napoleon bonaparte, v7-第8部分

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kindness；　'I　shall　never　forget；　Monsieur；　the　important　service　you　have
just　rendered　me。'〃

Long　after　this　the　Emperor　and　Empress　Marie　Louise　visited　together
the　manufacture　of　Sevres　porcelain；　and　the　Duchess　of　Montebello
accompanied　the　Empress　as　lady　of　honor。　　The　Emperor；　seeing　a　fine
bust　of　the　marshal；　in　bisque；　exquisitely　made；　paused；　and；　not
noticing　the　pallor　which　overspread　the　countenance　of　the　duchess；
asked　her　what　she　thought　of　this　bust；　and　if　it　was　a　good　likeness。
The　widow　felt　as　if　her　old　wound　was　reopened；　she　could　not　reply；　and
retired；　bathed　in　tears；　and　it　was　several　days　before　she　reappeared
at　court。　　Apart　from　the　fact　that　this　unexpected　question　renewed　her
grief；　the　inconceivable　thoughtlessness　the　Emperor　had　shown　wounded
her　so　deeply　that；　her　friends　had　much　difficulty　in　persuading　her　to
resume　her　duties　near　the　Empress。




CHAPTER　XIX。

The　battle　of　Essling　was　disastrous　in　every　respect。　　Twelve　thousand
Frenchmen　were　slain；　and　the　source　of　all　this　trouble　was　the
destruction　of　the　bridges；　which　could　have　been　prevented；　it　seems　to
me；　for　the　same　accident　had　occurred　two　or　three　days　before　the
battle。　　The　soldiers　complained　loudly；　and　several　corps　of　the
infantry　cried　out　to　the　generals　to　dismount　and　fight　in　their　midst；
but　this　ill　humor　in　no　wise　affected　their　courage　or　patience；　for
regiments　remained　five　hours　under　arms；　exposed　to　the　most　terrible
fire。　　Three　times　during　the　evening　the　Emperor　sent　to　inquire　of
General　Massena　if　he　could　hold　his　position；　and　the　brave　captain；　who
that　day　saw　his　son　on　the　field　of　battle　for　the　first　time；　and　his
friends　and　his　bravest　officers　falling　by　dozens　around　him；　held　it
till　night　closed　in。　　〃I　will　not　fall　back；〃　said　he；　〃while　there　is
light。　　Those　rascally　Austrians　would　be　too　glad。〃　　The　constancy　of
the　marshal　saved　the　day；　but；　as　he　himself　said；　he　was　always　blessed
with　good　luck。　　In　the　beginning　of　the　battle；　seeing　that　one　of　his
stirrups　was　too　long；　he　called　a　soldier　to　shorten　it；　and　during　this
operation　placed　his　leg　on　his　horse's　neck；　a　cannon…ball　whizzed　by；
killed　the　soldier；　and　cut　off　the　stirrup；　without　touching　the　marshal
or　his　horse。　　〃There；〃　said　he；　〃now　I　shall　have　to　get　down　and　change
my　saddle；〃　which　observation　the　marshal　made　in　a　jesting　tone。

The　surgeon　and　his　assistants　conducted　themselves　admirably　on　this
terrible　day；　and　displayed　a　zeal　equal　to　every　emergency；　combined
with　an　activity　which　delighted　the　Emperor　so　much；　that　several　times；
in　passing　near　them；　he　called　them　〃my　brave　surgeons。〃　　M。　Larrey
above　all　was　sublime。　　After　having　attended　to　all　the　wounded　of　the
guard；　who　were　crowded　together　on　the　Island　of　Lobau；　he　asked　if
there　was　any　broth　to　give　them。　　〃No；〃　replied　the　assistants。　　〃Have
some　made；〃　said　he；　〃have　some　made　of　that　group；〃　pointing　to　several
horses　near　him；　but　these　horses　belonged　to　a　general；　and　when　it　was
attempted　to　carry　out　M。　Larrey's　orders；　the　owner　indignantly　refused
to　allow　them　to　be　taken。　　〃Well；　take　mine　then；〃　said　the　brave
soldier；　〃and　have　them　killed；　in　order　that　my　comrades　may　have
broth。〃　　This　was　done；　and　as　no　pots　could　be　found　on　the　island　it
was　boiled　in　helmets；　and　salted　with　cannon　powder　in　place　of　salt。
Marshal　Massena　tasted　this　soup；　and　thought　it　very　good。　　One　hardly
knows　which　to　admire　most；the　zeal　of　the　surgeons；　the　courage　with
which　they　confronted　danger　in　caring　for　the　wounded　on　the　field　of
battle；　and　even　in　the　midst　of　the　conflict；　or　the　stoical　constancy
of　the　soldiers；　who；　lying　on　the　ground；　some　without　an　arm；　some
without　a　leg；　talked　over　their　campaigns　with　each　other　while　waiting
to　be　operated　on；　some　even　going　so　far　as　to　show　excessive
politeness。　　〃M。　Docteur；　begin　with　my　neighbor；　he　is　suffering　more
than　I。　　I　can　wait。〃

