Lucien Bonaparte was widely regarded as a refined gentleman. He always dressed like a man of letters, unlike Napoleon, who wore military uniforms. He did not like carrying a sword, and he always had a smile on his face.
Some thought his smile warmed the heart, making up for his unremarkable looks and earning him great popularity. As soon as he came of age, rumors linked him with two women.
Because he was severely nearsighted, he always squinted to see clearly. This somewhat affected his image, giving people the impression that he hid a knife behind his smile.
Though Lucien was a staunch republican, he always did his utmost to support Napoleon Bonaparte, including going to the Orangery to drive out the Council of Five Hundred.
They said there was strength in numbers. Even those who lacked courage at first would become bold enough to attack amid the crowd and its passion. On the day of the farce, not only did people shout, "Down with the tyrant!" but someone also drew a dagger and stabbed at Napoleon, only to be blocked by a grenadier. On that perilous, unscripted stage, Lucien had a sudden inspiration. He drew Napoleon's sword, aimed its tip at his own chest, and shouted, "If my brother dares to harm any of the freedoms of the people of France, I swear I will plunge this sword into his chest!"
A good actor sometimes encountered unexpected situations. At such times, he needed a flash of inspiration and an improvised performance, or the whole play would be ruined. Besides Caroline and Pauline, Lucien and Napoleon had another sister named Elisa. She was very short and looked a great deal like Napoleon, but she had a lively personality. On the day Madame Sèvres and Hortense went to an elementary school