louisa of prussia and her times-第113部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


beautiful！〃

He　advanced　a　few　steps；　then；　as　if　remembering　only　at　this　moment
that　he　had　left　the　door　wide　open；　he　turned　around　and　closed　it。
〃I　suppose　you　want　to　speak　to　me　without　witnesses？〃　he　asked；
approaching　Marianne。

〃Sire；　the　words　of　love　and　adoration　fail　too　often　in　the
presence　of　others；〃　whispered　Marianne；　casting　a　flaming　glance　on
him。

Napoleon　smiled。　〃Well；　why　did　you　hesitate；　then；　just　now　to
write　the　words　of　love　and　adoration　between　my　shoulders？〃　he
asked。　〃I　turned　my　back　to　you　intentionally；　I　wished　to　give　you
an　opportunity　for　carrying　out　your　heroic　deed。〃

〃What？〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　in　terror；　〃has　your　majesty　any　doubts
of　my　intentions？〃

〃No；〃　said　Napoleon；　laughing；　〃I　have　no　doubts　whatever　of　your
intentions；　on　the　contrary；　I　am　quite　sure　of　them。　I　know　that
you　have　come　hither　to　translate　the　Bible；　the　truth　of　which　has
been　questioned　so　often；　into　reality。　You　intended　to　make　of　the
chapter　of　Judith　and　Holofernes　a　tragedy　of　our　times。　But
although　you　are　as　beautiful　and　seductive　as　Judith；　I　am　no
Holofernes；　who　allows　himself　to　be　ruled　by　his　passion；　and
forgets　the　dictates　of　prudence　in　the　arms　of　a　woman。　I　never　was
the　slave　of　my　passions；　madame；　and　it　is　not　sufficient　for　a
woman　to　be　beautiful　in　order　to　win　my　heart；　I　must　be　able；　too；
to　esteem　her；　and　never　should　I　be　able　to　esteem　a　woman　capable
of　loving　the　conqueror　of　her　country。　You　see；　therefore；　that　I
am　no　Holofernes；　and　that　I　should　not　have　opened　my　arms　to　you
if　I　should　have　believed　you　to　be　a　recreant　daughter　of　your
country。　But　I　know　that　you　are　a　patriot；　and　that　alters　the
case：　I　know　that　I　may　esteem　you；　hence；　I　do　not　say　that　I
cannot　love　you；　for　it　is　true；　you　are　enchantingly　beautiful。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Marianne；　indignantly；　〃if　you　have　only　received　me　to
insult　and　mortify　me；　pray　permit　me　to　withdraw！〃

〃No；　I　have　received　you　because　I　wanted　to　give　you　good　advice；〃
said　Napoleon；　gravely；　〃I；　therefore；　pray　you　to　remain。　You　must
choose　your　servants　more　cautiously；　madame；　you　must　confide　in
them　less　and　watch　them　better；　for　slavish　souls　are　easily　led
astray；　and　money　is　a　magnet　they　are　unable　to　withstand。　Your
mistress　of　ceremonies　is　a　traitress；　beware　of　her！〃

〃Then　she　has　slandered　me？〃　asked　Marianne；　with　quivering　lips。

〃No；　she　has　only　betrayed　you；〃　said　Napoleon；　smiling。　〃Even　the
diamond　ring　which　you　gave　her　as　a　souvenir　did　not　touch　her
heart。　Do　you　yet　remember　what　you　said　to　her　when　you　handed　it
to　her？〃

〃Sire；　how　should　I　remember　it？〃　asked　Marianne。

〃Well；　I　will　repeat　it　to　you；〃　exclaimed　Napoleon；　unfolding　the
papers　which　M。　de　Vincennes　had　given　to　him；　and　which　he　had　kept
all　the　time　rolled　up　in　his　hand。　〃Here　it　is。　You　said：　'I　know
you　are　a　good　and　enthusiastic　Austrian；　like　myself；　you　hate　the
tyrant　who　wants　to　subjugate　us；　and　you　will　bless　the　hand　which
will　order　him　to　stop；　and　put　an　end　to　his　victorious　career。'
Well；　was　it　not　so；　madame？〃

Marianne　made　no　reply；　her　cheeks　were　pale；　and　her　eyes　stared　at
the　emperor；　who　looked　at　her　smilingly。

