The bosom friend of Napoleon, and his constant companion in his
campaigns. He received in person the Emperor’s instructions, and
forwarded them to the different generals. Performed his duties with
docility, readiness, and perfect silence, and never betrayed his
master’s secrets. As a subordinate unsurpassed, but had none of the
qualities of a commander. He proved ungrateful. On the fall of Napoleon,
he went over to the Bourbons; on Napoleon’s return from Elba he changed
again, but to be repulsed by his former chief. After Waterloo the
Bourbons refused to countenance him, whereupon he fell into melancholy
and died by his own hand.
[From the marble in the Tuileries.]