The Private Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | Page 8

my childhood, and the
circumstances which made me valet de chambre of the Emperor.
I was born Dec. 2, 1778, at Peruelz, a town which became French on
the annexation of Belgium to the Republic, and which then belonged to
the Department of Jemmapes. Soon after my birth at the baths of Saint
Amand, my father took charge of a small establishment called the Little
Chateau, at which visitors to the waters were boarding, being aided in
this enterprise by the Prince de Croi, in whose house he had been
steward. Business prospered beyond my father's hopes, for a great
number of invalids of rank came to his house. When I attained my
eleventh year, the Count de Lure, head of one of the chief families of
Valenciennes, happened to be one of the boarders at the Little Chateau;
and as that excellent man had taken a great fancy to me, he asked my
parents permission that I should become a companion to his son, who
was about. the same age. My family had intended me for the church, to
gratify one of my uncles, who was Dean of Lessine, a man of great
wisdom and rigid virtue; and thinking that the offer of the Count de
Lure would not affect my intended destination, my father accepted it,
judging that some years passed in a family so distinguished would give
me a taste for the more serious studies necessary to fit me for the
priesthood. I set out, therefore, with the Count de Lure, much grieved at
leaving my parents, but pleased also at the same time, as is usual with
one at my age, with new scenes. The count took me to one of his
estates near Tours, where I was received with the greatest kindness by
the countess and her children, with whom I was placed on a footing of
perfect equality.
Unfortunately I did not profit very long by the kindness of the count
and the lessons. I was taught at his house, for hardly a year had passed
at the chateau when we learned of the arrest of the king at Varennes.
The count and his family were in despair; and child as I was, I
remember that I was deeply pained at the news, without knowing why,
but doubtless because it is natural to share the sentiments of those with
whom you live, when they treat you with as much kindness as the count
and countess had treated me. However, I continued to enjoy the happy
freedom from care natural to youth, till one morning I was awakened

by a loud noise, and was immediately surrounded by a great number of
people, none of whom I knew, and who asked me countless questions
which I could not answer. I then learned that the count and his family
had emigrated. I was carried to the town hall, where the same questions
were renewed, with the same fruitless result; for I knew nothing of the
intentions of my late protectors, and could only reply by a flood of tears
when I saw myself abandoned and left to my own resources, at a great
distance from my family.
I was too young then to reflect on the conduct of the count; but I have
since thought that his abandonment of me was an act of delicacy on his
part, as he did not wish to make me an emigre without the consent of
my parents. I have always believed that, before his departure, the count
had committed me to the care of some one, who subsequently did not
dare to claim me, lest he should compromise himself, which was then,
as is well known, exceedingly dangerous. Behold me, then, at twelve
years of age, left without a guide, without means of support, without
any one to advise me, and without money, more than a hundred leagues
from my home, and already accustomed to the comforts of a luxurious
life. It is hardly credible that in this state of affairs I was regarded
almost as a suspect, and was required each day to present myself before
the city authorities for the greater safety of the Republic. I remember
well that whenever the Emperor was pleased to make me relate these
tribulations of my childhood, he never failed to repeat several times,
"the fools," referring to these same city authorities. However that may
be, the authorities of Tours, coming to the conclusion, at last, that a
child of twelve was incapable of overthrowing the Republic, gave me a
passport, with the injunction to leave the city within twenty-four hours,
which I proceeded to do with a hearty good-will, but not without deep
grief also at seeing myself alone, and on foot, with a long journey
before me. After much privation and