napoleon bonaparte, v8-第4部分

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retreat；　and　console　her。〃〃Do　you　wish　to　leave　me；　Eugene？　　You？　　Ah；
you　do　not　know　how　imperious　are　the　reasons　which　force　me　to　pursue
such　a　course。　　And　if　I　obtain　this　son；　the　object　of　my　most　cherished
wishes；　this　son　who　is　so　necessary　to　me；　who　will　take　my　place　with
him　when　I　shall　be　absent？　　Who　will　be　a　father　to　him　when　I　die？　　Who
will　rear　him；　and　who　will　make　a　man　of　him？〃　　Tears　filled　the
Emperor's　eyes　as　he　pronounced　these　words；　he　again　took　Eugene's　hand；
and　drawing　him　to　his　arms；　embraced　him　tenderly。　　I　did　not　hear　the
remainder　of　this　interesting　conversation。

At　last　the　fatal　day　arrived；　it　was　the　16th　of　December。　　The　Imperial
family　were　assembled　in　ceremonial　costume；　when　the　Empress　entered　in
a　simple　white　dress；　entirely　devoid　of　ornament；　she　was　pale；　but
calm；　and　leaned　on　the　arm　of　Queen　Hortense；　who　was　equally　as　pale；
and　much　more　agitated　than　her　august　mother。　　The　Prince　de　Beauharnais
stood　beside　the　Emperor；　and　trembled　so　violently　that　it　was　thought
he　would　fall　every　moment。　　When　the　Empress　entered；　Count　Regnaud　de
Saint…Jean　d'Angely　read　the　act　of　separation。

This　was　heard　in　the　midst　of　profound　silence；　and　the　deepest　concern
was　depicted　on　every　face。　　The　Empress　appeared　calmer　than　any　one
else　in　the　assemblage；　although　tears　incessantly　flowed　from　her　eyes。
She　was　seated　in　an　armchair　in　the　midst　of　the　saloon；　resting　her
elbow　on　a　table；　while　Queen　Hortense　stood　sobbing　behind　her。　　The
reading　of　the　act　ended；　the　Empress　rose；　dried　her　eyes；　and　in　a
voice　which　was　almost　firm；　pronounced　the　words　of　assent；　then　seated
herself　in　a　chair；　took　a　pen　from　the　hand　of　M。　Regnaud　de　Saint…Jean
d'Angely；　and　signed　the　act。　　She　then　withdrew；　leaning　on　the　arm　of
Queen　Hortense；　and　Prince　Eugene　endeavored　to　retire　at　the　same　moment
through　the　cabinet；　but　his　strength　failed；　and　he　fell　insensible
between　the　two　doors。　　The　cabinet　usher　immediately　raised　him　up；　and
committed　him　to　the　care　of　his　aide…de…camp；　who　lavished　on　him　every
attention　which　his　sad　condition　demanded。

During　this　terrible　ceremony　the　Emperor　uttered　not　a　word；　made　not　a
gesture；　but　stood　immovable　as　a　statue；　his　gaze　fixed　and　almost　wild；
and　remained　silent　and　gloomy　all　day。　　In　the　evening；　when　he　had　just
retired；　as　I　was　awaiting　his　last　orders；　the　door　opened；　and　the
Empress　entered；　her　hair　in　disorder；　and　her　countenance　showing　great
agitation。　　This　sight　terrified　me。　　Josephine　（for　she　was　now　no　more
than　Josephine）　advanced　towards　the　Emperor　with　a　trembling　step；　and
when　she　reached　him；　paused；　and　weeping　in　the　most　heartrending
manner；　threw　herself　on　the　bed；　placed　her　arms　around　the　Emperor's
neck；　and　lavished　on　him　most　endearing　caresses。　　I　cannot　describe　my
emotions。　　The　Emperor　wept　also；　sat　up　and　pressed　Josephine　to　his
heart；　saying　to　her；　〃Come；　my　good　Josephine；　be　more　reasonable！
Come；　courage；　courage；　I　will　always　be　your　friend。〃　　Stifled　by　her
sobs；　the　Empress　could　not　reply；　and　there　followed　a　silent　scene；　in
which　their　tears　and　sobs　flowed　together；　and　said　more　than　the
tenderest　expressions　could　have　done。　　At　last　his　Majesty；　recovering
from　this　momentary　forgetfulness　as　from　a　dream；　perceived　that　I　was
there；　and　said　to　me　in　a　voice　choked　with　tears；　〃Withdraw；　Constant。〃
I　obeyed；　and　went　into　the　adjoining　saloon；　and　an　hour　after　Josephine
passed　me；　still　sad　and　in　tears；　giving　me　a　kind　nod　as　she　passed。
I　then　returned　to　the　sleeping…room　to　remove　the　light　as　usual；　the
Emperor　was　silent　as　death；　and　so　covered　with　the　bedclothes　that　his
face　could　not　be　seen。

