and natural simplicity.  At no moment of her life were the manners or habits of the former other than agreeable and attractive, and it would have been impossible to take her at a disadvantage on these points; for it was her special object in life to produce only advantageous impressions, and she gained her end without allowing this effort to be seen.  All that art can furnish to supplement attractions was practiced by her, but so skillfully that the existence of this deception could only be suspected at most.  On the contrary, it never occurred to the mind of the second that she could gain anything by innocent artifices.  The one was always tempted to infringe upon the truth, and her first emotion was a negative one.  The other was ignorant of dissimulation, and every deception was foreign to her.  The first never asked for anything, but she owed everywhere.  The second did not hesitate to ask if she needed anything, which was very rarely, and never purchased anything without feeling herself obliged to pay for it immediately.  To sum it all up, both were good, gentle wives, and much attached to their husband.”  Such, or very nearly these, were the terms in which the Emperor spoke of his Empresses.  It can be seen that he drew the comparison in favor of the second; and with this idea he gave her credit for qualities which she did not possess, or at least exaggerated greatly those really belonging to her.

The Emperor granted Marie Louise 500,000 francs for her toilet, but she never spent the entire amount.  She had little taste in dress, and would have made a very inelegant appearance had she not been well advised.  The Emperor was present at her toilet those days on which he wished her to appear especially well, and himself tried the effect of different ornaments on the head, neck, and arms of the Empress, always selecting something very handsome.  The Emperor was an excellent husband, of which he gave proof in the case of both his wives.  He adored his son, and both as father and husband might have served as a model for all his subjects; yet in spite of whatever he may have said on the subject himself, I do not think he loved Marie Louise with the same devoted affection as Josephine.  The latter had a charming grace, a kindness, an intelligence, and a devotion to her husband which the Emperor knew and appreciated at its full value; and though Marie Louise was younger, she was colder, and had far less grace of manner.  I think she was much attached to her husband; but she was reserved and reticent, and by no means took the place of Josephine with those who had enjoyed the happiness of being near the latter.