napoleon bonaparte, v9-第10部分

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encumbered　with　debris　of　every　kind；　composed　of　flaming　beams　fallen
from　the　roofs；　and　burning　posts。　　There　was　a　moment　of　hesitation
among　us；　in　which　some　proposed　to　the　Emperor　to　cover　him　from　head　to
foot　with　their　cloaks；　and　transport　him　thus　in　their　arms　through　this
dangerous　passage。　　This　proposition　the　Emperor　rejected；　and　settled
the　question　by　throwing　himself　on　foot　into　the　midst　of　the　blazing
debris；　where　two　or　three　vigorous　jumps　put　him　in　a　place　of　safety。

Then　ensued　a　touching　scene　between　the　Emperor　and　the　Prince　of
Eckmuhl；　who；　wounded　at　the　Moskwa；　had　himself　borne　back　in　order　to
attempt　to　save　the　Emperor；　or　to　die　with　him。　　From　a　distance　the
marshal　perceived　him　calmly　emerging　from　so　great　a　peril；　and　this
good　and　tender　friend　by　an　immense　effort　hastened　to　throw　himself
into　the　Emperor's　arms；　and　his　Majesty　pressed　him　to　his　heart　as　if
to　thank　him　for　rousing　such　gentle　emotions　at　a　moment　when　danger
usually　renders　men　selfish　and　egotistical。

At　length　the　air　itself；　filled　with　all　these　flaming　masses；　became　so
heated　that　it　could　no　longer　be　breathed。　　The　atmosphere　itself　was
burning；　the　glass　of　the　windows　cracked；'　and　apartments　became
untenable。　　The　Emperor　stood　for　a　moment　immovable；　his　face　crimson；
and　great　drops　of　perspiration　rolling　from　his　brow；　while　the　King　of
Naples；　Prince　Eugene；　and　the　Prince　de　Neuchatel　begged　him　to　quit　the
palace；　whose　entreaties　he　answered　only　by　impatient　gestures。　　At　this
instant　cries　came　from　the　wing　of　the　palace　situated　farthest　to　the
north；　announcing　that　the　walls　had　fallen；　and　that　the　fire　was
spreading　with　frightful　rapidity；　and　seeing　at　last　that　his　position
was　no　longer　tenable；　the　Emperor　admitted　that　it　was　time　to　leave；
and　repaired　to　the　imperial　chateau　of　Petrovskoi。

On　his　arrival　at　Petrovskoi　the　Emperor　ordered　M。　de　Narbonne　to
inspect　a　palace　which　I　think　had　belonged　to　Catherine。　　This　was　a
beautiful　building；　and　the　apartments　handsomely　furnished。　　M。　de
Narbonne　returned　with　this　information；　but　almost　immediately　flames
burst　from　every　side；　and　it　was　soon　consumed。

Such　was　the　fury　of　these　wretches　who　were　hired　to　burn　everything；
that　the　boats　which　covered　the　Moskwa　laden　with　grain；　oats；　and　other
provisions；　were　burned；　and　sunk　beneath　the　waves　with　a　horrible
crackling　sound。　　Soldiers　of　the　Russian　police　had　been　seen　stirring
up　the　fire　with　tarred　lances；　and　in　the　ovens　of　some　houses　shells
had　been　placed　which　wounded　many　of　our　soldiers　in　exploding。

In　the　streets　filthy　women　and　hideous；　drunken　men　ran　to　the　burning
houses　and　seized　flaming　brands；　which　they　carried　in　every　direction；
and　which　our　soldiers　were　obliged　repeatedly　to　knock　out　of　their
hands　with　the　hilts　of　their　swords　before　they　would　relinquish　them。
The　Emperor　ordered　that　these　incendiaries　when　taken　in　the　act　should
be　hung　to　posts　in　the　public　squares；　and　the　populace　prostrated
themselves　around　these　gallows；　kissing　the　feet　of　those　executed；
praying；　and　signing　themselves　with　the　sign　of　the　cross。　　Such
fanaticism　is　almost　unparalleled。

