louisa of prussia and her times-第85部分

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reply；　Josephine；　when　this　was　communicated　to　you？〃

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

〃Well；〃　said　Bonaparte；　whose　face　now　assumed　a　grave；　stern
expression；　〃you　might　have　replied；　for　instance；　that　the　pedestal
of　this　beautiful　column　would　have　to　be　the　corpse　of　the　First
Consul。〃　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's　own　words。Ibid。；　vol。　ii。；　p。
337。＇

〃Oh；　Bonaparte；　what　a　dreadful　idea　that　is！〃　exclaimed　Josephine；
in　dismay〃dreadful　and　withal　untrue；　for　did　not　the　Count
d'Artois　say　the　Bourbons　would　appoint　you　Connetable　of　France？〃

〃Yes；　just　as　Charles　II。　of　England　conferred　the　title　of　duke　on
Monk。　I　am　no　Monk；　nor　am　I　a　Cromwell。　I　have　not　injured　a　single
hair　on　the　head　of　the　Bourbons；　and　my　hand　has　not　been　stained
by　a　drop　of　the　blood　of　the　unfortunate　king　who　had　to　atone　for
the　sins　of　his　predecessors。　He　had　ruined　France；　I　saved　her；　and
the　example　of　Monk　teaches　me　to　be　cautious；　for　the　English
people　had　confided　in　him；　and　he　gave　them　a　king　who　made　them
unhappy　and　oppressed　them　for　twenty　years；　and　finally　caused　a
new　revolution；　I　want　to　preserve　France　from　the　horrors　of　a　new
revolution；　hence　I　do　not　want　to　become　another　Monk。〃

〃And　who　should　dare　to　compare　you　with　Monk　or　Cromwell；　general？〃
exclaimed　Marianne。　〃If　there　is　a　man　worthy　to　be　compared　with
the　first　consul　of　France；　it　is　only　the　great　Washington；　the
liberator　of　America。〃

〃Ah；　you　think　so　because　we　are　both　presiding　over　a　republic；〃
replied　Bonaparte；　with　a　sarcastic　smile。　〃As　I　do　not　want　to　be　a
Monk；　it　is　hoped　that　I　shall　be　a　Washington。　Words　cost　nothing；
and　those　who　utter　them　so　easily　do　not　consider　whether　the
circumstances　of　the　two　nations；　the　time　and　occasion　may　be　as
well　compared　with　each　other　as　those　two　names。　If　I　were　in
America；　it　would　be　my　highest　glory　to　be　another　Washington；　and
I　should　deserve　but　little　credit　for　it；　after　all；　for　I　do　not
see　how　one　could　reasonably　pursue　there　any　other　course。　But　if
Washington　had　been　in　France；　with　its　convulsions　within　and　an
invasion　from　abroad；　I　should　not　have　deemed　it　advisable　for　him
to　be　himself；　if　he　had　insisted　upon　remaining　himself；　he　would
have　been　an　idol；　and　only　prolonged　the　misfortunes　of　France
instead　of　saving　the　country。〃

〃You　confess；　then；　that　France　ought　not　to　remain　a　republic？〃
asked　Josephine；　joyfully。　〃You　want　to　restore　the　monarchy？〃

〃Wait　for　the　things　to　come；〃　said　Bonaparte；　gravely。　〃To　ask　me
prematurely　to　do　things　incompatible　with　the　present　state　of
affairs　would　be　foolish；　if　I　should　announce　or　promise　them　it
would　look　like　charlatanry　and　boasting；　and　I　am　not　addicted　to
either。〃

〃But　you　give　us　hopes；　at　least；　that　you　will　do　so　one　day；　when
the　time　has　come；　I　suppose；　my　friend？〃　said　Josephine；　tenderly。
〃You　will　not　let　this　beautiful　lady　depart　from　Paris　without　a
kind　and　comforting　reply？　She　will　not　have　entered　the　Tuileries；
the　house　of　the　kings；　in　order　to　be　obliged　to　inform　on　her
return　those　to　whom　it　justly　belongs　that　there　is　no　longer　any
room　for　them　under　the　roof　which　their　fathers　have　built。　I　am
sure；　Bonaparte；　you　will　not　send　such　a　reply　to　the　legitimate
King　of　France　from　HIS　OWN　rooms。〃

