for getting a little money.  I sent the fellow about his business.  In a quarter of an hour after I had got rid of him M. la Chevardiere called on me, and introduced M. Billaud, the French Consul at Stettin.  This gentleman wore a braided coat and the national cockade in his hat.  He was the hero of the story I had heard from the informer.  A slight personal resemblance between the Consul and the General had caused several persons to mistake them for each other.

During the Prussian campaign nothing was talked of throughout Germany but Napoleon’s generous conduct with respect to Prince Hatzfeld.  I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of a letter which the Emperor wrote to Josephine on the subject, and which I shall presently lay before the reader.  In conformity with the inquisitorial system which too frequently characterised the Emperor’s government, and which he extended to every country of which he had military possession, the first thing done on entering a town was to take possession of the post-office, and then, Heaven knows how little respect was shown to the privacy of correspondence.  Among the letters thus seized at Berlin and delivered to Napoleon was one addressed to the King of Prussia by Prince Hatzfeld, who had imprudently remained in the Prussian capital.  In this letter the Prince gave his Sovereign an account of all that had occurred in Berlin since he had been compelled to quit at; and at the same time he informed him of the force and situation of the corps of the French army.  The Emperor, after reading this letter, ordered that the Prince should be arrested, and tried by a court-martial on the charge of being a spy.

The Court was summoned, and little doubt could be entertained as to its decision when Madame Hatzfeld repaired to Duroc, who on such occasions was always happy when he could facilitate communication with the Emperor.  On that day Napoleon had been at a review.  Duroc knew Madame Hatzfeld, whom he had several times seen on his visits to Berlin.  When Napoleon returned from the review he was astonished to see Duroc at the palace at that hour, and inquired whether he had brought any news.  Duroc answered in the affirmative, and followed the Emperor into his Cabinet, where he soon introduced Madame Hatzfeld.  The remainder of the scene is described in Napoleon’s letter.  It may easily be perceived that this letter is an answer to one from Josephine reproaching him for the manner in which he spoke of women, and very probably of the beautiful and unfortunate Queen of Prussia, respecting whom he had expressed himself with too little respect in one of his bulletins.  The following is Napoleon’s letter:—­