As soon as the Emperor returned to Paris, his behaviour towards Josephine showed a marked reserve.

The passage communicating between their private apartments was closed, and the gleams of triumphant jealousy that flashed from her sisters-in-law warned Josephine of her approaching doom.

The divorce so long bruited by news-mongers was at hand.

The Emperor broke the tidings to his consort in the private drawing-room of the Tuileries on November 30th, and strove to tone down the harshness of his decision by basing it on the imperative needs of the State.

But she spurned the dictates of statecraft.