A Fashion Show at Malmaison

The Undressed Lady recently performed in front of an audience of 800 in the Theatre Malraux in Rueil de Malmaison, France in the ‘Joséphine Impératrice de la mode’ fashion show. The performance was part of the Imperial Jubilee held to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of Josephine.

The four seasons of fashion, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter as depicted through original French fashion plates. The fashion plates from the 1800’s came to life on stage in front of the projection, Mrs. Roberts as ‘Autumn’. 

Each of the 'seasons' was given an opportunity to step to center stage and showcase their clothing accompanied by a narrator and live 4 piece string group.

Later in the program, the Undressed Lady took on the character of the 'Duchess', starting the scene in her undergarments. Her husband looks on portraying her grumpy benefactor.

The servants make haste to dress the ‘Duchess’ in an elegant court gown made specifically for her beforehand. Hers was the longest and most complicated portion of the performance, requiring two women to dress her and one to do her jewelery for the big finale.

The grande finale, Josephine comes out on stage flanked by the ladies of her court in their heavy, ornate gowns.

An extra sneak peak behind the scenes and backstage.

Special thanks to the following photographers who captured the above images:

Luc Morel Photographisme

Coltrane Koh

Mission X in Images

The trip to Malmaison was amazing and I wanted to make a special post specifically to thank all the awesome folks who helped to make it happen for us.

Thanks to the guys who helped me get my new wardrobe together, my friends Michael Ramsey and Brian Cushing.

My wife and I are TERRIBLE about remembering to take pictures at events, so another big thanks to all the photographers that were at the event, and for allowing me to make use of their great images here on the Acasta website:

Luc Morel Photographisme

Coltrane Koh

Holly Madchen Photography

Joeri De Rocker

Thanks also to the kind fellow who portrayed Napoleon at this particular event, Mark Schneider. For those of you who might be curious, I actually asked for Mark's permission to do this long before it ever happened. It was important to me that 'Napoleon' be comfortable with the scenario before it happened.

And my final thanks to Cristina and Martin who invited us to this fantastic event! It was an amazing experience that we will not soon forget.

For the record, this was as close as I was ever able to get to 'Napoleon' with the little green bottle.

Mission X part 3

When our walk concluded, my wife and I eventually returned to our rooms to clean up and ready ourselves for supper. Another meal might offer me the opportunity to complete my secret mission for King and Country.

That night there was a supper laid out in the upper rooms of the town hall. The court and guests were all in attendance followed by Josephine. While there were fewer guards, there was a table of well-dressed French commanders and generals just behind me who were relaxing, drinking and telling stories in an animated fashion. This particular meal was more in the style of a buffet, making it an ideal opportunity to administer my dose covertly, but as it turned out, Bonaparte did not see fit to attend. I was crestfallen.

After the dishes were removed, I passed the time by playing cards with Mr. Evans and Mr. Flory. I taught them how to play One & Thirty and won every hand against Mr. Evans, relieving him of his pocket full of Italian bills. At one point my wife nudged me to quietly alert me to the fact that Josephine had taken notice of our game and seemed to have cast a disapproving glance upon the venture. Mr. Evans seemed agreeable to continue our game, asking if I would accept his note of hand. I was about to let him know that I would when the exit doors were filled with armed French soldiers.

They were here to escort us down into the square where we were met by Bonaparte. An impromptu parade formed that lead back to the park behind Château de Bois-Préau. The party was lead under arms as the public crushed in around us. They followed us back to the private area where Bonaparte's tent stood and we were treated to a magnificent display of fireworks.

The display seemed to originate from the back of Château de Bois-Préau and was as lovely a presentation as I have ever seen. 

…to be concluded

Have you spotted the little green bottle yet? Keep looking!

Special thanks to the photographers who have allowed me to make use of their amazing pictures:

Luc Morel Photographisme

Coltrane Koh

Holly Madchen Photography

Joeri De Rocker

Mission X part 2

From the park, the court and guests gathered up and walked down the tree lined pathway to Chateau de Malmaison. We were allowed passage through the front gate by the guards who held back the mob of locals come to have a look at their Emperor. We were lead up the gravel drive to the front of the house where we flanked either side of the main entry. 

