napoleon bonaparte, v8-第3部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


Saxony；　said　to　him；　〃You　see；　my　cousin；　that　the　master's　eye　is
necessary　everywhere。〃〃Yes；〃　replied　the　King　of　Saxony；　〃especially　an
eye　so　well　trained　as　your　Majesty's。〃

We　had　not　been　long　at　Fontainebleau；　when　I　noticed　that　the　Emperor　in
the　presence　of　his　august　spouse　was　preoccupied　and　ill　at　ease。　　The
same　uneasiness　was　visible　on　the　countenance　of　the　Empress；　and　this
state　of　constraint　and　mutual　embarrassment　soon　became　sufficiently
evident　to　be　remarked　by　all；　and　rendered　the　stay　at　Fontainebleau
extremely　sad　and　depressing。　　At　Paris　the　presence　of　the　King　of
Saxony　made　some　diversion；　but　the　Empress　appeared　more　unhappy　than
ever；　which　gave　rise　to　numerous　conjectures；　but　as　for　me；　I　knew　only
too　well　the　cause　of　it　all。　　The　Emperor's　brow　became　more　furrowed
with　care　each　day；　until　the　30th　of　November　arrived。

On　that　day　the　dinner　was　more　silent　than　ever。　　The　Empress　had　wept
the　whole　day；　and　in　order　to　conceal　as　far　as　possible　her　pallor；　and
the　redness　of　her　eyes；　wore　a　large　white　hat　tied　under　her　chin；　the
brim　of　which　concealed　her　face　entirely。　　The　Emperor　sat　in　silence；
his　eyes　fastened　on　his　plate；　while　from　time　to　time　convulsive
movements　agitated　his　countenance；　and　if　he　happened　to　raise　his　eyes；
glanced　stealthily　at　the　Empress　with　unmistakable　signs　of　distress。
The　officers　of　the　household；　immovable　as　statues；　regarded　this
painful　and　gloomy　scene　with　sad　anxiety；　while　the　whole　repast　was
simply　a　form；　as　their　Majesties　touched　nothing；　and　no　sound　was　heard
but　the　regular　movement　of　plates　placed　and　carried　away；　varied　sadly
by　the　monotonous　tones　of　the　household　officers；　and　the　tinkling　sound
made　by　the　Emperor's　striking　his　knife　mechanically　on　the　edge　of　his
glass。　　Once　only　his　Majesty　broke　the　silence　by　a　deep　sigh；　followed
by　these　words　addressed　to　one　of　the　officers：　〃What　time　is　it？〃　　An
aimless　question　of　the　Emperor's；　it　seemed；　for　he　did　not　hear；　or　at
any　rate　did　not　seem　to　hear；　the　answer；　but　almost　immediately　he　rose
from　the　table；　and　the　Empress　followed　him　with　slow　steps；　and　her
handkerchief　pressed　against　her　lips　as　if　to　suppress　her　sobs。　　Coffee
was　brought；　and；　according　to　custom；　a　page　presented　the　waiter　to　the
Empress　that　she　might　herself　pour　it　out；　but　the　Emperor　took　it
himself；　poured　the　coffee　in　the　cup；　and　dissolved　the　sugar；　still
regarding　the　Empress；　who　remained　standing　as　if　struck　with　a　stupor。
He　drank；　and　returned　the　cup　to　the　page；　then　gave　a　signal　that　he
wished　to　be　alone；　and　closed　the　door　of　the　saloon。　　I　remained
outside　seated　by　the　door；　and　soon　no　one　remained　in　the　dining…room
except　one　of　the　prefects　of　the　palace；　who　walked　up　and　down　with
folded　arms；　foreseeing；　as　well　as　I；　terrible　events。　　At　the　end　of　a
few　moments　I　heard　cries；　and　sprang　up；　just　then　the　Emperor　opened
the　door　quickly；　looked　out；　and　saw　there　no　one　but　us　two。　　The
Empress　lay　on　the　floor；　screaming　as　if　her　heart　were　breaking：　〃No；
you　will　not　do　it！　　You　would　not　kill　me！〃　The　usher　of　the　room　had
his　back　turned。　　I　advanced　towards　him；　he　understood；　and　went　out。
His　Majesty　ordered　the　person　who　was　with　me　to　enter；　and　the　door　was
again　closed。　　I　have　since　learned　that　the　Emperor　requested　him　to
assist　him　in　carrying　the　Empress　to　her　apartment。　　〃She　has；〃　he　said；
〃a　violent　nervous　attack；　and　her　condition　requires　most　prompt
attention。〃　　M。　de　B…　with　the　Emperor's　assistance　raised　the
Empress　in　his　arms；　and　the　Emperor；　taking　a　lamp　from　the　mantel；
lighted　M。　de　B…　along　the　passage　from　which　ascended　the　little
staircase　leading　to　the　apartments　of　the　Empress。　　This　staircase　was
so　narrow；　that　a　man　with　such　a　burden　could　not　go　down　without　great
risk　of　falling；　and　M。　de　B…；　having　called　his　Majesty's　attention
to　this；　he　summoned　the　keeper　of　the　portfolio；　whose　duty　it　was　to　be
always　at　the　door　of　the　Emperor's　cabinet　which　opened　on　this
staircase；　and　gave　him　the　light；　which　was　no　longer　needed；　as　the
lamps　had　just　been　lighted。　　His　Majesty　passed　in　front　of　the　keeper；
who　still　held　the　light；　and　carrying　the　feet　of　the　Empress　himself；
descended　the　staircase　safely　with　M。　de　B…；　and　they　thus　reached
the　bedroom。　　The　Emperor　rang　for　her　women；　and　when　they　entered；
retired　with　tears　in　his　eyes　and　every　sign　of　the　deepest　emotion。
This　scene　affected　him　so　deeply　that　he　said　to　M。　de　B…　in　a
trembling；　broken　tone；　some　words　which　he　must　never　reveal　under　any
circumstances。　　The　Emperor's　agitation　must　have　been　very　great　for　him
to　have　informed　M。　de　B…　of　the　cause　of　her　Majesty's　despair；　and
to　have　told　him　that　the　interests　of　France　and　of　the　Imperial　Dynasty
had　done　violence　to　his　heart；　and　the　divorce　had　become　a　duty；
deplorable　and　painful；　but　none　the　less　a　duty。

