napoleon bonaparte, v5-第6部分

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exposed。　　This　event；　which　was　indeed　terrible；　was　nothing　less　than
violence　and　robbery　committed　on　a　fugitive　woman　defenseless　and　alone；
by　a　band　at　the　head　of　which　was　the　famous　Marquis　de　Maubreuil；
＇A　French　political　adventurer；　born　in　Brittany；　1782；　died　1855。＇
who　had　been　equerry　of　the　King　of　Westphalia。　　I　will　recur　in　treating
of　the　events　of　1814　to　this　disgraceful　affair；　and　will　give　some
particulars；　which　I　think　are　not　generally　known；　in　regard　to　the
principal　authors　and　participants　in　this　daring　act　of　brigandage。

In　the　following　month　of　September；　a　courier　from　the　Russian　cabinet
arrived　from　St。　　Petersburg；　bearing　a　letter　to　his　Majesty　from　the
Emperor　Alexander；　and　among　other　magnificent　gifts　were　two　very
handsome　fur　pelisses　of　black　fox　and　sable　martin。

During　their　Majesties　residence　at　Fontainebleau；　the　Emperor　often　went
out　in　his　carriage　with　the　Empress　in　the　streets　of　the　city　with
neither　escort　nor　guards。　　One　day；　while　passing　before　the　hospital　of
Mont　Pierreux；　her　Majesty　the　Empress　saw　at　a　window　a　very　aged
clergyman；　who　saluted　their　Majesties。　　The　Empress；　having　returned　the
old　man's　salutation　with　her　habitual　grace；　pointed　him　out　to　the
Emperor；　who　himself　saluted　him；　and　ordering　his　coachman　to　stop；　sent
one　of　the　footmen　with　a　request　to　the　old　priest　to　come　and　speak　to
them　a　moment；　if　it　were　not　too　great　an　exertion。　　The　old　man；　who
still　walked　with　ease；　hastened　to　descend；　and　in　order　to　save　him　a
few　steps　the　Emperor　had　his　carriage　driven　very　close　to　the　door　of
the　hospital。

His　Majesty　conversed　for　some　time　with　the　good　ecclesiastic；
manifesting　the　greatest　kindness　and　respect。　　He　informed　their
Majesties　that　he　had　been；　previous　to　the　Revolution；　the　regular
priest　of　one　of　the　parishes　of　Fontainebleau；　and　had　done　everything
possible　to　avoid　emigrating；　but　that　terror　had　at　length　forced　him　to
leave　his　native　land；　although　he　was　then　more　than　seventy…five　years
old；　that　he　had　returned　to　France　at　the　time　of　the　proclamation　of
the　Concordat；　and　now　lived　on　a　modest　pension　hardly　sufficient　to　pay
his　board　in　the　hospital。　　〃Monsieur　l'Abbe；〃　said　his　Majesty　after
listening　to　the　old　priest　attentively；　〃I　will　order　your　pension　to　be
doubled；　and　if　that　is　not　sufficient　I　hope　you　will　apply　to　the
Empress　or　to　me。〃　　The　good　ecclesiastic　thanked　the　Emperor　with　tears
in　his　eyes。　　〃Unfortunately；　Sire；〃　said　he　among　other　things；　〃I　am
too　old　to　long　enjoy　your　Majesty's　reign　or　profit　by　your　kindness。〃
〃YOU？〃　replied　the　Emperor；　smiling；　〃why；　you　are　a　young　man。　　Look　at
M。　de　Belloy；　he　is　much　your　senior；　and　we　hope　to　keep　him　with　us　for
a　long　time　yet。〃　　Their　Majesties　then　took　leave　of　the　old　man；　who
was　much　affected；　leaving　him　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd　of　the　inhabitants
who　had　collected　before　the　hospital　during　this　conversation；　and　who
were　much　impressed　by　this　interesting　scene　and　the　generous　kindness
of　the　Emperor。