Bonaparte and Josephine arrived at Chateau de Malmaison that afternoon in grand fashion, they were in a fine black carriage followed by soldiers on horseback. The court and guests assembled at the entrance of the house. 

Bonaparte and Josephine took an afternoon walk about the grounds with the court and guests en tow. They were long, meandering affairs through lovely gardens, the soldiers had every corner and path covered. It was nearly impossible to get close to him and I began to despair that my mission would be a failure.

There was a good deal of walking punctuated occasionally by some standing and sitting. We were, of course, completely at the mercy of Bonaparte and his whims. If he decided to stop and comment on a particular flower with Josephine, the entire party would come to a halt. If he decided to stop to kiss Josephine's hand, leaving us to stand in the full afternoon sun, he would do so. At one point I commented to my wife that it never seemed to occur to the Emperor to stop in the shade.

Finally, they found a lovely little grassy area beneath a tree in the back of the gardens to come to a stop and sit. The ladies of the court drew up close around Bonaparte and Josephine, followed by the gentlemen, guests and then the guards. I was so close to my goal, but with all these people swarming about, he might as well have been a hundred miles away.

…to be continued

Have you spotted the little green bottle yet? Keep looking!

Special thanks to the photographers who have allowed me to make use of their amazing pictures:

Luc Morel Photographisme

Coltrane Koh

Holly Madchen Photography

Joeri De Rocker

The Little Green Bottle

Be on the lookout for a green bottle like the ones in the image above.

Good day regular Acasta readers!

If you've been keeping up with the current 'Mission X' storyline wherein the ship's Surgeon travels to France in an attempt to poison Naploeon Bonaparte, you know you should be on the lookout for the little green bottle in the images from the recent Imperial Jubilee.

Have you spotted it yet in any of the images from the event? I'll give you a hint, when I had it on display, it was generally in my right hand (with a few exceptions) when I knew there were photographers about. Sometimes it's hard to spot due to its size.

Stay tuned for more reports and images from this amazing event!

Assassinate Napoleon?

Is there any real life historical evidence to support 'Mission X'? See for yourself:

Plot to kill Napoleon linked to British cabinet minister

Historian Andrew Roberts claims to have found first direct connection between Lord Castlereagh and 1804 conspiracy to assassinate French leader

Mark Schneider as Napoleon Boneparte at the Imperial Jubilee march in Rueil-Malmaison, near Paris.

From the article at The Guardian

When an officer at the battle of Waterloo told the Duke of Wellington that Napoleon was in their gun sights, the field marshal replied that it was "not the business of commanders to be firing upon one another".

What seemed dishonourable for a battlefield soldier was not for politicians, for it seems that the British government was behind an assassination attempt on Napoleon in 1804, according to historian Andrew Roberts. He has unearthed archival material that he believes directly implicates cabinet minister Lord Castlereagh in the unsuccessful 1804 Cadoudal French royalist plot to assassinate Napoleon...

Read the rest of the article HERE

Original photo by

Joeri De Rocker

used with the photographer's permission

Mission X part 1

Inside Chateau de Malmaison

It has been quite some time since I had to make myself presentable for 'court'. As my good wife will attest, I am a creature of habit and tend to wear a good deal of black. After some consultation with Lt. Ramsey and Mr. Cushing, the two most fashionable gentlemen of my acquaintance, and having a look at some French fashion plates, it was decided that I would wear a purple cut away coat, a while silk waistcoat and black silk breeches. I also purchased a new pair of pumps as it was pointed out to me by my wife that my old pair had become quite worn looking.

Thursday & Friday military camps moved in and set up on the far Northeast end of the property near Château de Bois-Préau. As a special guest lecturer I was freely admitted to most areas, it appeared that the general assumption was that I was well dressed and supposed to be there. Another unexpected weapon in my secret arsenal was my own wife. Mrs. Roberts in her beauty frequently gained me passage where I might otherwise not been allowed. She has a certain air and look that French guards tended not to question.

Friday night there was a Dinner at Chateau de Malmaison with the Emperor and all the local politicians and people of interest. The room was packed tightly, and there was initially some concern that there might not be room for us, but my wife and I were eventually seated at a table directly next to that of the Emperor and some of the ladies of his wife's court. I was within 10 feet of the man himself all evening.

