napoleon bonaparte, v9-第3部分

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in　Friesland；　the　authorities　made　the　Emperor　this　singular　address：
〃Sire；　we　were　afraid　you　would　come　with　the　whole　court；　you　are　almost
alone；　and　thereby　we　see　you　the　better；　and　the　more　at　our　ease。〃　　The
Emperor　applauded　this　loyal　compliment；　and　honored　the　orator　by　most
touching　thanks。　　After　this　long　journey；　passed　in　fetes；　reviews；　and
displays　of　all　kinds；　where　the　Emperor；　under　the　guise　of　being
entertained；　had　made　profound　observations　on　the　moral；　commercial；　and
military　situation　of　Holland；　observations　which　bore　fruit　after　his
return　to　Paris；　and　even　while　in　the　country；　in　wise　and　useful
decrees；　their　Majesties　left　Holland；　passing　through　Haarlem；　The
Hague；　and　Rotterdam；　where　they　were　welcomed；　as　they　had　been　in　the
whole　of　Holland；　by　fetes。　　They　crossed　the　Rhine；　visited　Cologne　and
Aix…la…Chapelle；　and　arrived　at　Saint…Cloud　early　in　November；　1811。




CHAPTER　II。

Marie　Louis　was　a　very　handsome　woman。　　She　had　a　majestic　figure　and
noble　bearing；　fresh　complexion；　blond　hair；　and　blue　eyes　full　of
expression；　her　hands　and　feet　were　the　admiration　of　the　court。
Her　figure　was；　perhaps；　a　trifle　too　stout；　but　she　lost　some　of　this
superfluous　flesh　during　her　stay　in　France；　though　thereby　she　gained　as
much　in　grace　and　beauty。　　Such　was　her　appearance。　　In　her　intercourse
with　those　immediately　around　her　she　was　affable　and　cordial；　and　the
enjoyment　she　felt　in　the　freedom　of　these　conversations　was　depicted　on
her　countenance；　which　grew　animated；　and　took　on　an　infinite　grace。
But　when　she　was　obliged　to　appear　in　public　she　became　extremely　timid；
formal　society　served　of　itself　to　isolate　her；　and　as　persons　who　are
not　naturally　haughty　always　appear　so　with　a　poor　grace；　Marie　Louise；
being　always　much　embarrassed　on　reception　days；　was　often　the　subject　of
unjust　criticism；　for；　as　I　have　said；　her　coldness　in　reality　arose　from
an　excessive　timidity。

Immediately　after　her　arrival　in　France；　Marie　Louise　suffered　from　this
embarrassment　to　a　very　great　degree；　which　can　be　easily　understood　in　a
young　princess　who　found　herself　so　suddenly　transported　into　an　entirely
new　society；　to　whose　habits　and　tastes　she　felt　obliged　to　conform；　and
in　which；　although　her　high　position　must　naturally　attract　the　world　to
her；　the　circumstances　of　this　position　rendered　it　necessary　that　she
should　take　the　initiative　in　any　advances　made；　a　fact　which　explains
the　awkwardness　of　her　early　relations　with　the　ladies　of　her　court。
After　intimacies　had　been　formed；　and　the　young　Empress　had　chosen　her
friends　with　all　the　abandon　of　her　young　heart；　then　haughtiness　and
constraint　vanished；　or　reappeared　only　on　occasions　of　ceremony。
Marie　Louise　was　of　a　calm；　thoughtful　character；　it　took　little　to
arouse　her　sensitive　spirit；　and　yet；　although　easily　moved；　she　was　by
no　means　demonstrative。　　The　Empress　had　received　a　very　careful
education；　her　mind　was　cultivated　and　her　tastes　very　simple；　and　she
possessed　every　accomplishment。