A　cannoneer　had　both　legs　carried　away　by　a　ball；　two　of　his　comrades
picked　him　up　and　made　a　litter　with　branches　of　trees；　on　which　they
placed　him　in　order　to　convey　him　to　the　island。　　The　poor　mutilated
fellow　did　not　utter　a　single　groan；　but　murmured；　〃I　am　very　thirsty；〃
from　time　to　time；　to　those　who　bore　him。　　As　they　passed　one　of　the
bridges；　he　begged　them　to　stop　and　seek　a　little　wine　or　brandy　to
restore　his　strength。　　They　believed　him；　and　did　as　he　requested；　but
had　not　gone　twenty　steps　when　the　cannoneer　called　to　them；　〃Don't　go　so
fast；　my　comrades；　I　have　no　legs；　and　I　will　reach　the　end　of　my　journey
sooner　than　you。　　'Vive　la　France；'〃　and；　with　a　supreme　effort；　he
rolled　off　into　the　Danube。

The　conduct　of　a　surgeon…major　of　the　guard；　some　time　after；　came　near
compromising　the　entire　corps　in　his　Majesty's　opinion。　　This　surgeon；　M。
M；　lodged　with　General　Dorsenne　and　some　superior　officers　in　a
pretty　country　seat；　belonging　to　the　Princess　of　Lichtenstein；　the
concierge　of　the　house　being　an　old　German　who　was　blunt　and　peculiar；
and　served　them　with　the　greatest　repugnance；　making　them　as
uncomfortable　as　possible。　　In　vain；　for　instance；　they　requested　of　him
linen　for　the　beds　and　table；　he　always　pretended　not　to　hear。

General　Dorsenne　wrote　to　the　princess；　complaining　of　this　condition　of
affairs；　and　in　consequence　she　no　doubt　gave　orders；　but　the　general's
letter　remained　unanswered；　and　several　days　passed　with　no　change　of
affairs。　　They　had　had　no　change　of　napkins　for　a　month；　when　the　general
took　a　fancy　to　give　a　grand　supper；　at　which　Rhenish　and　Hungarian　wine
were　freely　indulged　in；　followed　by　punch。　　The　host　was　highly
complimented；　but　with　these　praises　were　mingled　energetic　reproaches　on
the　doubtful　whiteness　of　the　napery；　General　Dorsenne　excusing　himself
on　the　score　of　the　ill…humor　and　sordid　economy　of　the　concierge；　who
was　a　fit　exponent　of　the　scant　courtesy　shown　by　the　princess。　　〃That　is
unendurable！〃　cried　the　joyous　guests　in　chorus。　　〃This　hostess　who　so
completely　ignores　us　must　be　called　to　order。　　Come；　M；　take　pen　and
paper　and　write　her　some　strong　epigrams；　we　must　teach　this　princess　of
Germany　how　to　live。　　French　officers　and　conquerors　sleeping　in　rumpled
sheets；　and　using　soiled　napkins！　　What　an　outrage！〃　M。　M　was　only　too
faithful　an　interpreter　of　the　unanimous　sentiments　of　these　gentlemen；
and　under　the　excitement　of　the　fumes　of　these　Hungarian　wines　wrote　the
Princess　of　Lichtenstein　a　letter　such　as　during　the　Carnival　itself　one
would　not　dare　to　write　even　to　public　women。　　How　can　I　express　what
must　have　been　Madame　Lichtenstein's　horror　on　reading　this　production；
an　incomprehensible　collection　of　all　the　low　expressions　that　army　slang
could　furnish！　　The　evidence　of　a　third　person　was　necessary　to　convince
her　that　the　signature；　M；　Surgeon…major　of　the　Imperial　French
Guard；　was　not　the　forgery　of　some　miserable　drunkard。　　In　her　profound
indignation　the　princess　hastened　to　General　Andreossy；　his　Majesty's
Governor　of　Vienna；　showed　him　this　letter；　and　demanded　vengeance。
Whereupon　the　general；　even　more　incensed　than　she；　entered　his　carriage；
and；　proceeding　to　Schoenbrunn；　laid　the　wonderful　production　before　the
Emperor。　　The　Emperor　read　it；　recoiled　three　paces；　his　cheeks　reddened
with　anger；　his　whole　countenance　was　disturbed；　and　in　a　terrible　tone
ordered　the　grand　marshal　to　summon　M。　M；　while　every　one　waited　in
trembling　suspense。

