Bonaparte said at St. Helena, speaking of Louis and Hortense, that “they loved each other when they married:  they desired to be united.  The marriage was also the result of Josephine’s intrigues, who found her account in it.”  I will state the real facts.  Louis and Hortense did not love one another at all.  That is certain.  The First Consul knew it, just as he well knew that Hortense had a great inclination for Duroc, who did not fully return it.  The First Consul agreed to their union, but Josephine was troubled by such a marriage, and did all she could to prevent it.  She often spoke to me about it, but rather late in the day.  She told me that her brothers-in law were her declared enemies, that I well knew their intrigues, and that I well knew there was no end to the annoyances they made her undergo.  In fact, I did know all this perfectly.  She kept on repeating to me that with this projected marriage she would not have any support; that Duroc was nothing except by the favour of Bonaparte; that he had neither fortune, fame, nor reputation, and that he could be no help to her against the well-known ill-will of the brothers of Bonaparte.  She wanted some assurance for the future.  She added that her husband was very fond of Louis, and that if she had the good fortune to unite him to her daughter this would be a counterpoise to the calumnies and persecutions of her other brothers-in-law.  I answered her that she had concealed her intentions too long from me, and that I had promised my services to the young people, and the more willingly as I knew the favourable opinion of the First Consul, who had often said to me, “My wife has done well; they suit one another, they shall marry one another.  I like Duroc; he is of good family.  I have rightly given Caroline to Murat, and Pauline to Leclerc, and I can well give Hortense to Duroc, who is a fine fellow.  He is worth more than the others.  He is now general of a division there is nothing against this marriage.  Besides, I have other plans for Louis.”  In speaking to Madame Bonaparte I added that her daughter burst into tears when spoken to about her marriage with Louis.

The First Consul had sent a brevet of general of division to Duroc by a special courier, who went to Holland, through which the newly-made general had to pass on his return from St. Petersburg, where, as I have already said, he had been sent to compliment the Emperor Alexander on his accession to the throne.  The First Consul probably paid this compliment to Duroc in the belief that the marriage would take place.

During Duroc’s absence the correspondence of the lovers passed, by their consent, through my hands.  Every night I used to make one in a party at billiards, at which Hortense played very well.  When I told her, in a whisper, that I had got a letter for her, she would immediately leave off playing and run to her chamber, where I followed and gave her Duroc’s epistle.  When she opened it her eyes would fill with tears, and it was some time before she could return to the salon.  All was useless for her.  Josephine required a support in the family against the family.  Seeing her firm resolution, I promised to no longer oppose her wishes, which I could not disapprove, but I told her I could only maintain silence and neutrality in these little debates, and she seemed satisfied.