She　detested　the　insipid　hours　passed　in　idleness；　and　liked　occupation
because　it　suited　her　tastes；　and　also　because　in　a　proper　employment　of
her　time　she　found　the　only　means　of　driving　away　ennui。　　I　think　she
was；　in　fact；　a　most　congenial　wife　for　the　Emperor。　　She　was　too　much
interested　in　the　concerns　of　her　own　private　life　to　ever　mingle　in
political　intrigues；　and；　although　she　was　both　Empress　and　Queen；　very
often　was　in　entire　ignorance　of　public　affairs；　except　what　knowledge
she　obtained　from　the　journals。　　The　Emperor　at　the　end　of　days　filled
with　agitation　could　find　a　little　relaxation　only　in　a　quiet　domestic
hearth；　which　restored　to　him　the　happiness　of　family　life；　and；
consequently；　an　intriguing　woman　or　a　talkative　politician　would　have
annoyed　him　exceedingly。

Nevertheless；　the　Emperor　sometimes　complained　of　the　want　of　affability
the　Empress　showed　to　the　ladies　of　her　court；　and　said　that　this
excessive　reserve　was　injurious　to　him　in　a　country　where　the　opposite
extreme　is　most　common。

This　was　because　he　was　recalling　the　past　somewhat；　and　thinking　of　the
Empress　Josephine；　whose　constant　gayety　was　the　chief　charm　of　the
court。　　He　was　necessarily　struck　by　the　contrast；　but　was　there　not　some
injustice　at　the　foundation　of　this？　　The　Empress　Marie　Louise　was　the
daughter　of　an　Emperor；　and　had　seen　and　known　only　courtiers；　and；
having　no　acquaintance　with　any　other　class；　knew　nothing　of　any　world
outside　the　walls　of　the　palace　of　Vienna。　　She　arrived　one　fine　day　at
the　Tuileries；　in　the　midst　of　a　people　whom　she　had　never　seen　except　as
soldiers；　and　on　this　account　the　constraint　of　her　manner　towards　the
persons　composing　the　brilliant　society　of　Paris　seems　to　me　to　a　certain
point　excusable。　　It　seems　to　me；　besides；　that　the　Empress　was　expected
to　show　a　frankness　and　simplicity　which　were　entirely　misplaced；　and；
by　being　cautioned　over　and　over　again　to　be　natural；　she　was　prevented
from　the　observance　of　that　formality　also　suitable　on　the　part　of　the
great；　who　should　be　approached　only　when　they　themselves　give　the
signal。　　The　Empress　Josephine　loved　the　people　because　she　had　been　one
of　them；　and　in　mounting　a　throne　her　expansive　nature　had　everything　to
gain；　for　she　found　it　was　only　extending　her　friendship　among　a　larger
circle。　　Inspired　by　her　own　kind　heart；　the　Empress　Marie　Louise　sought
to　make　those　around　her　happy；　and　her　benevolent　deeds　were　long　the
subject　of　conversation；　and；　above　all；　the　delicate　manner　in　which
they　were　performed。　　Each　month　she　took　from　the　sum　allotted　for　her
toilet　ten　thousand　francs　for　the　poor；　which　was　not　the　limit　of　her
charities；　for　she　always　welcomed　with　the　greatest　interest　those　who
came　to　tell　her　of　distresses　to　be　alleviated。　　From　the　eagerness　with
which　she　listened　to　those　soliciting　aid；　it　would　seem　that　she　had
been　recalled　suddenly　to　a　duty；　and　yet　it　was　simply　an　evidence　that
the　chords　of　her　sensitive　heart　had　been　touched。　　I　do　not　know　if　any
one　ever　received　from　her　a　refusal　of　a　demand　of　this　sort。　　The
Emperor　was　deeply　touched　each　time　that　he　was　informed　of　a　benevolent
act　of　the　Empress。　At　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　curtains　and
blinds　were　half　opened　in　the　apartments　of　the　Empress　Marie　Louise；
and　the　papers　were　handed　her；　after　reading　which；　chocolate　or　coffee
was　served；　with　a　kind　of　pastry　called　tongue。　　This　first　breakfast
she　took　in　bed。　At　nine　o'clock　Marie　Louise　arose；　made　her　morning
toilet；　and　received　those　persons　privileged　to　attend　at　this　hour。
Every　day　in　the　Emperor's　absence；　the　Empress　ascended　to　the　apartment
of　Madame　de　Montebello；　her　lady　of　honor；　followed　by　her　service；
composed　of　the　chevalier　of　honor；　and　some　of　the　ladies　of　the　palace；
and　on　her　return　to　her　apartments；　a　light　breakfast　was　served；
consisting　of　pastry　and　fruits。　　After　her　lessons　in　drawing；　painting；
and　music；　she　commenced　her　grand　toilet。　　Between　six　and　seven　o'clock
she　dined　with　the　Emperor；　or　in　his　absence　with　Madame　de　Montebello；
the　dinner　comprising　only　one　course。　　The　evening　was　spent　in
receptions；　or　at　concerts；　plays；　etc。；　and　the　Empress　retired　at
eleven　o'clock。　　One　of　her　women　always　slept　in　the　room　in　front　of
her　bedroom；　and　it　was　through　this　the　Emperor　was　obliged　to　pass　when
he　spent　the　night　in　his　wife's　room。

