Shepressedmeearnestly，andwithallherknowngrace，toacceptit;butalmostasmuchacaptiveatParisasaprisonerofstate，IwishedtohavetomyselfinthecountrythemomentsoflibertyIwaspermittedtoenjoy.Yetwhatwasthisliberty？IhadboughtalittlehouseatRuel，whichIkeptduringtwoyearsandahalf.WhenIsawmyfriendsthere，ithadtobeatmidnight，ofatfiveo’clockinthemorning;andtheFirstConsulwouldoftensendformeinthenightwhencouriersarrived.
ItwasforthissortoflibertyIrefusedJosephine’skindoffer.
BonapartecameoncetoseemeinmyretreatatRuel，butJosephineandHortensecameoften：Itwasafavouritewalkwiththeseladies.
AtParisIwaslessfrequentlyabsentfromBonapartethanatMalmaison.
WesometimesintheeveningwalkedtogetherinthegardenoftheTuileriesafterthegateswereclosed.Intheseeveningwalkshealwaysworeagraygreatcoat，andaroundhat.Iwasdirectedtoanswer，\"TheFirstConsul，\"tothesentinel’schallengeof，\"Whogoesthere？\"