M。　de　Belloy；　cardinal　and　archbishop　of　Paris；　whose　name　the　Emperor
mentioned　in　the　conversation　I　have　just　related；　was　then　ninety…eight
years　of　age；　though　his　health　was　excellent；　and　I　have　never　seen　an
old　man　who　had　as　venerable　an　air　as　this　worthy　prelate。　　The　Emperor
had　the　profoundest　respect　for　him；　and　never　failed　to　give　evidence　of
it　on　every　occasion。　　During　this　same　month　of　September；　a　large
number　of　the　faithful　having　assembled　according　to　custom　on　Mount
Valerien；　the　archbishop　likewise　repaired　to　the　spot　to　hear　mass。　　As
he　was　about　to　withdraw；　seeing　that　many　pious　persons　were　awaiting
his　benediction；　he　addressed　them　before　bestowing　it　in　a　few　words
which　showed　his　kindness　of　heart　and　his　evangelical　simplicity：　〃My
children；　I　know　that　I　must　be　very　old　from　the　loss　of　my　strength；
but　not　of　my　zeal　and　my　tenderness　for　you。　　Pray　God；　my　children；　for
your　old　archbishop；　who　never　fails　to　intercede　on　your　behalf　each
day。〃

During　his　stay　at　Fontainebleau；　the　Emperor　enjoyed　more　frequently
than　ever　before　the　pleasures　of　the　chase。　　The　costume　necessary　was　a
French　coat　of　green　dragon　color；　decorated　with　buttons　and　gold　lace；
white　cashmere　breeches；　and　Hessian　boots　without　facings；　this　was　the
costume　for　the　grand　hunt　which　was　always　a　stag　hunt；　that　for　a　hunt
with　guns　being　a　plain；　green　French　coat　with　no　other　ornament　than
white　buttons；　on　which　were　cut　suitable　inscriptions。　　This　costume　was
the　same　for　all　persons　taking　part　in　this　hunt；　with　no　distinguishing
marks；　even　for　his　Majesty　himself。

The　princesses　set　out　for　the　rendezvous　in　a　Spanish　carriage　with
either　or　four　six　horses；　and　thus　followed　the　chase；　their　costume
being　an　elegant　riding…habit；　and　a　hat　with　white　or　black　plumes。

One　of　the　Emperor's　sisters　（I　do　not　now　recall　which）　never　failed　to
follow　the　hunt；　accompanied　by　many　charming　ladies　who　were　always
invited　to　breakfast　at　the　rendezvous；　as　was　always　the　custom　on
similar　occasions　with　the　persons　of　the　court。　　One　of　these　ladies；
who　was　both　beautiful　and　intelligent；　attracted　the　attention　of　the
Emperor；　a　short　correspondence　ensued；　and　at　last　the　Emperor　again
ordered　me　to　carry　a　letter。

In　the　palace　of　Fontainebleau　is　a　private　garden　called　the　garden　of
Diana；　to　which　their　Majesties　alone　had　access。　　This　garden　is
surrounded　on　four　sides　by　buildings；　on　the　left　was　the　chapel　with
its　gloomy　gallery　and　Gothic　architecture；　on　the　right　the　grand
gallery　（as　well　as　I　can　remember）；　in　the　middle　the　building　which
contained　their　Majesties'　apartments；　finally；　in　front　of　and　facing
the　square　were　broad　arcades；　and　behind　them　the　buildings　intended　for
the　various　persons　attached　to　household　of　the　princes　or　the　Emperor。
Madame　de　B；　the　lady　whom　the　Emperor　had　remarked；　lodged　in　an
apartment　situated　behind　these　arcades　on　the　ground　floor；　and　his
Majesty　informed　me　that　I　would　find　a　window　open；　through　which　I　must
enter　cautiously；　in　the　darkness；　and　give　his　note　to　a　person　who
would　ask　for　it。　　This　darkness　was　necessary；　because　this　window
opened　on　the　garden；　and　though　behind　the　arcades；　would　have　been
noticed　had　there　been　a　light。　　Not　knowing　the　interior　of　these
apartments；　I　entered　through　the　window；　thinking　I　could　then　walk　on　a
level；　but　had　a　terrible　fall　over　a　high　step　which　was　in　the
embrasure　of　the　window。　　I　heard　some　one　scream　as　I　fell；　and　a　door
was　suddenly　closed。　　I　had　received　severe　bruises　on　my　knee；　elbow；
and　head；　and　rising　with　difficulty；　at　once　began　a　search　around　the
apartment；　groping　in　the　dark；　but　hearing　nothing　more；　and　fearing　to
make　some　fresh　noise　which　might　be　heard　by　persons　who　should　not　know
of　my　presence　there；　I　decided　to　return　to　the　Emperor；　and　report　to
him　my　adventures。

