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month of her pregnancy。
＇This refers to the first son of Louis and of Hortense； Napoleon
Charles； the intended successor of Napoleon； who was born 1802； died
1807； elder brother of Napoleon III。＇
I have already mentioned that he disliked to see women in that situation；
and above all could not endure to see them dance。 Yet； in spite of this
antipathy； he himself asked Hortense to dance at the ball at Malmaison。
She at first declined； but Bonaparte was exceedingly importunate； and
said to her in a tone of good…humoured persuasion； 〃Do； I beg of you；
I particularly wish to see you dance。 Come； stand up； to oblige me。〃
Hortense at last consented。 The motive for this extraordinary request I
will now explain。
On the day after the ball one of the newspapers contained some verses on
Hortense's dancing。 She was exceedingly annoyed at this； and when the
paper arrived at Malmaison she expressed； displeasure at it。 Even
allowing for all the facility of our newspaper wits； she was nevertheless
at a loss to understand how the lines could have been written and printed
respecting a circumstance which only occurred the night before。
Bonaparte smiled； and gave her no distinct answer。 When Hortense knew
that I was alone in the cabinet she came in and asked me to explain the
matter； and seeing no reason to conceal the truth； I told her that the
lines had been written by Bonaparte's direction before the ball took
place。 I added； what indeed was the fact； that the ball had been
prepared for the verses； and that it was only for the appropriateness of
their application that the First Consul had pressed her to dance。 He
adopted this strange contrivance for contradicting an article which
appeared in an English journal announcing that Hortense was delivered。
Bonaparte was highly indignant at that premature announcement； which he
clearly saw was made for the sole purpose of giving credit to the
scandalous rumours of his imputed connection with Hortense。 Such were
the petty machinations which not unfrequently found their place in a mind
in which the grandest schemes were revolving。
End of The Memoirs of Napoleon； V6； 1803
by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne