memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v11-第3部分

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He　desired　that　the　young　man　should　be　taken　into　his　cabinet；　whither
he　was　accordingly　conducted　by　two　gens　d'armes。　　Notwithstanding　his
criminal　intention　there　was　something　exceedingly　prepossessing　in　his
countenance。　　I　wished　that　he　would　deny　the　attempt；　but　how　was　it
possible　to　save　a　man　who　was　determined　to　sacrifice　himself？　　The
Emperor　asked　Staps　whether　he　could　speak　French；　and　he　answered　that
he　could　speak　it　very　imperfectly；　and　as　you　know　（continued　Rapp）　that
next　to　you　I　am　the　best　German　scholar　in　Napoleon's　Court；　I　was
appointed　interpreter　on　this　occasion。　　The　Emperor　put　the　following
questions　to　Staps；　which　I　translated；　together　with　the　answers：

〃‘Where　do　you　come　from？''From　Narremburgh。'‘What　is　your　father？'
‘A　Protestant　minister。'‘How　old　are　you？'‘Eighteen。''What　did
you　intend　to　do　with　your　knife？'‘To　kill　you。''You　are　mad；　young
man；　you　are　one　of　the　illuminati？''I　am　not　mad；　I　know　not　what　is
meant　by　the　illuminati！''You　are　ill；　then？''I　am　not；　I　am　very
well。''Why　did　you　wish　to　kill　me？''Because　you　have　ruined　my
country。''Have　I　done　you　any　harm？''Yes；　you　have　harmed　me　as　well
as　all　Germans。''By　whom　were　you　sent？　　Who　urged　you　to　this　crime？'
'No　one；　I　was　urged　to　it　by　the　sincere　conviction　that　by　killing
you　I　should　render　the　greatest　service　to　my　country。''Is　this　the
first　time　you　have　seen　me？''I　saw　you　at　Erfurt；　at　the　time　of　your
interview　with　the　Emperor　of　Russia。''Did　you　intend　to　kill　me
then？''No；　I　thought　you　would　not　again　wage　war　against　Germany。　　I
was　one　of　your　greatest　admirers。''How　long　have　you　been　in　Vienna？'
'Ten　days。''Why　did　you　wait　so　long　before　you　attempted　the
execution　of　your　project？''I　came　to　Schoenbrunn　a　week　ago　with　the
intention　of　killing　you；　but　when　I　arrived　the　parade　was　just　over；　I
therefore　deferred　the　execution　of　my　design　till　today。''I　tell　you；
young　man；　you　are　either　mad　or　in　bad　health。'

〃The　Emperor　here　ordered　Corvisart　to　be　sent　for。　　Staps　asked　who
Corvisart　was？　　I　told　him　that　he　was　a　physician。　　He　then　said；
'I　have　no　need　of　him。'　　Nothing　further　was　said　until　the　arrival　of
the　doctor；　and　during　this　interval　Steps　evinced　the　utmost
indifference。　　When　Corvisart　arrived　Napoleon　directed　him　to　feel　the
young　man's　pulse；　which　he　immediately　did；　and　Staps　then　very　coolly
said；　'Am　I　not　well；　sir？'　　Corvisart　told　the　Emperor　that　nothing
ailed　him。　　'I　told　you　so；'　said　Steps；　pronouncing　the　words　with　an
air　of　triumph。

〃I　was　really　astonished　at　the　coolness　and　apathy　of　Staps；　and　the
Emperor　seemed　for　a　moment　confounded　by　the　young　man's　behaviour。　
After　a　few　moments'　pause　the　Emperor　resumed　the　interrogatory　as
follows：

〃‘Your　brain　is　disordered。　　You　will　be　the　ruin　of　your　family。　　I　will
grant　you　your　life　if　you　ask　pardon　for　the　crime　you　meditated；　and
for　which　you　ought　to　be　sorry。''I　want　no　pardon。　　I　only　regret
having　failed　in　my　attempt。''Indeed！　then　a　crime　is　nothing　to　you？'
'To　kill　you　is　no　crime：　it　is　a　duty。''Whose　portrait　is　that　which
was　found　on　you？''It　is　the　portrait　of　a　young　lady　to　whom　I　am
attached。''She　will　doubtless　be　much　distressed　at　your　adventure？'
'She　will　only　be　sorry　that　I　have　not　succeeded。　　She　abhors　you　as
much　as　I　do。''But　if　I　were　to　pardon　you　would　you　be　grateful　for　my
mercy？''I　would　nevertheless　kill　you　if　I　could。'

