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could not fail to give uneasiness to Russia。 Alexander manifested his
dissatisfaction by prohibiting the importation of our agricultural
produce and manufactures into Russia。 Finally； as the Continental system
had destroyed all trade by the ports of the Baltic； Russia showed herself
more favourable to the English； and gradually reciprocal complaints of
bad faith led to that war whose unfortunate issue was styled by M。
Talleyrand 〃the beginning of the end。〃
I have now to make the reader acquainted with an extraordinary demand
made upon me by the Emperor through the medium of M。 de Champagny。 In
one of my first interviews with that Minister after my return to Paris he
thus addressed me： 〃The Emperor has entrusted me with a commission to you
which I am obliged to execute： 'When you see Bourrienne；' said the
Emperor； 'tell him I wish him to pay 6；000；000 into your chest to defray
the expense of building the new Office for Foreign Affairs。'〃 I was so
astonished at this unfeeling and inconsiderate demand that I was utterly
unable to make airy reply。 This then was my recompense for having
obtained money and supplies during my residence at Hamburg to the extent
of nearly 100；000；000； by which his treasury and army had profited in
moments of difficulty！ M。 de Champagny added that the Emperor did not
wish to receive me。 He asked what answer he should bear to his Majesty。
I still remained silent； and the Minister again urged me to give an
answer。 〃Well； then；〃 said I； 〃tell him he may go to the devil。〃 The
Minister naturally wished to obtain some variation from this laconic
answer； but I would give no other； and I afterwards learned from Duroc
that M。 de Champagny was compelled to communicate it to Napoleon。
〃Well；〃 asked the latter； 〃have you seen Bourrienne？〃〃Yes； Sire。〃〃Did
you tell him I wished him to pay 6；000；000 into your chest？〃〃 Yes；
Sire。〃〃And what did he say？〃〃 Sire； I dare not inform your
Majesty。〃〃What did he say？ I insist upon knowing。〃〃Since you insist
on my telling you； Sire； M。 de Bourrienne said your Majesty might go to…
the devil。〃〃Ah！ ah！ did he really say so？〃 The Emperor then retired
to the recess of a window； where he remained alone for seven or eight
minutes； biting his nails； in the fashion of Berthier； and doubtless
giving free scope to his projects of vengeance。 He then turned to the
Minister and spoke to him of quite another subject： Bonaparte had so
nursed himself in the idea of making me pay the 6；000；000 that every time
he passed the Office for Foreign Affairs he said to those who accompanied
hint； 〃Bourrienne must pay for that after all。〃
＇This demand of money from Bourrienne is explained in Erreurs
（tome ii； p。 228） by the son of Davoust。 Bourrienne had been
suspected by Napoleon of making large sums at Hamburg by allowing
breaches of the Continental system。 In one letter to Davoust
Napoleon speaks of an 〃 immense fortune；〃 and in another； that
Bourrienne is reported to have gained seven or eight millions at
Hamburg in giving licences or making arbitrary seizures。＇
Though I was not admitted to the honour of sharing the splendour of the
Imperial Court； yet I had the satisfaction of finding that； in spite of
my disgrace； those of my old friends who were worth anything evinced the
same regard for me as heretofore。 I often saw Duroc； who snatched some
moments from his more serious occupations to come and chat with me
respecting all that had occurred since my secession from Bonaparte's
cabinet。 I shall not attempt to give a verbatim account of my
conversations with Duroc； as I have only my memory to guide me； but I
believe I shall not depart from the truth in describing them as follows：
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。 She threw herself on
the ottoman on the left of the fireplace； and beckoned me to sit down
beside her。 Hortense stood by the fireplace； endeavouring to conceal her
tears。 Josephine took my hand； which she pressed in both her own； and；
after a struggle to overcome her feelings； she said； 〃 My dear
Bourrienne； I have drained my cup of misery。 He has cast me off！
forsaken me！ He conferred upon me the vain title of Empr