As one would expect, Bonaparte is always flanked by his personal servants and guards. It will be a difficult thing to get close enough to administer my poisonous draught.

Our meal consisted of:

Pâté chaud de caille a la truffe.

Longe de veau dans son jus, fricassee de legumes du moment.

Assiette de fromages affines et sa verdure aux herbes.

Dome de vanille de Madagascar et sa salade d'argrumes.

...and a great deal of Champagne.

The evening was brought to a close by dancing, and I did not have the opportunity to get any closer to Bonaparte.

On Saturday, 100,000 people were estimated to have gathered in the center of the city to see the Emperor's official arrival with great fanfare. Bands and drums played upon his arrival, I could espy it all from the doorway of the town hall building.

There were speeches from local politicians followed by a great Parade through the streets of the town out to the great military encampment. There were soldiers of every sort gathered to participate in the grand show. Being a Surgeon in His Majesty's Navy, I have never borne witness to so many soldiers on the ground in one place. I would estimate over a thousand easily. The Emperor is always surrounded by scads of armed men, with all eyes upon him.

In the middle of the grand encampment was a large roped off area that was set up for the sole use of Bonaparte, Josephine and their court and guests. This area lay at a midpoint on the grounds between Château de Bois-Préau and Château de Malmaison. There was, in the center, a large tent for Napoleon and an even larger one off to the side for Josephine. The ladies and gentlemen of the court and special guests were treated to a sumptuous picnic on rugs placed in the Northeast corner of the roped off area. It was not lost on me that many of the French commanders and generals found their way in to partake in the picnic as well.

Bonaparte was secluded in his tent the entire time and we did not see him.

After eating a little light fare, I wandered the Emperor's roped off area, every corner with a guard posted and several at the entryway. Napoleon and Josephine's tents were guarded as well. There was no getting close to him here. I made some conversation with the guard closest to our picnic area in an attempt to ascertain the guard rotation schedule to no avail. 

One of Bonaparte's commanders allowed me into a tent used as a military headquarters of a sort and I was afforded an excellent view of a campaign map. It was pinned showing the forces of various French and English units, he even took the time to explain to me the meanings of the various types of pins and their colours. Each pin bore a little pasteboard placard with the name of the particular commander upon it. I made a careful mental note of each in an effort to carry the information back with me. 

to be continued...

Special thanks to the photographers who have allowed me to make use of their amazing pictures:

Luc Morel Photographisme

Coltrane Koh

Holly Madchen Photography

From the Boat

The Doctor was lowered into the boat alongside Acasta, his chests and baggage already having been placed near the stern. Shortly thereafter, the order was given and the sailors let the oars splash down into the water. These men were from another ship and the Doctor realized quickly that he did not feel the same sort of warmth and comradery with them as he normally did with the Acastas. They were a mean looking lot.

As the little boat pulled away, the Doctor could see Captain Freymann busy on the quarterdeck with the signal midshipman, while he could not hear them, it was clear, even from this distance that the Captain was issuing orders. Officers and men lined up in little clusters along the Starboard rail to watch as their surgeon departed. A few minutes later, the midshipman had the flags in order and they were hoisted skyward. As the flags took their message aloft in the breeze, the men along the rail gave a great cheer, raising their hats and waving farewell.

The Doctor, flush with unexpected emotion, squinted as he looked the flags over, then turning to the man at the tiller he asked, "Do you happen to know what those flags say sir?"

Where is the Doctor going you ask? Better review his papers on the subject.

Farewell to Thee my Friends

FOR the regular readers of my personal letters and journals, you may recall a particularly enigmatic exchange of correspondence between myself and Commodore Hurlbut some time back. The particulars of which may be found filed away on the other, uncoded pages of my journal:

Letter 1 dated Friday, 15 November, '13

Letter 2 dated Thursday, 19 December, '13

Letter 3 dated Wednesday, 11 February, '14

Now, I would ask you bid me fair travels and good luck in my secret endeavours, for the time has come for the plan that was laid out some time back to be set in motion.

Want of time is, I think, the general complaint of all letter-writers, and it shall be mine upon this day as I depart from the relative comfort of the Acasta to undertake my covert mission for the Admiralty. I have struggled with my own conscience over it, but have finally resolved myself that it must be done, the good of the many outweighing the needs of the one. But I must confess it is a difficult thing to find yourself the 'one' in question whose needs are outweighed.

