Helene had been at Erfurt during the famous meeting of the Emperors and had brought from there these connections with the Napoleonic notabilities.

At Erfurt her success had been brilliant.

Napoleon himself had noticed her in the theater and said of her: "C'est un superbe animal.

" * Her success as a beautiful and elegant woman did not surprise Pierre, for she had become even handsomer than before.

What did surprise him was that during these last two years his wife had succeeded in gaining the reputation "d' une femme charmante, aussi spirituelle que belle.