napoleon bonaparte, v1-第3部分

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count　and　his　family　were　in　despair；　and　child　as　I　was；　I　remember　that
I　was　deeply　pained　at　the　news；　without　knowing　why；　but　doubtless
because　it　is　natural　to　share　the　sentiments　of　those　with　whom　you
live；　when　they　treat　you　with　as　much　kindness　as　the　count　and　countess
had　treated　me。　　However；　I　continued　to　enjoy　the　happy　freedom　from
care　natural　to　youth；　till　one　morning　I　was　awakened　by　a　loud　noise；
and　was　immediately　surrounded　by　a　great　number　of　people；　none　of　whom
I　knew；　and　who　asked　me　countless　questions　which　I　could　not　answer。
I　then　learned　that　the　count　and　his　family　had　emigrated。　　I　was
carried　to　the　town　hall；　where　the　same　questions　were　renewed；　with　the
same　fruitless　result；　for　I　knew　nothing　of　the　intentions　of　my　late
protectors；　and　could　only　reply　by　a　flood　of　tears　when　I　saw　myself
abandoned　and　left　to　my　own　resources；　at　a　great　distance　from　my
family。

I　was　too　young　then　to　reflect　on　the　conduct　of　the　count；　but　I　have
since　thought　that　his　abandonment　of　me　was　an　act　of　delicacy　on　his
part；　as　he　did　not　wish　to　make　me　an　emigre　without　the　consent　of　my
parents。　　I　have　always　believed　that；　before　his　departure；　the　count
had　committed　me　to　the　care　of　some　one；　who　subsequently　did　not　dare
to　claim　me；　lest　he　should　compromise　himself；　which　was　then；　as　is
well　known；　exceedingly　dangerous。　　Behold　me；　then；　at　twelve　years　of
age；　left　without　a　guide；　without　means　of　support；　without　any　one　to
advise　me；　and　without　money；　more　than　a　hundred　leagues　from　my　home；
and　already　accustomed　to　the　comforts　of　a　luxurious　life。　　It　is　hardly
credible　that　in　this　state　of　affairs　I　was　regarded　almost　as　a
suspect；　and　was　required　each　day　to　present　myself　before　the　city
authorities　for　the　greater　safety　of　the　Republic。　　I　remember　well　that
whenever　the　Emperor　was　pleased　to　make　me　relate　these　tribulations　of
my　childhood；　he　never　failed　to　repeat　several　times；　〃the　fools；〃
referring　to　these　same　city　authorities。　　However　that　may　be；　the
authorities　of　Tours；　coming　to　the　conclusion；　at　last；　that　a　child　of
twelve　was　incapable　of　overthrowing　the　Republic；　gave　me　a　passport；
with　the　injunction　to　leave　the　city　within　twenty…four　hours；　which　I
proceeded　to　do　with　a　hearty　good…will；　but　not　without　deep　grief　also
at　seeing　myself　alone；　and　on　foot；　with　a　long　journey　before　me。
After　much　privation　and　many　hardships　I　arrived　at　last　in　the
neighborhood　of　Saint…Amand；　which　I　found　in　the　possession　of　the
Austrians；　and　that　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　reach　the　town；　as　the
French　surrounded　it。　　In　my　despair　I　seated　myself　on　the　side　of　a
ditch　and　was　weeping　bitterly；　when　I　was　noticed　by　the　chief　of
squadron；　Michau；

　　　　　＇I　afterwards　had　the　happiness　of　obtaining　for　him；　from　the
　　　　　Emperor；　a　position　he　wished；　as　a　place　of　retirement；　having　lost
　　　　　the　use　of　his　right　arm。　CONSTANT。＇

who　afterwards　became　colonel　and　aide…de…camp　to　General　Loison。　　Michau
approached　me；　questioned　me　with　great　interest；　and　made　me　relate　my
sad　adventures；　which　touched　him　deeply；　while　he　did　not　conceal　his
inability　to　send　me　back　to　my　family。　　He　had　just　obtained　leave　of
absence；　which　he　was　going　to　spend　with　his　family　at　Chinon；　and
proposed　to　me　to　accompany　him；　which　invitation　I　accepted　with
gratitude。　　I　cannot　say　too　much　of　the　kindness　and　consideration　shown
me　by　his　household　during　the　three　or　four　months　I　spent　with　them。
At　the　end　of　that　time　he　took　me　to　Paris；　where　I　was　soon　after
placed　in　the　house　of　M。　Gobert；　a　rich　merchant；　who　treated　me　with
the　greatest；　kindness。

I　lately　visited　M。　Gobert；　and　he　recalled　to　me　that；　when　we　traveled
together；　he　gave　up　to　me　one　of　the　seats　of　his　carriage；　upon　which　I
was　permitted　to　stretch　myself　out　and　sleep。　　I　mention　this
circumstance；　otherwise　unimportant；　to　show　the　kindness　he　always
showed　me。

Some　years　later　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　Carrat；　who　was　in　the
service　of　Madame　Bonaparte　while　the　general　was　absent　on　the　Egyptian
expedition。　　Before　relating　how　I　came　to　enter　her　household；　it　is
proper　to　mention　how　Carrat　himself　came　into　her　service；　and　at　the
same　time　narrate　some　anecdotes　in　regard　to　him；　which　will　show　what
were　the　pastimes　of　the　inhabitants　of　Malmaison　at　that　date。

Carrat　happened　to　be　at　Plombieres　when　Madame　Bonaparte

　　　　　＇　Madame　Bonaparte；　nee　Marie　Joseph　Rose　Tascher　de　la　Pagerie；
　　　　　was　born　in　Martinique；　1763；　became　the　widow　of　Viscount　Alexander
　　　　　de　Beauharnais；　1794；　married　Napoleon　Bonaparte　March；　1796；　became
　　　　　Empress　May　18；　1804；　was　divorced　Dec。　16；　1809；　died　at　Malmaison；
　　　　　May　20；　1814。　TRANS。＇

went　there　to　take　the　waters。　　Every　day　he　brought　her　bouquets；　and
addressed　to　her　little　complimentary　speeches；　so　singular　and　so　droll；
that　Josephine　was　much　diverted；　as　were　also　the　ladies　who　accompanied
her；　among　whom　were　Mesdames　de　Cambis　and　de　Criguy；　　and　especially
her　own　daughter　Hortense；　who　was　convulsed　at　his　oddities。　　The　truth
is；　he　was　exceedingly　amusing；　by　reason　of　a　certain　simplicity　and
originality　of　character；　which；　however；　did　not　prevent　him　from　being
a　person　of　intelligence；　and　his　eccentricities　did　not　displease　Madame
Bonaparte。　　A　sentimental　scene　took　place　when　this　excellent　lady　left
the　springs。　　Carrat　wept；　bemoaned　himself；　and　expressed　his　lasting
grief　at　not　being　able　to　see　Madame　Bonaparte　daily；　as　he　had　been
accustomed；　and　Madame　Bonaparte　was　so　kind…hearted　that　she　at　once
decided　to　carry　him　to　Paris　with　her。　　She　taught　him　to　dress　hair；
and　finally　appointed　him　her　hair…dresser　and　valet；　at　least　such　were
the　duties　he　had　to　perform　when　I　made　his　acquaintance。　　He　was
permitted　a　most　astonishing　freedom　of　speech；　sometimes　even　scolding
her；　and　when　Madame　Bonaparte；　who　was　extremely　generous　and　always
gracious　towards　every　one；　made　presents　to　her　women；　or　chatted
familiarly　with　them；　Carrat　would　reproach　her。　　〃Why　give　that？〃　he
would　say；　adding；　〃See　how　you　do；　Madame；　you　allow　yourself　to　jest
with　your　domestics。　　Some　day　they　will　show　you　a　want　of　respect。〃
But　if　he　thus　endeavored　to　restrain　the　generosity　of　his　mistress
towards　those　around　her；　he　did　not　hesitate　to　stimulate　her　generosity
towards　himself；　and　whenever　he　took　a　fancy　to　anything；　would　simply
say；　〃You　ought　to　give　me　that。〃

Bravery　is　not　always　the　inseparable　companion　of　wit；　and　Carrat　gave
more　than　once　proof　of　this。　　Being　endowed　with　a　kind　of　simple　and
uncontrollable　poltroonery；　which　never　fails　in　comedies　to　excite　the
laughter　of　the　spectators；　it　was　a　great　pleasure　to　Madame　Bonaparte
to　play　on　him　such　pranks　as　would　bring　out　his　singular　want　of
courage。

