louisa of prussia and her times-第42部分

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the　magnificence　of　the　state　dinners；　where　the　most　enthusiastic
toasts　were　drunk　in　honor　of　the　victorious　French　general；　and　the
people　seemed　most　anxious　entirely　to　forget　poor；　suffering；　and
patient　Germany。

Josephine　participated　in　these　festivities　with　her　innate
cheerfulness　and　vivacity。　She　was　the　queen　of　every　party；　every
one　was　doing　homage　to　her；　every　one　was　bent　upon　flattering　her
in　order　to　catch　an　affable　word；　a　pleasant　glance　from　her；　and；
encouraged　by　her　unvaried　kindness；　to　solicit　her　intercession
with　her　husband；　in　whose　hands　alone　the　destinies　of　the　German
princes　and　their　states　now　seemed　to　lie。

But　while　Josephine's　radiant　smiles　were　delighting　every　one
while　she　was　promising　to　all　to　intercede　for　them　with　her
husband；　Bonaparte's　countenance　remained　grave　and　moody；　and　it
was　only　in　a　surly　mood　that　he　attended　the　festivals　that　were
given　in　his　honor。　His　threatening　glances　had　frequently　already
been　fixed　upon　his　wife；　and　those　moody　apprehensions；　ever　alive
in　his　jealous　breast；　had　whispered　to　him：　〃Josephine　has　deceived
you　again！　In　order　to　silence　your　reproaches；　she　invented　a
beautiful　story；　in　which　there　is　not　a　word　of　truth；　for　the
letter　that　was　to　call　you　back　to　Paris　does　not　arrive；　and　the
Directory　keeps　you　here　at　Rastadt。〃

And　while　he　was　indulging　in　such　reflections；　his　features　assumed
a　sinister　expression；　and　his　lips　muttered：　〃Woe　to　Josephine；　if
she　should　have　deceived　me！〃

Thus　the　fourth　day　had　arrived；　and　the　Bavarian　ambassador　was　to
give　a　brilliant　soiree。　Bonaparte　had　promised　to　be　present；　but
he　had　said　to　Josephine；　in　a　threatening　manner；　that　he　would
attend　only　if　the　expected　courier　from　Paris　did　arrive　in　the
course　of　the　day；　so　that　he　might　profit　by　the　Bavarian
ambassador's　party　to　take　leave　of　all　those　〃fawning　and　slavish
representatives　of　the　German　empire。〃

But　no　courier　had　made　his　appearance　during　the　whole　morning。
Bonaparte　had　retired　to　his　closet　and　was　pacing　the　room　like　an
angry　lion　in　his　cage。　All　at　once；　however；　the　door　was　hastily
opened；　and　Josephine　entered　with　a　radiant　face；　holding　in　her
uplifted　right　hand　a　large　sealed　letter。

〃Bonaparte！〃　she　shouted；　in　a　jubilant　voice；　〃can　you　guess　what　I
have　got　here？〃

He　ran　toward　her　and　wanted　to　seize　the　letter。　But　Josephine
would　not　let　him　have　it；　and　concealed　it　behind　her　back。　〃Stop；
my　dear　sir；〃　she　said。　〃First　you　must　beg　my　pardon　for　the　evil
thoughts　I　have　read　on　your　forehead　during　the　last　few　days。　Oh；
my　excellent　general；　you　are　a　poor　sinner；　and　I　really　do　not
know　if　I　am　at　liberty　to　grant　you　absolution　and　to　open　the
gates　of　paradise　to　you。〃

〃But　what　have　I　done；　Josephine？〃　he　asked。　〃Was　I　not　as　patient
as　a　lamb？　Did　I　not　allow　myself　to　be　led　like　a　dancing…bear　from
festival　to　festival？　Did　I　not　look　on　with　the　patience　of　an
angel　while　every　one　was　making　love　to　you；　and　while　you　were
lavishing　smiles　and　encouraging；　kind　glances　in　all　directions？〃

〃What　have　you　done；　Bonaparte？〃　she　retorted　gravely。　〃You　inwardly
calumniated　your　Josephine。　You　accused　her　in　your　heart；　and　day
and　night　the　following　words　were　written　on　your　forehead　in
flaming　characters：　'Josephine　has　deceived　me。'　Do　you　pretend　to
deny　it；　sir？〃

