demoiselle-dupont

[demoiselle-dupont]

Sophie gently placed her index finger against Lazare's lips, preventing him from speaking further.

Cesse de dire des bêtises plus grosses que toi. Moi, j’aime ta voix et j’aime t’entendre chanter. Si tu persistes à refuser, tu vas me chagriner !

With a playful smile, she withdrew her hand and patted the piano seat to encourage him to come and sit with her.

[demoiselle-dupont]

Puisque c'est demandé si gentiment, qui suis-je pour te le refuser ?

Sophie happily sat down and grabbed her music folder, starting to rummage around inside.

Dis, tu veux bien chanter pour m'accompagner ?

She gave him that little pleading look, the one he usually couldn't say no to.

[demoiselle-dupont]

A force de flatteries et de compliments, je vais finir par te croire !

Souhaites-tu que je joues pour toi ce soir, mon amour ?

[demoiselle-dupont]

When did you and Lazare meet? Was there something that impressed you about him?

Excerpts from Sophie's diary:

November 13, 1788

Today was far too cold for our usual walks in the garden. Our activities consisted in keeping the fireplace burning and remaining close to it. Even so, we didn't remain alone, as Dad was keen to invite some of his acquaintances. I finally had the chance to meet Claude-Marie, whom my sister has been dreamily telling me about for weeks. Adélaïde and I prepared dinner for the arrival of him and his brother. Or should I say, I prepared dinner, because she kept making clumsy mistakes while daydreaming. Claude-Marie seems quite gentle and courteous, and very enthusiastic in his conversations with us. His brother Lazare, on the other hand, gave me the impression of a very pretentious man. Most of the time, he was quite silent and observant, only speaking up to correct my mistakes. I suppose it was my fault for trying to redirect the conversion to the latest scientific discoveries, in the belief that this would make him more comfortable if we talked about something that actually interests him. I don't think he and I will get along very well, as I dislike the company of people who patronize and belittle others to make themselves greater.

May 13, 1790

I haven't been able to take the time to write in the last few days. Preparations for Adélaïde's wedding took a lot of our time. From what I have been told, it was a sumptuous and moving ceremony. I couldn't come, as Dr. Levasseur strongly advised against it, and my legs can't carry me for more than a few minutes when I get out of bed. I slept a lot and felt like the heaviest of burdens. I heard that Lazare Carnot was looking for me at the ceremony and asked about me. I guess this man must have been disappointed he couldn't humiliate me in front of both our families with his knowledge, his unbearably charming smile and his huge brain.

September 5, 1790

Dad brought home a copy of the Père Duchesne, the new newspaper in vogue in Paris, calling it an offending and vulgar piece of rag. I leafed through it and found it rather amusing. Everyone talks about Minister Necker's resignation with gravity and restrained anger, and I found it quite refreshing to read a writer that lets himself say out loud what everyone else is thinking in silent. In other news, Lazare Carnot is now living with us in Saint-Omer. He was the victim of a terrifying accident while supervising works on a lock, so he will probably be staying for a couple of months. Over the last few days, he's been neither talkative nor curmudgeonly, perhaps because the family has assigned me as his nurse for the time of his convalescence, and he doesn't want to upset me in his present vulnerable position. A wise decision, if you ask me.

September 25, 1790

I finally came to understand that Lazare wasn't trying to belittle me, but to impress me with his extensive knowledge. When he found out why I was acting so distantly toward him, he looked very confused and apologetic, as it was not his intention to appear so rude. So I softened up more. Since he is here every day and I take care of him, we talked a lot. He showed me his book of poems, but refused to believe me when I told him they were really lovely. How strange. So I tried to cobble together a musical composition for one of them which I really enjoyed, “Histoire des chapeaux”, to brighten up the afternoon with singing and music. Lazare clapped along with the others, but his cheeks were very red. I really hope he's not angry with me.

November 13, 1790

My friend Faustine asked me if I was in love with Lazare, because she thinks I smile a lot in his presence. I replied that I wasn't. So she said, "Could I make it clear to him that I would like him to court me?" and to be honest, I didn't know what to say. I think it would be reasonable for me to say no. Not because I feel anything for him, of course. But because he shouldn't be thinking about anything other than his recovery and I'm responsible for him and what might happen to him! Faustine laughs at me and says I'm possessive and want to keep him all to myself. How dare she! She's no longer welcome in my house! By the way, Lazare pointed out to me that a year has gone by since we first met. Time has passed far too quickly. Part of me hopes that his injured leg will heal as slowly as possible so that he can stay longer. His presence and conversation bring a little sunshine and warmth to these dreary winter days. But let's be clear: I'm NOT in love with him, and Faustine is nothing but a prat!

February 2nd, 1791

Lazare kissed me on New Year's Eve. Does that mean I am pregnant? Should I tell my father? Last night I dreamt that he-

Oh, OH, UHM.

ALRIGHT, LET'S JUST- I THINK I SHOWED ENOUGH OF IT.

I hope it answered your question, Anon!

