On his return from the last Austrian campaign Napoleon; as I have already stated, proceeded to Fontainebleau, where he was joined by Josephine.  Then, for the first time, the communication which had always existed between the apartments of the husband and wife was closed.  Josephine was fully alive to the fatal prognostics which were to be deduced from this conjugal separation.  Duroc informed me that she sent for him, and on entering her chamber, he found her bathed in tears.  “I am lost!” she exclaimed in a tone of voice the remembrance of which seemed sensibly to affect Duroc even while relating the circumstance to me:  “I am utterly lost! all is over now!  You, Duroc, I know, have always been my friend, and so has Rapp.  It is not you who have persuaded him to part from me.  This is the work of my enemies Savary and Junot!  But they are more his enemies than mine.  And my poor Eugene I how will he be distressed when he learns I am repudiated by an ungrateful man!  Yes Duroc, I may truly call him ungrateful, My God! my God! what will become of us?” . . .  Josephine sobbed bitterly while she thus addressed Duroc.

Before I was acquainted with the singular demand which M. de Champagny was instructed to make to me I requested Duroc to inquire of the Emperor his reason for not wishing to see me.  The Grand Marshal faithfully executed my commission, but he received only the following answer:  “Do you think I have nothing better to do than to give Bourrienne an audience? that would indeed furnish gossip for Paris and Hamburg.  He has always sided with the emigrants; he would be talking to me of past times; he was for Josephine!  My wife, Duroc, is near her confinement; I shall have a son, I am sure!....  Bourrienne is not a man of the day; I have made giant strides since he left France; in short, I do not want to see him.  He is a grumbler by nature; and you know, my dear Duroc, I do not like men of that sort.”

I had not been above a week in Paris when Duroc related this speech to me.  Rapp was not in France at the time, to my great regret.  Much against his inclination he had been appointed to some duties connected with the Imperial marriage ceremonies, but shortly after, having given offence to Napoleon by some observation relating to the Faubourg St. Germain, he had received orders to repair to Dantzic, of which place he had already been Governor.

The Emperor’s refusal to see me made my situation in Paris extremely delicate; and I was at first in doubt whether I might seek an interview with Josephine.  Duroc, however, having assured me that Napoleon would have no objection to it, I wrote requesting permission to wait upon her.  I received an answer the same day, and on the morrow I repaired to Malmaison.  I was ushered into the tent drawing-room, where I found Josephine and Hortense.  When I entered Josephine stretched out her hand to me, saying, “Ah! my friend!” These words she pronounced with deep emotion, and tears prevented her from continuing.