His partiality for the bath he mistook for a necessity.  He would usually remain in the bath two hours, during which time I used to read to him extracts from the journals and pamphlets of the day, for he was anxious to hear and know all that was going on.  While in the bath he was continually turning on the warm water to raise the temperature, so that I was sometimes enveloped in such a dense vapour that I could not see to read, and was obliged to open the door.

Bonaparte was exceedingly temperate, and averse to all excess.  He knew the absurd stories that were circulated about him, and he was sometimes vexed at theme It has been repeated, over and over again, that he was subject to attacks of epilepsy; but during the eleven years that I was almost constantly with him I never observed any symptom which in the least degree denoted that malady.  His health was good and his constitution sound.  If his enemies, by way of reproach, have attributed to him a serious periodical disease, his flatterers, probably under the idea that sleep is incompatible with greatness, have evinced an equal disregard of truth in speaking of his night-watching.  Bonaparte made others watch, but he himself slept, and slept well.  His orders were that I should call him every morning at seven.  I was therefore the first to enter his chamber; but very frequently when I awoke him he would turn himself, and say, “Ah, Bourrienne! let me lie a little longer.”  When there was no very pressing business I did not disturb him again till eight o’clock.  He in general slept seven hours out of the twenty-four, besides taking a short nap in the afternoon.

Among the private instructions which Bonaparte gave me, one was very curious.  “During the night,” said he, “enter my chamber as seldom as possible.  Do not awake me when you have any good news to communicate:  with that there is no hurry.  But when you bring bad news, rouse me instantly; for then there is not a moment to be lost.”

This was a wise regulation, and Bonaparte found his advantage in it.

As soon as he rose his ‘valet de chambre’ shaved him and dressed his hair.  While he was being shaved I read to him the newspapers, beginning always with the ‘Moniteur.’  He paid little attention to any but the German and English papers.  “Pass over all that,” he would say, while I was perusing the French papers; “I know it already.  They say only what they think will please me.”  I was often surprised that his valet did not cut him while I was reading; for whenever ha heard anything interesting he turned quickly round towards me.