was involved in the administration and military decisions of the era. The opening of the memoir details a significant event that occurred on October 23, the same day Napoleon's forces were retreating from Moscow. It describes the chaotic scene in which the Duke of Rovigo finds himself confronted by soldiers led by General Lahorie, who attempt to arrest him under the pretext of a conspiracy surrounding the emperor's supposed death. The narrative reveals the confusion, alarm, and efforts to stop an imminent coup led by the general Mallet, illustrating both the tension in Paris and the fragility of power during this critical moment in history. Through the details of this encounter, the opening sets the stage for further revelations about the political maneuvers and military strategies of Napoleon's time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)