Then he resumed the gaiety which he had exhibited at intervals during our conversation, far clouds driven by the wind do not traverse the horizon with such rapidity as different ideas and sensations succeeded each other m Napoleon’s mind.  He dismissed me with his usual nod of the head, and seeing him in such good humour I said on departing, “well, Sire, you are going to hear the old bell of Brienne.  I have no doubt it will please you better than the bells of Ruel.”  He replied, “That’s tree—­you are right.  Adieu!”

Such are my recollections of this conversation, which lasted for more than an hour and a half.  We walked about all the time, for Bonaparte was indefatigable in audiences of this sort, and would, I believe, have walked and talked for a whole day without being aware of it.  I left him, and, according to his desire, went to see Madame Bonaparte, which indeed I had intended to do before he requested it.

I found Josephine with Madame de la Rochefoucauld, who had long been in her suite, and who a short time before had obtained the title of lady of honour to the Empress.  Madame de la Rochefoucauld was a very amiable woman, of mild disposition, and was a favourite with Josephine.  When I told the Empress that I had just left the Emperor, she, thinking that I would not speak freely before a third person, made a sign to Madame de la Rochefoucauld to retire.  I had no trouble in introducing the conversation on the subject concerning which Napoleon had directed me to speak to Josephine, for; after the interchange of a few indifferent remarks, she herself told me of a violent scene, which had occurred between her and the Emperor two days before.  “When I wrote to you yesterday,” said she, “to announce your appointment, and to tell you that Bonaparte would recall you, I hoped that you would come to see me on quitting him, but I did not think that he would have sent for you so soon.  Ah! how I wish that you were still with him, Bourrienne; you could make him hear reason.  I know not who takes pleasure in bearing tales to him; but really I think there are persons busy everywhere in finding out my debts, and telling him of them.”

These complaints, so gently uttered by Josephine rendered less difficult the preparatory mission with which I commenced the exercise of my diplomatic functions.  I acquainted Madame Bonaparte with all that the Emperor had said to me.  I reminded her of the affair of the 1,200,000 francs which we had settled with half that sum.  I even dropped some allusions to the promises she had made.

“How can I help it?” Said she.  “Is it my fault?” Josephine uttered these words in a tone of sincerity which was at once affecting and ludicrous.  “All sorts of beautiful things are brought to me,” she continued; “they are praised up; I buy them—­I am not asked for the money, and all of a sudden, when I have got none, they come upon me with demands for payment.  This reaches Napoleon’s ears, and he gets angry.