For sovereigns there is neither long waiting nor great difficulties. This new conquest of His Majesty was not less rapid than the others. In order not to be separated from her illustrious lover, Madame —— followed him to Bavaria, and afterwards came to live in Paris, where she died in 1812.

Another day, His Majesty had occasion to remark a charming young person: it was one morning, in the environs of Schönbrunn. Some one was commissioned to see this damsel and ask her to meet the Emperor in the castle the next evening. Chance worked marvels for His Majesty on this occasion. The splendor of so illustrious a name, and the renown of his victories, had produced a profound impression on the young girl's mind, and disposed her to listen favorably to the proposition made her. She eagerly consented to come to the castle. At the appointed hour, the person of whom I have spoken went to fetch her. I received her when she came, and introduced her into His Majesty's chamber. She did not speak French, but she knew Italian perfectly, and consequently it was easy for the Emperor to talk with her. He learned, to his amazement, that this charming damsel belonged to a very honorable Viennese family, and that in coming to see him she had no thought but that of expressing to him her admiration. The Emperor respected the innocence of the young girl; he sent her back home to her parents, and gave orders that pains should be taken to marry her well, a thing he made easier and finer by means of a considerable dowry.

At Schönbrunn, as at Paris, the Emperor ordinarily dined at six o'clock. But as he sometimes worked until far into the night, we always took care to provide a light supper, which was locked up in a small osier hamper covered with canvas. This had two keys, one of which was kept by the chief of the kitchen and the other by me. The care of this hamper was a thing that concerned nobody but me, and as His Majesty was extraordinarily temperate, he seldom asked for supper. One evening Roustan, who had been riding at full speed all day in his master's service, was in a little salon adjoining the Emperor's chamber; he saw me as I came in from assisting His Majesty to bed, and looking at the hamper with wistful eyes he said in his bad French: "Me would like very much to eat a chicken wing; me very hungry." I refused at first; but finally, knowing that the Emperor had gone to bed, and seeing no likelihood of his asking for supper that evening, I let Roustan do as he chose. Very well content, he began by taking a second joint, then a wing, and I am not sure that anything would have been left of the fowl if I had not suddenly heard the bell ringing sharply. I entered the chamber, and was frightened to hear the Emperor say to me: "Constant, my chicken?" My embarrassment can be imagined: I had but one, and how could I procure another at such an hour! At last I decided what to do, and thinking that it was my business to carve the fowl, and that I would thus have every facility for concealing the absence of the two members which Roustan had eaten, I went in boldly with the chicken turned over on the dish. Roustan followed me, because, if there were any scolding to be endured, I was glad enough to have him share it with me. I severed the remaining wing and presented it to the Emperor. The Emperor refused it! . . . saying: "Give me the chicken, I will choose for myself." This time there was no way of escape: the dismembered chicken must be seen by His Majesty. "Hold on," said he; "how long is it since chickens have had only one leg and one wing? This is fine: it seems I must eat the leavings of others. Who was it, then, that ate the half of my supper?" I looked at Roustan, who in great confusion responded: "Me was hungry, Sire; me ate the leg and the wing." "How, you rogue! it was you? Ah! how I shall scold you for it!" And without another word the Emperor ate the remaining leg and wing.

The next day at his toilet he summoned the grand marshal for some communication, and during the conversation he said to him: "Guess what I ate for my supper last night? . . . the leavings of M. Roustan. Yes, that rascal took the notion to eat half of my chicken." Just then Roustan came in. "Come you rogue!" continued the Emperor, "and the first time that happens again be sure you will pay me for it." And while saying this he pulled him by the ears, and laughed heartily.