napoleon bonaparte, v9-第9部分

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arrived　after　a　few　days　march　at　Smolensk；　a　large　and　beautiful　city。
The　Russians；　whom　he　thought　he　had　caught　at　last；　had　just　evacuated
it；　after　destroying　much　booty；　and　burning　the　greater　part　of　the
stores。

We　entered　by　the　light　of　the　flames；　but　it　was　nothing　in　comparison
to　what　awaited　us　at　Moscow。　　I　remarked　at　Smolensk　two　buildings　which
seemed　to　me　of　the　greatest　beauty；the　cathedral　and　the　episcopal
palace；　which　last　seemed　to　form　a　village　in　itself；　so　extensive　are
the　buildings；　and　being　also　separated　from　the　city。

I　will　not　make　a　list　of　the　places　with　barbarous　names　through　which
we　passed　after　leaving　Smolensk。　　All　that　I　shall　add　as　to　our
itinerary　during　the　first　half　of　this　gigantic　campaign　is　that　on　the
5th　of　September　we　arrived　on　the　banks　of　the　Moskwa；　where　the　Emperor
saw　with　intense　satisfaction　that　at　last　the　Russians　were　determined
to　grant　him　the　great　battle　which　he　so　ardently　desired；　and　which　he
had　pursued　for　more　than　two　hundred　leagues　as　prey　that　he　would　not
allow　to　escape　him。




CHAPTER　V。

THE　day　after　the　battle　of　the　Moskwa；　I　was　with　the　Emperor　in　his
tent　which　was　on　the　field　of　battle；　and　the　most　perfect　calm　reigned
around　us。　　It　was　a　fine　spectacle　which　this　army　presented；　calmly　re…
forming　its　columns　in　which　the　Russian　cannon　had　made　such　wide　gaps；
and　proceeding　to　the　repose　of　the　bivouac　with　the　security　which
conquerors　ever　feel。　　The　Emperor　seemed　overcome　with　fatigue。　　From
time　to　time　he　clasped　his　hands　over　his　crossed　knees；　and　I　heard　him
each　time　repeat；　with　a　kind　of　convulsive　movement；　〃Moscow！　　Moscow！〃
He　sent　me　several　times　to　see　what　was　going　on　outside；　then　rose
himself；　and　coming　up　behind　me　looked　out　over　my　shoulder。　　The　noise
made　by　the　sentinel　in　presenting　arms　each　time　warned　me　of　his
approach。　　After　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour　of　these　silent　marches　to
and　fro；　the　sentinel　advanced　and　cried；　〃To　arms！〃　　and　like　a
lightning　flash　the　battalion　square　was　formed　around　the　Emperor's
tent。　　He　rushed　out；　and　then　re…entered　to　take　his　hat　and　sword。　　It
proved　to　be　a　false　alarm；　as　a　regiment　of　Saxons　returning　from　a　raid
had　been　mistaken　for　the　enemy。

There　was　much　laughter　over　this　mistake；　especially　when　the　raiders
came　in　sight；　some　bearing　quarters　of　meat　spitted　on　the　ends　of　their
bayonets；　others　with　half…picked　fowls　or　hams　which　made　the　mouth
water。　　I　was　standing　outside　the　tent；　and　shall　never　forget　the　first
movement　of　the　sentinel　as　he　gave　the　cry　of　alarm。　　He　lowered　the
stock　of　his　gun　to　see　if　the　priming　was　in　place；　shook　the　barrel　by
striking　it　with　his　fist；　then　replaced　the　gun　on　his　arm；　saying；
〃Well；　let　them　come；　we　are　ready　for　them。〃　　I　told　the　occurrence　to
the　Emperor；　who　in　his　turn　related　it　to　Prince　Berthier；　and　in
consequence　the　Emperor　made　this　brave　soldier　drink　a　glass　of　his　best
Chambertin　wine。

