louisa of prussia and her times-第84部分

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master。　He　has　strictly　ordered　me　to　receive　no　stranger　unless　he
has　given　me　permission　to　do　so；　and　all　friends　of　mine；　whom　he
knew　to　be　enthusiastic　royalists；　have　already　been　banished　by
him。　I　must　feign　to　forget　all　I　owe　to　friendship　and　gratitude；
and　yet　all　those　cherished　reminiscences　will　never　be　effaced　from
my　heart。　But　I　must　obey　my　master；　for　Bonaparte　is　no　longer　only
my　husband；　but　he　is　also　my　master。　Thus　impeded　in　all　her
inclinations；　the　wife　of　the　First　Consul　must　swallow　her　grief
and　seem　ungrateful；　although　she　is　not。　State　it　to　those　who
believe　my　fate　to　be　an　enviable　one；　state　it　to　the　Count　de
Provence；　who　deems　my　influence　greater　than　it　really　is。　He　is；
and　always　remains　for　me；　the　legitimate　king　of　France；　and　I　call
God　to　witness　that　I　do　not　long　for　the　crown　which　is　his
legitimate　property。　I　call　God　to　witness　that　I　have　improved
every　opportunity　to　promote　the　interests　of　the　Count　de　Provence；
and　that　I　have　always　taken　pains　to　remind　Bonaparte　of　his　duty
to　his　legitimate　king。　But　my　success　has　been　insignificant；　and
to…day　for　the　first　time　since　a　long　while　I　dare　again　to
entertain　a　glimmer　of　hope。　Bonaparte　knew　that　I　wanted　to　receive
you　to…day；　and　he　did　not　forbid　it；　although　he　had　already　been
informed　that　the　Princess　von　Eibenberg　was　highly　esteemed　as　a
devoted　friend　at　the　court　of　Coblentz；　that　she　had　made　a　journey
to　Mitau　for　the　express　purpose　of　seeing　the　Count　de　Provence；
that　she　had　been　sent　by　the　latter　with　letters　and　messages　to
Paris；　and　that　the　Duke　d'Enghien；　who　some　time　ago　had　secretly
been　at　Vienna；　had　been　every　day　at　your　house。〃

〃What！　The　First　Consul　is　aware　of　all　that？〃　asked　Marianne；
wonderingly。

〃His　spies　serve　him　well；〃　said　Josephine；　heaving　a　sigh；　〃and
Bonaparte　has　got　spies　everywhere；　even　here　in　the　Tuileries；　here
in　my　own　roomsand　I　should　not　wonder　if　he　should　learn　even
within　the　next　quarter　of　an　hour　what　we　have　conversed　about
here；　although　it　may　have　seemed　to　us　as　though　we　were　alone。〃

〃But　if　the　First　Consul　learns　that　the　Count　de　Provence　wants　to
avail　himself　of　my　services　for　the　purpose　of　promoting　his
interests　here　in　Paris；　and　if　he　has；　nevertheless；　permitted　you
to　receive　me；　it　seems　to　me　a　favorable　symptom；〃　said　Marianne
Eibenberg；　musingly。

〃Of　course；　he　has　some　object　in　view　in　permitting　it；〃　replied
Josephine；　sighing；　〃but　who　knows　what？　I　am　unable　to　fathom　his
intentions；　I　content　myself　with　loving　him；　admiring　him；　and
endeavoring　cautiously　to　lead　him　back　to　the　path　of　duty。　But
hush！〃　she　interrupted　herself　all　at　once；　〃I　hear　steps　in　the
small　corridor。　It　is　Bonaparte！　He　comes　hither。　He　will　see　that　I
have　wept；　and　he　will　be　angry　with　me！〃

And　after　breathing　into　her　handkerchief　in　anxious　haste；
Josephine　pressed　it　against　her　eyes；　and　whispered　tremblingly；
〃Can　it　be　seen　that　I　have　wept？〃

Marianne　was　about　replying　to　her；　when　quick　steps　were　heard　in
the　adjoining　room。　〃He　is　coming；〃　whispered　Josephine；　and　she
rose　from　the　sofa　for　the　purpose　of　going　to　meet　her　husband。　He
just　opened　the　door　by　a　quick　pressure　of　his　hand　and　appeared　on
the　threshold。　His　eyes　swept　with　a　quick　glance　over　the　room　and
seemed　to　pierce　every　corner；　a　slight　cloud　covered　his　expansive
marble　forehead；　his　thin　lips　were　firmly　compressed；　and　did　not
show　the　faintest　tinge　of　a　smile。