Josephine；　glowing　with　excitement；　had　risen　from　her　seat；
stepping　close　up　to　Bonaparte；　she　encircled　his　neck　with　her
beautiful　arms；　and　laid　her　charming　head　on　his　shoulder。

〃Oh；　Josephine；　what　are　you　doing？〃　ejaculated　Bonaparte；　angrily。
〃Will　not　the　princess　tell　the　Count　de　Provence　that　the　Tuileries
are　now　inhabited　by　a　downright　bourgeois　and　hen…pecked　husband；
who　treats　his　wife　sentimentally　even　in　the　presence　of　other
persons；　and　in　return　for　her　caresses　has　always　to　comply　with
her　wishes？　And　shall　we　not　be　laughed　at；　my　child？〃

〃I　should　like　to　see　the　Titan　who　would　dare　to　laugh　at　the　First
Consul！〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　eagerly。　〃You　would　do　like　Jove；　you
would　hurl　down　the　audacious　scoffer　into　the　abyss　with　a　flash
from　your　eyes。〃

Bonaparte　fixed　so　long　and　glowing　a　look　on　the　princess　that
Marianne　blushed；　while　the　jealous　heart　of　Josephine　began　to
ache。

〃Bonaparte；　state　the　reply　you　are　going　to　make　to　the　Count　de
Provence；〃　she　said；　anxious　to　withdraw　his　attention　from　the
contemplation　of　this　fascinating　beauty。

〃A　reply？〃　asked　Bonaparte。　〃What　shall　I　reply　to？〃

〃General；　to　this　letter；　which　the　Count　de　Provence　has　intrusted
to　me；　and　which　I　have　solemnly　pledged　myself　to　deliver　to　you
personally；〃　said　Marianne；　handing　Bonaparte　a　sealed　paper；　with
an　imploring　glance。

Bonaparte　did　not　take　it　at　once；　but　looked　sternly　at　the　two
ladies　who　stood　before　him；　turning　their　beautiful　and　deeply
moved　faces　toward　him　with　an　air　of　supplication。

〃It　is　a　perfect　conspiracy；　then；　ladies？　A　complete　surprise　of
the　fortress？〃　he　asked。　〃You　want　to　compel　me　forcibly　to　open　the
gates　of　my　eyes　to　you？　Do　you　not　know；　then；　Josephine；　that　I
have　sworn　not　to　accept　any　letters　from　the　Pretender；　in　order
not　to　be　obliged　to　make　a　harsh　reply　to　him？〃

〃Keep　your　oath；　then；〃　said　Josephine；　smiling；　〃do　not　accept　the
letter；　but　permit　me　to　do　so；　and　let　me　read　the　contents　of　the
letter　to　you。〃

〃Oh；　women；　women！〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　smiling。　〃They　are　born
sophists；　and　I　believe　they　would　be　able　to　outwit　the　devil
himself！　Well；　I　will　comply　with　your　request；　take　the　letter　and
read　it　to　me。〃

Josephine　uttered　a　joyful　cry；　and　took　the　letter　from　Marianne's
hands。　While　she　broke　the　seal　and　unfolded　the　paper；　Bonaparte
had　risen　from　his　arm…chair；　and　commenced　slowly　pacing　the　room。
He　knew；　perhaps；　that　Marianne's　eyes　were　fixed　upon　him　with　a
searching　expression；　and　her　glances　were　disagreeable　to　him。

Josephine　read　as　follows：

〃Men　like　you；　sir；　never　inspire　suspicion　and　uneasiness；　whatever
their　conduct　may　be。　You　have　accepted　the　exalted　position　which
the　French　people　offered　to　you；　and　I　am　grateful　to　you　for　so
doing。　You　know　better　than　anybody　else　how　much　strength　and　power
are　required　to　secure　the　happiness　of　a　great　nation。　Save　France
from　her　own　fury；　and　you　will　have　fulfilled　the　foremost　and
greatest　desire　of　my　heart；　restore　her　king　to　her；　and　future
generations　will　bless　your　memory。　But　you　hesitate　very　long　to
give　my　throne　back　to　me；　and　I　almost　fear　you　will　allow　the
opportunity　to　pass　by　unimproved。　Hasten；　therefore；　and　designate
the　positions　you　desire　for　yourself　and　for　your　friends。　You　will
always　be　too　indispensable　to　the　state　for　me　ever　to　be　able　to
discharge　the　obligations　of　my　ancestors　and　my　own；　even　by　means
of　the　most　influential　positions。　My　character；　as　well　as　motives
of　sound　policy；　will　induce　me　to　pursue　a　liberal　course。　We　are
able　to　secure　the　happiness　of　France。　I　say　we；　for　you　cannot
secure　the　happiness　of　France　without　me；　and　I　cannot　do　any　thing
for　France　without　you。　General；　Europe　has　fixed　her　eyes　on　you；
and　immortal　glory　awaits　you。〃　＇Footnote：　This　letter　is
historical。Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　vii。；　p。　393。＇