It　was　the　Duke　of　Dantzic　who　first　entered　Moscow；　and　the　Emperor　came
only　after　him。　　This　entry　was　made　in　the　night；　and　never　was　there　a
more　depressing　scene。　　There　was　something　truly　frightful　in　this
silent　march　of　an　army　halted　at　intervals　by　messages　from　inside　the
city；　which　seemed　to　be　of　a　most　ominous　character。　　No　Muscovite
figures　could　be　distinguished　except　those　of　a　few　beggars　covered　with
rags；　who　watched　with　stupid　astonishment　the　army　file　past；　and　as
some　few　of　these　appeared　to　be　begging　alms；　our　soldiers　threw　them
bread　and　a　few　pieces　of　money。　　I　cannot　prevent　a　sad　reflection　on
these　unfortunate　creatures；　whose　condition　alone　remains　unchanged
through　great　political　upheavals；　and　who　are　totally　without　affection
and　without　national　sympathies。

As　we　advanced　on　the　streets　of　the　faubourgs；　we　looked　through　the
windows　on　each　side；　and　were　astonished　to　perceive　no　human　being；　and
if　a　solitary　light　appeared　in　the　windows　of　a　few　houses；　it　was　soon
extinguished；　and　these　signs　of　life　so　suddenly　effaced　made　a　terrible
impression。　　The　Emperor　halted　at　the　faubourg　of　Dorogomilow；　and　spent
the　night　there；　not　in　an　inn；　as　has　been　stated；　but　in　a　house　so
filthy　and　wretched　that　next　morning　we　found　in　the　Emperor's　bed；　and
on　his　clothes；　vermin　which　are　by　no　means　uncommon　in　Russia。　　We　were
tormented　by　them　also　to　our　great　disgust；　and　the　Emperor　did　not
sleep　during　the　whole　night　he　passed　there。　　According　to　custom；　I
slept　in　his　chamber；　and　notwithstanding　the　precaution　I　had　taken　to
burn　vinegar　and　aloes　wood；　the　odor　was　so　disagreeable　that　every
moment　the　Emperor　called　me。

〃Are　you　asleep；　Constant？〃〃No；　Sire。〃〃My　son；　burn　more　vinegar；　I
cannot　endure　this　frightful　odor；　it　is　a　torment；　I　cannot　sleep。〃
I　did　my　best；　but　a　moment　after；　when　the　fumes　of　the　vinegar　were
evaporated；　he　again　recommended　me　to　burn　sugar　or　aloes　wood。

It　was　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　he　was　informed　that　a　fire　had
broken　out　in　the　city。　　The　news　was　received　through　Frenchmen　residing
in　this　country；　and　an　officer　of　the　Russian　police　confirmed　the
report；　and　entered　into　details　too　precise　for　the　Emperor　to　doubt　the
fact。　　Nevertheless；　he　still　persisted　in　not　believing　it。　　〃That　is
not　possible。　　Do　you　believe　that；　Constant？　　Go；　and　find　out　if　it　is
true。〃　　And　thereupon　he　threw　himself　again　on　his　bed；　trying　to　rest　a
little；　then　he　recalled　me　to　make　the　same　inquiries。

The　Emperor　passed　the　night　in　extreme　agitation；　and　when　daylight　came
he　knew　all。　　He　had　Marshal　Mortier　called；　and　reprimanded　both　him　and
the　young　guard。　　Mortier　in　reply　showed　him；　houses　covered　with　iron
the　roofs　of　which　were　uninjured；　but　the　Emperor　pointed　out　to　him　the
black　smoke　which　was　issuing　from　them；　pressed　his　hands　together；　and
stamped　his　heels　on　the　rough　planks　of　his　sleeping…room。

At　six　o'clock　in　the　morning　we　were　at　the　palace　of　the　Kremlin；　where
Napoleon　occupied　the　apartment　of　the　Czars；　which　opened　on　a　vast
esplanade　reached　by　a　broad　stone　staircase。　　On　this　same　esplanade
could　be　seen　the　church　in　which　were　the　tombs　of　the　ancient
sovereigns；　also　the　senatorial　palace；　the　barracks；　the　arsenal；　and　a
splendid　clock　tower；　the　cross　on　which　towers　above　the　whole　city。
This　is　the　gilded　cross　of　Ivan。　　The　Emperor　threw　a　satisfied　glance
over　the　beautiful　scene　spread　out　before　him；　for　no　sign　of　fire　was
yet　seen　in　all　the　buildings　which　surrounded　the　Kremlin。　　This　palace
is　a　mixture　of　Gothic　and　modern　architecture；　and　this　mingling　of　the
two　styles　gives　it　a　most　singular　appearance。