Never the less, I go forward in my beliefs, to do my duty for King and Country, therefore I shall contrive to be at leisure to pay these final respects to you, my dear friends. I shall not now pretend that my mission into the heart of the 'Lion's Den' will not be fraught with peril. War with one's neighbor is always a dangerous business, the covert sort doubly so. It is my sincere hope that the blow I deliver will be the final one required to put an end to England's never ending war with France.

As is my custom, I shall keep my journal whilst in the field, and transcribe it here for you, my dear friends, upon the occasion of my return. Should I not be so fortunate, Heaven forbid, I have left several letters in the care of Captain Freymann to be deliver'd to my wife and daughters and my man of business in London who will take care of my meager debts and arrange my financial affairs.

The little vial of 'instant death', whose formula was recommended to me by a medical colleague who occasionally has business along the intelligence line, is prepared and ready to strike its blow to tyranny. God send it a happy meeting with its intended recipient!

Watch for pictures of the Doctor from the coming 'secret mission', see if you can spot the green bottle!

I have done the last of my packing and the Captain has the longboat alongside ready to carry me to the other ship bound for my SECRET destination, therefore I will bid you all farewell, I beg that you shall think on me fondly and know that I most sincerely wish you all health and success in your endeavours; and am, with great respect, dear Friends,

Your most affectionate & obt. servant,

The Doctor

A Secret Mission Reveal'd

A covert letter decoded from the Doctor's journal from an entry dated October 1813:

Dear Doctor R______, 

It is with great- joy is certainly not the correct word- gratitude and relief that I received your letter of acceptance for this dangerous and offensive task. We will not likely ever have such an opportunity again. I know how repugnant such an undertaking must be for one such as yourself, who has made his life's work saving lives, but as I'm sure you realize- and I know Sir J______ has counseled- that by taking one life now we will save thousands in the future.

Forgive me, but I had anticipated your acceptance and we have already put preparations into action. We have arranged for the capture of a small packet of unimportant documents which will be uncoded with some effort. Among them is a brief mention of you- reference to alleged republican sentiments you have expressed to other officers and allowing that our suspicions have been aroused by your travel to lecture in Paris scheduled for September of [1814]. I doubt that our enemies would be so incautious as to attempt to sway your allegiance on the basis of one captured document, but if you are approached as such use your own best judgment as to how to proceed. 

Iris fulva

If present practice follows past we should expect you to be invited to dine at the Emperor's chateau the evening after your lecture. Dinner guests often arrive quite early in order to stroll about the grounds and gardens. As you do so you should inquire of any gardeners you meet about the Red Iris of North America- Iris fulva. The one that offers to share seed of this plant, he is our man. He speaks English fairly well, but can neither read nor write, should the situation arise. Try and have Mrs. R________- it is my understanding that she will accompany you- on your arm at the time that he may recognize her also. If your situation becomes dire- God forbid- attempt to return to the area where you first met this fellow. He will keep a watch for you there throughout the evening and will render you any aide within his power.

A single Rosary Pea

As to the agent which may best accomplish our task- I realize as a man of science you may have your own opinion, but my thought was that your knowledge probably ran more toward preserving life rather than taking it. To that end I have consulted with Doctor A______. His recommendation is a tincture or suspension of Abrus precatorius - the Rosary pea of the west Indies. He has  experimented extensively on dogs with these seeds and tells me that one small pea contains enough poison to be fatal to a strong man, provided the seed coat is broken. Unbroken the seed coat is so hard that it may be passed completely and do no harm. He assures me that two broken seeds, ingested with food, would certainly be fatal. A tincture made from a number of seeds would work as well. The onset of symptoms will not occur for some hours, possibly even days after ingestion, but once they begin there is no antidote or effective treatment. I shall send you a packet of these seeds, far more than you will require for the task, so that you may experiment with them ahead of time if you wish. Take care with them around any sharp objects. Doctor A______ tells me the fatal symptoms are almost immediate if any of the internal content of the seed enters the circulatory system. If you have a preference for some other agent the choice is completely yours, as you will be the one at risk.

As always burn this correspondence after you have read it thoroughly.

Godspeed and good luck, 

Yours in service, 

R______ R______

What is MISSION X?