〃I　never；〃　continued　Rapp；　〃saw　Napoleon　look　so　confounded。　　The　replies
of　Staps　and　his　immovable　resolution　perfectly　astonished　him。　　He
ordered　the　prisoner　to　be　removed；　and　when　he　was　gone　Napoleon　said；
'This　is　the　result　of　the　secret　societies　which　infest　Germany。　　This
is　the　effect　of　fine　principles　and　the　light　of　reason。　　They　make
young　men　assassins。　　But　what　can　be　done　against　illuminism？　　A　sect
cannot　be　destroyed　by　cannon…balls。'

〃This　event；　though　pains　were　taken　to　keep　it　secret；　became　the
subject　of　conversation　in　the　castle　of　Schoenbrunn。　　In　the　evening　the
Emperor　sent　for　me　and　said；　'Rapp；　the　affair　of　this　morning　is　very
extraordinary。　　I　cannot　believe　that　this　young　man　of　himself　conceived
the　design　of　assassinating　me。　　There　is　something　under　it。　　I　shall
never　be　persuaded　that　the　intriguers　of　Berlin　and　Weimar　are　strangers
to　the　affair。''Sire；　allow　me　to　say　that　your　suspicions　appear
unfounded。　　Staps　has　had　no　accomplice；　his　placid　countenance；　and　even
his　fanaticism；　are　easiest　proofs　of　that。''I　tell　you　that　he　has
been　instigated　by　women：　furies　thirsting　for　revenge。　　If　I　could　only
obtain　proof　of　it　I　would　have　them　seized　in　the　midst　of　their
Court。''Ah；　Sire；　it　is　impossible　that　either　man　or　woman　in　the
Courts　of　Berlin　or　Weimar　could　have　conceived　so　atrocious　a　design。'
'I　am　not　sure　of　that。　　Did　not　those　women　excite　Schill　against　us
while　we　were　at　peace　with　Prussia；　but　stay　a　little；　we　shall　see。'
'Schill's　enterprise；　Sire；　bears　no　resemblance　to　this　attempt。'
You　know　how　the　Emperor　likes　every　one　to　yield　to　his　opinion　when　he
has　adopted　one　which　he　does　not　choose　to　give　up；　so　he　said；　rather
changing　his　tone　of　good…humoured　familiarity；　'All　you　say　is　in　vain；
Monsieur　le　General：　I　am　not　liked　either　at　Berlin　or　Weimar。'　　There
is　no　doubt　of　that；　Sire；　but　because　you　are　not　liked　in　these　two
Courts；　is　it　to　be　inferred　that　they　would　assassinate　you？''I　know
the　fury　of　those　women；　but　patience。　　Write　to　General　Lauer：　direct
him　to　interrogate　Staps。　　Tell　him　to　bring　him　to　a　confession。'

〃I　wrote　conformably　with　the　Emperor's　orders；　but　no　confession　was
obtained　from　Staps。　　In　his　examination　by　General　Lauer　he　repeated
nearly　what　he　had　said　in　the　presence　of　Napoleon。　　His　resignation　and
firmness　never　forsook　him　for　a　moment；　and　he　persisted　in　saying　that
he　was　the　sole　author　of　the　attempt；　and　that　no　one　else　was　aware　of
it。　　Staps'　enterprise　made　a　deep　impression　on　the　Emperor。　　On　the　day
when　we　left　Schoenbrunn　we　happened　to　be　alone；　and　he　said　to　me；
'I　cannot　get　this　unfortunate　Staps　out　of　my　mind。　　The　more　I　think　on
the　subject　the　more　I　am　perplexed。　　I　never　can　believe　that　a　young
man　of　his　age；　a　German；　one　who　has　received　a　good　education；
a　Protestant　too；　could　have　conceived　and　attempted　such　a　crime。
The　Italians　are　said　to　be　a　nation　of　assassins；　but　no　Italian　ever
attempted　my　life。　　This　affair　is　beyond　my　comprehension。　　Inquire　how
Staps　died；　and　let　me　know。'

