napoleon bonaparte, v1-第6部分

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Among　those　whom　we　saw　most　frequently　were　Volney；　Denon；　Lemercier；
the　Prince　of　Poix；　de　Laigle；　Charles　Baudin；　General　Beurnonville；
Isabey；　and　a　number　of　others；　celebrated　in　science；　literature；　and
art；　in　short；　the　greater　part　of　those　who　composed　the　society　of
Madame　de　Montesson。

Madame　Bonaparte　and　Mademoiselle　Hortense　often　took　excursions　on
horseback　into　the　country。　　On　these　occasions　her　most　constant　escorts
were　the　Prince　de　Poix　and　M。　de　Laigle。　　One　day；　as　this　party　was
reentering　the　court…yard　at　Malmaison；　the　horse　which　Hortense　rode
became　frightened；　and　dashed　off。　　She　was　an　accomplished　rider；　and
very　active；　so　she　attempted　to　spring　off　on　the　grass　by　the　roadside；
but　the　band　which　fastened　the　end　of　her　riding…skirt　under　her　foot
prevented　her　freeing　herself　quickly；　and　she　was　thrown；　and　dragged　by
her　horse　for　several　yards。　　Fortunately　the　gentlemen　of　the　party；
seeing　her　fall；　sprang　from　their　horses　in　time　to　rescue　her；　and；　by
extraordinary　good　fortune；　she　was　not　even　bruised；　and　was　the　first
to　laugh　at　her　misadventure。

During　the　first　part　of　my　stay　at　Malmaison；　the　First　Consul　always
slept　with　his　wife；　like　an　ordinary　citizen　of　the　middle　classes　in
Paris；　and　I　heard　no　rumor　of　any　intrigue　in　the　chateau。　　The　persons
of　this　society；　most　of　whom　were　young；　and　who　were　often　very
numerous；　frequently　took　part　in　sports　which　recalled　college　days。
In　fact；　one　of　the　greatest　diversions　of　the　inhabitants　of　Malmaison
was　to　play　〃prisoners'　base。〃　　It　was　usually　after　dinner；　and
Bonaparte；　Lauriston；　　Didelot；　de　Lucay；　de　Bourrienne；　Eugene；　Rapp；
Isabey；　Madame　Bonaparte；　and　Mademoiselle　Hortense　would　divide
themselves　into　two　camps；　in　which　the　prisoners　taken；　or　exchanged；
would　recall　to　the　First　Consul　the　greater　game；　which　he　so　much
preferred。　　In　these　games　the　most　active　runners　were　Eugene；　Isabey；
and　Hortense。　　As　to　General　Bonaparte；　he　often　fell；　but　rose　laughing
boisterously。

General　Bonaparte　and　his　family　seemed　to　enjoy　almost　unexampled
happiness；　especially　when　at　Malmaison；　which　residence；　though
agreeable　at　that　time；　was　far　from　being　what　it　has　since　become。
This　estate　consisted　of　the　chateau；　which　Bonaparte　found　in　bad
condition　on　his　return　from　Egypt；　a　park　already　somewhat　improved；　and
a　farm；　the　income　of　which　did　not　with　any　certainty　exceed　twelve
thousand　francs　a　year。　　Josephine　directed　in　person　all　the
improvements　made　there；　and　no　woman　ever　possessed　better　taste。

From　the　first；　they　played　amateur　comedy　at　Malmaison；　which　was　a
relaxation　the　First　Consul　enjoyed　greatly；　but　in　which　he　took　no　part
himself　except　that　of　looker…on。　　Every　one　in　the　house　attended　these
representations；　and　I　must　confess　we　felt　perhaps　even　more　pleasure
than　others　in　seeing　thus　travestied　on　the　stage　those　in　whose　service
we　were。

The　Malmaison　Troupe；　if　I　may　thus　style　actors　of　such　exalted　social
rank；　consisted　principally　of　Eugene；　Jerome；　Lauriston；　de　Bourrienne；
Isabey；　de　Leroy；　Didelot；　Mademoiselle　Hortense；　Madame　Caroline　Murat；
and　the　two　Mademoiselles　Auguie；　one　of　whom　afterwards　married　Marshal
Ney；