Queen　Hortense　and　M。　Corvisart　soon　reached　the　Empress；　who　passed　a
miserable　night。　　The　Emperor　also　did　not　sleep；　and　rose　many　times　to
ascertain　Josephine's　condition。　　During　the　whole　night　her　Majesty　did
not　utter　a　word。　　I　have　never　witnessed　such　grief。

Immediately　after　this；　the　King　of　Naples；　the　King　of　Westphalia；　the
King　of　Wurtemberg；　and　the　king　and　princesses　of　the　Imperial　family；
arrived　at　Paris　to　be　present　at　the　fetes　given　by　the　city　of　Paris　to
his　Majesty　in　commemoration　of　the　victories　and　the　pacification　of
Germany；　and　at　the　same　time　to　celebrate　the　anniversary　of　the
coronation。　　The　session　of　the　legislative　corps　was　also　about　to　open。
It　was　necessary；　in　the　interval　between　the　scene　which　I　have　just
described　and　the　day　on　which　the　decree　of　divorce　was　signed；　that　the
Empress　should　be　present　on　all　these　occasions；　and　attend　all　these
fetes；　under　the　eyes　of　an　immense　crowd　of　people；　at　a　time　when
solitude　alone　could　have　in　any　degree　alleviated　her　sorrow；　it　was
also　necessary　that　she　should　cover　up　her　face　with　rouge　in　order　to
conceal　her　pallor　and　the　signs　of　a　month　passed　in　tears。　　What
tortures　she　endured；　and　how　much　she　must　have　bewailed　this　elevation；
of　which　nothing　remained　to　her　but　the　necessity　of　concealing　her
feelings！

On　the　3d　of　December　their　Majesties　repaired　to　Notre　Dame；　where　a
'Te　Deum'　was　sung；　after　which　the　Imperial　cortege　marched　to　the
palace　of　the　Corps　Legislatif；　and　the　opening　of　the　session　was　held
with　unusual　magnificence。　　The　Emperor　took　his　place　amidst
inexpressible　enthusiasm；　and　never　had　his　appearance　excited　such
bursts　of　applause：　even　the　Empress　was　more　cheerful　for　an　instant；
and　seemed　to　enjoy　these　proofs　of　affection　for　one　who　was　soon　to　be
no　longer　her　husband；　but　when　he　began　to　speak　she　relapsed　into　her
gloomy　reflections。