Finding　that　none　of　my　injuries　were　serious；　the　Emperor　laughed　most
heartily；　and　then　added；　〃Oh；　oh；　so　there　is　a　step；　it　is　well　to　know
that。　　Wait　till　Madame　B　is　over　her　fright；　I　will　go　to　her；　and
you　will　accompany　me。〃　　At　the　end　of　an　hour；　the　Emperor　emerged　with
me　from　the　door　of　his　cabinet　which　opened　on　the　garden。　　I　conducted
him　in　silence　towards　the　window　which　was　still　open　and　assisted　him
to　enter；　and　having　obtained　to　my　cost　a　correct　idea　of　the　spot；
directed　him　how　to　avoid　a　fall。

His　Majesty；　having　entered　the　chamber　without　accident；　told　me　to
retire。　　I　was　not　without　some　anxiety　as　I　informed　the　Emperor；　but　he
replied　that　I　was　a　child；　and　there　could　be　no　danger。　　It　appeared
that　his　Majesty　succeeded　better　than　I　had　done；as　he　did　not　return
until　daybreak；　and　then　jested　about　my　awkwardness；　admitting；　however；
that　if　he　had　not　been　warned；　a　similar　accident　would　have　befallen
him。

Although　Madame　de　B　was　worthy　of　a　genuine　attachment；　her　liaison
with　the　Emperor　lasted　only　a　short　while；　and　was　only　a　passing　fancy。
I　think　that　the　difficulties　surrounding　his　nocturnal　visits　cooled　his
Majesty's　ardor　greatly；　for　the　Emperor　was　not　enough　in　love　to　be
willing　to　brave　everything　in　order　to　see　his　beautiful　mistress。　　His
Majesty　informed　me　of　the　fright　which　my　fall　had　caused　her；　and　how
anxious　this　amiable　lady　had　been　on　my　account；　and　how　he　had
reassured　her；　this　did　not；　however；　prevent　her　sending　next　day　to
know　how　I　was；　by　a　confidential　person；　who　told　me　again　how
interested　Madame　de　B　had　been　in　my　accident。

Often　at　Fontainebleau　there　was　a　court　representation；　in　which　the
actors　of　the　first　theaters　received　orders　to　play　before　their
Majesties　scenes　selected　from　their　various　repertoires。　　Mademoiselle
Mars　was　to　play　the　evening　of　her　arrival；　but　at　Essonne；　where　she
was　obliged　to　stop　a　moment　on　account　of　the　road　being　filled　with
cattle　going　or　returning　from　Fontainebleau；　her　trunk　had　been　stolen；
a　fact　of　which　she　was　not　aware　until　she　had　gone　some　distance　from
the　spot。　　Not　only　were　her　costumes　missing；　but　she　had　no　other
clothing　except　what　she　wore；　and　it　would　be　at　least　twelve　hours
before　she　could　get　from　Paris　what　she　needed。　　It　was　then　two　o'clock
in　the　afternoon；　and　that　very　evening　she　must　appear　in　the　brilliant
role　of　Celimene。　　Although　much　disturbed　by　this　accident；　Mademoiselle
Mars　did　not　lose　her　presence　of　mind；　but　visited　all　the　shops　of　the
town；　and　in　a　few　hours　had　cut　and　made　a　complete　costume　in　most
excellent　taste；　and　her　loss　was　entirely　repaired。




CHAPTER　V。

In　the　month　of　November　of　this　year　I　followed　their　Majesties　to
Italy。　　We　knew　a　few　days　in　advance　that　the　Emperor　would　make　this
journey；　but　as　happened　on　all　other　occasions；　neither　the　day　nor　the
hour　was　fixed；　until　we　were　told　on　the　evening　of　the　15th　that　we
would　set　out　early　on　the　morning　of　the　16th。　　I　passed　the　night　like
all　the　household　of　his　Majesty；　for　in　order　to　carry　out　the
incredible　perfection　of　comfort　with