memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v8-第3部分

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will　justify　the　momentary　alarm　with　which　I　was　seized　when　summoned　to
the　Tuileries；　and　the　satisfaction　I　felt　at　my　reception。　　I　had　a
proof　of　what　Rapp　said　of　the　Emperor　being　in　good…humour；　and　was
flattered　by　the　confidential　manner　in　which　he　spoke　to　me　concerning
some　of　the　great　political　secrets　of　his　Government。　　On　seeing　me　come
out　Rapp　observed；　〃You　have　had　a　long　audience。〃〃Yes；　not　amiss；〃　and
this　circumstance　procured　for　me　a　courtly　salutation　from　all　persons
waiting　in　the　antechamber。'

I　shall　now　relate　how　I　spent　the　two　preceding　years。　　The　month　after
I　tendered　my　resignation　to　the　First　Consul；　and　which　he　refused　to
accept；　the　house　at　St。　Cloud　belonging　to　Madame　Deville　was　offered　to
me；　it　was　that　in　which　the　Due　d'Angouleme　and　the　Due　de　Berri　were
inoculated。　　I　visited　this　mansion；　thinking　it　might　be　suitable　for　my
family；　but；　notwithstanding　the　beauty　of　its　situation；　it　seemed　far
too　splendid　either　for　my　taste　or　my　fortune。　　Except　the　outer　walls；
it　was　in　a　very　dilapidated　state；　and　would　require　numerous　and
expensive　repairs。　　Josephine；　being　informed　that　Madame　de　Bourrienne
had　set　her　face　against　the　purchase；　expressed　a　wish　to　see　the
mansion；　and　accompanied　us　for　that　purpose。　　She　was　so　much　delighted
with　it　that　she　blamed　my　wife　for　starting　any　objections　to　my
becoming；　its　possessor。　　〃With　regard　to　the　expense；〃　Josephine　replied
to　her；　〃ah；　we　shall　arrange　that。〃　　On　our　return　to　Malmaison　she
spoke　of　it　in　such　high　terms　that　Bonaparte　said　to　me；　〃Why　don't　you
purchase　it；　Bourrienne；　since　the　price　is　so　reasonable？〃

The　house　was　accordingly　purchased。　　An　outlay　of　20；000　francs　was
immediately　required　to　render　it　habitable。　　Furniture　was　also
necessary　for　this　large　mansion；　and　orders　for　it　were　accordingly
given。　　But　no　sooner　were　repairs　begun　than　everything　crumbled　to
pieces；　which　rendered　many　additional　expenses　necessary。

About　this　period　Bonaparte　hurried　forward　the　works　at　St。　Cloud；　to
which　place　he　immediately　removed。　　My　services　being　constantly
required；　I　found　it　so　fatiguing　to　go　twice　or　thrice　a　day　from　Ruel
to　St。　Cloud　that　I　took　possession　of　my　new　mansion；　though　it　was
still　filled　with　workmen。　　Scarcely　eight　days　had　elapsed　from　this
period　when　Bonaparte　intimated　that　he　no　longer　had　occasion　for　my
services。　　When　my　wife　went　to　take　leave　Napoleon　spoke　to　her　in　a
flattering　manner　of　my　good　qualities；　my　merit；　and　the　utility　of　my
labours；　saying　that　he　was　himself　the　most　unfortunate　of　the　three；
and　that　my　loss　could　never　be　replaced。　　He　then　added；　〃I　shall　be
absent　for　a　month；　but　Bourrienne　may　be　quite　easy；　let　him　remain　in
retirement；　and　on　my　return　I　shall　reward　his　services；　should　I　even
create　a　place　on　purpose　for　him。

Madame　de　Bourrienne　then　requested　leave　to　retain　the　apartments
appropriated　to　her　in　the　Tuileries　till　after　her　accouchement；　which
was　not　far　distant；　to　which　he　replied；　〃You　may　keep　them　as　long　as
you　please；　for　it　will　be　some　time　before　I　again　reside　in　Paris。〃

Bonaparte　set　out　on　his　journey；　and　shortly…afterwards　I　went　with　my
family　to　visit　Madame　de　Coubertin；　my　cousin…german；　who　received　us
with　her　usual　kindness。　　We　passed　the　time　of　the　First　Consul's
absence　at　her　country　seat；　and　only　returned　to　St。　Cloud　on　the　day
Bonaparte　was　expected。