〃I　obtained　from　General　Lauer　the　information　which　the　Emperor　desired。
I　learned　that　Staps；　whose　attempt　on　the　Emperor's　life　was　made　on　the
23d　of　October；　was　executed　at　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning　of　the　27th；
having　refused　to　take　any　sustenance　since　the　24th。　　When　any　food　was
brought　to　him　he　rejected　it；　saying；　'I　shall　be　strong　enough　to　walk
to　the　scaffold。'　When　he　was　told　that　peace　was　concluded　he　evinced
extreme　sorrow；　and　was　seized　with　trembling。　　On　reaching　the　place　of
execution　he　exclaimed　loudly；　'Liberty　for　ever！　　Germany　for　ever！
Death　to　the　tyrant！'〃

Such　are　the　notes　which　I　committed　to　paper　after　conversing　with　Rapp；
as　we　were　walking　together　in　the　garden　of　the　former　hotel　of
Montmorin；　in　which　Rapp　resided。　　I　recollect　his　showing　me　the　knife
taken　from　Staps；　which　the　Emperor　had　given　him；　it　was　merely　a　common
carving…knife；　such　as　is　used　in　kitchens。　　To　these　details　may　be
added　a　very　remarkable　circumstance；　which　I　received　from　another　but
not　less　authentic　source。　　I　have　been　assured　that　the　attempt　of　the
German　Mutius　Scaevola　had　a　marked　influence　on　the　concessions　which
the　Emperor　made；　because　he　feared　that　Staps；　like　him　who　attempted
the　life　of　Porsenna；　might　have　imitators　among　the　illuminati　of
Germany。

It　is　well　known　that　after　the　battle　of　Wagram　conferences　were　open　at
Raab。　　Although　peace　was　almost　absolutely　necessary　for　both　powers；
and　the　two　Emperors　appeared　to　desire　it　equally；　it　was　not；　however；
concluded。　　It　is　worthy　of　remark　that　the　delay　was　occasioned　by
Bonaparte。　　Negotiations　were　therefore　suspended；　and　M。　de　Champagny
had　ceased　for　several　days　to　see　the　Prince　of　Lichtenstein　when　the
affair　of　Staps　took　place。　　Immediately　after　Napoleon's　examination　of
the　young　fanatic　he　sent　for　M。　de　Champagny：　〃How　are　the　negotiations
going　on？〃　　he　inquired。　　The　Minister　having　informed　him；　the　Emperor
added；　〃I　wish　them　to　be　resumed　immediately：　I　wish　for　peace；　do　not
hesitate　about　a　few　millions　more　or　less　in　the　indemnity　demanded　from
Austria。　　Yield　on　that　point。　　I　wish　to　come　to　a　conclusion：　I　refer
it　all　to　you。〃　　The　Minister　lost　no　time　in　writing　to　the　Prince　of
Lichtenstein：　on　the　same　night　the　two　negotiators　met　at　Raab；　and　the
clauses　of　the　treaty　which　had　been　suspended　were　discussed；　agreed
upon；　and　signed　that　very　night。　　Next　morning　M。　de　Champagny　attended
the　Emperor's　levee　with　the　treaty　of　peace　as　it　had　been　agreed　on。
Napoleon；　after　hastily　examining　it；　expressed　his　approbation　of　every
particular；　and　highly　complimented　his　Minister　on　the　speed　with　which
the　treaty　had　been　brought　to　a　conclusion。'

　　　　　＇This　definitive　treaty　of　peace；　which　is　sometimes　called　the
　　　　　Treaty　of　Vienna；　Raab；　or　Schoenbrunn；　contained　the　following
　　　　　articles：

　　　　　1。　　Austria　ceded　in　favour　of　the　Confederation　of　the　Rhine　（these
　　　　　fell　to　Bavaria）；　Salzburg；　Berchtolsgaden；　and　a　part　of　Upper
　　　　　Austria。

　　　　　2。　　To　France　directly　Austria　ceded　her　only　seaport；　Trieste；　and
　　　　　all　the　countries　of　Carniola；　Friuli；　the　circle　of　Vilach；　with
　　　　　parts　of　Croatia　end　Dalmatia。　　（By　these　cessions　Austria　was
　　　　　excluded　from　the　Adriatic　Sea；　and　cut　off　from　all　communication
　　　　　with　the　navy　of　Great　Britain。）　A　small　lordship；　en　enclave　in
　　　　　the；　territories　of　the　Grieve　League；　was　also　gives　up。

　　　　　3。　　To　the　constant　ally　of　Napoleon；　to　the　King　of　Saxony；　in　that
　　　　　character　Austria　ceded　some　Bohemian　enclaves　in　Saxony