the memoirs of victor hugo-第13部分

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The　soul。

O　adorable　prodigy！

Love；　the　ideal；　is　found　even　in　the　Pit。






AT　THE　TUILERIES。

1844…1848。

I。　　　　THE　KING。　II。　　　THE　DUCHESS　D'ORLEANS。　III。　　THE　PRINCES。






AT　THE　TUILERIES。

1844…1848。




I。　　　THE　KING。*

June；　28；　1844。



*　Louis　Philippe。

The　King　told　me　that　Talleyrand　said　to　him　one　day：

〃You　will　never　be　able　to　do　anything　with　Thiers；　although　he　would　make　an　excellent　tool。　　He　is　one　of　those　men　one　cannot　make　use　of　unless　one　is　able　to　satisfy　them。　Now；　he　never　will　be　satisfied。　　It　is　unfortunate　for　him；　as　for　you；　that　in　our　times；　he　cannot　be　made　a　cardinal。〃

A　propos　of　the　fortifications　of　Paris；　the　King　told　me　how　the　Emperor　Napoleon　learned　the　news　of　the　taking　of　Paris　by　the　allies。

The　Emperor　was　marching　upon　Paris　at　the　head　of　his　guard。　　Near　Juvisy；　at　a　place　in　the　Forest　of　Fontainebleau　where　there　is　an　obelisk　（〃that　I　never　see　without　feeling　heavy　at　heart；〃　remarked　the　King）；　a　courier　on　his　way　to　meet　Napoleon　brought　him　the　news　of　the　capitulation　of　Paris。　　Paris　had　been　taken。　　The　enemy　had　entered　it。　　The　Emperor　turned　pale。　　He　hid　his　face　in　his　hands　and　remained　thus；　motionless；　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　　Then；　without　saying　a　word；　he　turned　about　and　took　the　road　back　to　Fontainebleau。

General　Athalin　witnessed　this　scene　and　recounted　it　to　the　King。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　



July；　1844。

A　few　days　ago　the　King　said　to　Marshal　Soult　（in　presence　of　others）：

〃Marshal；　do　you　remember　the　siege　of　Cadiz？〃

〃Rather；　sire；　I　should　think　so。　　I　swore　enough　before　that　cursed　Cadiz。　　I　invested　the　place　and　was　forced　to　go　away　as　I　had　come。〃

〃Marshal；　while　you　were　before　it；　I　was　inside　it。〃

〃I　know；　sire。〃

〃The　Cortes　and　the　English　Cabinet　offered　me　the　command　of　the　Spanish　army。〃

〃I　remember　it。〃

〃The　offer　was　a　grave　one。　　I　hesitated　long。　　Bear　arms　against　France！　　For　my　family；　it　is　possible；　but　against　my　country！　　I　was　greatly　perplexed。　　At　this　juncture　you　asked　me；　through　a　trusty　person；　for　a　secret　interview　in　a　little　house　situated　on　the　Cortadura；　between　the　city　and　your　camp。　　Do　you　remember　the　fact；　Monsieur　the　Marshal？〃

〃Perfectly；　sire；　the　day　was　fixed　and　the　interview　arranged。〃

〃And　I　did　not　turn　up。〃

〃That　is　so。〃

〃Do　you　know　why？〃

〃I　never　knew。〃

〃I　will　tell　you。　　As　I　was　preparing　to　go　to　meet　you；　the　commander　of　the　English　squadron；　apprised　of　the　matter；　I　know　not　how；　dropped　upon　me　brusquely　and　warned　me　that　I　was　about　to　fall　into　a　trap；　that　Cadiz　being　impregnable；　they　despaired　of　seizing　me；　but　that　at　the　Cortadura　I　should　be　arrested　by　you；　that　the　Emperor　wished　to　make　of　the　Duke　d'Orleans　a　second　volume　of　the　Duke　d'Enghien；　and　that　you　would　have　me　shot　immediately。　　There；　really；〃　added　the　King　with　a　smile；　〃your　hand　on　your　conscience；　were　you　going　to　shoot　me？〃

The　Marshal　remained　silent　for　a　moment；　then　replied；　with　a　smile　not　less　inexpressible　than　that　of　the　King：

〃No；　sire；　I　wanted　to　compromise　you。〃

The　subject　of　conversation　was　changed。　　A　few　minutes　later　the　Marshal　took　leave　of　the　King；　and　the　King；　as　he　watched　him　go；　said　with　a　smile　to　the　person　who　heard　this　conversation：