Within　these　walls　lived　and　died　the　old　dynasties　of　the　Romanoff　and
Ruric；　and　this　is　the　same　palace　which　has　been　so　often　stained　with
blood　by　the　intrigues　of　a　ferocious　court；　at　a　period　when　all
quarrels　were　settled　with　the　poniard。　　His　Majesty　could　not　obtain
there　even　a　few　hours　of　quiet　sleep。

In　fact；　the　Emperor；　somewhat　reassured　by　the　reports　of　Marshal
Mortier；　was　dictating　to　the　Emperor　Alexander　words　of　peace；　and　a
Russian　flag　of　truce　was　about　to　bear　this　letter；　when　the　Emperor；
who　was　promenading　the　length　and　breadth　of　his　apartment；　perceived
from　his　windows　a　brilliant　light　some　distance　from　the　palace。　　It　was
the　fire；　which　had　burst　out　again　fiercer　than　ever；　and　as　the　wind
from　the　north　was　now　driving　the　flames　in　the　direction　of　the
Kremlin；　the　alarm　was　given　by　two　officers　who　occupied　the　wing　of　the
building　nearest　the　fire。　　Wooden　houses　of　many　various　colors　were
devoured　in　a　few　moments；　and　had　already　fallen　in；　magazines　of　oil；
brandy；　and　other　combustible　materials；　threw　out　flames　of　a　lurid　hue；
which　were　communicated　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning　to　other　adjoining
buildings。　　A　shower　of　sparks　and　coals　fell　on　the　roofs　of　the
Kremlin；　and　one　shudders　to　think　that　one　of　these　sparks　alone　falling
on　a　caisson　might　have　produced　a　general　explosion；　and　blown　up　the
Kremlin；　for　by　an　inconceivable　negligence　a　whole　park　of　artillery　had
been　placed　under　the　Emperor's　windows。

Soon　most　incredible　reports　reached　the　Emperor；　some　said　that　Russians
had　been　seen　stirring　the　fire　themselves；　and　throwing　inflammable
material　into　the　parts　of　houses　still　unburned；　while　those　of　the
Russians　who　did　not　mingle　with　the　incendiaries；　stood　with　folded
arms；　contemplating　the　disaster　with　an　imperturbability　which　cannot　be
described。　　Except　for　the　absence　of　cries　of　joy　and　clapping　of　hands
they　might　have　been　taken　for　men　who　witness　a　brilliant　display　of
fireworks。　　It　was　soon　very　evident　to　the　Emperor　that　it　was　a
concerted　plot　laid　by　the　enemy。

He　descended　from　his　apartment　by　the　great　northern　staircase　made
famous　by　the　massacre　of　the　Strelitz。　　The　fire　had　already　made　such
enormous　progress　that　on　this　side　the　outside　doors　were　half　burned
through；　and　the　horses　refused　to　pass；　reared；　and　it　was　with　much
difficulty　they　could　be　made　to　clear　the　gates。　　The　Emperor　had　his
gray　overcoat　burned　in　several　places；　and　even　his　hair；　and　a　moment
later　we　were　walking　over　burning　firebrands。

We　were　not　yet　out　of　danger；　and　were　obliged　to　steer　clear　of　the
burning　rubbish　which　encumbered　our　path。　　Several　outlets　were　tried；
but　unsuccessfully；　as　the　hot　breezes　from　the　fire　struck　against　our
faces；　and　drove　us　back　in　terrible　confusion。　　At　last　a　postern
opening　on　the　Moskwa　was　discovered；　and　it　was　through　this　the　Emperor
with　his　officers　and　guard　succeeded　in　escaping　from　the　Kremlin；　but
only　to　re…enter　narrow　streets；　where　the　fire；　inclosed　as　in　a
furnace；　was　increased　in　intensity；　and　uniting　above　our　heads　the
flames　thus　formed　a　burning　dome；　which　overshadowed　us；　and　hid　from　us
the　heavens。　　It　was　time　to　leave　this　dangerous　place　from　which　one
means　of　egress　alone　was　open　to　us；a　narrow；　winding　street
encumbered　with　debris　of　every　kind；　composed　of　flaming　beams　fallen
from　the　roofs；　and　b