required him promptly to remove the cause of such complaints.  It was one night about half-past eleven o’clock that M. Talleyrand introduced this delicate subject.  As soon he was gone I entered the little cabinet; Bonaparte said to me, “Bourrienne, Talleyrand has been speaking to me about the debts of my Wife.  I have the money from Hamburg—­ask her the exact amount of her debts:  let her confess all.  I wish to finish, and not begin again.  But do not pay without showing me the bills of those rascals:  they are a gang of robbers.”

Hitherto the apprehension of an unpleasant scene, the very idea of which made Josephine tremble, had always prevented me from broaching this subject to the First Consul; but, well pleased that Talleyrand had first touched upon it, I resolved to do all in my power to put an end to the disagreeable affair.

The next morning I saw Josephine.  She was at first delighted with her husband’s intentions; but this feeling did not last long.  When I asked her for an exact account of what she owed she entreated me not to press it, but content myself with what she should confess.  I said to her, “Madame, I cannot deceive you respecting the disposition of the First Consul.  He believes that you owe a considerable sum, and is willing to discharge it.  You will, I doubt not, have to endure some bitter reproaches, and a violent scene; but the scene will be just the same for the whole as for a part.  If you conceal a large proportion of your debts at the end of some time murmurs will recommence, they will reach the ears of the First Consul, and his anger will display itself still more strikingly.  Trust to me—­state all; the result will be the same; you will hear but once the disagreeable things he will say to you; by reservations you will renew them incessantly.”  Josephine said, “I can never tell all; it is impossible.  Do me the service to keep secret what I say to you.  I owe, I believe, about 1,200,000 francs, but I wish to confess only 600,000; I will contract no more debts, and will pay the rest little by little out of my savings.”—­“Here, Madame, my first observations recur.  As I do not believe he estimates your debts at so high a sum as 600,000 francs, I can warrant that you will not experience more displeasure for acknowledging to 1,200,000 than to 600,000; and by going so far you will get rid of them for ever.”—­“I can never do it, Bourrienne; I know him; I can never support his violence.”  After a quarter of an hour’s further discussion on the subject I was obliged to yield to her earnest solicitation, and promise to mention only the 600,000 francs to the First Consul.