CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

1807

MADAME WALEWSKA

Napoleon’s First Meeting with Marie Walewska--Beginning of Their Long Liaison--The Emperor Orders Joséphine to Return to Paris--The Terrible Battle of Eylau--Napoleon Tries to Minimize His Losses--Headquarters at Osterode--Napoleon’s Letter to Joseph--His Brief Letters to Joséphine--The Empress Returns to Paris--Her Cordial Welcome--Her Loneliness--Birth of Her First Granddaughter--Napoleon Moves to Finckenstein--He Is Joined by Madame Walewska--The Emperor Dictates Regarding Joséphine’s Friends 213