This etext was produced by David Widger
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By CONSTANT
1895
His Majesty remained only ten days at Saint-Cloud, passed two or three ofthese in Paris at the opening of the session of the Corps Legislatif, andat noon on the 29th set out a second time for Bayonne.
The Empress, who to her great chagrin could not accompany the Emperor,sent for me on the morning of his departure, and renewed in most touchingaccents the same recommendations which she made on all his journeys, forthe character of the Spaniards made her timid and fearful as to hissafety.
Their parting was sad and painful; for the Empress was exceedinglyanxious to accompany him, and the Emperor had the greatest difficulty insatisfying her, and making her understand that this was impossible. Justas he was setting out he returned to his dressing-room a moment, and toldme to unbutton his coat and vest; and I saw the Emperor pass around hisneck between his vest and shirt a black silk ribbon on which was hung akind of little bag about the size of a large hazel-nut, covered withblack silk. Though I did not then know what this bag contained, when hereturned to Paris he gave it to me to keep; and I found that this bag hada pleasant feeling, as under the silk covering was another of skin. Ishall hereafter tell for what purpose the Emperor wore this bag.
I set out with a sad heart. The recommendations of her Majesty theEmpress, and fears which I could not throw off, added to the fatigue ofthese repeated journeys, all conspired to produce feelings of intensesadness, which was reflected on almost all the countenances of theImperial household; while the officers said among themselves that thecombats in the North were trifling compared with those which awaited usin Spain.
We arrived on the 3d of November at the chateau of Marrac, and four daysafter were at Vittoria in the midst of the French army, where the Emperorfound his brother and a few grandees of Spain who had not yet desertedhis cause.
The arrival of his Majesty electrified the troops; and a part of theenthusiasm manifested, a very small part it is true, penetrated into theheart of the king, and somewhat renewed his courage. They set out almostimmediately, in order to at once establish themselves temporarily atBurgos, which had been seized by main force and pillaged in a few hours,since the inhabitants had abandoned it, and left to the garrison the taskof stopping the French as long as possible.
The Emperor occupied the archiepiscopal palace, a magnificent buildingsituated in a large square on which the grenadiers of the Imperial Guardbivouacked. This bivouac presented a singular scene. Immense kettles,which had been found in the convents, hung, full of mutton, poultry,rabbits, etc., above a fire which was replenished from time to time withfurniture, guitars, or mandolins, and around which grenadiers, with pipesin their mouths, were gravely seated in gilded chairs covered withcrimson damask, while they intently watched the kettles as they simmered,and communicated to each other their conjectures on the campaign whichhad just opened.
The Emperor remained ten or twelve days at Burgos, and then gave ordersto march on Madrid