〃No；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃I　will　not　deny　any　thing；　dear；　lovely
expounder　of　my　heart！　I　confess　my　sins；　and　implore　your
forgiveness。　But　now；　Josephine；　be　kind　enough　not　to　let　me　wait
any　longer。　Let　me　have　the　letter！〃

〃Hush；　sir！　this　letter　is　not　directed　to　you；　but　to　myself；〃
replied　Josephine；　smiling。

Bonaparte　angrily　stamped　his　foot。　〃Not　to　me！〃　he　exclaimed；
furiously。　〃Then　is　it　not　from　the　Directoryit　does　not　call　me
back　from　Rastadt？〃

〃Hush；　Bonaparte！〃　said　Josephine；　smiling；　〃must　you　always
effervesce　like　the　stormy　sea　that　roared　around　your　cradle；　you
big　child？　Be　quiet　now；　and　let　me　read　the　letter　to　you。　Will　you
let　me　do　so？〃

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　said　Bonaparte；　hastily。　〃Read；　I　implore　you；　read！〃

Josephine　made　a　profound；　ceremonious　obeisance；　and　withdrawing
her　hand　with　the　letter　from　her　back；　she　unfolded　several　sheets
of　paper。

〃Here　is　first　a　letter　from　my　friend　Botot；〃　she　said；　〃just
listen：'Citoyenne　Generale：　The　Directory　wished　to　send　off　to…
day　a　courier　with　the　enclosed　dispatches　to　General　Bonaparte。　I
induced　the　gentlemen；　however；　to　intrust　that　dispatch　to　myself；
and　to　permit　me　to　send　it　to　you　instead　of　the　general。　It　is　to
yourself　chiefly　that　the　general　is　indebted　for　the　contents　of
this　dispatch　from　the　Directory。　It　is　but　just；　therefore；
Citoyenne；　that　you　should　have　the　pleasure　of　handing　it　to　him。
Do　so；　Citoyenne；　and　at　the　same　time　beg　your　husband　not　to
forget　your　and　his　friend。Botot。'　That　is　my　letter　Bonaparte；
and　here；　my　friend；　is　the　enclosure　for　yourself。　You　see；　I　am
devoid　of　the　common　weakness　of　woman；　I　am　not　inquisitive；　for
the　seal　is　not　violated；　as　you　may　see　yourself。〃

And　with　a　charming　smile　she　handed　the　letter　to　Bonaparte。　But　he
did　not　take　it。

〃Break　the　seal；　my　Josephine；〃　he　said；　profoundly　moved。　〃I　want
to　learn　the　contents　of　the　letter　from　your　lips。　If　it　should
bring　me　evil　tidings；　they　will　sound　less　harshly　when　announced
by　you；　is　it　joyful　news；　however；　your　voice　will　accompany　it
with　the　most　beautiful　music。〃

Josephine　nodded　to　him　with　a　tender　and　grateful　glance；　and
hastily　broke　the　seal。

〃Now　pray；　quick！　quick！〃　said　Bonaparte；　trembling　with　impatience。

Josephine　read：

〃The　executive　Directory　presumes；　citizen　general；　that　you　have
arrived　at　Rastadt。　It　is　impatient　to　see　and　to　weigh　with　you　the
most　important　interests　of　the　country。　Hence　it　desires　you　to
bring　the　exchanged　ratifications　personally　to　Paris；　and　to　inform
us　what　dispositions　you　have　taken　in　regard　to　the　occupation　of
Mentz　by　our　troops；　in　order　that　this　event　may　take　place　without
further　delay。　It　may　be；　however；　that　you　have　forwarded　this
intelligence　to　us　already　by　means　of　a　courier　or　an　aide…de…camp；
in　that　case　it　will　be　kept　secret　until　your　arrival。　The　journey
you　are　now　going　to　make　to　Paris　will　first　fulfil　the　sincere
desire　of　the　Directory　to　manifest　to　you　publicly　its　most
unbounded　satisfaction　with　your　conduct　and　to　be　the　first
interpreter　of　the　nation's　gratitude　toward　you。　Besides；　it　is
necessary　for　you　to　be　fully　informed　of　the　government's　views　and
intentions；　and　to　consider　in　connection　with　it　the　ultimate
consequences　of　the　great　operations　which　you　will　be　invited　to
undertake；　so　we　expect　you　immediately；　citizen　general。　The
executive　Directory　also　desires　you　to　indicate　to　the　returning
courier；　who　is　to　deliver　this　dispatch　to　you；　the　precise　day　of
your　arrival　at　Paris。〃

