napoleon bonaparte, v12-第6部分

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hundred　thousand　francs　would　cause　me；　as　we　shall　see　in　the　succeeding
chapters。




CHAPTER　XXVII。

Here　more　than　ever　I　must　beg　the　indulgence　of　my　readers　as　to　the
order　in　which　I　relate　the　events　I　witnessed　during　the　Emperor's　stay
at　Fontainebleau；　and　those　connected　with　them　which　did　not　come　to　my
knowledge　until　later。　　I　must　also　apologize　for　any　inaccuracy　in　dates
of　which　I　may　be　guilty；　though　I　remember　collectively；　so　to　speak；
all　that　occurred　during　the　unhappy　twenty　days　which　ensued　between　the
occupation　of　Paris　and　the　departure　of　his　Majesty　for　the　Island　of
Elba；　for　I　was　so　completely　absorbed　in　the　unhappy　condition　of　my
good　master　that　all　my　faculties　hardly　sufficed　for　the　sensations　I
experienced　every　moment。　　We　suffered　in　the　Emperor's　sufferings；　it
occurred　to　none　of　us　to　imprint　on　his　memory　the　recollection　of　so
much　agony；　for　we　lived；　so　to　speak；　only　provisionally。

During　the　first　days　of　our　stay　at　Fontainebleau　the　idea　that　the
Emperor　would　soon　cease　to　reign　over　France　was　very　far　from　entering
the　minds　of　any　of　those　around　him；　for　every　one　was　possessed　with
the　conviction　that　the　Emperor　of　Austria　would　not　consent　that　his
son…in…law；　daughter；　and　grandson　should　be　dethroned；　in　this　they　were
strangely　mistaken。　　I　remarked　during　these　first　days　that　even　more
petitions　than　usual　were　addressed　to　his　Majesty；　but　I　am　ignorant
whether　he　responded　favorably；　or　even　if　he　replied　at　all。　　The
Emperor　often　took　up　the　daily　papers；　but　after　casting　his　eyes　over
them　threw　them　down　angrily；　and　if　we　recall　the　shameless　abuse　in
which　those　writers　indulged　who　had　so　often　lavished　fulsome　praises　on
him；　it　may　well　be　understood　that　such　a　transition　would　naturally
excite　his　Majesty's　disgust。　　The　Emperor　usually　remained　alone；　and
the　person　whom　he　saw　most　frequently　was　the　Duke　of　Bassano；　the　only
one　of　his　ministers　then　at　Fontainebleau；　for　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；
being　charged　continually　with　missions；　was；　so　to　speak；　constantly　on
the　wing；　especially　as　long　as　his　Majesty　retained　the　hope　of　seeing　a
regency　in　favor　of　his　son　succeed　him　in　the　government。　　In　seeking　to
recall　the　varied　feelings　whose　impress　I　remarked　on　his　Majesty's
countenance；　I　think　I　may　affirm　that　he　was　even　more　deeply　affected
by　being　compelled　to　renounce　the　throne　for　his　son　than　in　resigning
it　for　himself。　　When　the　marshals　or　the　Duke　of　Vicenza　spoke　to　his
Majesty　of　arrangements　relating　to　his　person；　it　was　easy　to　see　that
he　forced　himself　to　listen　to　them　only　with　the　greatest　repugnance。
One　day　when　they　spoke　of　the　Island　of　Elba；　and　I　do　not　know　what　sum
per　year；　I　heard　his　Majesty　reply　vehemently：　〃That　is　too　much；　much
too　much　for　me。　　If　I　am　no　longer　anything　more　than　a　common　soldier；
I　do　not　need　more　than　one　louis　per　day。〃

Nevertheless；　the　time　arrived　when；　pressed　on　every　side；　his　Majesty
submitted　to　sign　the　act　of　abdication　pure　and　simple；　which　was
demanded　of　him。　　This　memorable　act　was　conceived　in　these　terms：

　　　　　〃The　allied　powers　having　proclaimed　that　the　Emperor　Napoleon　is
　　　　　the　only　obstacle　to　the　re…establishment　of　peace　in　Europe；　the
　　　　　Emperor　Napoleon；　faithful　to　his　oath；　declares　that　he　renounces
　　　　　for　himself　and　his　heirs　the　thrones　of　France　and　Italy；　and　that
　　　　　there　is　no　personal　sacrifice；　even　his　life；　which　he　is　not
　　　　　willing　to　make　for　the　interests　of　France。

