never have I
received from you a more touching mark of affection."

The apartment at Malmaison which Napoleon had formerly occupied remained
exactly as it was when he last left it. Josephine herself kept the key,
and dusted the room with her own hands. She would not permit a single
article of furniture to be moved. The book he was last reading lay open
upon the table, the map he was consulting, the pen with which he wrote,
the articles of clothing which he had left in his accustomed disorder,
all remained untouched. Josephine's bed-chamber was very simply
furnished with white muslin drapery, the only ornament being the golden
toilet service which she had received from the municipality of Paris,
and which, with characteristic generosity, she refused to consider as
her own private property until Napoleon sent it to her. The following
letter from Josephine, written at this time, pleasingly illustrates her
literary polish and the refinement of her taste. It was addressed to the
superintendent, ordering some alterations at Malmaison.

"Profit by my absence, dear F., and make haste to dismantel
the pavilion of the acacias, and to transfer my boudoir into
that of the orangery. I should wish the first apartment of
the suite, and which serves for an ante-room, to be painted
with light green, with a border of lilachs. In the center of
the panels you will place my fine engravings from Esther,
and under each of these a portrait of the distinguished
generals of the Revolution. In the center of the apartment
there must be a large flower-stand, constantly filled with
fresh flowers in their season, and in each angle a bust of a
French philosopher. I particularly mention that of Rousseau,
which place between the two windows, so that the vines and
foliage may play around his head. This will be a natural
crown worthy of the author of Emile. As to my private
cabinet, let it be colored light blue, with a border of
ranunculus and polyanthus. Ten large engravings from the
Gallery of the Musee, and twenty medallions, will fill up
the panels. Let the casements be painted white and green,
with double fillets, gilded. My piano, a green sofa, and two
couches with corresponding covers, a secretaire, a small
bureau, and a large toilet-glass, are articles you will not
forget. In the center, place a large table, always covered
with fr