　　　　　＇Michel　Ney；　Styled　by　Napoleon　the　〃bravest　of　the　brave；〃　was
　　　　　born　1769；　at　Sarre…Louis　（now　in　Prussia）；　son　of　a　cooper。
　　　　　Entered　the　army　as　a　private　1787；　adjutant…general　1794；　general
　　　　　of　brigade　1796；　general　of　division　1799；　marshal　1804；　Duke　of
　　　　　Elchingen　1805；　Prince　of　Moskwa　1812；　and　commanded　the　rear…guard
　　　　　in　the　famous　retreat　from　Russia。　　On　the　return　from　Elba　he　went
　　　　　over　to　Napoleon；　was　at　Waterloo。　　Was　afterwards　taken；　and　in
　　　　　spite　of　the　terms　of　the　surrender　of　Paris　was　tried　for　treason；
　　　　　and　shot　in　the　gardens　of　the　Luxembourg；　Dec。　8；　1815。TRANS。＇

and　the　other　M。　de　Broc。　　All　four　were　very　young　and　charming；　and　few
theaters　in　Paris　could　show　four　actresses　as　pretty。　　In　addition　to
which；　they　showed　much　grace　in　their　acting；　and　played　their　parts
with　real　talent；　and　were　as　natural　on　the　stage　as　in　the　saloon；
where　they　bore　themselves　with　exquisite　grace　and　refinement。　　At　first
the　repertoire　contained　little　variety；　though　the　pieces　were　generally
well　selected。　　The　first　representation　which　I　attended　was　the　〃Barber
of　Seville　〃　in　which　Isabey　played　the　role　of　Figaro；　and　Mademoiselle
Hortense　that　of　Rosineand　the　〃Spiteful　Lover。〃　　Another　time　I　saw
played　the　〃Unexpected　Wager；〃　and　〃False　Consultations。〃　　Hortense　and
Eugene　played　this　last　piece　perfectly；　and　I　still　recall　that；　in　the
role　of　Madame　le　Blanc；　Hortense　appeared　prettier　than　ever　in　the
character　of　an　old　woman；　Eugene　representing　Le　Noir；　and　Lauriston　the
charlatan。　　The　First　Consul；　as　I　have　said；　confined　himself　to　the
role　of　spectator；　but　he　seemed　to　take　in　these　fireside　plays；　so　to
speak；　the　greatest　pleasure；　laughed　and　applauded　heartily；　though
sometimes　he　also　criticised。

Madame　Bonaparte　was　also　highly　entertained；　and　even　if　she　could　not
always　boast　of　the　successful　acting　of　her　children；　〃the　chiefs　of　the
troupe；〃　it　sufficed　her　that　it　was　an　agreeable　relaxation　to　her
husband；　and　seemed　to　give　him　pleasure；　for　her　constant　study　was　to
contribute　to　the　happiness　of　the　great　man　who　had　united　her　destiny
with　his　own。

When　the　day　for　the　presentation　of　a　play　had　been　appointed；　there　was
never　any　postponement；　but　often　a　change　of　the　play；　not　because　of
the　indisposition；　or　fit　of　the　blues；　of　an　actress　（as　often　happens
in　the　theaters　of　Paris）；　but　for　more　serious　reasons。　　It　sometimes
happened　that　M。　d'Etieulette　received　orders　to　rejoin　his　regiment；　or
an　important　mission　was　confided　to　Count　Almaviva；　though　Figaro　and
Rosine　always　remained　at　their　posts；　and　the　desire　of　pleasing　the
First　Consul　was；　besides；　so　general　among　all　those　who　surrounded　him；
that　the　substitutes　did　their　best　in　the　absence　of　the　principals；　and
the　play　never　failed　for　want　of　an　actor。

　　　　　＇Michau；　of　the　Comedic　Francaise；　was　the　instructor　of　the
　　　　　troupe。　　Wherever　it　happened　that　an　actor　was　wanting　in
　　　　　animation；　Michau　would　exclaim。　　〃Warmth！　　Warmth！　　Warmth！〃
　　　　　Note　by　CONSTANT。＇




CHAPTER　III。

I　had　been　only　a　very　short　time　in　the　service　of　Madame　Bonaparte　when
I　made　the　acquaintance　of　Charvet；　the　concierge　of　Malmaison；　and　in
connection　with　this　estimable　man　became　each　day　more　and　more
intimate；　till　at　last　he　gave　me　one　of　his　daughters　in　marriage。
I　was　eager　to　learn　from　him　all　that　he　could　tell　me　concerning　Madame
Bonaparte　and　the　First　Consul　prior　to　my　entrance　into　the　house；　and
in　our　frequent　conversations　he　took　the　greatest　pleasure　in　satisfying
my　curiosity。　　It　is　to　him　I　owe　the　following　details　as　to　the　mother
and　daughter。

