napoleon bonaparte, v12-第7部分

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death；　which　a　momentary　despair　had　made　him　desire？　　Or　did　it　not
rather　arise　from　the　certainty　of　no　longer　fearing　it　in　his　bed　more
than　on　the　battlefield？　　However　that　may　be；　I　attribute　the　remarkable
preservation　of　the　Emperor's　life　to　the　fact　that　the　poison　contained
in　the　bag　had　lost　its　efficacy。

When　everything　had　returned　to　its　usual　order；　without　any　one　in　the
palace　except　those　I　have　named　suspecting　what　had　occurred；　I　learned
that　M。　Yvan　had　left　Fontainebleau。　　Overwhelmed　by　the　question　the
Emperor　had　addressed　to　him　in　the　presence　of　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；　and
fearing　that　he　might　suspect　that　he　had　given　his　Majesty　the　means　of
attempting　his　life；　this　skillful　physician；　so　long　and　so　faithfully
attached　to　the　Emperor's　person；　had；　so　to　speak；　lost　his　head　in
thinking　of　the　responsibility　resting　on　him。　　Hastily　descending　the
stairs　from　the　Emperor's　apartments；　and　finding　a　horse　ready　saddled
and　bridled　in　one　of　the　courts　of　the　palace；　he　threw　himself　upon　it；
and　hastily　took　the　road　to　Paris。　　This　was　the　morning　of　the　same　day
that　Roustan　left　Fontainebleau。

On　the　12th　of　April；　the　Emperor　also　received　the　last　adieux　of
Marshal　Macdonald。　　When　he　was　introduced；　the　Emperor　was　still　feeling
the　effects　of　the　events　of　the　preceding　night；　and　I　am　sure　the　Duke
of　Tarentum　perceived；　without　divining　the　cause；　that　his　Majesty　was
not　in　his　usual　condition。　　He　was　accompanied　by　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；
and　at　this　moment　the　Emperor　was　still　so　much　depressed；　and　seemed　so
entirely　absorbed　in　thought；　that　he　did　not　at　first　perceive　these
gentlemen；　although　he　was　perfectly　wide　awake。　　The　Duke　of　Tarentum
brought　to　the　Emperor　the　treaty　with　the　allies；　and　I　left　the　room　as
he　was　preparing　to　sign　it。　　A　few　moments　after　the　Duke　of　Vicenza
summoned　me；　and　his　Majesty　said；　〃Constant；　bring　me　the　saber　which
Mourad…Bey　presented　to　me　in　Egypt。　　You　know　which　it　is？〃〃Yes；
Sire。〃　　I　went　out；　and　immediately　returned　with　this　magnificent　sword；
which　the　Emperor　had　worn　at　the　battle　of　Mount　Tabor；　as　I　have　heard
many　times。　　I　handed　it　to　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；　from　whose　hands　the
Emperor　took　it；　and　presented　it　to　Marshal　Macdonald；　and　as　I　retired
heard　the　Emperor　speaking　to　him　most　affectionately；　and　calling　him
his　worthy　friend。

These　gentlemen；　according　to　my　recollection；　were　present　at　the
Emperor's　breakfast；　where　he　appeared　calmer　and　more　cheerful　than　for
a　long　time　past；　and　we　were　all　surprised　to　see　him　converse
familiarly　and　in　the　most　amiable　manner　with　persons　to　whom　for　some
time　past　he　had　usually　addressed　very　brief　and　distant　remarks。
However；　this　gayety　was　only　momentary；　and；　indeed；　the　manner　in　which
the　Emperor's　mood　varied　from　one　moment　to　another　during　the　whole
time　of　our　stay　at　Fontainebleau　was　perfectly　indescribable。　　I　have
seen　him　on　the　same　day　plunged　for　several　hours　into　the　most　terrible
depression；　then；　a　moment　after；　walking　with　great　strides　up　and　down
his　room；　whistling　or　humming　La　Monaco；　after　which　he　suddenly　fell
into　a　kind　of　stupor；　seeing　nothing　around　him；　and　forgetting　even　the
orders　he　had　given。　　A　fact　which　impressed　me　forcibly　was　the
remarkable　effect　produced　on　him　by　letters　addressed　to　him　from　Paris。
As　soon　as　he　perceived　them　his　agitation　became　extreme；I　might　say
convulsive；　without　fear　of　being　taxed　with　exaggeration。

In　support　of　what　I　have　said　of　the　incredible　preoccupation　of　the
Emperor；　I　will　mention　an　occurrence　which　comes　to　my　memory。　　During
our　sojourn　at　Fontainebleau　the　Countess　Walewska；　of　whom　I　have
heretofore　spoken；　came；　and　having　summoned　me；　told　me　how　anxious　she
was　to　see　the　Emperor。　　Thinking　that　this　would　be　sure　to　distract　his
Majesty；　I　mentioned　it　to　him　that　very　evening；　and　received　orders　to
have　her　come　at　ten　o'clock。　　Madame　Walewska　was；　as　may　well　be
believed；　promptly　on　hand　at　the　appointed　hour；　and　I　entered　the
Emperor's　room　to　announce　her　arrival。　　He　was　lying　on　his　bed；　and
plunged　so　deeply　in　meditation　that　it　was　only　on　a　second　reminder
from　me　he　replied；　〃Ask　her　to　wait。〃　　She　then　waited　in　the　apartment
in　front　of　his　Majesty's；　and　I　remained　to　keep　her　company。　　Meanwhile
the　night　passed　on；　and　the　hours　seemed　long　to　the　beautiful　visitor；
and　her　distress　that　the　Emperor　did　not　summon　her　became　so　evident
that　I　took　pity　on　her；　and　reentered　the　Emperor's　room　to　remind　him
again。　　He　was　not　asleep；　but　was　so　deeply　absorbed　in　thought　that　he
made　no　reply。　　At　last　day　began　to　break；　and　the　countess；　fearing　to
be　seen　by　the　people　of　the　household；　withdrew　in　despair　at　not　having
bidden　adieu　to　the　object　of　her　affections；　and　she　had　been　gone　more
than　an　hour　when　the　Emperor　remembered　that　she　was　waiting；　and　asked
for　her。　　I　told　his　Majesty　how　it　was；　and　did　not　conceal　the　state　of
despair　in　which　the　countess　took　her　departure。　　The　Emperor　was　much
affected。　　〃Poor　woman；　she　thinks　herself　humiliated！　　Constant；　I　am
really　grieved。　　If　you　see　her　again；　tell　her　so。　　But　I　have　so　many
things　there！〃　added　he　in　a；　very　energetic　tone；　striking　his　brow　with
his　hand。

The　visit　of　this　lady　to　Fontainebleau　recalls　another　of　almost　the
same　kind；　but　to　describe　which　it　is　necessary　that　I　take　up　the
thread　of　events　a　little　further　back。

　　　　　＇I　have　learned　since　that　the　Countess　de　Walewska　went　with　her
　　　　　son　to　visit　the　Emperor　on　the　Island　of　Elba。　　This　child
　　　　　resembled　his　Majesty　so　greatly　that　the　report　was　started　that
　　　　　the　King　of　Rome　had　visited　his　father。　　Madame　de　Walewska
　　　　　remained　only　a　short　time　at　the　Island　of　Elba。　CONSTANT。＇

A　short　time　after　his　marriage　with　the　Archduchess　Marie　Louise；
although　she　was　a　young　and　beautiful　woman；　and　although　he　really
loved　her　devotedly；　the　Emperor　was　no　more　careful　than　in　the　time　of
the　Empress　Josephine　to　scrupulously　observe　conjugal　fidelity。　　During
one　of　our　stays　at　Saint…Cloud　he　took　a　fancy　to　Madamoiselle　L；
whose　mother's　second　husband　was　a　chief　of　squadron。　　These　ladies　then
stayed　at　Bourg…la…Reine；　where　they　were　discovered　by　M。　de　；　one
of　the　most　zealous　protectors　of　the　pretty　women　who　were　presented　to
his　Majesty；　and　who　spoke　to　him　of　this　young　person；　then　seventeen
years　old。　　She　was　a　brunette　of　ordinary　height；　but　with　a　beautiful
figure；　and　pretty　feet　and　hands；　her　whole　person　full　of　grace；　and
was　indeed　perfectly　charming　in　all　respects；　and；　besides；　united　with
most　enticing　coquetry　every　accomplishment；　danced　with　much　grace；
played　on　several　instruments；　and　was　full　of　intelligence；　in　fact；　she
had　received　that　kind　of　showy　education　which　forms　the　most　charming
mistresses　and　the　worst　wives。　　The　Emperor　told　me　one　day；　at　eight
o'clock　in　the　evening；　to　seek　her　at　her　mother's；　to　bring　her　and
return　at　eleven　o'clock　at　latest。　　My　visit　caused　no　surprise；　and　I
saw　that　these　ladies　had　been　forewarned；　no　doubt　by　their　obliging
patron；　for　they　awaited　me　with　an　impatience　they　did　not　seek　to
conceal。　　The　young　person　was　dazzling　with　ornaments　and　beauty；　and
the　mother　radiant　with　joy　at　the　idea　of　the　honor　destined　for　her
daughter。　　I　saw　well　that　she　imagined　the　Emperor　could　not　fail　to　be
captivated　by　so　many　charms；　and　that　he　would　be　seized　with　a　great
passion；　but　all　this　was　only　a　dream；　for　the　Emperor　was　amorous　only
when　all　things　suited。　　However；　we　arrived　at　Saint…Cloud　at　eleven
o'clock；　and　entered　the　chateau　by　the　orangery；　for　fear　of　indiscreet
eyes。　　As　I　had　a　pass…key　to　all　the　gates　of　the　chateau；　I　conducted
her　into　the　Emperor's　apartments　without　being　seen　by　any　one；　where
she　remained　about　three　hours。　　At　the　end　of　this　time　I　escorted　her
to　her　home；　taking　the　same　precautions　on　leaving　the　chateau。

This　young　person；　whom　the　Emperor　had　since　seen　three　or　four　times　at
most；　also　came　to　Fontainebleau；　accompanied　by　her　mother；　but；　being
unable　to　see　his　Majesty；　this　lady；　like　the　Countess　Walewska；
determined　to　make　the　voyage　to　the　Island　of　Elba；　where　it　is　said　the
Emperor　married　Mademoiselle　L　to　a　colonel　of　artillery。

What　I　have　just　written　has　carried　me　back　almost　unconsciously　to
happier　times。　　It　is　necessary；　however；　to　return　to　the　sad　stay　at
Fontainebleau；　and；　after　what　I　have　said　of　the　dejection　in　which　the
Emperor　lived；　it　is　not　surprising　that；　overwhelmed　by　such　crushing
blows；　his　mind　was　not　disposed　to　gallantry。　　It　seems　to　me　I　can
still　see　the　evidences　of　the　gloomy　melancholy　which　devoured　him；　and
in　the　midst　of　so　many　sorrows　the　kindness　of　heart　of　the　man　seemed
to　increase　in　proportion　to　the　sufferings　of　the　dethroned　sovereign。
With　what　amenity　he　spoke　to　us　in　these　last　days！　　He　then　frequently
deigned　to　question　me　as　to　what　was　said　of　recent　events。　　With　my
usual　artless　candor　I　related　to　him　exactly　what　I　had　heard；　and　I
remember　that　one　day；　having　told　him　I　had　heard　many　persons　remark
that　the　continuation　of　the　last　wars　which　had　been　so　fatal　to　us　was
generally　attributed　to　the　Duke　of　Bassano；　〃They　do　poor　Maret　gross
injustice；〃　said　he。　　〃They　accuse　him　wrongfully。　　He　has　never　done
anything　but　execute　orders　which　I　gave。〃　　Then；　according　to　his　usual
habit；　when　he　had　spoken　to　me　a　moment　of　these　serious　affairs；　he
added；　〃What　a　shame！　what　humiliation！　　To　think　that　I　should　have　in
my　very　palace　itself　a　lot　of　foreign　emissaries！〃





CHAPTER　XXVIII。

After　the　12th　of　April　there　remained　with　the　Emperor；　of　all　the　great
personages　who　usually　surrounded　him；　only　the　grand　marshal　of　the
palace　and　Count　Drouot。　　The　destination　reserved　for　the　Emperor；　and
the　fact　that　he　had　accepted　it；　was　not　long　a　secret　in　the　palace。
On　the　16th　we　witnessed　the　arrival　of　the　commissioners　of　the　allies
deputed　to　accompany　his　Majesty　to　the　place　of　his　embarkment　for　the
Island　of　Elba。