〃Compromise！　compromise！　　To…day　it　is　called　compromise。　　In　reality；　he　would　have　shot　me！〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　



August　4；　1844。

Yesterday　the　King　said　to　me：

〃One　of　my　embarrassments　at　present；　in　all　this　affair　of　the　University　and　the　clergy；　is　M。　Affre。〃*

*　　Archbishop　Affre　was　shot　and　killed　in　the　Faubourg　Saint　Antoine　on　September　25；　1848；　while　trying　to　stop　the　fighting　between　the　troops　and　insurgents。

〃Then　why；　sire；〃　said　I；　〃did　you　appoint　him？〃

〃I　made　a　mistake；　I　admit。　　I　had　at　first　appointed　to　the　archbishopric　of　Paris　the　Cardinal　of　Arras；　M。　de　la　Tour　d'Auvergne。〃

〃It　was　a　good　choice；〃　I　observed。

〃Yes；　good。　　He　is　insignificant。　　An　honest　old　man　of　no　account。　　An　easy…going　fellow。　　He　was　much　sought　after　by　the　Carlists。　　Greatly　imposed　upon。　　His　whole　family　hated　me。　　He　was　induced　to　refuse。　　Not　knowing　what　to　do；　and　being　in　haste；　I　named　M。　Affre。　　I　ought　to　have　been　suspicious　of　him。　　His　countenance　is　neither　open　nor　frank。　　I　took　his　underhand　air　for　a　priestly　air；　I　did　wrong。　　And　then；　you　know；　it　was　in　1840。　　Thiers　proposed　him　to　me；　and　urged　me　to　appoint　him。　　Thiers　is　no　judge　of　archbishops。　　I　did　it　without　sufficient　reflection。　　I　ought　to　have　remembered　what　Talleyrand　said　to　me　one　day：　'The　Archbishop　of　Paris　must　always　be　an　old　man。　　The　see　is　quieter　and　becomes　vacant　more　frequently。'　I　appointed　M。　Affre；　who　is　young；　it　was　a　mistake。　　However；　I　will　re…establish　the　chapter　of　St。　Denis　and　appoint　as　primate　of　it　the　Cardinal　de　la　Tour　d'Auvergne。　The　Papal　Nuncio；　to　whom　I　spoke　of　my　project　just　now；　laughed　heartily　at　it；　and　said：　'The　Abbé　Affre　will　commit　some　folly。　　Should　he　go　to　Rome　the　Pope　will　receive　him　very　badly。　　He　has　acted　pusillanimously　and　blunderingly　on　all　occasions　since　he　has　been　an　archbishop。　　An　archbishop　of　Paris　who　has　any　wit　ought　always　to　be　on　good　terms　with　the　King　here　and　the　Pope　yonder。'〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　




August；　1844。

A　month　or　two　ago　the　King　went　to　Dreux。　　It　was　the　anniversary　of　the　death　of　the　Duke　d'Orleans。　　The　King　had　chosen　this　day　to　put　the　coffins　of　his　relatives　in　the　family　vault　in　order。

Among　the　number　was　a　coffin　that　contained　all　the　bones　of　the　princes　of　the　House　of　Orleans　that　the　Duchess　d'Orleans；　mother　of　the　King；　had　been　able　to　collect　after　the　Revolution；　when　the　sepulchre　was　violated　and　they　were　dispersed。　　The　coffin；　placed　in　a　separate　vault；　had　recently　been　smashed　in　by　the　fall　of　an　arch。　　The　debris　of　the　arch；　stones　and　plaster；　had　become　mingled　with　the　bones。

The　King　had　the　coffin　brought　and　opened　before　him。　He　was　alone　in　the　vault　with　the　chaplain　and　two　aides…de…camp。　　Another　coffin；　larger　and　stronger；　had　been　prepared。　　The　King　himself；　with　his　own　hands；　took；　one　after　the　other；　the　bones　of　his　ancestors　from　the　broken　coffin　and　arranged　them　carefully　in　the　new　one。　　He　would　not　permit　any　one　else　to　touch　them。　From　time　to　time　he　counted　the　skulls　and　said：　〃This　is　Monsieur　the　Duke　de　Penthièvre。　　This　is　Monsieur　the　Count　de　Beaujolais。〃　　Then　to　the　best　of　his　ability　and　as　far　as　he　was　able　to　he　completed　each　group　of　bones。

This　ceremony　lasted　from　nine　o'clock　in　the　morning　until　seven　o'clock　in　the　evening　without　the　King　taking　either　rest　or　nourishment。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　