The　next　morning　when　I　entered　the　Emperor's　room　he　did　not　mention
this　visit　of　the　Empress；　but　I　found　him　suffering　and　dejected；　and
sighs　which　he　could　not　repress　issued　from　his　breast。　　He　did　not
speak　during　the　whole　time　his　toilet　lasted；　and　as　soon　as　it　was
completed　entered　his　cabinet。　　This　was　the　day　on　which　Josephine　was
to　leave　the　Tuileries　for　Malmaison；　and　all　persons　not　engaged　in
their　duties　assembled　in　the　vestibule　to　see　once　more　this　dethroned
empress　whom　all　hearts　followed　in　her　exile。　　They　looked　at　her
without　daring　to　speak；　as　Josephine　appeared；　completely　veiled；　one
hand　resting　on　the　shoulder　of　one　of　her　ladies；　and　the　other　holding
a　handkerchief　to　her　eyes。　　A　concert　of　inexpressible　lamentations
arose　as　this　adored　woman　crossed　the　short　space　which　separated　her
from　her　carriage；　and　entered　it　without　even　a　glance　at　the　palace　she
was　quittingquitting　forever；the　blinds　were　immediately　lowered；
and　the　horses　set　off　at　full　speed。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

The　marriage　of　the　Emperor　to　Marie　Louise　was　the　first　step　in　a　new
career。　　He　flattered　himself　that　it　would　be　as　glorious　as　that　he　had
just　brought　to　a　close；　but　it　was　to　be　far　otherwise。　　Before　entering
on　a　recital　of　the　events　of　the　year　1810；　I　shall　narrate　some
recollections；　jotted　down　at　random；　which；　although　I　can　assign　them
no　precise　date；　were；　nevertheless；　anterior　to　the　period　we　have　now
reached。

The　Empress　Josephine　had　long　been　jealous　of　the　beautiful　Madame
Gazani；　one　of　her　readers；　and　treated　her　coldly；　and　when　she
complained　to　the　Emperor；　he　spoke　to　Josephine　on　the　subject；　and
requested　her　to　show　more　consideration　for　her　reader；　who　deserved　it
on　account　of　her　attachment　to　the　person　of　the　Empress；　and　added　that
she　was　wrong　in　supposing　that　there　was　between　Madame　Gazani　and
himself　the　least　liaison。　　The　Empress；　without　being　convinced　by　this
last　declaration　of　the　Emperor；　had　nevertheless　become　much　more
cordial　to　Madame　Gazani；　when　one　morning　the　Emperor；　who　apparently
was　afraid　the　beautiful　Genoese　might　obtain　some　ascendency　over　her；
suddenly　entered　the　Empress's　apartment；　and　said　to　her；　〃I　do　not　wish
to　see　Madame　Gazani　here　longer；　she　must　return　to　Italy。〃　　This　time
it　was　the　good　Josephine　who　defended　her　reader。　　There　were　already
rumors　of　a　divorce；　and　the　Empress　remarked　to　his　Majesty；　〃You　know
well；　my　friend；　that　the　best　means　of　being　rid　of　Madame　Gazani's
presence　is　to　allow　her　to　remain　with　me。　　Let　me　keep　her；　then。
We　can　weep　together；　she　and　I　understand　each　other　well。〃

From　this　time　the　Empress　was　a　firm　friend　of　Madame　Gazani；　who
accompanied　her　to　Malmaison　and　Navarre。　　What　increased　the　kind
feelings　of　the　Empress　for　this　lady　was　that　she　thought　her　distressed
by　the　Emperor's　inconstancy。　　For　my　part；　I　have　always　believed　that
Madame　Gazani's　attachment　to　the　Emperor　was　sincere；　and　her　pride　must
have　suffered　when　she　was　dismissed；　but　she　had　no　difficulty　in
consoling　herself　in　the　midst　of　the　homage　and　adoration　which
naturally　surrounded　such　a　pretty　woman。

