napoleon bonaparte, v5-第3部分

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who　played　her　part　badly；　but　sang　very　well。　　He　made　advances；　which
she　received　coolly：　but　kings　do　not　sigh　long　in　vain；　they　place　too
heavy　a　weight　in　the　balance　against　discretion。　　His　Majesty；　the　King
of　Westphalia；　carried　off　his　conquest　to　Cassel；　and　at　the　end　of　a
short　time　she　was　married　to　his　first　valet　de　chambre；　Albertoni；
whose　Italian　morals　were　not　shocked　by　this　marriage。　　Some
disagreement；　the　cause；　of　which　I　do　not　know；　having　caused　Albertoni
to　quit　the　king；　he　returned　to　Paris　with　his　wife；　and　engaged　in
speculations；　in　which　he　lost　all　that　he　had　gained；　and　I　have　been
told　that　he　returned　to　Italy。　　One　thing　that　always　appeared　to　me
extraordinary　was　the　jealousy　of　Albertoni　towards　his　wifean　exacting
jealousy　which　kept　his　eyes　open　towards　all　men　except　the　king；　for　I
am　well　convinced　that　the　liaison　continued　after　their　marriage。

The　brothers　of　the　Emperor；　although　kings；　were　sometimes　kept　waiting
in　the　Emperor's　antechamber。　　King　Jerome　came　one　morning　by　order　of
the　Emperor；　who；　having　not　yet　risen；　told　me　to　beg　the　King　of
Westphalia　to　wait。　　As　the　Emperor　wished　to　sleep　a　little　longer；　I
remained　with　the　other　servants　in　the　saloon　which　was　used　as　an
antechamber；　and　the　king　waited　with　us；　I　do　not　say　in　patience；　for
he　constantly　moved　from　chair　to　chair；　promenaded　back　and　forth
between　the　window　and　the　fireplace；　manifesting　much　annoyance；　and
speaking　now　and　then　to　me；　whom　he　always　treated　with　great　kindness。
Thus　more　than　half　an　hour　passed；　and　at　last　I　entered　the　Emperor's
room；　and　when　he　had　put　on　his　dressing…gown；　informed　him　that　his
Majesty　was　waiting；　and　after　introducing　him；　I　withdrew。　　The　Emperor
gave　him　a　cool　reception；　and　lectured　him　severely；　and　as　he　spoke
very　loud；　I　heard　him　against　my　will；　but　the　king　made　his　excuses　in
so　low　a　tone　that　I　could　not　hear　a　word　of　his　justification。　　Such
scenes　were　often　repeated；　for　the　prince　was　dissipated　and　prodigal；
which　displeased　the　Emperor　above　all　things　else；　and　for　which　he
reproved　him　severely；　although　he　loved　him；　or　rather　because　he　loved
him　so　much；　for　it　is　remarkable；　that　notwithstanding　the　frequent
causes　of　displeasure　which　his　family　gave　him；　the　Emperor　still　felt
for　all　his　relations　the　warmest　affection。

A　short　time　after　the　taking　of　Dantzig　（May　24；　1807）；　the　Emperor；
wishing　to　reward　Marshal　Lefebvre　for　the　recent　services　which　he　had
rendered；　had　him　summoned　at　six　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　His　Majesty
was　in　consultation　with　the　chief…of…staff　of　the　army　when　the　arrival
of　the　marshal　was　announced。　　〃Ah！〃　　said　he　to　Berthier；　〃the　duke　does
not　delay。〃　　Then；　turning　to　the　officer　on　duty；　〃　Say　to　the　Duke　of
Dantzig　that　I　have　summoned　him　so　early　in　order　that　he　may　breakfast
with　me。〃　　The　officer；　thinking　that　the　Emperor　had　misunderstood　the
name；　remarked　to　him；　that　the　person　who　awaited　his　orders　was　not　the
Duke　of　Dantzig；　but　Marshal　Lefebvre。　　〃It　seems；　monsieur；　that　you
think　me　more　capable　of　making　a　count　＇faire　un　conte＇　than　a　duke。〃