〃A　moment　before　you　had　concealed　a　flashing　object　in　your　bosom；〃
continued　Napoleon。　〃That　object　which　your　mistress　of　ceremonies
did　not　see　distinctly　was　a　dagger　which　you　had　bought　this
forenoon。　Shall　I　tell　you　where？〃He　glanced　again　at　the　papers；
and　then　said：　〃You　bought　this　dagger　in　a　gun　store　on　the
Kohlmarkt；　and　paid　four　ducats　for　it。　You　have　now　got　this　dagger
with　you；　truly；　it　occupies　an　enviable　hiding…place；　and　I　might
be　jealous　of　it。　Why　do　you　not　draw　it　forth　and　carry　out　your
purpose？　Do　you　really　believe　what　so　many　fools　have　said　about
me；　viz；　that　I　was　in　the　habit　of　wearing　a　coat…of…mail？　I　pledge
you　my　imperial　word；　my　breast　is　unprotected；　and　a　dagger　will
meet　with　no　resistance　provided　it　is　able　to　reach　my　breast。　Just
try　it！〃

Marianne；　who；　while　the　emperor　was　speaking；　had　dropped　on　a
chair　as　if　stupefied；　now　rose　impetuously。　〃Sire；〃　she　said；
proudly；　〃it　is　enough。　Your　officers　doubtless　await　me　in　the
adjoining　room；　in　order　to　arrest　me　like　a　criminal。　Permit　me　to
go　thither　and　surrender　to　them。〃

She　was　about　turning　toward　the　door；　but　Napoleon　seized　her　hand
and　kept　her　back。　〃Oh；　no；〃　he　said；　〃our　interview　is　not　yet
over；　it　has　scarcely　lasted　fifteen　minutes；　and　remember　that　M。
von　Brandt　would　consequently　get　only　fifteen　gold…pieces。　Ah；　you
look　at　me　in　surprise。　You　wonder　that　I　should　be　aware　of　that；
too？　I　am　no　magician；　however；　and　have　acquired　my　knowledge　of
this　laughable　incident　in　a　very　simple　manner。　Look　here；　this　is
the　written　agreement　you　gave　to　M。　von　Brandt！〃

He　offered　the　paper　to　Marianne；　she　did　not　take　it；　however；　but
only　glanced　at　it。　〃Your　majesty　may　see　from　it　how　ardently　I
longed　for　an　interview　with　you；〃　she　said。　〃Had　M。　von　Brandt
asked　half　my　fortune　for　this　interview　with　your　majesty；　I　should
have　joyfully　given　it　to　him；　for　an　hour　in　the　presence　of　your
majesty　is　worth　more　than　all　the　riches　of　the　world。〃

〃And　yet　you　were　going　to　leave　me　just　now！〃　exclaimed　Napoleon；
reproachfully。　〃How　ingenuous　that　would　have　been　toward　your
friend　who　is　standing　in　the　anteroom　with　Constant；　and；　watch　in
hand；　calculating　the　number　of　his　gold…pieces。　We　will　be　generous
and　grant　him　three　hours。　Three　hoursthat　is　a　good　time　for　a
rendezvous；　when　you　leave　me；　then；　you　will　pay　M。　von　Brandt　one
hundred　and　eighty　louis…d'or；　and　I　shall　receive　the
congratulations　of　my　confidants。〃

Marianne's　eyes　flashed　angrily；　and　a　deep　blush　mantled　her
cheeks。　〃Sire；〃　she　exclaimed　almost　menacingly；　〃call　your
officershave　me　arrested　like　a　criminaltake　my　life　if　I　have
deserved　it；　but　let　me　leave　this　room！〃

〃Ah；　you　would　die　rather　than　that　people　should　believe　you　had
granted　me　a　rendezvous　of　three　hours'　duration；〃　asked　Napoleon。
〃It　is　true；　this　rendezvous；　if　it　should　result　peacefully　and
without　the　eclat　which　you　hoped　for　when　you　came　hither　to　play
the　part　of　Judith；　would　discredit　you　with　your　friends！　Your
party　will　distrust　you　as　soon　as　it　learns　that；　after　being　three
hours　with　me；　you　left　Schonbrunn　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　while
I　was　not　found　on　my　couch　with　a　dagger　in　my　heart。　I　cannot
spare　you　this　humiliation；　it　shall　be　the　only　punishment　I　shall
inflict　on　you。　You　remain　here！〃

〃Sire；　let　me　go；〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　〃and　I　swear　to　you　that　I
will　never　dare　again　to　approach　you；　I　swear　to　you　that　I　will
live　in　some　remote　corner　in　the　most　profound　retirement；　far　from
the　noise　and　turmoil　of　the　world。〃