　　　　　〃Done　at　the　palace　of　Fontainebleau；　11th　of　April；　1814。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　NAPOLEON。〃

I　do　not　need　to　say　that　I　then　had　no　knowledge　of　the　act　of
abdication　above　given；　it　was　one　of　those　state　secrets　which　emanated
from　the　cabinet；　and　hardly　entered　into　the　confidence　of　the　bedroom。
I　only　recall　that　there　was　some　discussion　of　the　matter；　though　very
vague；　that　same　day　in　the　household；　and；　besides；　it　was　evident　that
something　extraordinary　was　taking　place；　and　the　whole　day　his　Majesty
seemed　more　depressed　than　at　any　previous　time；　but；　nevertheless；　I　was
far　from　anticipating　the　agony　which　followed　this　fatal　day！

I　beg　the　reader　in　advance　to　give　earnest　attention　to　the　event　which
I　shall　now　relate。　　I　now　become　a　historian；　since　I　inscribe　the
painful　remembrance　of　a　striking　act　in　the　career　of　the　Emperor；　of　an
event　which　has　been　the　subject　of　innumerable　controversies；　though　it
has　been　necessarily　only　a　matter　of　surmise；　since　I　alone　knew　all　the
painful　details。　　I　refer　to　the　poisoning　of　the　Emperor　at
Fontainebleau。　　I　trust　I　do　not　need　to　protest　my　perfect　truthfulness；
I　feel　too　keenly　the　great　importance　of　such　a　revelation　to　allow
myself　to　omit　or　add　the　least　circumstance　to　the　truth。　　I　shall
therefore　relate　events　just　as　they　occurred；　just　as　I　saw　them；　and　as
memory；　has　engraved　the　painful　details　indelibly　on　my　mind。

On　the　11th　of　April　I　undressed　the　Emperor　as　usual；　I　think　rather
earlier　than　usual；　for；　if　I　remember　aright；　it　was　not　quite　half…past
ten。　　As　he　retired　he　appeared　to　me　better　than　during　the　day；　and　in
nearly　the　same　condition　he　had　been　on　previous　evenings。　　I　slept　in　a
room　on　the　next　floor；　situated　behind　the　Emperor's　room；　with　which　it
communicated　by　a　small；　dark　staircase。　　For　some　time　past　I　had　slept
in　my　clothes；　in　order　to　attend　the　Emperor　more　promptly　if　he　should
call　me；　and　I　was　sleeping　soundly；　when　at　midnight　I　was　awaked　by
M。　Pelard；　who　was　on　duty。　　He　told　me　that　the　Emperor　had　asked　for
me；　and　on　opening　my　eyes　I　saw　on　his　face　an　expression　of　alarm　which
astounded　me。　　I　threw　myself　out　of　the　bed；　and　rapidly　descended　the
staircase；　as　M。　Pelard　added；　〃The　Emperor　has　poured　something　in　a
glass　and　drunk　it。〃　　I　entered　his　Majesty's　room；　a　prey　to
indescribable　anxiety。　　The　Emperor　had　lain　down；　but　in　advancing
towards　his　bed　I　saw　on　the　floor　between　the　fireplace　and　the　bed　the
little　bag　of　black　silk　and　skin；　of　which　I　spoke　some　time　since。　　It
was　the　same　he　had　worn　on　his　neck　since　the　campaign　in　Spain；　and
which　I　had　guarded　so　carefully　from　one　campaign　to　another。　　Ah！　if　I
had　suspected　what　it　contained。　　In　this　terrible　moment　the　truth　was
suddenly　revealed　to　me！

