“Bonaparte,” says he, “found great pleasure in our dramatic entertainments; he loved to see comedies represented by those who surrounded him, and oftentimes paid us flattering compliments.  Though it amused me as much as it did the others, yet I was more than once obliged to call Bonaparte’s attention to the fact that my other occupations did not give me time enough to learn my parts.  He then, in his flattering way, said:  ’Ah, Bourrienne, let me alone.  You have so excellent a memory!  You know that this is an amusement to me!  You see that these performances enliven Malmaison and make it cheerful!  Josephine is so fond of them!  Rise a little earlier!’

“‘It is a fact—­I sleep a great deal!’

“’Allons, Bourrienne, do it to please me; you do make me laugh so heartily!  Deprive me not of this pleasure.  You know well that otherwise I have but few recreations.’

“’Ah, parbleu!  I will not deprive you of it.  I am happy to be able to contribute something to your amusement.’  Consequently I rose earlier, to learn my parts.

“On the theatre days the company at Malmaison was always very large.  After the performance a brilliant crowd undulated like waves in the halls of the first story.  The most animated and varied conversation took place, and I can truly affirm that cheerfulness and sincerity were the life of those conversations, and their principal charm.  Refreshments of all kinds were distributed, and Josephine performed the honors of those gatherings with so much amiableness and complacency that each one might believe she busied herself more with him than with any one else.  At the end of the delightful soirees, which generally closed after midnight, we returned to Paris, where the cares of life awaited us.” [Footnote:  Bourrienne, “Memoires,” vol. v., p. 26.]

Time was spent not only in festivities and amusements at Malmaison, but sciences and arts also formed there a serious occupation, and it was Josephine who was the prime mover.  She invited to the chateau painters, sculptors, musicians, architects, and savants of every profession, and thus to the Graces she added the Arts for companions.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Flowers and music.

Above all things, Josephine, in her retreat, devoted her time and leisure hours to botany and to her dear flowers.  Alexander Lenoir, the famous architect of that day, had to assist her in enlarging the little castle of Malinaison, and to open more suitable halls for the arts and sciences.  Under Josephine’s direction there arose the splendid library-room resting upon columns; it was Josephine who had the beautiful gallery of paintings constructed, and also with remarkable judgment purchased a selection of the finest paintings of the great masters to adorn this gallery.  Besides which, she gave to living painters orders of importance, and encouraged them to originate new pieces, that art itself might have a part in the new era of peace and prosperity, which, under the consulate, seemed to spread over France.