Scarcely　a　quarter　of　an　hour　had　elapsed　after　his　arrival　when　I
received　an　intimation　to　give　up；　in　twenty…four　hours；　the　apartments
in　the　Tuileries；　which　he　had　promised　my　wife　should　retain　till　after
her　confinement。　　He　reclaimed　at　the　same　time　the　furniture　of　Ruel；
which　he　presented　to　me　two　years　before；　when　I　purchased　that　small
house　on　purpose　to　be　near　him。

I　addressed　several　memorials　to　him　on　this　subject；　stating　that　I　had
replaced　the　worn…out　furniture　with　new　and　superior　articles；　but　this
he　wholly　disregarded；　compelling　me　to　give　up　everything；　even　to　the
greatest　trifle。　　It　may　be　right　to　say　that　on　his　return　the　Emperor
found　his　table　covered　with　information　respecting　my　conduct　in　Paris；
though　I　had　not　held　the　smallest　communication　with　any　one　in　the
capital；　nor　once　entered　it　during　his　absence。

After　my　departure　for　Hamburg；　Bonaparte　took　possession　of　my　stables
and　coach…house；　which　he　filled　with　horses。　　Even　the　very　avenues　and
walks　were　converted　into　stabling。　　A　handsome　house　at　the　entrance　to
the　park　was　also　appropriated　to　similar　purposes；　in　fact；　he　spared
nothing。　　Everything　was　done　in　the　true　military　style；　I　neither　had
previous　intimation　of　the　proceedings　nor　received　any　remuneration　for
my　loss。　　The　Emperor　seemed　to　regard　the　property　as　his　own；　but
though　he　all　but　ordered　me　to　make　the　purchase；　he　did　not　furnish　the
money　that　was　paid　for　it。　　In　this　way　it　was　occupied　for　more　than
four　years。

The　recollection　of　those　arbitrary　and　vexatious　proceedings　on　the　part
of　Bonaparte　has　led　me　farther　than　I　intended。　　I　shall　therefore
return　to　the　imperial　residence　of　St。　Cloud。　　On　leaving　the　audience…
chamber；　as　already　stated；　I　repaired　to　the　apartments　of　the　Empress；
who；　knowing　that　I　was　in　the　Palace；　had　intimated　her　wishes　for　my
attendance。　　No　command　could　have　been　more　agreeable　to　me；　for　every
one　was　certain　of　a　gracious　reception　from　Josephine。　　I　do　not
recollect　which　of　the　ladies　in　waiting　was　in　attendance　when　my　name
was　announced；　but　she　immediately　retired；　and　left　me　alone　with
Josephine。　　Her　recent　elevation　had　not　changed　the　usual　amenity　of　her
disposition。　　After　some　conversation　respecting　the　change　in　her
situation；　I　gave　her　an　account　of　what　had　passed　between　the　Emperor
and　myself。

I　faithfully　related　all　that　he　had　said　of　Moreau；　observing　that　at
one　moment　I　imagined　he　was　about　to　speak　of　the　Due　d'Enghien；　when　he
suddenly　reverted　to　what　he　had　been　saying；　and　never　made　the
slightest　allusion　to　the　subject。

