New-York tribune., 1880-04-04
friendliness but did not venture to tell him so;
was afraid of discIosinQ nv habtual thoughts and

himself or on public affairs for fear he might think
me curious. My mind was strained in bis presence
so that sometimes experienced actual Iatigue'
listened to him with the greatest attention, III orer
that, even if ! could not reply ttingly, at least
should have procured him the pleasure OF an at,
by his preference for me. When think 1T all over
now. / am amused at the mingled distress anu
pleasure which experieneed when IN my Sprinro iGIu1 IF
Benevento was announced. Large drops someti'les
stood OH my forehead from the efforts made to exI
press myself wittily. and there IS no DOUBT t4at
wis in consequence less agreeable than had oei
haved more NATURALIZATION, at any rate, should
have had the ADVANTAGE of sincerity ana OF mar, mar
mony in my whole department.. Although natuialy
grave and inclined to deep feeling. tried to emu
late the lghtness with which he could pass from
one subject to another; was kiha-neate&u & ~ ms r
always ready to smile at his jests At the DeRin-
ming, then, he eXerted over me the influence Wnlch
timed on the same footing. should have seemed
to him but one woman the more TO swell the ranks
OF those wOrshippers who rivallcd each other N
appauding his defects and encouraging the Worsu
points of his character. lie would probably have
ended by breaking with me- for should nave Ill
sustained a role for which was so lttie suited
But it was not long before the acquaintance ri
pencd into an intimate friendship, which began to
occasion malicious remarks at Court. " His enemies
at Court watched us, but, as he was powerful, we
were treated with great consideration. His numer-
Ous circle of acquaintance began to look with curl
ous eyes Oh quiet, straightforward, and taclturn
man. WHO never 1attered, and was incapable OF III
tricue, yet whose abilities praised, and whose
society was cour.ed by NJ. lie Talleyrand. i. my
self n little person of twenty-sevcn years OF age,
ordinary looking cold and reserved, in nowsere-
markable, devoted to the duties of pure and vir-
tuous life thus distinguished by the notice of so cm-
inent parsonage also became an object of attcn-
tion 1t was probable that NJ. dc Talleyrand, being
just then i'll want Of amusement, found something
novel and attractive in gaming the affection of two
persons completely outside his own sphere of ideas,
so that, when wearied by the constrant of his ex-
istencc, lie turned sometimes with relief to COM
panionsbip which he knew he could trust; while
our attachment to him, openly protcssed at time
when his disgrace shook our own position. caused
solid friendship to succeed to mutual likmg:'-
II was then that. visiting oltcner at his house,
which we had not before this been i'll the habit OF
frequenting became acquainted with section OF
society hitherto almost unknown TO me: There was
always q number of people at NJ. dc Ialiyrands-
foreigners who paid him Obsequl0us attention, great
mobiles of the former order of things: and men OF tue
new, all wondering at finding themselves under the
same roof-ali remarkable for some reason or oiher
but whose character not always equal 10 lnelF
celebrity. Wel-known women were mere aIs0ioI
whom il must he said be had in general Decn ltneT
the lover than the friend and who were on tle khd
OF terms with him that he preferred Ills VIE must
be named first among the persons TO whom aIuc'
Her beauty was daily waning on account ol hef III
creasing size. She was always handsomely dressed,
and occupled by right the place Ol honoI, pu, "SS
unacQuainted with most of the company. NJ. ue
Taicyrand never seemed to perceiVe thaI si;e Whe
present he never spoke 70 her, still less ala lie s
ten to what she said, and L DelIeve ne suneieu
acutey, but with resignation, LOT Inc Siror Mun
His wife seldom went to Court tie emperor trSaeu
her coldly, and she received no consideration 'nere
Ii never occurred to NJ dc TalleyranL 20 complain ol
this nor yet of the compensation sac was salu 10
seek in the attentions of certain strangers. B0nla-
parte would sometimes jest on tins subject WIN M'
de Ialleyrand, who would answer with indifference
and let the matter drop =,
Nine de Talleyrand habitually disked all her
husbands friends, whether men or women. Ii Is
probable that she made no exception in my favor.
but always behaved to her with such cerelnonious
civiliy, held myself so totally aloot from her
private afans that we scarcely came into contact
Tie residence of Napoleon at Fontainebeau which
lasted for nearly two months is described rs one of
the most brilliant episodes in the history of the I'm
| perial Court. He was then the acknowledged SOW
ereign of France, with regret for the past and
fear for the future He either the master the
| friend of all the Continental kings. lie allied
to several of them either by foreign treaties or by
| foreign mari ages. He had made sure of Europe by
| his political divisions. He had strong garrisons
upon his most distant frontiers to insure tho execu-
tion of his will and all the resources France were
! placed absolutely in his hands. He possessed an
immense treasury; lie was IN the prime of life /;
| admired feared, and scrupulously Obeyed. The
| etiquette of the Court was matter of punctiloue
| regularity
| All those persons who werc to accompany their
MaJestes assembled, and Informed of the rules
| which they would have to observe. The different
evenings OF the week were TO be passed in the re-
| spective apartments of the great personages. On
one evening the Emperor would receive, there
would DC music, and aiterward cards. On two other
evenings there would be play; on one. followed
by ball in the apartment of the Grand-Duchess OF
Berg and on the other, by ball in the apartment
of the Princess BOrgh6se on fifth there would be
| q reception and cards in the apartment of the En-
press. The Princes and Ministers were TO give Dip
turn. The Grand Marshal was to do the same
| twenty-five covers were to be laid on the table
every day. The Lady of Honor was likewise to en-
tertain aud. lastly, there was to be table for all
those WHO had not received special invitation else
where Princes and Kings were to dine with the
Emperor only When " M ySd AG reserved to h%
and chose whom he pleased when lie thought fit TO
depart from that Iule.
Hunting took place on fixed days. and the guests
were invited to accompany, the hunt. either Oh
horseback or in elegant caleches;
The Emperor took it into his head that tho ladies
should have hunting costume, and TO that the En-
press agreed very willingly. The famous cOstumer
Leroy was consulted. and very brilliant uniform
was arranged. Each Princess selected different
color for herself and her household The costume
of the Empress was amaranth velvet, embrodcred
with gold, with tOque also embroidered i'll gold
and plume of white feathers. All the ladies-n-
waiting wore amaranth. Queen llOrtense chose
blue and silver; Nine Murat PINK and silver; Prn.
cess Borghese, lilac ana silver Ihe dress dress was a
| over q gown of embroidered white satin. velvet
boots to match the dress. and toque with white
| plume The Emperor and all the gentlemen wore
| green coats. with gold Or silver lace These brilliant
Costumes worn either horseback or in carriages
| and by a numerous assembagc, had a charming
| effect in the beautiful forest of Fontainebeau.
| The Emperor liked hunting rather for the exercise
which it forced him to take than for the pleasure OF
the chase itself He did not follow the deer very
carefully but, setting off at gallop, would takcthe
first road that lay before him. Sometimes he forget
the object of the hunt altogether and followed the
| winding paths of the forest, seemed to abandon
himself the fancy Of his horse being plunged the
| while IN deep reverie. He rode we'll but ungrace-
| fniiy He preferred Arab horses because they are
SO trained that they stop the instant. Horses of
| fhis kind were very carefully broken for him. as
from his habit of starting at full gaop with loose
rein, he would have been in danger Of falling, hat: