louisa of prussia and her times-第86部分

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whether　we　should　feel　offended　or　not；　if　she　paid　an　annual
pension　to　the　Bourbons；　I　permitted　even　that　on　condition　that　the
princes　remained　quiet　and　did　not　carry　on　any　intrigues。　They
believed；　then；　that　because　I　suffered　distressed　persons　to　be
relieved　and　an　asylum　to　be　granted　to　the　homeless；　I　should　be
ready；　also；　to　make　the　beggars　masters　again；　and　to　lay　France　at
the　feet　of　the　exiles！〃

〃Bonaparte；　your　words　are　very　harsh　and　very　unjust；〃　exclaimed
Josephine；　sadly。

〃They　may　be　harsh；　but　they　are　true；〃　he　said；　sternly。　〃I　will
not　permit　them　to　entertain　any　illusions　concerning　myself；　hence
I　have　spoken　so　long　and　plainly。　It　would　be　harsh　and　cruel　to
hold　out　hopes　to　the　Bourbons　which　I　shall　never　fulfil。　France　is
lost　to　them；　and　they　will　never　recover　her。　State　that　to　the
princes　who　have　sent　you　to　me；　madame。　Let　the　Bourbons　be　on
their　guard；　for　France　is　wide　awake　and　keeps　her　eyes　and　ears
open。　I　am　willing　to　forgive　that　little　Duke　d'Enghien　for　not
considering　me　a　great　general；　and　for　criticising　my　exploits；　but
I　should　neither　forgive　him　nor　either　of　his　uncles　in　case　they
should　try　to　trouble　France　with　their　senseless　schemes。　I　know
that　the　Bourbons　have　long　been　trying　to　find　means　and　ways　to
reconquer　the　sceptre　of　St。　Louis。　So　long　as　their　schemes　are
floating　in　the　air　like　cobwebs；　I　forgive　them；　but　if　they　intend
to　act；　let　them　weigh　the　consequences！　He　who　menaces　France　is　a
traitor；　whatever　may　be　his　name；　and　traitors　will　be　punished　to
the　full　extent　of　the　law。　State　that　to　the　Bourbons；　madame；
state　it　especially　to　the　Duke　d'Enghien。　And　now　be　kind　enough　to
deliver　my　reply　to　the　Count　de　Provence。　When　do　you　intend　to
start？〃

〃In　a　few　days；　general。〃

〃Oh；　that　will　not　do。　That　poor　Count　de　Provence　will　be　eager　to
get　a　reply；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃and　it　would　be　very　cruel　not　to
transmit　it　to　him　as　soon　as　possible。　You　especially　will　not　wish
to　make　him　wait；　and　I　therefore　advise　you　to　set　out　to…day；
within　the　next　hour！　I　shall　issue　orders　that　horses　be　kept　in
readiness　for　you；　and　in　order　that　you　may　not　be　detained
anywhere；　I　shall　instruct　two　officers　to　escort　you　to　the
frontier。　Hasten；　therefore；　madame；　in　half　an　hour　everything　will
be　ready　for　your　departure。〃

He　nodded　to　her；　and　left　the　room。

The　two　ladies　were　alone　again　and　looked　at　each　other　with
mournful　eyes。　Marianne's　face　was　pale；　a　gloomy　fire　was　burning
in　her　eyes；　and　a　contemptuous　smile　was　visible　on　her　lips。
Josephine　seemed　greatly　embarrassed；　and　her　gentle　eyes　were
filled　with　tears。

〃I　am　to　be　transported　beyond　the　frontier　like　a　criminal！〃
ejaculated　Marianne　at　last；　in　a　voice　trembling　with　anger。　〃I　am
to　be　treated　like　a　dangerous　intriguer；　and　yet　I　have　only
delivered　a　letter　which　had　been　intrusted　to　me　by　the　king。〃

〃Forgive　him；〃　said　Josephine；　imploringly。　〃He　has　been　prejudiced
against　you；　and　the　numerous　plots　and　conspiracies；　which　have
already　been　discovered；　cause　him　to　deem　rigorous　precautions
altogether　indispensable。　But　I　beg　you　especially　not　to　be　angry
with　me；　and　pray　beseech　the　Count　de　Provence　not　to　hold　me
responsible　for　the　deplorable　message　you　are　to　deliver　to　him。　I
have　opened　my　heart　to　you；　and　you　know　it　to　be　filled　with　the
most　faithful　devotion　and　with　the　most　reverential　affection　for
the　unfortunate　prince；　but　I　am　not　strong　enough　to　change　his
fate；　I〃