〃In　the　name　of　the　Directory：〃

〃Barkas。〃

〃We　shall　set　out　at　once！〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　radiant　with　joy。

〃In　order　to　arrive　together　with　the　courier？〃　asked　Josephine；
laughing；　〃and　to　lose　all　the　triumphs　which　the　grateful　country
is　preparing　for　you？　No；　my　impatient　friend；　you　will　patiently
remain　to…day　by　the　side　of　your　Josephine　and　we　shall　start　only
to…morrow。　Do　you　promise　it？〃

〃Well；　be　it　so！〃　he　exclaimed；　glowing　with　excitement；　〃we　will
set　out　to…morrow　for　Paris。　My　task　in　Italy　is　accomplished；　if　it
please　God；　there　will　be　new　work　for　me　at　Paris。〃

〃Your　enemies　will　soon　find　means　to　drive　you　away　from　the
capital；　if　you　should　be　incautious；　and　if　they　should　fear　lest
your　presence　might　become　dangerous　to　themselves。　Nothing　is　more
dangerous　to　small；　insignificant　souls　than　a　great　man。　Remember
that；　my　friend；　and　do　not　irritate　them。〃

Bonaparte　eagerly　grasped　her　hand。　〃Believe　me；〃　he　said；　in　a　low
voice；　〃as　soon　as　I　have　reached　Paris；　I　shall　know　what　line　of
policy　I　must　pursue　hereafter。　Two　years　shall　not　elapse　ere　the
whole　ridiculous　republican　edifice　will　be　overthrown。〃　＇Footnote：
〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；　p。　60。＇　〃And　then；〃　exclaimed
Josephine；　joyfully；　〃when　you　have　accomplished　thatwhen　you
stand　as　a　victorious　general　on　the　ruins　of　the　republicyou　will
reestablish　the　throne　over　them；　I　hope？〃

〃Yes；　I　will　reestablish　the　throne；〃　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's　own
words。〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；　p。　70。＇　said
Bonaparte；　enthusiastically。

〃And　your　arm　will　place　upon　this　throne　him　to　whom　this　throne　is
due。　Oh；　my　generous　and　noble　friend；　what　a　heavenly　day　it　will
be　when　the　King　of　France　by　your　side　makes　his　solemn　entry　into
Paris；　for　you　will　recall　the　legitimate　king；　Louis　XVIII。；　from
his　exile。〃

Bonaparte　stared　at　her　in　amazement。　〃Do　you　really　believe　that？〃
he　asked；　with　a　peculiar　smile。

〃I　have　no　doubt　of　it；〃　she　said；　innocently。　〃Bonaparte　can　do
whatever　he　wishes　to　do。　He　has　overthrown　thrones　in　Italy；　he　can
reestablish　the　throne　in　France。　I　repeat；　Bonaparte　can　do
whatever　he　wishes　to　do。〃

〃And　do　you　know；　then；　you　little　fool；　do　you　know　what　I　really
wish　to　do？〃　he　asked。　〃I　wish　to　be　the　great　regulator　of　the
destinies　of　Europe；　or　the　first　citizen　of　the　globe。　I　feel　that
I　have　the　strength　to　overthrow　every　thing　and　to　found　a　new
world。　The　astonished　universe　shall　bow　to　me　and　be　compelled　to
submit　to　my　laws。　Then　I　shall　make　the　villains　tremble；　who
wished　to　keep　me　away　from　my　country。　＇Footnote：　Le　Normand；　vol。
1。；　p。　347。＇　I　have　made　the　beginning　already；　and　this　miserable
government　has　to　call　me　back　to　Paris　notwithstanding　its　own
secret　hostility。　Soon　it　shall　be　nothing　but　a　tool　in　my　hands；
and　when　I　do　not　need　this　tool　any　longer；　I　shall　destroy　it。
This　government　of　lawyers　has　oppressed　France　long　enough。　It　is
high　time　for　us　to　drive　it　away。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme
d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；　p。　70。＇

〃Hush；　Bonaparte；　for　God's　sake；　hush！〃　said　Josephine；　anxiously。
〃Let　no　one　here　suspect　your　plans；　for