〃Ah；　I　did　not　know　that　there　was　a　visitor　with　you；　Josephine；〃
he　said；　bowing　to　Marianne；　who　returned　his　salutation　by　a　deep
and　reverential　obeisance；　and　then　fixed　her　large　dark　eyes　upon
him　with　an　air　of　admiration。

〃My　friend；〃　said　Josephine；　with　a　fascinating　smile；　〃the　Princess
von　Eibenberg　has　been　recommended　to　me　by　persons　of　the　highest
distinction；　and　I　confess　that　I　am　very　grateful　to　those　who　gave
me　an　opportunity　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　this　beautiful　and
agreeable　lady。　It　is　true；　I　hear　that　the　princess　is　a　native　of
Germany；　but　she　has　got　the　heart　of　a　Frenchwoman；　and　speaks　our
language　better　than　many　of　the　ladies　whom　I　hear　here　in　the
Tuileries。〃

〃Ah；　she　doubtless　speaks　that　language　of　ancient　France；　which
always　pleases　you　so　well；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　and　now　there
appeared　on　his　finely　formed　lips　a　smile；　illuminating　and
beautifying　his　face　like　sunshine。　〃I　suppose；　madame；〃　he　said；
suddenly　turning　to　Marianne；　〃you　have　come　hither　in　order　to
bring　to　my　dear　Josephine　greetings　from　a　cavalier　of　that　ancient
France　which　has　forever　fallen　to　ruins？〃

〃No；　general；〃　said　Marianne；　whose　radiant　eyes　were　constantly　and
fearlessly　fixed　on　Bonaparte〃no；　general；　I　have　come　hither　in
order　to　admire　the　New　France；　and　never　shall　I　be　able　to　thank
Madame　Bonaparte　sufficiently　for　the　happiness　she　has　procured　me
at　this　moment。　It　is　the　first　time　in　my　life　that　I　have　been
able　to　see　a　great　man；　a　hero！〃

〃And　yet　you　were　in　Loudon　and　Mitau　and　there　saw　the　Counts
d'Artois　and　Provence；〃　replied　Bonaparte；　sitting　down　in　an　arm…
chair　by　Marianne's　side；　and　requesting　the　ladies　by　a　wave　of　his
hand　to　resume　their　seats　on　the　sofa。

〃And　in　Loudon；　in　Mitau；　in　Coblentz；　everywhere　they　admire　the
hero　who　has　risen　like　a　new　sun　with　the　young　century！〃　said
Marianne；　with　irresistible　grace。

〃Those　gentlemen　of　ancient　France　spoke　of　me；　then？〃　asked
Bonaparte。　〃You　see；　madame；　I　speak　without　circumlocution。　I　am
nothing　but　a　good　soldier；　and　always　strike　directly　at　my　aim。　I
have　been　told　that　you　have　come　hither　as　an　emissary　of　the
Bourbons；　and　I　confess　to　you　that　to…day　for　the　first　time　I　feel
grateful　to　those　gentlemen；　for　they　have　made　a　very　beautiful
selection。　The　emissaries　sent　hither　heretofore　were　less　beautiful
and　less　amiable。　Those　Bourbons　know　the　foibles　of　the　male　heart
better　than　anybody　else；　and　they　want　to　fascinate　me　in　order　to
seduce　me　afterward　the　more　surely。〃

〃Pardon　me；　general；　they　were　not　so　bold　as　that；〃　said　the
princess；　smiling。　〃Let　me　say　that　I　am　not　gifted　with　the　magic
power　of　Armida；　nor　are　you　with　the　sentimental　weakness　of
Rinaldo。〃

〃You　do　not　deem　me　worthy　to　be　compared　with　Rinaldo？〃　asked
Bonaparte；　casting　so　glowing　a　glance　on　the　fair　emissary　that
Josephine　almost　regretted　having　brought　this　fascinating　beauty　in
contact　with　her　husband。

〃I　do　not　deem　Rinaldo　worthy　to　be　compared　with　Bonaparte；〃　said
the　princess；　with　a　charming　smile。　〃Rinaldo　did　not　conquer　any
countries；　he　did　not　cross　the　bridge　of　Arcole；　holding　aloft　the
waving　colors；　he　did　not　see　the　pyramids　of　Egypt；　he　did　not
conquer　at　Marengo！〃