〃Always　the　same　strain；〃　muttered　Bonaparte；　〃always　the　story　of
the　column　surmounted　by　the　statue　of　the　First　Consul　crowning　the
Bourbons；　while　his　bleeding　corpse　is　to　be　the　foundation　of　the
column！〃

〃He　is　reflecting；〃　whispered　Josephine　to　the　princess。　〃That
shows；　at　least；　that　he　has　not　yet　made　up　his　mind　to　reject　the
offer　of　the　Count　de　Provence。〃

At　this　moment　Bonaparte　turned　toward　the　two　ladies　and　approached
them　rapidly。

〃Are　you　authorized　to　receive　my　reply？〃　he　asked；　turning　his
gloomy　eyes　toward　the　princess。

〃I　shall　feel　happy　and　honored　by　any　message　you　may　be　pleased　to
intrust　to　me；〃　said　Marianne。

Bonaparte　nodded　to　her。

〃Will　you　permit　me　to　write　a　letter　here；　Josephine？〃　he　asked。
Instead　of　making　a　reply；　Josephine　hastened　to　her　desk；　in　order
to　take　out　some　paper；　to　draw　a　chair　to　the　table；　and　then　to
hand　the　pen　to　Bonaparte；　with　a　fascinating　smile。　When　he
commenced　writing；　she　supported　herself　in　breathless　suspense　on
the　back　of　his　arm…chair　and　looked　over　the　Consul's　shoulder；
while　the　Princess　von　Eibenberg；　standing　not　far　from　them；　looked
at　both　with　sparkling　eyes。

Bonaparte　hastily　wrote　a　few　lines；　threw　the　pen　aside；　and
turning　around　to　Josephine；　he　handed　her　the　letter。

〃There；　read　it；〃　he　said；　〃and　read　it　aloud；　so　that　the　beautiful
emissary　of　your　M。　de　Bourbon　may　learn　my　reply；　and　know　the
contents　of　the　message　she　is　to　deliver　to　him。〃

Josephine　took　the　paper；　and　read；　in　a　tremulous　voice；　frequently
interrupted　by　her　sighs：

〃I　have　received　the　letter　of　your　royal　highness；　I　have
constantly　felt　a　lively　sympathy　for　you　and　for　the　misfortunes　of
your　family。　But　your　royal　highness　must　not　think　of　coming　to
France；　you　would　have　to　pass　over　a　hundred　thousand　corpses
before　reaching　it。　In　other　respects；　I　shall　constantly　take　pains
to　do　whatever　will　be　calculated　to　alleviate　your　condition　and　to
make　you　forget　your　misfortunes。〃

〃Well；　Josephine；　you　are　silent？〃　asked　Bonaparte；　when　she　ceased
reading。　〃You　are　dissatisfied　with　my　letter？　And　you；　too；　madame；
have　a　dark　shadow　on　your　beautiful　face！　How　could　you　expect
another　answer　from　me？〃

〃General；　I　believe　the　royal　princes　really　hoped　for　another
answer；〃　said　Marianne；　heaving　a　sigh。

〃And　what　justified　such　a　hope？〃　asked　Bonaparte；　sternly　〃What
have　I　done　to　give　rise　to　such　chimeras？〃

〃General；　the　favorable　answer　you　gave　to　Prussia〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Bonaparte；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃the　wind　is　blowing
in　that　direction；　then？　Prussia　asked　me　if　she　would　cause　us　any
trouble　by　tolerating　the　French　princes　within　her　boundaries。　I
replied　in　the　negative；　and　when　Prussia　went　further　and　asked
whether　we　should　feel　offended　or　not；　if　she　paid　an　annual
pension　to