When, after much embarrassment and difficulty, every one had found a place as they could, Madame Bonaparte was announced, and entered, leaning on the arm of Talleyrand.  She wore a dress of white muslin with short sleeves, and a necklace of pearls.  Her head was uncovered; and the beautiful braids of her hair, arranged with charming negligence, were held in place by a tortoise-shell comb.  The flattering murmur which greeted her appearance was most grateful to her; and never, I believe, did she display more grace and majesty.

Talleyrand,

[Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, born at Paris, 1754, was descended from the counts of Perigord.  Rendered lame by an accident, he entered the clergy, and in 1788 became Bishop of Autun.  In the States-General he sided with the Revolution.  During the Reign of Terror he visited England and the United States.  Recalled in 1796, he became minister of foreign affairs under the Directory, which post he retained under the Consulate.  In 1806 he was made Prince of Benevento.  He soon fell into disgrace.  Sided with the Bourbons in 1814, and was minister at the congress of Vienna, president of the council, and minister under the king.  Died 1838.  —­TRANS.]

giving his hand to Madame Bonaparte, had the honor of presenting to her, one after another, the members of the Diplomatic Corps, not according to their names, but that of the courts they represented.  He then made with her the tour of the two saloons, and the circuit of the second was only half finished when the First Consul entered without being announced.  He was dressed in a very plain uniform, with a tricolored silk scarf, with fringes of the same around his waist.  He wore close-fitting pantaloons of white cassimere, and top-boots, and held his hat in his hand.  This plain dress, in the midst of the embroidered coats loaded with cordons and orders worn by the ambassadors and foreign dignitaries, presented a contrast as striking as the toilette of Madame Bonaparte compared with that of the other ladies present.

Before relating how I exchanged the service of Madame Bonaparte for that of the chief of state, and a sojourn at Malmaison for the second campaign of Italy, I think I should pause to recall one or two incidents which belong to the time spent in the service of Madame Bonaparte.  She loved to sit up late, and, when almost everybody else had retired, to play a game of billiards, or more often of backgammon.  It happened on one occasion that, having dismissed every one else, and not yet being sleepy, she asked if I knew how to play billiards, and upon my replying in the affirmative, requested me with charming grace to play with her; and I had often afterwards the honor of doing so.  Although I had some skill, I always managed to let her beat me, which pleased her exceedingly.  If this was flattery, I must admit it; but I would have done the same towards any other woman, whatever her rank and her relation to me, had she been even half as lovely as was Madame Bonaparte.