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.

" *[2] The distinguished Prince de Ligne wrote her eight-page letters.