napoleon bonaparte, v4-第2部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


reward；　and　this　was　made　a　powerful　means　of　exciting　the　emulation　of
these　children；　whom　her　Majesty　overwhelmed　with　caresses；　and　presented
with　little　gifts。

One　morning　just　as　Madame　Vigogne　was　about　to　visit　the　Empress；　and
was　descending　the　staircase　to　enter　her　carriage；　she　heard　piercing
cries　in　one　of　the　schoolrooms；　and；　hastening　to　the　spot；　saw　a　young
girl　with　her　clothing　on　fire。　　With　a　presence　of　mind　worthy　of　a
mother；　Madame　Vigogne　wrapped　her　pupil　in　the　long　train　of　her　dress；
and　thus　extinguished　the　flames；　not；　however；　until　the　hands　of　the
courageous　instructress　had　been　most　painfully　burned。　　She　made　the
visit　to　her　Majesty　in　this　condition；　and　related　to　her　the　sad
accident　which　had　occurred；　while　her　Majesty；　who　was　easily　moved　by
everything　noble　and　generous；　overwhelmed　her　with　praises　for　her
courage；　and　was　so　deeply　touched　that　she　wept　with　admiration；　and
ordered；　her　private　physician　to　give　his　best　services　to　Madame
Vigogne　and　her　young　pupil。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

The　Empress　Josephine　was　of　medium　height；　with　an　exquisite　figure；　and
in　all　her　movements　there　was　an　airiness　and　grace　which　gave　to　her
walk　something　ethereal；　without　detracting　from　the　majesty　of　the
sovereign。　　Her　expressive　countenance　portrayed　all　the　emotions　of　her
soul；　while　retaining　the　charming　sweetness　which　was　its　ruling
expression。　　In　pleasure；　as　in　grief；　she　was　beautiful；　and　even
against　your　will　you　would　smile　when　she　smiled；　if　she　was　sad；　you
would　be　also。　　Never　did　a　woman　justify　better　than　she　the　expression
that　the　eyes　are　the　mirror　of　the　soul。　　Hers　were　of　a　deep　blue；　and
nearly　always　half　closed　by　her　long　lids；　which　were　slightly　arched；
and　fringed　with　the　most　beautiful　lashes　in　the　world；　in　regarding　her
you　felt　yourself　drawn　to　her　by　an　irresistible　power。　　It　must　have
been　difficult　for　the　Empress　to　give　severity　to　that　seductive　look；
but　she　could　do　this；　and　well　knew　how　to　render　it　imposing　when
necessary。　　Her　hair　was　very　beautiful；　long　and　silken；　its　nut…brown
tint　contrasting　exquisitely　with　the　dazzling　whiteness　of　her　fine
fresh　complexion。　　At　the　commencement　of　her　supreme　power；　the　Empress
still　liked　to　adorn　her　head　in　the　morning　with　a　red　madras
handkerchief；　which　gave　her　a　most　piquant　Creole　air；　and　rendered　her
still　more　charming。

But　what　more　than　all　else　constituted　the　inexpressible　charm　of　the
Empress's　presence　were　the　ravishing　tones　of　her　voice。　　How　many　times
have　I；　like　many　others；　stopped　suddenly　on　hearing　that　voice；　simply
to　enjoy　the　pleasure　of　listening　to　it。　　It　cannot　perhaps　be　said　that
the　Empress　was　a　strictly　beautiful　woman；　but　her　lovely　countenance；
expressing　sweetness　and　good　nature；　and　the　angelic　grace　diffused
around　her　person；　made　her　the　most　attractive　of　women。