August；　1844。

Yesterday；　the　15th；　after　having　dined　at　M。　Villemain's；　who　lives　in　a　country　house　near　Neuilly；　I　called　upon　the　King。

The　King　was　not　in　the　salon；　where　there　were　only　the　Queen；　Madame　Adelaide　and　a　few　ladies；　among　them　Mme。　Firmin…Rogier；　who　is　charming。　　There　were　many　visitors；　among　others　the　Duke　de　Brogue　and　M。　Rossi；　who　were　of　the　dinner　party　at　which　I　had　been　present；　M。　de　Lesseps；　who　lately　distinguished　himself　as　consul　at　Barcelona；　M。　Firmin…Rogier　and　the　Count　d'Agout。

I　bowed　to　the　Queen；　who　spoke　to　me　at　length　about　the　Princess　de　Joinvile；　who　was　delivered　the　day　before　yesterday；　and　whose　baby　arrived　on　the　very　day　the　news　of　the　bombardment　of　Tangier　by　its　father　was　received。　　It　is　a　little　girl。　　The　Princess　de　Joinvile　passes　the　whole　day　kissing　her　and　saying：　〃How　pretty　she　is！〃　with　that　sweet　southern　accent　which　the　raillery　of　her　brothers…in…law　has　not　yet　caused　her　to　lose。

While　I　was　talking　to　the　Queen；　the　Duchess　d'Orleans；　dressed　in　black；　came　in　and　sat　beside　Madame　Adelaide；　who　said　to　her：　〃Good　evening；　dear　Helene。〃

A　moment　afterwards；　M。　Guizot；　in　black；　wearing　a　chain　of　decorations；　with　a　red　ribbon　in　his　buttonhole　and　the　badge　of　the　Legion　of　Honour　on　his　coat；　and　looking　pale　and　grave；　crossed　the　salon。　　I　grasped　his　hand　as　he　passed　and　he　said：

〃I　have　sought　you　vainly　during　the　past　few　days。　Come　and　spend　a　day　with　me　in　the　country。　　We　have　a　lot　to　talk　about。　　I　am　at　Auteuil；　No。　4；　Place　d'Agueneau。〃

〃Will　the　King　come　to…night？〃　I　asked。

〃I　do　not　think　so；〃　he　replied。　　〃He　is　with　Admiral　de　Mackau。　　There　is　serious　news。　　He　will　be　occupied　all　the　evening。〃

Then　M。　Guizot　went　away。

It　was　nearly　ten　o'clock；　and　I　also　was　about　to　take　my　departure　when　one　of　Madame　Adelaide's　ladies　of　honour；　sent　by　the　Princess；　came　and　told　me　that　the　King　desired　to　speak　with　me　and　requested　that　I　would　remain。　　I　returned　to　the　salon；　which　had　become　almost　empty。

A　moment　later；　as　ten　o'clock　was　striking；　the　King　came　in。　　He　wore　no　decorations　and　had　a　preoccupied　air。　　As　he　passed　by　he　said　to　me：

〃Wait　until　I　have　gone　my　round；　we　shall　have　a　little　more　time　when　everybody　has　left。　　There　are　only　four　persons　here　now　and　I　have　only　four　words　to　say　to　them。〃

In　truth；　he　only　tarried　a　moment　with　the　Prussian　Ambassador　and　M。　de　Lesseps；　who　had　to　communicate　to　him　a　letter　from　Alexandria　relative　to　the　strange　abdication　of　the　Pacha　of　Egypt。

Everybody　took　leave；　and　then　the　King　came　to　me；　thrust　his　arm　in　mine　and　led　me　into　the　large　anteroom　where　he　seated　himself；　and　bade　me　be　seated；　upon　a　red　lounge　which　is　between　two　doors　opposite　the　fireplace。　　Then　he　began　to　talk　rapidly；　energetically；　as　though　a　weight　were　being　lifted　from　his　mind：

〃Monsieur　Hugo；　I　am　pleased　to　see　you。　　What　do　you　think　of　it　all？　　All　this　is　grave；　yet　it　appears　graver　than　it　really　is。　　But　in　politics；　I　know；　one　has　sometimes　to　take　as　much　into　account　that　which　appears　grave　as　that　which　is　grave。　　We　made　a　mistake　in　taking　this　confounded　protectorate。*　　We　thought　we　were　doing　something　popular　for　France；　and　we　have　done　something　embarrassing　for　the　world。　　The　popular　effect　was　mediocre；　the　embarrassing　effect　is　enormous。　What　did　we　want　to　hamper　ourse