Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 4 | Page 7

vanity on the score of his hands.
When walking, either alone or in company with any one, in his
apartments or in his gardens, he had the habit of stooping a little, and

crossing his hands behind his back. He frequently gave an involuntary
shrug of his right shoulder, which was accompanied by a movement of
his mouth from left to right. This habit was always most remarkable
when his mind was absorbed in the consideration of any profound
subject. It was often while walking that he dictated to me his most
important notes. He could endure great fatigue, not only on horseback
but on foot; he would sometimes walk for five or six hours in
succession without being aware of it.
When walking with any person whom he treated with familiarity he
would link his arm into that of his companion, and lean on it.
He used often to say to me, "You see, Bourrienne, how temperate, and
how thin I am; but, in spite of that, I cannot help thinking that at forty I
shall become a great eater, and get very fat. I foresee that my
constitution will undergo a change. I take a great deal of exercise; but
yet I feel assured that my presentiment will be fulfilled." This idea gave
him great uneasiness, and as I observed nothing which seemed to
warrant his apprehensions, I omitted no opportunity of assuring him
that they were groundless. But he would not listen to me, and all the
time I was about him, he was haunted by this presentiment, which, in
the end, was but too well verified.
His partiality for the bath he mistook for a necessity. He would usually
remain in the bath two hours, during which time I used to read to him
extracts from the journals and pamphlets of the day, for he was anxious
to hear and know all that was going on. While in the bath he was
continually turning on the warm water to raise the temperature, so that I
was sometimes enveloped in such a dense vapour that I could not see to
read, and was obliged to open the door.
Bonaparte was exceedingly temperate, and averse to all excess. He
knew the absurd stories that were circulated about him, and he was
sometimes vexed at theme It has been repeated, over and over again,
that he was subject to attacks of epilepsy; but during the eleven years
that I was almost constantly with him I never observed any symptom
which in the least degree denoted that malady. His health was good and
his constitution sound. If his enemies, by way of reproach, have

attributed to him a serious periodical disease, his flatterers, probably
under the idea that sleep is incompatible with greatness, have evinced
an equal disregard of truth in speaking of his night-watching.
Bonaparte made others watch, but he himself slept, and slept well. His
orders were that I should call him every morning at seven. I was
therefore the first to enter his chamber; but very frequently when I
awoke him he would turn himself, and say, "Ah, Bourrienne! let me lie
a little longer." When there was no very pressing business I did not
disturb him again till eight o'clock. He in general slept seven hours out
of the twenty-four, besides taking a short nap in the afternoon.
Among the private instructions which Bonaparte gave me, one was
very curious. "During the night," said he, "enter my chamber as seldom
as possible. Do not awake me when you have any good news to
communicate: with that there is no hurry. But when you bring bad news,
rouse me instantly; for then there is not a moment to be lost."
This was a wise regulation, and Bonaparte found his advantage in it.
As soon as he rose his 'valet de chambre' shaved him and dressed his
hair. While he was being shaved I read to him the newspapers,
beginning always with the 'Moniteur.' He paid little attention to any but
the German and English papers. "Pass over all that," he would say,
while I was perusing the French papers; "I know it already. They say
only what they think will please me." I was often surprised that his
valet did not cut him while I was reading; for whenever ha heard
anything interesting he turned quickly round towards me.
When Bonaparte had finished: his toilet, which he did with great
attention, for he was scrupulously neat in his person, we went down to
his cabinet. There he signed the orders on important petitions which
had been analysed by me on the preceding evening. On reception and
parade days he was particularly exact in signing these orders, because I
used to remind him that he would be, likely to see