The　officer　was　somewhat　disconcerted　by　this　reply；　but　the　Emperor
reassured　him　with　a　smile；　and　said；　〃Go；　give　the　duke　my　invitation；
and　say　to　him　that　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour　breakfast　will　be　served。〃
The　officer　returned　to　the　marshal；　who　was；　of　course；　very　anxious　to
know　why　the　Emperor　had　summoned　him。　　〃Monsieur　le　Due；　the　Emperor
invites　you　to　breakfast　with　him；　and　begs　you　to　wait　a　quarter　of　an
hour。〃　　The　marshal；　not　having　noticed　the　new　title　which　the　officer
gave　him；　replied　by　a　nod；　and　seated　himself　on　a　folding　chair　on　the
back　of　which　hung　the　Emperor's　sword；　which　the　marshal　inspected　and
touched　with　admiration　and　respect。　　The　quarter　of　an　hour　passed；　when
another　ordnance　officer　came　to　summon　the　marshal　to　the　Emperor；　who
was　already　at　table　with　the　chief…of…staff；　and　as　he　entered；　the
Emperor　saluted　him　with；　〃Good…day；　Monsieur　le　Due；　be　seated　next　to
me。〃

The　marshal；　astonished　at　being　addressed　by　this　title；　thought　at
first　that　his　Majesty　was　jesting；　but　seeing　that　he　made　a　point　of
calling　him　Monsieur　le；　Due　he　was　overcome　with　astonishment。　　The
Emperor；　to　increase　his　embarrassment；　said　to　him；　〃Do　you　like
chocolate；　Monsieur　le　Duc？〃〃Butyes；　Sire。〃〃Well；　we　have　none　for
breakfast；　but　I　will　give　you　a　pound　from　the　very　town　of　Dantzig；　for
since　you　have　conquered　it；　it　is　but　just　that　it　should　make　you　some
return。〃　　Thereupon　the　Emperor　left　the　table；　opened　a　little　casket；
took　therefrom　a　package　in　the　shape　of　a　long　square；　and　handed　it　to
Marshal　Lefebvre；　saying　to　him；　〃Duke　of　Dantzig；　accept　this　chocolate；
little　gifts　preserve　friendship。〃　　The　marshal　thanked　his　Majesty；　put
the　chocolate　in　his　pocket；　and　took　his　seat　again　at　table　with　the
Emperor　and　Marshal　Berthier。　　A　'pate'　in　the　shape　of　the　town　of
Dantzig　was　in　the　midst　of　the　table；　and　when　this　was　to　be　served　the
Emperor　said　to　the　new　duke；　〃They　could　not　have　given　this　dish　a　form
which　would　have　pleased　me　more。　　Make　the　attack；　Monsieur　le　Duc；
behold　your　conquest；　it　is　yours　to　do　the　honors。〃　　The　duke　obeyed；
and　the　three　guests　ate　of　the　pie；　which　they　found　much　to　their
taste。　　On　his　return；　the　marshal；　Duke　of　Dantzig；　suspecting　a
surprise　in　the　little　package　which　the　Emperor　had　given　him；　hastened
to　open　it；　and　found　a　hundred　thousand　crowns　in　bank…notes。　　In
imitation　of　this　magnificent　present；　the　custom　was　established　in　the
army　of　calling　money；　whether　in　pieces　or　in　bank…notes；　Dantzig
chocolate；　and　when　the　soldiers　wished　to　be　treated　by　any　comrade　who
happened　to　have　a　little　money　in　his　pocket；　would　say　to　him；　〃Come；
now；　have　you　no　Dantzig　chocolate　in　your　pocket？〃

The　almost　superstitious　fancy　of　his　Majesty　the　Emperor　in　regard　to
coincidences　in　dates　and　anniversaries　was　strengthened　still　more　by
the　victory　of　Friedland；　which　was　gained　on　June　14；　1807；　seven　years
to　the　very　day　after　the　battle　of　Marengo。　　The　severity　of　the　winter；
the　difficulty　in　furnishing　supplies　（for　which　the　Emperor　had　however
made　every　possible　provision　and　arrangement）；　added　to　the　obstinate
courage　of　the　Russians；　had　made　this　a　severe　campaign；　especially　to
conquerors　whom　the　incredible　rapidity　of　their　successes　in　Prussia　had
accustomed　to　sudden　conquests。　　The　division　of　glory　which　he　had　been
compelled　to　make　with　the　Russians　was　a　new　experience　in　the　Emperor's
military　career；　but　at　Friedland　he　regained　his　advantage　and　his
former　superiority。　　His　Majesty；　by　a　feigned　retreat；　in　which　he　let
the　enemy　see　only　a　part　of　his　forces；　drew　the　Russians　into　a　decoy
on　the　Elbe；　so　complete　that　they　found　themselves　shut　in　between　that
river　and　our　army。　　This　victory　was　gained　by　troops　of　the　line　and
cavalry；　and　the　Emperor　did　not　even　find　it　necessary　to　use　his
Guards；　while　those　of　the　Emperor　Alexander　was　almost　entirely
destroyed　in　protecting　the　retreat；　or　rather　the　flight；　of　the
Russians；　who　could　escape　from　the　pursuit　of　our　soldiers　only　by　the
bridge　of　Friedland；　a　few　narrow　pontoons；　and　an　almost　impassable
ford。