〃Ah；　madame；　you　seem　to　have　a　good　memory；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；
merrily；　〃and　you　do　not　only　know　ancient　France；　but　are　also
quite　familiar　with　her　recent　history。〃

〃General；　it　is　owing　to　you　that　the　history　of　France　is　that　of
the　whole　world；　and　that　the　victories　of　France　signify　the　defeat
of　the　remainder　of　Europe。　But　you　have　brought　about　an　even
greater　miracle；　for　those　whom　you　have　vanquished　do　not　hate　you
for　it；　but　they　admire　you；　and　while　cursing　their　own　misfortune；
they　are　astonished　at　your　heroism　and　surpassing　greatness　as　a
military　chieftain。　There　is　no　one　who　does　not　share　this　feeling
of　admiration；　and　there　is　no　one　who　entertains　it　in　a　livelier
manner　than　the　two　men　who　have　reason　to　complain　most　of　France；
and　who　do　so　least！〃

〃Ah；　you　skilfully　return　to　the　charge；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；
smiling。　〃You　would　make　a　good　general：　you　make　a　short　cut　on　the
field　of　flattery　and　so　reach　the　more　rapidly　the　straight　road　on
which　you　want　to　meet　the　Counts　de　Provence　and　Artois　in　order　to
praise　them　before　me。〃

〃No；　Bonaparte；〃　said　Josephine；　hastily；　〃the　princess；　on　the
contrary；　wishes　to　tell　you　how　those　gentlemen　praise　you；　and
with　how　much　admiration　they　speak　of　you。Oh；　pray；　madame；
repeat　to　Bonaparte　what　the　Count　d'Artois　told　you　the　other　day；
and　mention　the　honors　and　distinctions　he　would　like　to　confer　on
my　husband。〃

〃Well；　I　should　really　like　to　know　the　honors　and　distinctions
which　that　little　emigre；　M。　de　Bourbon；　is　able　to　confer　on　the
First　Consul　of　France；〃　said　Bonaparte；　with　a　sarcastic　smile。
〃Tell　me；　madame；　what　did　the　Count　d'Artois　say；　and　what　that
statement　of　yours　is　that　has　filled　the　ambitious　heart　of　Madame
Bonaparte　with　so　much　delight？〃

〃Oh；　you　want　to　mock　me；　my　friend；〃　said　Josephine；　reproachfully。

〃By　no　means；　I　am　in　dead　earnest；　and　should　like　to　know　what　the
pretenders　did　say　about　me。　State　to　us；　then；　madame；　with　your
seductive　voice；　the　tempting　promises　of　the　Bourbons。〃

〃General；　there　was　no　talk　of　promises；　but　of　the　admiration　the
Count　d'Artois　felt　for　you；〃　said　Marianne；　almost　timidly；　and
with　downcast　eyes。　〃We　conversed　about　politics　in　general；　and
Madame　de　Guiche；　in　her　charming　innocence；　took　the　liberty　to　ask
the　Count　d'Artois　how　the　First　Consul　of　France　might　be　rewarded
in　case　he　should　restore　the　Bourbons。〃

〃Ah；　you　conversed　about　this　favorite　theme　of　the　emigres；　about
the　restoration　question！〃　said　Bonaparte；　shrugging　his　shoulders。
〃And　what　did　the　prince　reply？〃

〃The　Count　d'Artois　replied：　'In　the　first　place；　we　should　appoint
the　first　consul　Connetable　of　France；　if　that　would　be　agreeable　to
him。　But　we　should　not　believe　that　that　would　be　a　sufficient
reward；　we　should　erect　on　the　Place　du　Carrousel　a　lofty　and
magnificent　column　to　be　surmounted　by　a　statue　of　Bonaparte
crowning　the　Bourbons！'〃　＇Footnote：　Las　Cases；　〃Memorial　de　Sainte…
Helene；〃　vol。　i。；　p。　337。＇

〃Is　not　that　a　beautiful　and　sublime　idea？〃　exclaimed　Josephine；
joyfully；　while　the　princess　searchingly　fixed　her　eyes　on
Bonaparte's　face。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　calmly；　〃it　is　a　very　sublime　idea；　but　what　did　you
reply；　Josephine；　when　this　was　communicated　to　you？〃

〃What　did　I　reply？〃　asked　Josephine。　〃Good　Heaven！　what　should　I
have　r