[demoiselle-dupont]

Do you have a favourite book?

I do !

However, it is not a novel but a play : The Game of Love and Chance by Marivaux. It combines the two things I enjoy most : romantic comedies and stories where women are cunning and inventive enough to get what they want.

[demoiselle-dupont]

Do not worry about it 🥰

She kisses his cheek.

A ball rolls along a sidewalk toward a gutter. The position of the ball on the sidewalk is:

x(t) = 0.000015t5– 0.004t3 + 0.4t.

Position x is in meters while time t is in seconds. What is the ball’s instantaneous velocity at t = 10.0 s?

Why do you bring this to the attention of the Marquis? I am not proving your problem! I am no physicist! Take this query to Claude Pouillet, it should interest him more than I. Of any gutter, this ball belongs in your ass!

[demoiselle-dupont]

More roses I had the pleasure to find during one of my daily walks🌹

[demoiselle-dupont]

You are completely right, mon amour.

It was not your feats of arms or your poetic talents or the epic tale you told me of your injury in the canal lock that made me fall in love with you, it's the way you talk to me about mathematics.

I kept wondering “when is he going to drop his geometry and come and take care of mine.” ahem.

A ball rolls along a sidewalk toward a gutter. The position of the ball on the sidewalk is:

x(t) = 0.000015t5– 0.004t3 + 0.4t.

Position x is in meters while time t is in seconds. What is the ball’s instantaneous velocity at t = 10.0 s?

Why do you bring this to the attention of the Marquis? I am not proving your problem! I am no physicist! Take this query to Claude Pouillet, it should interest him more than I. Of any gutter, this ball belongs in your ass!

[demoiselle-dupont]

Some pictures coming from my garden in Saint-Omer. I'm taking a lot of pleasure in growing roses!

[demoiselle-dupont]

As pretty as your face may be, Monsieur, it is only your ability to make my family tapestries shine that interests me about you and your brave companions (who aren't all that young anymore… but they'll do just fine).

Houchard, d'Hautpoul, Dumas… that's a lot of people to feed… I really hope none of them hates seafood.

Aren't you concerned by the fact that Lazare is surrounded by so many young, handsome military men?

On our wedding day, we promised each other to share everything.

So I might borrow him a young, handsome military man. 🤭

[demoiselle-dupont]

Ah, voilà l'homme de ma vie! Your timing could not be more perfect.

Is there any man in your battalion who knows how to properly clean the tapestries on the wall? They are really really heavy, no one is tall and sturdy enough to overcome them in our house of the North so I hope you trained these guys well! And feed them properly! And made sure they send their news to their mother regulary.

Aren't you concerned by the fact that Lazare is surrounded by so many young, handsome military men?

On our wedding day, we promised each other to share everything.

So I might borrow him a young, handsome military man. 🤭

[demoiselle-dupont]

Aren't you concerned by the fact that Lazare is surrounded by so many young, handsome military men?

On our wedding day, we promised each other to share everything.

So I might borrow him a young, handsome military man. 🤭

[demoiselle-dupont]

I won't give the audience any more details, they are showing themselves far too curious !

If Lazare made love the way he talks about logistics, would you survive it?

I survived it 👀

[demoiselle-dupont]

If Lazare made love the way he talks about logistics, would you survive it?

I survived it 👀

[demoiselle-dupont]

Oh, chéri... 🥹 it is far too precious.

I would be so afraid of damaging it I would only touch it with my eyes, to admire it.

Touches de piano en nacre construites en 1850 par Henry Hawky. Mother of pearl piano keys built in 1850 by Henry Hawky.

[demoiselle-dupont]

It warms my heart to know that after our death, someone was watching over our son and did not take advantage of his good heart.

I am very grateful.

What was there exactly between you and Hippolyte Carnot?

Ah, he was just the sweetest boy! So curious, so full of questions his father never answered. I wish I had gotten to know Sadi too!

[demoiselle-dupont]

Indeed, Joséphine feared the lack of comfort due to the army's constant movements, as well as the delay and discontent she was likely to trigger when it came to finding palaces suitable enough for her to stay in.

And uhm…. Of course, if she had wished to stay in Paris because of a certain Hippolyte Charles as rumor had it, I would have told you…. of course… *Looks away, not-so-innocently whistling*

tell me the weirdest thing that bonaparte has ever said

Napoléon could say very bizarre things sometimes, but one in particular has left an impression on me for how lapidary it was:

"I am desperate, my wife will not come. She must have a lover who keeps her in Paris. I curse all women, but I give a heartful embrace to my friends."

I still remember how messy - more than usual - his handwriting was; the letter didn't even have a date.

No matter how many times I told Napoléon that Joséphine refused to join him in Italy, because battlefields weren't exactly the most appropriate places for a woman; he kept being of the idea she was cheating on him.

That was impossible, of course, for Joséphine and my dear @demoiselle-dupont used to spend a lot of time together during that period. If the former truly had had a lover, my wife would have known it and told me.