Recollections of the Court of the Tuileries (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: V. On the 26th of February, 1864, I lost my father, who was then a colonel at Cherbourg. He was still young, full of life and spirits, and I adored him. My mother and I were left without fortune, which fact the Empress heard of through Doctor Conneau, who was one of our friends. She had never forgotten me, and at once took a lively interest in our unfortunate situation. Shortly after, my mother received a call from Admiral Charles Duperre, then officer of ordnance to the Emperor. He had been sent by the Empress as bearer of an offer to take me into her service and assume the charge of my future. My mother hesitated, her love and solicitude for me causing her to apprehend that the acceptance of the kind proposition with which her Majesty had honored me might have dangerous results. Having been reared in Brittany, I knew no one at the brilliant court, and my mother was afraid lestI should find such a novel position bristling with difficulties. At this very time I had under consideration the offer of a wealthy alliance, and I was urged to accept it. But my heart was not enlisted in the matter, and I could not bring myself to consent. I was deeply moved by the interest the Empress testified in me, and, influenced by the strong fascination she exerted over my imagination, I dreamed of consecrating my life to her. My mother procured an audience with the Empress, and talked freely with her regarding her perplexities. Her Majesty explained fully what would be required of me and what would be the conditions of my life in her service. She completely reassured my mother, and we therefore gratefully accepted the destiny offered me. The Empress expressed a desire that I should never go out without her. I was never to leave her, was to accompany her in all her travels, and liv...