〃Oh；　the　world　would　never　forgive　me　if　I　should　deprive　it　in　this
manner　of　its　most　beautiful　ornament；〃　said　the　emperor；　smiling。
〃You　are　too　lovely　to　live　in　obscurity　and　solitude。　You　will　now
grant　me　three　hours；　and　you　are　free　to　tell　everybody　during　the
whole　remainder　of　your　life　that　you　hate　me；　but　it　is　true；
people　will　hardly　believe　in　the　sincerity　of　your　hatred。〃

〃Then　you　will　not　permit　me　to　withdraw？〃　asked　Marianne；　with
quivering　lips。　〃You　want　me　to　stay　here？〃

〃Only　three　hours；　madame；　then　you　may　go。　Let　us　improve　this　time
and　speak　frankly　and　honestly　to　each　other。　Forget　where　we　are；
imagine　we　were　the　heads　of　two　parties；　meeting　on　neutral　ground
and　telling　each　other　the　truth　with　respectful　frankness　for　the
purpose　of　thereby　bringing　about　peace；　if　possible。　Well；　then；
tell　me　honestly：　do　you　really　hate　me　so　ardently　as　to　have　come
hither　for　the　purpose　of　assassinating　me？〃

〃You　ask　me　to　tell　you　the　truth；〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　her　eyes
sparkling　with　anger；　〃well；　you　shall　hear　it！　Yes；　I　hate　you；　I
swore　to　you　in　Paris；　at　the　time　when　you　sent　me　like　a　criminal
to　the　frontier；　the　most　ardent　and　implacable　hatred；　and　in
accordance　with　my　oath　I　came　hither　to　accomplish　a　work　which
would　be　a　boon　for　Germany；　nay；　for　the　whole　world。　Yes；　I　wanted
to　assassinate　you；　I　wanted　to　deliver　the　world　from　the　tyrant
who　intends　to　enslave　it。　Yes；　I　had　concealed　a　dagger　in　my　bosom
to　kill　you　as　Judith　killed　Holofernes。　Had　I　accomplished　my
purpose；　the　world　would　have　blessed　me　and　paid　the　highest　honors
to　my　name；　but　now　that　I　have　failed　in　carrying　out　my　plan；　I
shall　be　laughed　and　sneered　at。　Now　I　have　told　you　the　truth；　and
in　order　that　you　may　not　doubt　it；　I　will　show　you　the　dagger　which
was　intended　for　your　breast；　and　which　I　shall　now　hurl　down　at
your　feet　as　the　dragon's　feet；　from　which　one　day　full…grown
warriors　will　spring　for　our　cause　in　order　to　combat　you。〃

She　drew　the　dagger　from　her　bosom；　and；　with　a　violent　gesture；
threw　it　at　Napoleon's　feet。　〃Sire；〃　she　then　asked；　in　an　imploring
voice；　〃will　you　not　yet　order　me　to　be　arrested？〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Napoleon；　〃Words　falling　from　the　lips　of　beautiful
women　are　never　insulting；　and　I　do　not　punish　thoughts　which　have
not　yet　become　actions。　Your　hands　are　free　from　guilt；　and　the　only
criminal　here　in　this　room　is　that　dagger　on　the　floor。　I　trample　it
under　foot；　and　it　is　unable　to　rise　any　more　against　me。〃

He　placed　his　foot　on　the　flashing　blade；　and　fixed　his　piercing
eyes　on　the　princess。　〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃when　you　came　to　me　in
Paris；　it　was　the　Count　de　Provence　who　had　sent　you。　He　sent　me　a
letter　through　you　at　that　time。　Tell　me；　did　he　send　me　this　dagger
to…day？〃

〃No；　I　will　take　the　most　solemn　oath　that　he　knows　nothing　about
it；〃　replied　Marianne。　〃Nobody　knew　of　my　undertaking；　I　had　no
confidants　and　no　accomplices。〃

〃You　had　only　your　own　hatred；　madame；〃　said　Napoleon；　musingly。
〃Why　do　you　hate　me　so　bitterly？　What　have　I　done　to　all　of　you　that
you　should　turn　away　from　me？〃

〃Why　I　hate　you？〃　asked　Marianne；　impetuously。　〃Because　you　have
come　to　trample　Germany　in　the　dust；　to　transform　her　into　a　French
province；　and　to　defraud　us　of　our　honor；　our　good　rights；　and