〃Did　you　write　this　disgusting　letter？〃〃Sire。〃〃Reply；　I　order　you；
was　it　you？〃〃Yes；　Sire；　in　a　moment　of　forgetfulness；　after　a　supper。〃
〃Wretch！〃　cried　his　Majesty；　in　such　a　manner　as　to　terrify　all　who
heard　him。　　〃You　deserve　to　be　instantly　shot！　　Insult　a　woman　so　basely！
And　an　old　woman　too。　　Have　you　no　mother？　　I　respect　and　honor　every　old
woman　because　she　reminds　me　of　my　mother！〃〃Sire；　I　am　guilty；　I　admit；
but　my　repentance　is　great。　　Deign　to　remember　my　services。　　I　have
followed　you　through　eighteen　campaigns；　I　am　the　father　of　a　family。〃
These　last　words　only　increased　the　anger　of　his　Majesty。　　〃Let　him　be
arrested！　　Tear　off　his　decorations；　he　is　unworthy　to　wear　them。　　Let
him　be　tried　in　twenty…four　hours。〃　　Then　turning　to　the　generals；　who
stood　stupefied　and　immovable　around　him；　he　exclaimed；　〃Look；　gentlemen！
read　this！　　See　how　this　blackguard　addresses　a　princess；　and　at　the　very
moment　when　her　husband　is　negotiating　a　peace　with　me。〃

The　parade　was　very　short　that　day；　and　as　soon　as　it　was　ended；　Generals
Dorsenne　and　Larrey　hastened　to　Madame　Lichtenstein；　and；　describing　to
her　the　scene　which　had　just　taken　place；　made　her　most　humble　apologies；
in　the　name　of　the　Imperial　Guard；　and　at　the　same　time　entreated　her　to
intercede　for　the　unfortunate　fellow；　who　deserved　blame；　no　doubt；　but
who　was　not　himself　when　he　wrote　the　offensive　epistle。　　〃He　repents
bitterly；　Madame；〃　said　good　M。　Larrey；　〃he　weeps　over　his　fault；　and
bravely　awaits　his　punishment；　esteeming　it　a　just　reparation　of　the
insult　to　you。　　But　he　is　one　of　the　best　officers　of　the　army；　he　is
beloved　and　esteemed；　he　has　saved　the　life　of　thousands；　and　his
distinguished　talents　are　the　only　fortune　his　family　possesses。　　What
will　become　of　them　if　he　is　shot？〃〃Shot！〃　exclaimed　the　princess；
〃shot！　Bon…Dieu！　　would　the　matter　be　carried　as　far　as　that？〃　　Then
General　Dorsenne　described　to　her　the　Emperor's　resentment　as
incomparably　deeper　than　her　own；　and　the　princess；　much　moved；
immediately　wrote　the　Emperor　a　letter；　in　which　she　expressed　herself　as
grateful；　and　fully　satisfied　with　the　reparation　which　had　already　been
made；　and　entreated　him　to　pardon　M。　M

His　Majesty　read　the　letter；　but　made　no　reply。　　The　princess　was　again
visited；　and　she　had　by　this　time　become　so　much　alarmed　that　she
regretted　exceedingly　having　shown　the　letter　of　M。　M　to　the　general；
and；　having　decided　at　any　cost　to　obtain　the　surgeon's　pardon；　she
addressed　a　petition　to　the　Emperor；　which　closed　with　this　sentence；
expressing　angelic　forgiveness：　〃Sire；　I　am　going　to　fall　on　my　knees　in
my　oratory；　and　will　not　rise　u