When we were at Malmaison those intrigues continued.  At the Tuileries the same conduct was pursued, but then the probability of success was on Duroc’s side; I even congratulated him on his prospects, but he received my compliments in a very cold manner.  In a few days after Josephine succeeded in changing the whole face of affairs.  Her heart was entirely set on the marriage of Louis with her daughter; and prayers, entreaties, caresses, and all those little arts which she so well knew how to use, were employed to win the First Consul to her purpose.

On the 4th of January the First Consul, after dinner, entered our cabinet, where I was employed.  “Where is Duroc?” he inquired.—­“He has gone to the opera, I believe.”—­“Tell him, as soon as he returns, that I have promised Hortense to him, and he shall have her.  But I wish the marriage to take place in two days at the latest.  I will give him 500,000 francs, and name him commandant of the eighth military division; but he must set out the day after his marriage with his wife for Toulon.  We must live apart; I want no son-in-law at home.  As I wish to come to some conclusion, let me know to-night whether this plan will satisfy him.”—­“I think it will not.”—­“Very well! then she shall marry Louis.”  —­“Will she like that?”—­“She must like it.”  Bonaparte gave me these directions in a very abrupt manner, which made me think that some little domestic warfare had been raging, and that to put an end to it he had come to propose his ultimatum.  At half-past ten in the evening Duroc returned; I reported to him, word for word, the proposition of the First Consul.  “Since it has come to that, my good friend,” said he, “tell him he may keep his daughter for me.  I am going to see the -----,” and, with an indifference for which I cannot account, he took his hat and went off.

—­[Duroc eventually married a Mademoiselle Hervae d’Almenara, the daughter of a Spanish banker, who was later Minister of Joseph, and was created Marquis of Abruenara.  The lady was neither handsome nor amiable, but she possessed a vast fortune, and Bonaparte himself solicited her hand for his aide de camp.  After the death of Duroc his widow married a M. Fabvier, and Napoleon gave his Duchy of Frioul to his daughter.]—­

The, First Consul, before going to bed, was informed of Duroc’s reply, and Josephine received from him the promise that Louis and Hortense should be married.  The marriage took place a few days after, to the great regret of Hortense, and probably to the satisfaction of Duroc.  Louis submitted to have forced on him as a wife a woman who had hitherto avoided him as much as possible.  She always manifested as much indifference for him as he displayed repugnance for her, and those sentiments have not been effaced.