Meanwhile；　I　was　at　the　head　of　the　Emperor's　bed。　　〃Constant；〃　said　he；
in　a　voice　painfully　weak　and　broken；　〃Constant；　I　am　dying！　　I　cannot
endure　the　agony　I　suffer；　above　all　the　humiliation　of　seeing　myself
surrounded　by　foreign　emissaries！　　My　eagles　have　been　trailed　in　the
dust！　　I　have　not　been　understood！　　My　poor　Constant；　they　will　regret　me
when　I　am　no　more！　　Marmont　dealt　me　the　finishing　stroke。　　The　wretch！
I　loved　him！　　Berthier's　desertion　has　ruined　me！　　My　old　friends；　my　old
companions　in　arms！　　〃The　Emperor　said　to　me　many　other　things　which　I
fear　I　might　not　repeat　correctly；　and　it　may　well　be　understood　that；
overwhelmed　as　I　was　with　despair；　I　did　not　attempt　to　engrave　in　my
memory　the　words　which　at　intervals　escaped　the　Emperor's　lips；　for　he
did　not　speak　continuously；　and　the　complaints　I　have　related　were
uttered　only　between　intervals　of　repose；　or　rather　of　stupor。　　While　my
eyes　were　fastened　on　the　Emperor's　countenance；　I　noticed　on　it　a　sudden
contraction；　which　was　the　premonition　of　a　convulsion　which　frightened
me　terribly；　　fortunately　this　convulsion　brought　on　a　slight　attack　of
vomiting；　which　gave　me　some　hope。　　The　Emperor；　amidst　his　complicated
physical　and　mental　sufferings；　maintained　perfect　selfpossession；　and
said　to　me；　after　the　first　vomiting　spell；　〃Constant；　call　M。　Yvan　and
Caulaincourt。〃　　I　half　opened　the　door；　and　gave　the　order　to　M。　Pelard；
without　leaving　the　Emperor's　room；　and　returning　to　his　bed；　besought
and　entreated　him　to　take　a　soothing　potion；　but　all　my　efforts　were　in
vain；　so　strong　was　his　determination　to　die；　even　when　in　the　presence
of　death。

In　spite　of　the　obstinate　refusal　of　the　Emperor；　I　was　still　entreating
him　when　M。　de　Caulaincourt　and　M。　Yvan　entered　the　room。　　His　Majesty
made　a　sign　to　the　Duke　of　Vicenza　to　approach　his　bed；　and　said　to　him；
〃Caulaincourt；　I　recommend　to　you　my　wife　and　child；　serve　them　as　you
have　served　me。　　I　have　not　long　to　live！〃　　At　this　moment　the　Emperor
was　interrupted　by　another　fit　of　vomiting；　but　slighter　than　the　first；
during　which　I　tried　to　tell　the　duke　that　the　Emperor　had　taken　poison；
he　understood　rather　than　heard　me；　for　sobs　stifled　my　voice　to　such　an
extent　that　I　could　not　pronounce　a　word　distinctly。　　M。　Yvan　drew　near；
and　the　Emperor　said　to　him；　〃Do　you　believe　the　dose　was　strong　enough？〃
These　words　were　really　an　enigma　to　M。　Yvan；　for　he　was　not　aware　of　the
existence　of　this　sachet；　at　least　not　to　my　knowledge；　and　therefore
answered；　〃I　do　not　know　what　your　Majesty　means；〃　to　which　his　Majesty
made　no　reply。

The　Duke　of　Vicenza；　M。　Yvan；　and　I；　having　united　our　entreaties　to　the
Emperor；　were　so　fortunate　at　length　as　to　induce　him；　though　not　without
much　difficulty；　to　drink　a　cup　of　tea；　which　he　had　refused　when　I　had
made　it　in　much　haste　and　presented　it　to　him；　saying；　〃Let　me　alone；
Constant；　let　me　alone：　　But；　as　a　result　of　our　redoubled　efforts；　he
drank　it　at　last；　and　the　vomiting　ceased。　　Soon　after　taking　the　tea　the
Emperor　appeared　calmer　and　fell　asleep。　　These　gentlemen　quietly
retired；　and　I　remained　alone　in　his　room；　where　I　awaited　until　he　woke。

After　a　sleep　of　a　few　hours　the　Emperor　awoke；　seeming　almost　as　usual；
although　his　face　still　bore　traces　of　what　he　had　suffered；　and　while　I
assisted　him　in　his　morning　toilet　did　not　utter　a　word　relating　in　the
most　indirect　manner　to　the　frightful　night　he　had　just　passed。　　He
breakfasted　as　usual；　only　a　little　later　than　ordinary。　　His　appearance
had　resumed　its　usual　calm；　and　he　seemed　more　cheerful　than　for　a　long
time　past。　　Was　it　the　result　of　his　satisfaction　at　having　escaped
death；　which　a　momentary　despair　had　made　him　desire？　　Or　did　it　not
rather　arise　from　the　certainty　of　n