This　customary　routine　of　the　Empress　was　changed；　however；　when　the
Emperor　was　at　the　chateau；　but　when　alone　she　was　punctual　in　all　her
employments；　and　did　exactly　the　same　things　at　the　same　hours。　　Her
personal　domestics　seemed　much　attached　to　her；　for　though　cool　and
distant　in　her　manner；　they　always　found　her　good　and　just。

In　the　Emperor's　absence　the　portrait　of　the　Duchess　of　Montebello
ornamented　the　Empress's　room　with　those　of　the　entire　Imperial　family　of
Austria；　but　when　the　Emperor　returned；　the　portrait　of　the　duchess　was
removed；　and　during　the　war　between　Napoleon　and　the　Emperors　of　Austria
and　Russia；　the　portrait　of　Francis　II。　　was　removed　from　his　daughter's
room；　by　order　of　his　Majesty；　and　was；　I　think；　consigned　to　some　secret
spot。

The　King　of　Rome　was　a　very　fine　child；　and　though　he　resembled　the
Emperor　less　than　the　son　of　Hortense　had　done；　his　features　were　an
agreeable　union　of　those　of　his　father　and　mother。　　I　never　knew　him
except　in　his　infancy；　and　what　was　most　remarkable　in　him　at　that　age
was　the　great　kindness　and　affection　he　showed　to　those　around　him。　　He
was　much　devoted　to　a　young　and　pretty　person　named　Fanny　Soufflot；
daughter　of　the　first　lady　of　the　bedchamber；　who　was　his　constant
companion；　and；　as　he　liked　to　see　her　always　well　dressed；　he　begged　of
Marie　Louise；　or　his　governess；　Madame　the　Countess　of　Montesquiou；　any
finery　that　struck　his　fancy；　which　he　wished　to　give　to　his　young
friend。　　He　made　her　promise　to　follow　him　to　the　war　when　he　was　grown；
and　said　many　charming　things　which　showed　his　affectionate　disposition。

There　was　chosen　as　companion　for　the　little　king　（as　he　styled　himself）
a　young　child　named　Albert　Froment；　I　think；　the　son　of　one　of　the　ladies
of　honor。　　One　morning　as　they　were　playing　together　in　the　garden　on
which　the　apartments　of　the　king　opened　at　Saint…Cloud；　Mademoiselle
Fanny　was　watching　them　without　interfering　with　their　games；　Albert
tried　to　take　the　king's　wheelbarrow；　and；　when　the　latter　resisted；
Albert　struck　him；　whereupon　the　king　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　suppose　some　one
had　seen　you！　　But　I　will　not　tell！〃　I　consider　this　a　fine　evidence　of
character。

One　day　he　was　at　the　windows　of　the　chateau　with　his　governess；　amusing
himself　by　looking　at　the　passers…by；　and　pointing　out　with　his　finger
those　who　attracted　his　attention。　　While　standing　there　he　saw　below　a
woman　in　deep　mourning；　holding　by　the　hand　a　little　boy　also　dressed　in
mourning。　　The　little　child　carried　a　petition；　which　he　waved　from　a
distance　to　the　prince；　and　seemed　to　be　entreating　him　to　receive。
Their　black　clothing　made　a　deep　impression　on　the　prince；　a