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in the Emperor's antechamber。 King Jerome came one morning by order of
the Emperor； who； having not yet risen； told me to beg the King of
Westphalia to wait。 As the Emperor wished to sleep a little longer； I
remained with the other servants in the saloon which was used as an
antechamber； and the king waited with us； I do not say in patience； for
he constantly moved from chair to chair； promenaded back and forth
between the window and the fireplace； manifesting much annoyance； and
speaking now and then to me； whom he always treated with great kindness。
Thus more than half an hour passed； and at last I entered the Emperor's
room； and when he had put on his dressing…gown； informed him that his
Majesty was waiting； and after introducing him； I withdrew。 The Emperor
gave him a cool reception； and lectured him severely； and as he spoke
very loud； I heard him against my will； but the king made his excuses in
so low a tone that I could not hear a word of his justification。 Such
scenes were often repeated； for the prince was dissipated and prodigal；
which displeased the Emperor above all things else； and for which he
reproved him severely； although he loved him； or rather because he loved
him so much； for it is remarkable； that notwithstanding the frequent
causes of displeasure which his family gave him； the Emperor still felt
for all his relations the warmest affection。
A short time after the taking of Dantzig （May 24； 1807）； the Emperor；
wishing to reward Marshal Lefebvre for the recent services which he had
rendered； had him summoned at six o'clock in the morning。 His Majesty
was in consultation with the chief…of…staff of the army when the arrival
of the marshal was announced。 〃Ah！〃 said he to Berthier； 〃the duke does
not delay。〃 Then； turning to the officer on duty； 〃 Say to the Duke of
Dantzig that I have summoned him so early in order that he may breakfast
with me。〃 The officer； thinking that the Emperor had misunderstood the
name； remarked to him； that the person who awaited his orders was not the
Duke of Dantzig； but Marshal Lefebvre。 〃It seems； monsieur； that you
think me more capable of making a count ＇faire un conte＇ than a duke。〃
The officer was somewhat disconcerted by this reply； but the Emperor
reassured him with a smile； and said； 〃Go； give the duke my invitation；
and say to him that in a quarter of an hour breakfast will be served。〃
The officer returned to the marshal； who was； of course； very anxious to
know why the Emperor had summoned him。 〃Monsieur le Due； the Emperor
invites you to breakfast with him； and begs you to wait a quarter of an
hour。〃 The marshal； not having noticed the new title which the officer
gave him； replied by a nod； and seated himself on a folding chair on the
back of which hung the Emperor's sword； which the marshal inspected and
touched with admiration and respect。 The quarter of an hour passed； when
another ordnance officer came to summon the marshal to the Emperor； who
was already at table with the chief…of…staff； and as he entered； the
Emperor saluted him with； 〃Good…day； Monsieur le Due； be seated next to
me。〃
The marshal； astonished at being addressed by this title； thought at
first that his Majesty was jesting； but seeing that he made a point of
calling him Monsieur le； Due he was overcome with astonishment。 The
Emperor； to increase his embarrassment； said to him； 〃Do you like
chocolate； Monsieur le Duc？〃〃Butyes； Sire。〃〃Well； we have none for
breakfast； but I will give you a pound from the very town of Dantzig； for
since you have conquered it； it is but just that it should make you some
return。〃 Thereupon the Emperor left the table； opened a little casket；
took therefrom a package in the shape of a long square； and handed it to
Marshal Lefebvre； saying to him； 〃Duke of Dantzig； accept this chocolate；
little gifts preserve friendship。〃 The marshal thanked his Majesty； put
the chocolate in his pocket； and took his seat again at table with the
Emperor and Marshal Berthier。 A 'pate' in the shape of the town of
Dantzig was in the midst of the table； and when this was to be served the
Emperor said to the new duke； 〃They could not have given this dish a form
which would have pleased me more。 Make the attack； Monsieur le Duc；
behold your conquest； it is yours to do the honors。〃 The duke obeyed；
and the three guests ate of the pie； which they found much to their
taste。 On his return； the marshal； Duke of Dantzig； suspecting a
surprise in the little package which the Emperor had given him； hastened
to open it； and found a hundred thousand crowns in bank…notes。 In
imitation of this magnificent present； the custom was established in the
army of calling money； whether in pieces or in bank…notes； Dantzig
chocolate； and when the soldiers wished to be treated by any comrade who
happened to have a little money in his pocket； would say to him； 〃Come；
now； have you no Dantzig chocolate in your pocket？〃
The almost superstitious fancy of his Majesty the Emperor in regard to
coincidences in dates and anniversaries was strengthened still more by
the victory of Friedland； which was gained on June 14； 1807； seven years
to the very day after the battle of Marengo。 The severity of the winter；
the difficulty in furnishing supplies （for which the Emperor had however
made every possible provision and arrangement）； added to the obstinate
courage of the Russians； had made this a severe campaign； especially to
conquerors whom the incredible rapidity of their successes in Prussia had
accustomed to sudden conquests。 The division of glory which he had been
compelled to make with the Russians was a new experience in the Emperor's
military career； but at Friedland he regained his advantage and his
former superiority。 His Majesty； by a feigned retreat； in which he let
the enemy see only a part of his forces； drew the Russians into a decoy
on the Elbe； so complete that they found themselves shut in between that
river and our army。 This victory was gained by troops of the line and
cavalry； and the Emperor did not even find it necessary to use his
Guards； while those of the Emperor Alexander was almost entirely
destroyed in protecting the retreat； or rather the flight； of the
Russians； who could escape from the pursuit of our soldiers only by the
bridge of Friedland； a few narrow pontoons； and an almost impassable
ford。
The regiments of the line in the French army covered the plain； and the
Emperor； occupying a post of observation on a height whence he could
overlook the whole field of battle； was seated in an armchair near a
mill； surrounded by his staff。 I never saw him in a gayer mood； as he
conversed with the generals who awaited his orders； and seemed to enjoy
eating the black Russian bread which was baked in the shape of bricks。
This bread； made from inferior rye flour and full of long straws； was the
food of all the soldiers； and they knew that his Majesty ate it as well
as themselves。 The beautiful weather favored the skillful maneuvers of
the army； and they performed prodigies of valor。 The cavalry charges
especially were executed with so much precision that the Emperor sent his
congra