When　General　Bonaparte　set　out　for　Egypt；　Madame　Bonaparte　accompanied
him　as　far　as　Toulon；　and　was　extremely　anxious　to　go　with　him　to　Egypt。
When　the　general　made　objections；　she　observed　that　having　been　born　a
Creole；　the　heat　of　the　climate　would　be　more　favorable　than　dangerous　to
her。　　By　a　singular　coincidence　it　was　on　'La　Pomone'　that　she　wished　to
make　the　journey；　that　is　to　say；　on　the　very　same　vessel　which　in　her
early　youth　had　brought　her　from　Martinique　to　France。　　General
Bonaparte；　finally　yielding　to　the　wishes　of　his　wife；　promised　to　send
'La　Pomone'　for　her；　and　bade　her　go　in　the　meantime　to　take　the　waters
at　Plombieres。　　The　matter　being　arranged　between　husband　and　wife；
Madame　Bonaparte　was　delighted　to　go　to　the　springs　of　Plombieres　which
she　had　desired　to　visit　for　a　long　time；　knowing；　like　every　one　else；
the　reputation　these　waters　enjoyed　for　curing　barrenness　in　women。

Madame　Bonaparte　had　been　only　a　short　time　at　Plombieres；　when　one
morning；　while　occupied　in　hemming　a　turban　and　chatting　with　the　ladies
present；　Madame　de　Cambis；　who　was　on　the　balcony；　called　to　her　to　come
and　see　a　pretty　little　dog　passing　along　the　street。　　All　the　company
hastened　with　Madame　Bonaparte　to　the　balcony；　which　caused　it　to　fall
with　a　frightful　crash。　　By　a　most　fortunate　chance；　no　one　was　killed；
though　Madame　de　Cambis　had　her　leg　broken；　and　Madame　Bonaparte　was　most
painfully　bruised；　without；　however；　receiving　any　fracture。　　Charvet；
who　was　in　a　room　behind　the　saloon；　heard　the　noise；　and　at　once　had　a
sheep　killed　and　skinned；　and　Madame　Bonaparte　wrapped　in　the　skin。　　It
was　a　long　while　before　she　regained　her　health；　her　arms　and　her　hands
especially　being　so　bruised　that　she　was　for　a　long　time　unable　to　use
them；　and　it　was　necessary　to　cut　up　her　food；　feed　her；　and；　in　fact；
perform　the　same　offices　for　her　as　for　an　infant。

I　related　above　that　Josephine　thought　she　was　to　rejoin　her　husband　in
Egypt；　and　consequently　that　her　stay　at　the　springs　of　Plombieres　would
be　of　short　duration　but　her　accident　led　her　to　think　that　it　would　be
prolonged　indefinitely；　she　therefore　desired；　while　waiting　for　her
complete　recovery；　to　have　with　her　her　daughter　Hortense；　then　about
fifteen　years　of　age；　who　was　being　educated　in　the　boarding…school　of
Madame　Campan。　　She　sent　for　her　a　mulatto　woman　to　whom　she　was　much
attached；　named　Euphemie；　who　was　the　foster…sister　of　Madame　Bonaparte；
and　passed　（I　do　not　know　if　the　supposition　was　correct）　as　her　natural
sister。　　Euphemie；　accompanied　by　Charvet；　made　the　journey　in　one　of
Madame　Bonaparte's　carriages。　　Mademoiselle　Hortense；　on　their　arrival；
was　delighted　with　the　journey　she　was　about　to　make；　and　above　all　with
the　idea　of　being　near　her　mother；　for　whom　she　felt　the　tenderest
affection。　　Mademoiselle　Hortense　was；　I　would　not　say；　greedy；　but　she
was　exceedingly　fond　of　sweets；　and　Charvet；　in　relating　these　details；
said　to　me；　that　at　each　town　of　any　size　through　which　they　passed　the
carriage　was　filled　with　bonbons　and　dainties；　of　which　mademoiselle
consumed　a　great　quantity。　　One　day；　while　Euphemie　and　Charvet　were
sound　asleep；　they　were　sudd