On my introduction they were discussing the serious question of the costume to be worn by the Empress on her journey to Belgium to meet Napoleon at the Palace of Lacken, near Brussels.  Notwithstanding those discussions respecting the form of hats, the colour and shape of dresses, etc., Josephine received me in her usual gracious manner.  But not being able to converse with me, she said, without giving it an appearance of invitation but in a manner sufficiently evident to be understood, that she intended to pass the following morning at Malmaison.

I shortened my visit, and at noon next day repaired to that delightful abode, which always created in my mind deep emotion.  Not an alley, not a grove but teemed with interesting recollections; all recalled to me the period when I was the confidant of Bonaparte.  But the time was past when he minutely calculated how much a residence at Malmaison would cost, and concluded by saying that an income of 30,000 livres would be necessary.

When I arrived Madame Bonaparte was in the garden with Madame de Remusat, who was her favourite from the similarity of disposition which existed between them.

Madame de Remusat was the daughter of the Minister Vergennes, and sister to Madame de Nansouty, whom I had sometimes seen with Josephine, but not so frequently as her elder sister.  I found the ladies in the avenue which leads to Ruel, and saluted Josephine by inquiring respecting the health of Her Majesty.  Never can I forget the tone in which she replied:  “Ah!  Bourrienne, I entreat that you will suffer me, at least here, to forget that I am an Empress.”  As she had not a thought concealed from Madame de Remusat except some domestic vexations, of which probably I was the only confidant, we conversed with the same freedom as if alone, and it is easy to define that the subject of our discourse regarded Bonaparte.

After having spoken of her intended journey to Belgium, Josephine said tome, “What a pity, Bourrienne, that the past cannot be recalled!  He departed in the happiest disposition:  he has bestowed some pardons and I am satisfied that but for those accursed politics he would have pardoned a far greater number.  I would have said much more, but I endeavoured to conceal my chagrin because the slightest contradiction only renders him the more obstinate.  Now, when in the midst of his army, he will forget everything.  How much have I been afflicted that I was not able to obtain a favourable answer to all the petitions which were addressed to me.  That good Madame de Monteason came from Romainville to St. Cloud to solicit the pardon of mm. de Riviere and de Polignac; we succeeded in gaining an audience for Madame de Polignac; . . . how beautiful she is!  Bonaparte was greatly affected on beholding her; he said to her, ’Madame, since it was only my life your husband menaced, I may pardon him.’  You know Napoleon, Bourrienne; you know that he is not naturally cruel; it is his counsellors and flatterers