Just　then　the　door　opened；　M。　de　Bourrienne；　chief　of　the　cabinet　of
the　First　Consul；　made　his　appearance　and　approached　the　princess
with　a　respectful　bow。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃the　First　Consul　sends　you　word　that　every　thing
is　ready　for　your　departure；　and　he　has　instructed　me　to　conduct　you
to　your　carriage。〃

Josephine　uttered　a　groan；　and；　sinking　down　on　a　chair；　she　covered
her　face　with　her　handkerchief　in　order　to　conceal　her　tears。

Marianne　had　now　recovered　her　proud　and　calm　bearing；　and　a　bold
and　defiant　smile　played　again　on　her　lips。　She　approached　Josephine
with　soft　and　quiet　steps。

〃Farewell；　madame；〃　she　said。　〃I　shall　faithfully　report　to　the
Count　de　Provence　every　thing　I　have　seen　and　heard　here；　and　he
will　venerate　and　pity　you　as　I　shall　always　do。　May　the　First
Consul　never　regret　what　he　is　doing　now；　and　may　he　not　be　obliged
one　day　to　leave　France　in　the　same　manner　as　he　compels　me　to
depart　from　Paris！　Come；　sir；　accompany　me；　as　it　cannot　be　helped！〃

And　drawing　herself　up　to　her　full　height　and　as　proud　as　a　queen；
Marianne；　princess　of　Eibenberg；　walked　toward　the　door。

Josephine　followed　her　with　her　tearful　eyes；　which　she　then　raised
to　heaven。　〃Oh；　my　God；　my　God；〃　she　whispered；　〃ordain　it　in　Thy
mercy　that　my　worst　forebodings　may　not　be　fulfilled！　Guide
Bonaparte's　heart　and　prevent　him　from　going　on　in　his　ambition；
from　stretching　out　his　hand　for　the　crown　of　the　Bourbons；　and　from
staining　his　glory　with　the　blood　ofOh；　Thou　knowest　my　fears；
Thou　knowest　what　I　mean；　and　what　my　lips　dare　not　utter。　Protect
Bonaparte；　and　guide　his　heart！〃




CHAPTER　XLI。

TWO　GERMAN　SAVANTS。


A　Post…chaise；　drawn　by　four　horses；　had　just　driven　up　to　the　hotel
of　The　German　Emperor；　the　first　and　most　renowned　inn　in　the　city
of　Frankfort…on…the…Main。　The　porter　rang　the　door…bell　as　loudly
and　impetuously　as　he　only　used　to　do　on　the　arrival　of　aristocratic
and　wealthy　guests。　Hence　the　waiters　rushed　to　the　door　in　the
greatest　haste；　and　even　the　portly　and　well…dressed　landlord　did
not　deem　it　derogatory　to　his　dignity　to　leave　the　dining…room；　for
the　purpose　of　welcoming　the　stranger　in　the　post…chaise；　drawn　by
the　four　horses。

In　this　post…chaise　he　perceived　a　gentleman　of　prepossessing　and
jovial　appearance；　and　with　a　handsome　and　tolerably　youthful　face。
His　large　blue　eyes　looked　gayly　and　boldly　into　the　world；　a　genial
smile　was　playing　on　his　broad　and　rather　sensual…looking　lips；　and
his　voice　was　clear；　strong；　and　sonorous。

〃May　I　find　here　with　you　comfortable　rooms；　and；　above　all；　a　good
supper？〃　he　asked　the　landlord；　who；　pushing　aside　his　waiters　and
the　stranger's　footman；　stepped　up　to　the　carriage；　in　order　to　open
the　door。

〃Sir；〃　replied　the　landlord；　proudly；　〃The　German　Emperor　is　noted
for　its　good　rooms　and　excellent　table！〃

The　stranger　laughed　merrily。　〃Truly；〃　he　said；　gayly；　〃these　are
splendid　prospects　for　Germany。　If　The　German　Emperor　furnishes　good
rooms　and　an　excellent　table；　I　am　sure　Germany　would　be
unreasonable　to　ask　for　any　thing　else！　Well；　my　dear　landlord；　give
me；　then；　good　rooms　and　a　supper。〃