One　incident　of　which　I　was　a　witness　proves　that　those　hired　to　carry
out　this　vast　plot　acted；　evidently；　according　to　instructions　given　by
higher　authorities。　　A　man　covered　with　a　sheepskin；　old　and　tattered；
with　a　miserable　capon　his　head；　boldly　mounted　the　steps　of　the　Kremlin。
Under　this　filthy　disguise　an　elegant　costume　was　concealed；　and　when　a
stricter　surveillance　was　instituted；　this　bold　beggar　himself　was
suspected；　arrested；　and　carried　before　the　police；　where　he　was
questioned　by　the　officer　of　the　post。　　As　he　made　some　resistance；
thinking　this　proceeding　somewhat　arbitrary；　the　sentinel　put　his　hand
on　his　breast　to　force　him　to　enter；　and　this　somewhat　abrupt　movement
pushing　aside　the　sheepskin　which　covered　him；　decorations　were　seen；
and　when　his　disguise　was　removed　he　was　recognized　as　a　Russian　officer。
He　had　on　his　person　matches　which　he　had　been　distributing　to　the　men　of
the　people；　and　when　questioned　admitted　that　he　was　specially　charged　to
keep　alive　the　fire　of　the　Kremlin。　　Many　questions　were　asked；　each
eliciting　new　confessions；　all　of　which　were　made　in　the　most　indifferent
manner；　and　he　was　put　in　prison；　and　was；　I　think；　punished　as　an
incendiary；　but　of　this　I　am　not　certain。　　When　any　of　these　wretches
were　brought　before　the　Emperor；　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　with
gestures　of　scorn　and　anger　ordered　that　they　should　be　removed　from　his
sight；　and　the　grenadiers　sometimes　executed　justice　on　them　with　their
bayonets；　but　such　exasperation　can　be　well　understood　in　soldiers　thus
driven　by　these　base　and　odious　measures　from　a　resting…place　earned　by
the　sword。

In　Petrovskoi；　a　pretty　residence　belonging　to　one　of　Alexander's
chamberlains；　a　man　was　found　concealed　in　one　of　the　apartments　his
Majesty　was　to　occupy；　but　not　being　armed　he　was　released；　as　it　was
concluded　that　fright　alone　had　driven　him　into　this　dwelling。　　The
Emperor　arrived　during　the　night　at　his　new　residence；　and　waited　there
in　intense　anxiety　till　the　fire　should　be　extinguished　at　the　Kremlin；
intending　to　return　thither；　for　the　pleasure　house　of　a　chamberlain　was
no　suitable　place　for　his　Majesty。　　Thanks　to　the　active　and　courageous
actions　of　a　battalion　of　the　guard；　the　Kremlin　was　preserved　from　the
flames；　and　the　Emperor　thereupon　gave　the　signal　for　departure。

In　order　to　re…enter　Moscow　it　was　necessary　to　cross　the　camp；　or　rather
the　several　camps；　of　the　army；　and　we　wended　our　way　over　cold　and　miry
ground；　through　fields　where　all　was　devastation　and　ruin。　　This　camp
presented　a　most　singular　aspect；　and　I　experienced　feelings　of　bitter
melancholy　as　I　saw　our　soldiers　compelled　to　bivouac　at　the　gates　of　a
large　and　beautiful　city　of　which　they　were　the　conquerors；　but　the　fire
still　more　than　they。　　The　Emperor；　on　appointing　Marshal　Mortier
governor　of　Moscow；　had　said　to　him；　〃Above　all；　no　pillage；　you　will
answer　for　it　with　your　head。〃　　The　order　was　strictly　enforced　up　to　the
moment　the　fire　began；　but　when　it　was　evident　that　the　fire　would　devour
everything；　and　that　it　was　useless　to　abandon　to　the　flames　what　would
be　of　much　value　to　the　soldiers；　liberty　was　given　them　to　draw　largely
from　this　great　storehouse　of　the　north。

It　was　at　once　sad　and　amusing　to　see　around　poor　plank　sheds；　the　only
tents　our　soldiers　had；　the　most　magnificent　furniture；　silk　canopies；
priceless　Siberian　furs；　and　cashmere　shawls　thrown　pell…mell　with　silver
dishes；　and　then　to　see　the　food　served　on　these　princely　dishes；
miserable　black　gruel；　and　pieces　of　horseflesh　still　bleeding。　　Good
ammunition…bread　was　worth　at　this　time　treble　all　these　riches；　and
there　came　a　time　when　they　had　not　even　horseflesh。