Madame　Bonaparte　replied　to　me；　〃Napoleon　has　spoken　the　truth　respecting
Moreau。　　He　was　grossly　deceived　by　those　who　believed　they　could　best
pay　their　court　to　him　by　calumniating　that　general。　　His　silence　on　the
subject　of　the　Due　d'Enghien　does　not　surprise　me；　he　says　as　little
respecting　it　as　possible；　and　always　in　a　vague　manner；　and　with
manifest　repugnance。　　When　you　see　Bonaparte　again　be　silent　on　the
subject；　and　should　chance　bring　it　forward；　avoid　every　expression　in
the　smallest　degree　indicative　of　reproach；　he　would　not　suffer　it；　you
would　ruin　yourself　for　ever　in　his　estimation；　and　the　evil　is；　alas！
without　remedy。　　When　you　came　to　Malmaison　I　told　you　that　I　had　vainly
endeavoured　to　turn　him　from　his　fatal　purpose；　and　how　he　had　treated
me。　　Since　then　he　has　experienced　but　little　internal　satisfaction；　it
is　only　in　the　presence　of　his　courtiers　that　he　affects　a　calm　and
tranquil　deportment；　but　I　perceive　his　sufferings　are　the　greater　from
thus　endeavouring　to　conceal　them。　　By　the　by；　I　forgot　to　mention　that
he　knew　of　the　visit　you　paid　me　on　the　day　after　the　catastrophe。　　I
dreaded　that　your　enemies；　the　greater　number　of　whom　are　also　mine；
might　have　misrepresented　that　interview；　but；　fortunately；　he　paid
little　attention　to　it。　　He　merely　said；　'So　you　have　seen　Bourrienne？
Does　he　sulk　at　me？　　Nevertheless　I　must　do　something　for　him。'　　He　has
again　spoken　in　the　same　strain；　and　repeated　nearly　the　same　expressions
three　days　ago；　and　since　he　has　commanded　your　presence　to…day；　I　have
not　a　doubt　but　he　has　something　in　view　for　your　advantage。〃〃　May　I
presume　to　inquire　what　it　is？〃〃I　do　not　yet　know；　but　I　would
recommend　to　you；　in　the　meantime；　to　be　more　strictly　on　your　guard　than
ever；　he　is　so　suspicious；　and　so　well　informed　of　all　that　is　done　or
said　respecting　himself。　　I　have　suffered　so　much　since　I　last　saw　you；
never　can　I　forget　the　unkind　manner　in　which　he　rejected　my　entreaties！
For　several　days　I　laboured　under　a　depression　of　spirits　which　greatly
irritated　him；　because　he　clearly　saw　whence　it　proceeded。　　I　am　not
dazzled　by　the　title　of　Empress；　I　dread　some　evil　will　result　from　this
step　to　him；　to　my　children；　and　to　myself。　　The　miscreants　ought　to　be
satisfied；　see　to　what　they　have　driven　us！　　This　death　embitters　every
moment　of　my　life。　　I　need　not　say　to　you；　Bourrienne；　that　I　speak　this
in　confidence。〃〃You　cannot　doubt　my　prudence。〃〃　No；　certainly　not；
Bourrienne。　　I　do　not　doubt　it。　　My　confidence　in　you　is　unbounded。　　Rest
assured　that　I　shall　never　forget　what　you　have　done　for　me；　under
various　circumstances；　and　the　devotedness　you　evinced　to　me　on　your
return　from　Egypt。Adieu；　my　friend。　　Let　me　see　you　soon　again。〃

It　was　on　the　14th　of　June　1804　that　I　had　this　audience　of　the　Emperor；
and　afterwards　attended　the　Empress。

On　my　return　home　I　spent　three　hours　in　making　notes　of　all　that　was
said　to　me　by　these　two　personages；　and　the　substance　of　these　notes　I
have　now　given　to　the　reader。




CHAPTER　XXVIII。

1804。

　　　　　Curious　disclosures　of　FoucheRemarkable　words　of　Bonaparte
　　　　　respecting　the　protest　of　Louis　XVIIISecret　document　inserted　in
　　　　　the　MoniteurAnnouncement　from　Bonaparte　to　RegnierFouche
　　　　　appointed　Minister　of　PoliceError　of　Regnier　respecting　the
　　　　　conspiracy　of　GeorgesUndeserved　praise　bestowed　on　Fouche
　　　　　Indication　of　the　return　of　the　BourbonsVariation　between　the
　　　　　words　and　conduct　of　BonaparteThe　iron　crownCelebration　of　the
　　　　　14th　of　JulyChurch　festivals　and　loss　of　timeGrand　ceremonial　at
　　　　　the　InvalidesRecollections　of　the　18th　BrumaireNew　oath　of　the
　　　　　Legion　of　HonourGeneral　enthusiasmDeparture　for　BoulogneVisits
　　　　　to　Josephine　at　St。　Cloud　and　MalmaisonJosephine　and　Madame　de
　　　　　RemusatPardons　granted　by　the　EmperorAnniversary　of　the　14th　of
　　　　　JulyDeparture　for　the　camp　of　BoulogneGeneral　error　respecting
　　　　　Napoleon's　designsCaesar's　TowerDistribution　of　the　crosses　of
　　　　　the　Legion　of　HonourThe　military　throneBonaparte's　charlatani