〃Do　you　want　rooms　on　the　first　or　on　the　second　floor？〃　asked　the
landlord；　respectfully　walking　behind　the　stranger；　who　had　just
entered　the　hall。

〃Of　course；　on　the　first　floor；　Heaven　forbid　that　I　should　have　to
climb　two　flights　of　stairs！〃　replied　the　stranger。　〃I　like　to　live
in　comfortable　and　elegant　rooms。　Give　me；　therefore；　three　fine
rooms　on　the　first　floor。〃

〃Three　rooms！〃　said　the　landlord；　hesitatingly。　〃I　must　observe　to
you；　sir；　that　all　the　rooms　on　the　first　floor　have　been　reserved
for　the　Duke　of　Baden；　who　will　arrive　here　to…morrow　or　day　after
to…morrow；　and　stop　at　The　German　Emperor；　like　all　princes　coming
to　our　city。　I　do　not　know　if　I　can　spare　three　rooms。〃

〃Oh；　you　surely　can；　as　the　duke　will　only　arrive　to…morrow　or　day
after　to…morrow；　while　I　am　here　to…day；〃　said　the　stranger。

〃Give　me　the　rooms　you　had　intended　for　the　duke；　then　I　shall　be
sure　to　get　good　ones；　and　I　shall　take　them　at　the　same　price　you
will　charge　him。〃

The　landlord　bowed　respectfully；　and　snatched　the　silver　candle…
stick　from　the　hand　of　the　head…waiter；　in　order　to　have　the　honor
of　conducting　the　stranger　up…stairs　to　his　rooms。　The　waiters；　who
had　stood　on　both　sides　of　the　hall　in　respectful　silence；　now
hastily　rushed　toward　the　post…chaise；　in　order　to　assist　the
stranger's　footman　in　unloading　the　trunks　and　packages　belonging　to
his　master。

〃As　far　as　the　supper　is　concerned；　pray　imagine　I　were　the　expected
Duke　of　Baden；　and　make　your　arrangements　accordingly；〃　said　the
stranger；　ascending　the　staircase。　〃I　particularly　enjoy　a　good
supper。　If　you　have　any　pheasants　to　serve　up　to　me；　I　shall　be
content　with　them；　only　see　to　it　that　they　be　well　larded　with
truffles。〃

And　his　voice　died　away　in　the　large　corridor　which　he　was　now
walking　down；　preceded　by　the　landlord；　in　order　to　take　possession
of　the　best　rooms　in　the　hotel。

The　waiters　were　engaged　in　unloading　the　trunks；　and　improved　this
opportunity　to　inquire　of　the　stranger's　footman；　clad　in　a　rich
livery；　the　rank；　name；　and　title　of　his　master。

He　told　them　the　gentleman　had　just　arrived　from　Loudon；　where　he
had　been　living　for　a　year；　he　was　now　on　his　way　to　Vienna；　and
would　leave　Frankfort　on　the　following　day。

〃This　trunk　is　very　heavy；〃　said　one　of　the　waiters；　vainly　trying
to　lift　from　the　carriage　a　small　trunk；　mounted　with　strips　of
brass；　and　covered　with　yellow　nails。

〃I　should　think　so；〃　said　the　footman；　proudly。　〃This　trunk　contains
my　master's　money　and　jewelry。　There　are　at　least　twelve　gold
watches；　set　with　diamonds；　and　as　many　snuff…boxes。　The　Queen　of
England　sent　to　my　master　on　the　day　of　our　departure　a　magnificent
snuff…box；　adorned　with　the　portrait　of　her　majesty；　and　richly　set
with　diamonds：　and　the　snuff…box；　moreover；　was　entirely　filled　with
gold　pieces。　Come；　take　hold　of　the　trunk　on　that　side；　I　shall　do
so　on　this；　and　we　will　take　it　directly　up　to　my　master's　rooms。〃

Just　as　they　entered　the　hall　with　their　precious　load；　another
carriage　drove　up　to　the　door。　But　this　time　it　was　only　a
miserable；　rickety　old　basket…chaise；　drawn　by　two　lean　jades　with
lowered　heads　and　heaving　bellies。

The　porter；　therefore；　did　not　deem　it　worth　while　to　ring　the　bell
for　this　forlorn…looking　vehicle；　but　he　contented　himself　with
leisurely　putting　his　hands　into　his　pockets；　sauntering　down　to　the
chaise；　and　casting　a　disdainful　glance　into　its　interi