops endured great privations since the
bad roads prevented the arrival of supplies； 〃Papa； kleba；〃 cried a
soldier。 〃Niema；〃 immediately replied the Emperor。 The whole column
burst into shouts of laughter； and no further request was made。
During the Emperor's somewhat extended stay at Finkenstein； he received a
visit from the Persian ambassador； and a few grand reviews were held in
his honor。 His Majesty sent in return an embassy to the Shah； at the
head of which he placed General Gardanne； who it was then said had an
especial reason for wishing to visit Persia。 It was rumored that one of
his relations； after a long residence at Teheran； had been compelled；
having taken part in an insurrection against the Franks； to quit this
capital； and before his flight had buried a considerable treasure in a
certain spot； the description of which he had carried to France。 I will
add； as a finale to this story； some facts which I have since learned。
General Gardanne found the capital in a state of confusion； and being
able neither to locate the spot nor discover the treasure； returned from
his embassy with empty hands。
Our stay at Finkenstein became very tiresome； and in order to while away
the time； his Majesty sometimes played with his generals and aides…de…
camp。 The game was usually vingt…et…un； and the Great Captain took much
pleasure in cheating； holding through several deals the cards necessary
to complete the required number； and was much amused when he won the game
by this finesse。 I furnished the sum necessary for his game； and as soon
as he returned to his quarters received orders to make out his account。
He always gave me half of his gains； and I divided the remainder between
the ordinary valets de chambre。
I have no intention； in this journal； of conforming to a very exact order
of dates； and whenever there recurs to my memory a fact or an anecdote
which seems to me deserving of mention； I shall jot it down； at whatever
point of my narrative I may have then reached； fearing lest； should I
defer it to its proper epoch； it might be forgotten。 In pursuance of
this plan I shall here relate； in passing； some souvenirs of Saint…Cloud
or the Tuileries； although we are now in camp at Finkenstein。 The
pastimes in which his Majesty and his general officers indulged recalled
these anecdotes to my recollection。 These gentlemen often made wagers or
bets among themselves； and I heard the Duke of Vicenza one day bet that
Monsieur Jardin； junior； equerry of his Majesty； mounted backwards on his
horse； could reach the end of the avenue in front of the chateau in the
space of a few moments； which bet the equerry won。
Messieurs Fain； Meneval； and Ivan once played a singular joke on Monsieur
B。 d'A ； who； they knew； was subject to frequent attacks of
gallantry。 They dressed a young man in woman's clothes； and sent him to
promenade； thus disguised； in an avenue near the chateau。 Monsieur
B。 d'A was very near…sighted； and generally used an eyeglass。 These
gentlemen invited him to take a walk； and as soon as he was outside the
door； he perceived the beautiful promenader； and could not restrain an
exclamation of surprise and joy at the sight。
His friends feigned to share his delight； and urged him； as the most
enterprising； to make the first advances； whereupon； in great excitement；
he hastened after the pretended young lady； whom they had taught his role
perfectly。 Monsieur d'A outdid himself in politeness； in attentions；
in offers of service； insisting eagerly on doing the honors of the
chateau to his new conquest。 The other acted his part perfectly； and
after many coquettish airs on his side； and many protestations on the
part of Monsieur d'A ； a rendezvous was made for that very evening； and
the lover； radiant with hope； returned to his friends； maintaining much
discretion and reserve as to his good fortune； while he really would have
liked to devour the time which must pass before the day was over。 At
last the evening arrived which was to put an end to his impatience； and
bring the time of his interview； and his disappointment and rage may be
imagined when he discovered the deception which had been practiced on
him。 Monsieur d'A wished at first to challenge the authors and
actors in this hoax； and could with great difficulty be appeased。
It was； I think； on the return from this campaign； that Prince Jerome saw
at Breslau； at the theater of that town； a young and very pretty actress；
who played her part badly； but sang very well。 He made advances； which
she received coolly： but kings do not sigh long in vain； they place too
heavy a weight in the balance against discretion。 His Majesty； the King
of Westphalia； carried off his conquest to Cassel； and at the end of a
short time she was married to his first valet de chambre； Albertoni；
whose Italian morals were not shocked by this marriage。 Some
disagreement； the cause； of which I do not know； having caused Albertoni
to quit the king； he returned to Paris with his wife； and engaged in
speculations； in which he lost all that he had gained； and I have been
told that he returned to Italy。 One thing that always appeared to me
extraordinary was the jealousy of Albertoni towards his wifean exacting
jealousy which kept his eyes open towards all men except the king； for I
am well convinced that the liaison continued after their marriage。
The brothers of the Emperor； although kings； were sometimes kept waiting
in the Emperor's antechamber。 King Jerome came one morning by order of