The next day at two o’clock, the moment had come for Josephine to leave the Tuileries, to make room for the yet unknown wife of the future.  Napoleon wanted to leave Paris at the same moment, and pass a few days of quiet and solitude in Trianon.

The carriages of the emperor and empress were both ready; the last farewell of husband and wife, now to part forever, had yet to be said.  M. de Meneval, who was the sole witness of those sad moments, gives of them a most affecting description, which bears upon its face the merit of truth and impartiality.

“When it was announced to the emperor that the carriage was ready, he stood up, took his hat, and said:  ‘Meneval, come with me.’

“I followed him through the narrow winding stairs which led from his room into that of the empress.  She was alone, and seemed absorbed in the saddest thoughts, At the noise we made in entering she rose up and eagerly threw herself, sobbing, upon the neck of the emperor, who drew her to his breast and embraced her several times; but Josephine, overcome by excitement, had fainted.  I hastened to ring for assistance.  The emperor, to avoid the renewal of a painful scene, which it was not in his power to prevent, placed the empress in my arms as soon as he perceived her senses return, and ordered me not to leave her, and then he hurried away through the halls of the first story, at whose gate his carriage was waiting.  Josephine became immediately conscious of the emperor’s absence; her tears and sobs redoubled.  Her women, who had now entered, laid her on a sofa, and busied themselves with tender solicitude to bring her relief.  In her bewilderment she had seized my hands, and urgently entreated me to tell the emperor not to forget her, and to assure him of her devotedness, which would outlast every trial.  I had to promise her that at my arrival in Trianon I would wait upon the emperor and see that he would write to her.  It caused her pain to see me leave, as if my departure tore away the last bond which united her to the emperor.  I left her, deeply affected by so true a sorrow and by so sincere a devotion.  During the whole journey I was deeply moved, and could not but bewail the merciless political considerations which tore violently apart the bonds of so faithful an affection for the sake of contracting a new union, which, after all, contained but uncertain chances.

“In Trianon I told the emperor all that had happened since his departure, and I conveyed to him the message intrusted to me by the empress.  The emperor was still suffering from the emotions caused by this farewell scene.  He spoke warmly of Josephine’s qualities, of the depth and sincerity of the sentiments she cherished for him; he looked upon her as a devoted friend, and, in fact, he has ever maintained for her a heart-felt affection.  The very same evening he sent her a letter to console her in her solitude.  When he learned that she was sad and wept much, he wrote to her again, complained tenderly of her want of courage, and told her how deeply this troubled him.” [Footnote:  Meneval, “Napoleon et Marie Louise.—­ Souvenirs Historiques,” vol. i., pp. 230-232.]