In his journey to be crowned King of Italy, he occupied his uncle’s episcopal palace at Lyons during the forty-eight hours he remained there.  Most of the persons of both sexes composing the household of Cardinal Fesch were from his own country, Corsica; among these was one of the name of Pauline Riotti, who inspected the economy of the kitchens.  It is Bonaparte’s custom to take a dish of chocolate in the forenoon, which she, on the morning of his departure, against her custom, but under pretence of knowing the taste of the family, desired to prepare.  One of the cooks observed that she mixed it with something from her pocket, but, without saying a word to her that indicated suspicion, he warned Bonaparte, in a note, delivered to a page, to be upon his guard.  When the chamberlain carried in the chocolate, Napoleon ordered the person who had prepared it to be brought before him.  This being told Pauline, she fainted away, after having first drunk the remaining contents of the chocolate pot.  Her convulsions soon indicated that she was poisoned, and, notwithstanding the endeavours of Bonaparte’s physician, Corvisart, she expired within an hour; protesting that her crime was an act of revenge against Napoleon, who had seduced her, when young, under a promise of marriage; but who, since his elevation, had not only neglected her, but reduced her to despair by refusing an honest support for herself and her child, sufficient to preserve her from the degradation of servitude.  Cardinal Fesch received a severe reprimand for admitting among his domestics individuals with whose former lives he was not better acquainted, and the same day he dismissed every Corsican in his service.  The cook was, with the reward of a pension, made a member of the Legion of Honour, and it was given out by Corvisart that Pauline died insane.

Within three weeks after this occurrence, Bonaparte was, at Milan, again exposed to an imminent danger.  According to his commands, the vigilance of the police had been very strict, and even severe.  All strangers who could not give the most satisfactory account of themselves, had either been sent out of the country, or were imprisoned.  He never went out unless strongly attended, and during his audiences the most trusty officers always surrounded him; these precautions increased in proportion as the day of his coronation approached.  On the morning of that day, about nine o’clock, when full dressed in his Imperial and royal robes, and all the grand officers of State by his side, a paper was delivered to him by his chamberlain, Talleyrand, a nephew of the Minister.  The instant he had read it, he flew into the arms of Berthier, exclaiming:  “My friend, I am betrayed; are you among the number of conspirators?  Jourdan, Lasnes, Mortier, Bessieres, St. Cyr, are you also forsaking your friend and benefactor?” They all instantly encompassed him, begging that he would calm himself; that they all were what they always had been, dutiful and faithful subjects.  “But read this paper from my prefect, Salmatoris; he says that if I move a step I may cease to live, as the assassins are near me, as well as before me.”