On　re…entering　Moscow　the　wind　bore　to　us　the　insufferable　odor　of
burning　houses；　warm　ashes　filled　our　mouths　and　eyes；　and　frequently　we
drew　back　just　in　time　before　great　pillars　which　had　been　burned　in　two
by　the　fire；　and　fell　noiselessly　on　this　calcined　soil。　　Moscow　was　not
so　deserted　as　we　had　thought。　　As　the　first　impression　conquest　produces
is　one　of　fright；　all　the　inhabitants　who　remained　had　concealed
themselves　in　cellars；　or　in　the　immense　vaults　which　extend　under　the
Kremlin；　and　driven　out　by　the　fire　like　wolves　from　their　lairs；　when　we
re…entered　the　city　nearly　twenty　thousand　inhabitants　were　wandering
through　the　midst　of　the　debris；　a　dull　stupor　depicted　on　faces
blackened　with　smoke；　and　pale　with　hunger；　for　they　could　not　comprehend
how　having　gone　to　sleep　under　human　roofs；　they　had　risen　next　morning
on　a　plain。　　They　were　in　the　last　extremity　of　want；　a　few　vegetables
only　remained　in　the　gardens；　and　these　were　devoured　raw；　while　many　of
these　unfortunate　creatures　threw　themselves　at　different　times　into　the
Moskwa；　endeavoring　to　recover　some　of　the　grain　cast　therein　by
Rostopchin's　　orders；

　　　　　＇Count　Feodor　Rostopchin；　born　1765；　died　1826。　　He　denied　that
　　　　　Moscow　was　burnt　by　his　authority。　　He　claimed　that　it　was　burnt
　　　　　partly　by　the　French；　and　partly　by　Russians　without　orders。＇

and　a　large　number　perished　in　the　water　in　these　fruitless　efforts。
Such　was　the　scene　of　distress　through　which　the　Emperor　was　obliged　to
pass　in　order　to　reach　the　Kremlin。

The　apartments　which　he　occupied　were　spacious　and　well　lighted；　but
almost　devoid　of　furniture；　but　his　iron　bedstead　was　set　up　there；　as　in
all　the　chateaux　he　occupied　in　his　campaigns。　　His　windows　opened　on　the
Moskwa；　and　from　there　the　fire　could　still　be　plainly　seen　in　various
quarters　of　the　city；　reappearing　on　one　side　as　soon　as　extinguished　on
the　other。　　His　Majesty　said　to　me　one　evening　with　deep　feeling；　〃These
wretches　will　not　leave　one　stone　upon　another。〃　　I　do　not　believe　there
was　ever　in　any　country　as　many　buzzards　as　at　Moscow。　　The　Emperor　was
annoyed　by　their　presence；　and　exclaimed；　Mon　…Dieu！　　will　they　follow　us
everywhere？〃

There　were　a　few　concerts　during　our　stay　at　the　Emperor's　residence　in
Moscow；　but　Napoleon　seemed　much　dejected　when　he　appeared　at　them；　for
the　music　of　the　saloons　made　no　impression　on　his　harassed　mind；　and　the
only　kind　that　ever　seemed　to　stir　his　soul　was　that　of　the　camp　before
and　after　a　battle。

The　day　after　the　Emperor's　arrival；　Messieurs　Ed　and　V　repaired
to　the　Kremlin　in　order　to　interview　his　Majesty；　and　after　waiting　some
time　without　seeing　him；　were　expressing　their　mutual　regret　at　having
failed　in　this　expectation；　when　they　suddenly　heard　a　shutter　open　above
their　heads；　and；　raising　their　eyes；　recognized　the　Emperor；　who　said；
〃Messieurs；　who　are　you？〃〃Sire；　we　are　Frenchmen！〃　　He　requested　them
to　mount　the　stairs　to　the　room　he　occupied；　and　there　continued　his
questions。　　〃What　is　the　nature　of　the　occupation　which　has　detained　you
in　Moscow？〃〃We　are　tutors　in　the　　families　of　two　Russian　noblemen；
whom　the　arrival　of　the　French　troops　have　driven　from　their　homes。　　We
h