the chateau; but the prince, who preferred returning to Paris, refused,
giving as an excuse that the beds had a very disagreeable odor. There
was no truth whatever in this statement, for there was, as may be
believed, the greatest care taken of the furniture, even in the store-
rooms of the different imperial palaces; and the reason assigned by M. de
Talleyrand being given at random, he could just as well have given any
other; but, nevertheless, the remark struck the Emperor's attention, and
that evening on entering his bedroom he complained that his bed had an
unpleasant odor. I assured him to the contrary, and told his Majesty
that he would next day be convinced of his error; but, far from being
persuaded, the Emperor, when he rose next morning, repeated the assertion
that his bed had a very disagreeable odor, and that it was absolutely
necessary to change it. M. Charvet, concierge of the palace, was at once
summoned; his Majesty complained of his bed, and ordered another to be
brought.

M. Desmasis, keeper of the furniture-room, was also called, who examined
mattress, feather-beds, and covering, turned and returned them in every
direction; other persons did the same, and each was convinced that there
was no odor about his Majesty's bed. In spite of so many witnesses to
the contrary, the Emperor, not because he made it a point of honor not to
have what he had asserted proved false, but merely from a caprice to
which he was very subject, persisted in his first idea, and required his
bed to be changed. Seeing that it was necessary to obey, I sent this bed
to the Tuileries, and had the one which was there brought to the chateau
of Saint-Cloud. The Emperor was now satisfied, and, on his return to the
Tuileries, did not notice the exchange, and thought his bed in that
chateau very good; and the most amusing part of all was that the ladies
of the palace, having learned that the Emperor had complained of his bed,
all found an unbearable odor in theirs, and insisted that everything must