It　should　be　stated；　first　of　all；　that　one　of　the　greatest　pleasures　of
Madame　Bonaparte；　at　Malmaison；　was　to　take　walks　on　the　road　just
outside　the　walls　of　the　park；　and　she　always　preferred　this　outside
road；　in　spite　of　the　clouds　of　dust　which　were　constantly　rising　there；
to　the　delightful　walks　inside　the　park。　　One　day；　accompanied　by　her
daughter　Hortense；　she　told　Carrat　to　follow　her　in　her　walk；　and　he　was
delighted　to　be　thus　honored　until　he　saw　rise　suddenly　out　of　a　ditch；　a
great　figure　covered　with　a　white　sheet；　in　fact；　a　genuine　ghost；　such
as　I　have　seen　described　in　the　translations　of　some　old　English
romances。

It　is　unnecessary　to　say；　that　the　ghost　was　some　one　placed　there　by
order　of　these　ladies；　in　order　to　frighten　Carrat；　and　certainly　the
comedy　succeeded　marvelously　well；　for　as　soon　as　Carrat　perceived　the
ghost；　he　was　very　much　frightened；　and　clutching　Madame　Bonaparte；　said
to　her　in　a　tremor；　〃Madame；　Madame；　do　you　see　that　ghost？　　It　is　the
spirit　of　the　lady　who　died　lately　at　Plombieres。〃〃Be　quiet；　Carrat；
you　are　a　coward。〃〃Ah；　but　indeed　it　is　her　spirit　which　has　come
back。〃　　As　Carrat　thus　spoke；　the　man　in　the　white　sheet　advanced　toward
him；　shaking　it；　and　poor　Carrat；　overcome　with　terror；　fell　backwards　in
a　faint；　and　it　required　all　the　attentions　which　were　bestowed　upon　him
to　restore　him　to　consciousness。

Another　day；　while　the　general　was　still　in　Egypt；　and　consequently
before　I　was　in　the　service　of　any　member　of　his　family；　Madame　Bonaparte
wished　to　give　some　of　her　ladies　an　exhibition　of　Carrat's　cowardice；
and　for　this　purpose　there　was　concerted　among　the　ladies　of　Malmaison
a　plot；　in　which　Mademoiselle　Hortense

　　　　　＇Hortense　Beauharnais；　born　at　Paris；　1783；　was　then　just　sixteen
　　　　　years　of　age。　　Married　Louis　Bonaparte　and　became　Queen　of　Holland；
　　　　　1806。　　Died　1837。　　She　was　the　mother　of　Napoleon　III。　TRANS。＇

was　chief　conspirator。　　This　incident　has　been　so　often　narrated　in　my
presence　by　Madame　Bonaparte；　that　I　am　familiar　with　the　ludicrous
details。　　Carrat　slept　in　a　room　adjoining　which　there　was　a　closet。
A　hole　was　made　in　the　wall　between　these　rooms；　and　a　string　passed
through；　at　the　end　of　which　was　tied　a　can　filled　with　water；　this
cooling　element　being　suspended　exactly　over　the　head　；of　the　patient's
bed。　　This　was　not　all；　for　they　had　also　taken　the　precaution　to　remove
the　slats　which　supported　the　mattress；　and　as　Carrat　was　in　the　habit　of
going　to　sleep　without　a　light；　he　saw　neither　the　preparations　for　his
downfall；　nor　the　can　of　water　provided　for　his　new　baptism。　　All　the
members　of　the　plot　had　been　waiting　for　some　moments　in　the　adjoining
closet；　when　he　threw　himself　heavily　upon　his　bed；　it　crashed　in；　and　at
the　same　instant　the　play　of　the　string　made　the　can　of　water　do　its
effective　work。　　The　victim　at　the　same　time　of　a　fall；　and　of　a
nocturnal　shower…bath；　Carrat　cried　out　against　his　double　misfortune。
〃This　is　horrible；〃　he　yelled　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　while　Hortense
maliciously　said　aloud　to　her　mother；　Madame　de　Crigny　（afterwards　Madame
Denon）；　Madame　Charvet；　and　to　several　others　in　the　room；　〃Oh；　Mamma；
those　toads　and　frogs　in　the　water　will　get　on　him。〃　　These　words；　joined
to　the