The　regiments　of　the　line　in　the　French　army　covered　the　plain；　and　the
Emperor；　occupying　a　post　of　observation　on　a　height　whence　he　could
overlook　the　whole　field　of　battle；　was　seated　in　an　armchair　near　a
mill；　surrounded　by　his　staff。　　I　never　saw　him　in　a　gayer　mood；　as　he
conversed　with　the　generals　who　awaited　his　orders；　and　seemed　to　enjoy
eating　the　black　Russian　bread　which　was　baked　in　the　shape　of　bricks。
This　bread；　made　from　inferior　rye　flour　and　full　of　long　straws；　was　the
food　of　all　the　soldiers；　and　they　knew　that　his　Majesty　ate　it　as　well
as　themselves。　　The　beautiful　weather　favored　the　skillful　maneuvers　of
the　army；　and　they　performed　prodigies　of　valor。　　The　cavalry　charges
especially　were　executed　with　so　much　precision　that　the　Emperor　sent　his
congratulations　to　the　regiments。

About　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　when　the　two　armies　were　pressing
each　other　on　every　side；　and　thousands　of　cannon　caused　the　earth　to
tremble；　the　Emperor　exclaimed；　〃If　this　continues　two　hours　longer；　the
French　army　will　be　left　standing　on　the　plain　alone。〃　　A　few　moments
after　he　gave　orders　to　the　Count　Dorsenne；　　general　of　the　foot
grenadiers　of　the　Old　Guard；　to　fire　on　a　brick…yard；　behind　which　masses
of　Russians　and　Prussians　were　intrenched；　and　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye
they　were　compelled　to　abandon　this　position；　and　a　horde　of
sharpshooters　set　out　in　pursuit　of　the　fugitives。

The　Guard　made　this　movement　at　five　o'clock；　and　at　six　the　battle　was
entirely　won。　　The　Emperor　said　to　those　who　were　near　him；　while
admiring　the　splendid　behavior　of　the　Guard；　〃Look　at　those　brave
fellows；　with　a　good…will　they　would　run　over　the　stone…slingers　and　pop…
guns　of　the　line；　in　order　to　teach　them　to　charge　without　waiting　for
them；　but　it　would　have　been　useless；　as　the　work　has　been　well　done
without　them。〃

His　Majesty　went　in　person　to　compliment　several　regiments　which　had
fought　the　whole　day。　　A　few　words；　a　smile；　a　salute　of　the　hand；　even　a
nod；　was　sufficient　recompense　to　these　brave　fellows　who　had　just　been
crowned　with　victory。

The　number　of　the　dead　and　prisoners　was　enormous；　and　seventy　banners；
with　all　the　equipments　of　the　Russian　army；　were　left　in　the　hands　of
the　French。

After　this　decisive　day；　the　Emperor　of　Russia；　who　had　rejected　the
proposals　made　by　his　Majesty　after　the　battle　of　Eylau；　found　himself
much　disposed　to　make　the　game　on　his　own　account；　and　General　Bennigsen
consequently　demanded　an　armistice　in　the　name　of　his　Emperor；　which　his
Majesty　granted；　and　a　short　time　after　a　treaty　of　peace　was　signed；　and
the　famous　interview　between　the　two　sovereigns　held　on　the　banks　of　the
Niemen。　　I　shall　pass　over　rapidly　the　details　of　this　meeting；　which
have　been　published　and　repeated　innumerable　times。　　His　Majest