We redoubled our entreaties, and at last he consented.  When we were together in his cabinet in the evening, “Well; Bourrienne,” said he to me, “you ought to be satisfied, and so am I, too, everything considered.  Murat is suited to my sister, and then no one can say that I am proud, or seek grand alliances.  If I had given my sister to a noble, all your Jacobins would have raised a cry of counter-revolution.  Besides, I am very glad that my wife is interested in this marriage, and you may easily suppose the cause.  Since it is determined on, I will hasten it forward; we have no time to lose.  If I go to Italy I will take Murat with me.  I must strike a decisive blow there.  Adieu.”

When I entered the First Consul’s chamber at seven o’clock the next day he appeared even more satisfied than on the preceding evening with the resolution he had taken.  I easily perceived that in spite of all his cunning, he had failed to discover the real motive which had induced Josephine to take so lively an interest respecting Murat’s marriage with Caroline.  Still Bonaparte’s satisfaction plainly showed that his wife’s eagerness for the marriage had removed all doubt in his mind of the falsity of the calumnious reports which had prevailed respecting her intimacy with Murat.

The marriage of Murat and Caroline was celebrated at the Luxembourg, but with great modesty.  The First Consul did not yet think that his family affairs were affairs of state.  But previously to the celebration a little comedy was enacted in which I was obliged to take a part, and I will relate how.

At the time of the marriage of Murat Bonaparte had not much money, and therefore only gave his sister a dowry of 30,000 francs.  Still, thinking it necessary to make her a marriage present, and not possessing the means to purchase a suitable one, he took a diamond necklace which helonged to his wife and gave it to the bride.  Josephine was not at all pleased with this robbery, and taxed her wits to discover some means of replacing her necklace.

Josephine was aware that the celebrated jeweler Foncier possessed a magnificent collection of fine pearls which had belonged, as he said, to the late Queen, Marie Antoinette.  Having ordered them to be brought to her to examine them, she thought there were sufficient to make a very fine necklace.  But to make the purchase 250,000 francs were required, and how to get them was the difficulty.  Madame Bonaparte had recourse to Berthier, who was then Minister of War.  Berthier, after, biting his nails according to his usual habit, set about the liquidation of the debts due for the hospital service in Italy with as much speed as possible; and as in those days the contractors whose claims were admitted overflowed with gratitude towards their patrons, through whom they obtained payment, the pearls soon passed from Foncier’s shop to the casket of Madame Bonaparte.