During　her　stay　at　Saint…Cloud；　the　Empress　rose　habitually　at　nine
o'clock；　and　made　her　first　toilet；　which　lasted　till　ten；　then　she
passed　into　a　saloon；　where　she　found　assembled　those　persons　who　had
solicited　and　obtained　the　favor　of　an　audience；　and　sometimes　also　at
this　hour；　and　in　the　same　saloon；　her　Majesty　received　her　tradespeople；
and　at　eleven　o'clock；　when　the　Emperor　was　absent；　she　breakfasted　with
her　first　lady　of　honor　and　a　few　others。　　Madame　de　la　Rochefoucauld；
first　lady　of　honor　to　the　Empress；　was　a　hunchback；　and　so　small　that　it
was　necessary；　when　she　was　to　have　a　place　at　the　table；　to　heighten　the
seat　of　her　chair　by　another　very　thick　cushion　made　of　violet　satin。
Madame　de　la　Rochefoucauld　knew　well　how　to　efface；　by　means　of　her
bright　and　sparkling；　though　somewhat　caustic　wit；　her　striking　elegance；
and　her　exquisite　court　manners；　any　unpleasant　impression　which　might　be
made　by　her　physical　deformity。

Before　breakfast　the　Empress　had　a　game　of　billiards；　or；　when　the
weather　was　good；　she　walked　in　the　gardens　or　in　the　inclosed　park；
which　recreation　lasted　only　a　short　while；　and　her　Majesty　soon　returned
to　her　apartments；　and　occupied　herself　with　embroidery；　while　talking
with　her　ladies；　like　herself；　occupied　with　some　kind　of　needlework。
When　it　happened　that　they　were　not　interrupted　by　visits；　between　two
and　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　the　Empress　took　a　drive　in　an　open
barouche；　and　on　her　return　from　this　the　grand　toilet　took　place；　at
which　the　Emperor　was　sometimes　present。

Now　and　then；　also；　his　Majesty　surprised　the　Empress　in　her　saloon；　and
we　were　sure　to　find　him；　on　those　occasions；　amusing；　amiable；　and　in
fine　spirits。

At　six　o'clock　dinner　was　served；　this　the　Emperor　frequently　forgot；　and
delayed　it　indefinitely；　in　consequence　of　which　dinner　was　more　than
once　eaten　at　nine　or　ten　o'clock　in　the　evening。　　Their　Majesties　dined
together　alone；　or　in　the　company　of　a　few　invited　guests；　princes　of　the
imperial　family；　or　ministers；　after　which　there　was　a　concert；
reception；　or　the　theater；　and　at　midnight　every　one　retired　except　the
Empress；　who　greatly　enjoyed　sitting　up　late；　and　then　played　backgammon
with　one　of　the　chamberlains。　　The　Count　de　Beaumont　was　thus　honored
most　frequently。

On　the　days　of　the　chase　the　Empress　and　her　ladies　followed　in　the
coach。　　They　had　a　special　costume　for　this　occasion；　consisting　of　a
kind　of　green　riding…habit；　and　a　hat　ornamented　with　white　plumes。　　All
the　ladies　who　followed　the　chase　dined　with　their　Majesties。

When　the　Empress　spent　the　night　in　the　Emperor's　apartment；　I　entered　in
the　morning；　as　usual；　between　seven　and　eight　o'clock；　and　nearly　always
found　the　august　spouses　awake。　　The　Emperor　usually　ordered　tea；　or　an
infusion　of　orange　flowers；　and　rose　immediately；　the　Empress　saying　to
him；　with　a　laugh；　〃What；　rising　already？　　Rest　a　little　longer。〃〃Well；
you　are　not　asleep；　then？〃　replied　his　Majesty；　rolling　her　over　in　the
covering；　giving　her　little　slaps　on　her　cheeks　and　shoulders；　laughing；
and　kissing　her。

At　the　end　of　a　few　moments　the　Empress　rose　also；　put　on　a　wrapper；　and
read　the　journals；　or　descended　by　the　little　communicating　stairway　to
her　own　apartment；　never　leaving　the　Emperor　without　a　few　words
expressing　the　most　touching　affection　and　good…will。

Elegant　and　simple　in　her　dress；　the　Empress　submitted　with　regret　to　the
necessity　of　toilets　of　state。　　Jewels；　however；　were　much　to　her　taste；
and；　as　she　had　always　been　fond　of　them；　the　Emperor　presented　her　with
them　often　and　in　great　quantities；　and　she　greatly　enjoyed　adorning
herself　with　them；　and　still　more　exhibiting　them　to　the　admiration　of
others。