The　name　of　the　Empress　Josephine　recalls　two　anecdotes　which　the　Emperor
himself　related　to　me。　　The　outrageous　extravagance　in　the　Empress's
household　was　a　continual　vexation　to　him；　and　he　had　dismissed　several
furnishers　of　whose　disposition　to　abuse　Josephine's　ready　credulity　he
had　ample　proof。

One　morning　he　entered　the　Empress's　apartments　unannounced；　and　found
there　assembled　several　ladies　holding　a　secret　toilet　council；　and　a
celebrated　milliner　making　an　official　report　as　to　all　the　handsomest
and　most　elegant　novelties。　　She　was　one　of　the　very　persons　whom　the
Emperor　had　expressly　forbidden　to　enter　the　palace；　and　he　did　not
anticipate　finding　her　there。　　Yet　he　made　no　outburst；　and　Josephine；
who　knew　him　better　than　any　one　else；　was　the　only　one　who　understood
the　irony　of　his　look　as　he　retired；　saying；　〃Continue　ladies；　I　am　sorry
to　have　disturbed　you。〃　　The　milliner；　much　astonished　that　she　was　not
put　rudely　out　of　the　door；　hastened　to　retire；　but　when　she　reached　the
last　step　of　the　stairs　leading　to　the　apartments　of　her　Majesty　the
Empress；　she　encountered　an　agent　of　the　police；　who　requested　her　as
politely　as　possible　to　enter　a　cab　which　awaited　her　in　the　Court　of　the
Carrousel。　　In　vain　she　protested　that　she　much　preferred　walking；　the
agent；　who　had　received　precise　instructions；　seized　her　arm　in　such　a
manner　as　to　prevent　all　reply；　and　she　was　obliged　to　obey；　and　to　take
in　this　unpleasant　company　the　road　to　Bicetre。

Some　one　related　to　the　Emperor　that　this　arrest　had　caused　much　talk　in
Paris；　and　that　he　was　loudly　accused　of　wishing　to　restore　the　Bastile；
that　many　persons　had　visited　the　prisoner；　and　expressed　their　sympathy；
and　there　was　a　procession　of　carriages　constantly　before　the　prison。

His　Majesty　took　no　notice　of　this；　and　was　much　amused　by　the　interest
excited　in　this　seller　of　topknots；　as　he　called　her。　　〃I　will；〃　said　his
Majesty　on　this　subject；　〃let　the　gossips　talk；　who　think　it　a　point　of
honor　to　ruin　themselves　for　gewgaws；　but　I　want　this　old　Jewess　to　learn
that　I　put　her　inside　because　she　had　forgotten　that　I　told　her　to　stay
outside。〃

Another　celebrated　milliner　also　excited　the　surprise　and　anger　of　his
Majesty　one　day　by　observations　which　no　one　in　France　except　this　man
would　have　had　the　audacity　to　make。　　The　Emperor；　who　was　accustomed；　as
I　have　said；　to　examine　at　the　end　of　every　month　the　accounts　of　his
household；　thought　the　bill　of　the　milliner　in　question　exorbitant；　and
ordered　me　to　summon　him。　　I　sent　for　him；　and　he　came　in　less　than　ten
minutes；　and　was　introduced　into　his　Majesty's　apartment　while　he　was　at
his　toilet。　　〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　Emperor；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　account；
〃your　prices　are　ridiculous；　more　ridiculous；　if　possible；　than　the
silly；　foolish　people　who　think　they　need　your　goods。　　Reduce　this　to　a
reasonable　amount　or　I　will　do　it　myself。〃　　The　merchant；　who　held　in　his
hand　the　duplicate　of　his　bill；　began　to　explain　article　by　article　the
price　of　his　goods；　and　concluded　the　somewhat　long　narration　with　a　mild
surprise　that　the　sum　total　was　no　more。　　The　Emperor；　whom　I　was
dressing　during　all　this　harangue；　could　hardly　restrain　his　impat