It　was　almost　five　o'clock　when　the　cortege　returned　to　the　Tuileries；
and　the　Imperial　banquet　was　to　take　place　at　half…past　seven。　　During
this　interval；　a　reception　of　the　ambassadors　was　held；　after　which　the
guests　passed　on　to　the　gallery　of　Diana。

The　Emperor　held　a　grand　dining　in　his　coronation　robes；　and　wearing　his
plumed　hat；　which　he　did　not　remove　for　an　instant。　　He　ate　more　than　was
his　custom；　notwithstanding　the　distress　under　which　he　seemed　to　be
laboring；　glanced　around　and　behind　him　every　moment；　causing　the　grand
chamberlain　continually　to　bend　forward　to　receive　orders　which　he　did
not　give。　　The　Empress　was　seated　in　front　of　him；　most　magnificently
dressed　in　an　embroidered　robe　blazing　with　diamonds；　but　her　face
expressed　even　more　suffering　than　in　the　morning。

On　the　right　of　the　Emperor　was　seated　the　King　of　Saxony；　in　a　white
uniform　with　red　facings；　and　collar　richly　embroidered　in　silver；
wearing　a　false　cue　of　prodigious　length。

By　the　side　of　the　King　of　Saxony　was　the　King　of　Westphalia；　Jerome
Bonaparte；　in　a　white　satin　tunic；　and　girdle　ornamented　with　pearls　and
diamonds；　which　reached　almost　up　to　his　arms。　　His　neck　was　bare　and
white；　and　he　wore　no　whiskers　and　very　little　beard；　a　collar　of
magnificent　lace　fell　over　his　shoulders；　and　a　black　velvet　cap
ornamented　with　white　plumes；　which　was　the　most　elegant　in　the　assembly；
completed　this　costume。　　Next　him　was　the　King　of　Wurtemberg　with　his
enormous　stomach；　which　forced　him　to　sit　some　distance　from　the　table；
and　the　King　of　Naples；　in　so　magnificent　a　costume　that　it　might　almost
be　considered　extravagant；　covered　with　crosses　and　stars；　who　played
with　his　fork；　without　eating　or　drinking。

On　the　right　of　the　Empress　was　Madame　Mere；　the　Queen　of　Westphalia；　the
Princess　Borghese；　and　Queen　Hortense；　pale　as　the　Empress；　but　rendered
only　more　beautiful　by　her　sadness；　her　face　presenting　a　striking
contrast　on　this　occasion　to　that　of　the　Princess　Pauline；　who　never
appeared　in　better　spirits。　　Princess　Pauline　wore　an　exceedingly
handsome　toilet；　but　this　did　not　increase　the　charms　of　her　person
nearly　so　much　as　that　worn　by　the　Queen　of　Holland；　which；　though
simple；　was　elegant　and　full　of　taste。

Next　day　a　magnificent　fete　was　held　at　the　Hotel　de　Ville；　where　the
Empress　displayed　her　accustomed　grace　and　kind　consideration。　　This　was
the　last　time　she　appeared　on　occasions　of　ceremony。

A　few　days　after　all　these　rejoicings；　the　Vice…king　of　Italy；　Eugene　de
Beauharnais；　arrived；　and　learned　from　the　lips　of　the　Empress　herself
the　terrible　measure　which　circumstances　were　about　to　render　necessary。
This　news　overcame　him：　agitated　and　despairing；　he　sought　his　Majesty；
and；　as　if　he　could　not　believe　what　he　had　just　heard　asked　the　Emperor
if　it　was　true　that　a　divorce　was　about　to　take　place。　　The　Emperor　made
a　sign　in　the　affirmative；　and；　with　deep　grief　depicted　on　his
countenance；　held　out　his　hand　to　his　adopted　son。　　〃Sire；　allow　me　to
quit　your　service。〃〃What！〃〃Yes；　Sire；　the　son　of　one　who　is　no　longer
Empress　cannot　remain　vice…king。　　I　wish　to　accompany　my　mother　to　her
retreat；　and　console　her。〃〃Do　you　wish　to　leave　me；　Eugene？　　You？　　Ah；
you　do　not　know　how　imperious　are　the　reasons　which　for