One　morning；　when　my　wife　was　present　at　her　toilet；　her　Majesty　related
that；　being　newly　married　to　M。　de　Beauharnais；　and　much　delighted　with
the　ornaments　he　had　given　her；　she　was　in　the　habit　of　carrying　them
around　in　her　reticule　（reticules　were　then　an　essential　part　of　a
woman's　dress）；　and　showing　them　to　her　young　friends。

As　the　Empress　spoke　of　her　reticule；　she　ordered　one　of　her　ladies　to
hunt　for　one　to　show　my　wife。　　The　lady　whom　the　Empress　addressed　could
scarcely　repress　a　laugh　at　this　singular　request；　and　assured　her
Majesty　that　there　was　nothing　similar　to　that　now　in　her　wardrobe；　to
which　the　Empress　replied；　with　an　air　of　regret；　that　she　would　have
really　liked　to　see　again　one　of　her　old　reticules；　and　that　the　years
hall　brought　great　changes。　　The　jewels　of　the　Empress　Josephine　could
hardly　have　been　contained　in　the　reticule　of　Madame　de　Beauharnais；
however　long　or　deep　it　might　have　been；　for　the　jewel　case　which　had
belonged　to　Queen　Marie　Antoinette；　and　which　had　never　been　quite　full；
was　too　small　for　the　Empress。　　One　day；　when　she　wished　to　exhibit　all
her　ornaments　to　several　ladies　who　expressed　a　desire　to　see　them；　it
was　necessary　to　prepare　a　large　table　on　which　to　place　the　caskets；
and；　as　this　table　was　not　sufficient；　several　other　pieces　of　furniture
were　also　covered　with　them。

Good　to　excess；　as　everyone　knows；　sympathetic　beyond　all　expression；
generous　even　to　prodigality；　the　Empress　made　the　happiness　of　all　who
surrounded　her；　loving　her　husband　with　a　devotion　which　nothing　ever
changed；　and　which　was　as　deep　in　her　last　moments　as　at　the　period　when
Madame　Beauharnais　and　General　Bonaparte　made　to　each　other　a　mutual
avowal　of　their　love。　　Josephine　was　long　the　only　woman　loved　by　the
Emperor；　as　she　well　deserved　to　have　ever　been；　and　for　several　years
the　harmony　of　this　imperial　household　was　most　touching。　　Attentive；
loving；　and　entirely　devoted　to　Josephine；　the　Emperor　took　pleasure　in
embracing　her　neck；　her　figure；　giving　her　taps；　and　calling　her　'ma
grosse　bete'；　all　of　which　did　not　prevent；　it　is　true；　his　being　guilty
of　some　infidelities；　but　without　failing　otherwise　in　his　conjugal
duties。　　On　her　side　the　Empress　adored　him；　sought　by　every　means　to
please　him；　to　divine　his　wishes；　and　to　forestall　his　least　desires。

At　first　she　gave　her　husband　cause　for　jealousy。　　Having　been　strongly
prejudiced　against　her　by　indiscreet　reports；　during　the　campaign　of
Egypt；　the　Emperor　on　his　return　had　explanations　with　her；　which　did　not
always　end　without　lamentations　and　violent　scenes；　but　peace　was　soon
restored；　and　was　thereafter　very　rarely　broken；　for　the　Emperor　could
not　fail　to　feel　the　influence　of　so　many　attractions　and　such
loveliness。

The　Empress　had　a　remarkable　memory；　of　which　the　Emperor　often　availed
himself；　she　was　also　an　excellent　musician；　played　well　on　the　harp；　and
sang　with　taste。　　She　had　perfect　tact；　an　exquisite　perception　of　what
was　suitable；　the　soundest；　most　infallible　judgment　imaginable；　and；
with　a　disposition　always　lovely；　always　the　same；　indulgent　to　her
enemies　as　to　her　friends；　she　restored　peace　wherever　there　was　quarrel
or　discord。　　When　the　Emperor　was　vexed　with　his　brothers　or　other
persons；　which　often　happened；　the　Empress　spoke　a　few　words；　and
everything　was　settled。　　If　she　demanded　a　pardon；　it　was　very　rare　that
the　Emperor　did　not　grant　it；　however　grave　the　crime　committed；　and　I
could　cite　a　thousa