memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v2-第13部分

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the　reiterated　solicitations　of　the　victorious　General；　was　so　long
delayed　made　me　apprehensive　of　a　renewal；　under　a　weak　and　jealous
pentarchy；　of　the　horrible　scenes　of　1796。　　Bonaparte　said　to　me；　in
atone　of　indignation；　〃Come；　pass　the　Rhine；　they　will　not　dare　to　seize
you　while　near　me。　　I　answer　for　your　safety。〃　　On　reaching　Paris　I　found
that　my　erasure　had　taken　place。　　It　was　at　this　period　only　that　General
Bonaparte's　applications　in　my　favour　were　tardily　crowned　with　success。
Sotin；　the　Minister　of　General　Police；　notified　the　fact　to　Bonaparte；
but　his　letter　gave　a　reason　for　my　erasure　very　different　from　that
stated　in　the　decree。　　The　Minister　said　that　the　Government　did　not　wish
to　leave　among　the　names　of　traitors　to　their　country　the　name　of　a
citizen　who　was　attached　to　the　person　of　the　conqueror　of　Italy；　while
the　decree　itself　stated　as　the　motive　for　removing　my　name　from　the　list
that　I　never　had　emigrated。

At　St。　Helena　it　seems　Bonaparte　said　that　he　did　not　return　from　Italy
with　more　than　300；000　francs；　but　I　assert　that　he　had　at　that　time　in
his　possession　something　more　than　3；000；000。

　　　　　＇Joseph　says　that　Napoleon；　when　he　exiled　for　Egypt；　left　with
　　　　　him　all　his　fortune；　and　that　it　was　much　nearer　300；000　francs　than
　　　　　3；000；000。　　（See　Erreurs；　tome　i。　　pp。　243；　259＇

How　could　he　with　300；000　francs　have　been　able　to　provide　for　the
extensive　repairs；　the　embellishment；　and　the　furnishing　of　his　house　in
the　Rue　Chantereine？　　How　could　he　have　supported　the　establishment　he
did　with　only　15；000　francs　of　income　and　the　emoluments　of　his　rank？
The　excursion　which　he　made　along　the　coast；　of　which　I　have　yet　to
speak；　of　itself　cost　near　12；000　francs　in　gold；　which　he　transferred　to
me　to　defray　the　expense　of　the　journey；　and　I　do　not　think　that　this　sum
was　ever　repaid　him。　　Besides；　what　did　it　signify；　for　any　object　he
might　have　in　disguising　his　fortune；　whether　he　brought　3；000；000　or
300；000　francs　with　him　from　Italy？　　No　one　will　accuse　him　of
peculation。　　He　was　an　inflexible　administrator。　　He　was　always　irritated
at　the　discovery　of　fraud；　and　pursued　those　guilty　of　it　with　all　the
vigour　of　his　character。　　He　wished　to　be　independent；　which　he　well　knew
that　no　one　could　be　without　fortune。　　He　has　often　said　to　me；　〃I　am　no
Capuchin；　not　I〃　　But　after　having　been　allowed　only　300；000　francs　on
his　arrival　from　the　rich　Italy；　where　fortune　never　abandoned　him；　it
has　been　printed　that　he　had　20；000；000　（some　have　even　doubled　the
amount）　on　his　return　from　Egypt；　which　is　a　very　poor　country；　where
money　is　scarce；　and　where　reverses　followed　close　upon　his　victories。
All　these　reports　are　false。　　What　he　brought　from　Italy　has　just　been
stated；　and　it　will　be　seen　when　we　come　to　Egypt　what　treasure　he
carried　away　from　the　country　of　the　Pharaohs。

Bonaparte's　brothers；　desirous　of　obtaining　complete　dominion　over　his
mind；　strenuously　endeavoured　to　lessen　the　influence　which　Josephine
possessed　from　the　love　of　her　husband。　　They　tried　to　excite　his
jealousy；　and　took　advantage　of　her　stay　at　Milan　after　our　departure；
which　had　been　authorised　by　Bonaparte　himself。　　My　intimacy　with　both
the　husband　and　the　wife　fortunately　afforded　me　an　opportunity　of
averting　or　lessening　a　good　deal　of　mischief。　　If　Josephine　still　lived
she　would　allow　me　this　merit。　　I　never　took　part　against　her　but　once；
and　that　unwillingly。　　It　was　on　the　subject　of　the　marriage　of　her
daughter　Hortense。　　Josephine　had　never　as　yet　spoken　to　me　on　the
subject。　　Bonaparte　wished　to　give　his　stepdaughter　to　Duroc；　and　his
brothers　were　eager　to　promote　the　marriage；　because　they　wished　to
separate　Josephine　from　Hortense；　for　whom　Bonaparte　felt　the　tenderest
affection。　　Josephine；　on　the　other　hand；　wished　Hortense　to　marry　Louis
Bonaparte。　　Her　motives；　as　may　easily　be　divined；　were　to；　gain　support
in　a　family　where　she　experienced　nothing　but　enmity；　and　she　carried　her
point。

　　　　　＇Previous　to　her　marriage　with　Louis；　Hortense　cherished　an
　　　　　attachment　for　Duroc；　who　was　at　that　time　a　handsome　man　about
　　　　　thirty；　and　a　great　favourite　of　Bonaparte。　　However；　the
　　　　　indifference　with　which　Duroc　regarded　the　marriage　of　Louis
　　　　　Bonaparte　sufficiently　proves　that　the　regard　with　which　be　had
　　　　　inspired　Hortense　was　not　very　ardently　returned。　　It　is　certain
　　　　　that　Duroc　might　have　become　the　husband　of　Mademoiselle　de
　　　　　Beauharnais　had　he　been　willing　to　accede　to　the　conditions　on　which
　　　　　the　First　Consul　offered　him　his　step…daughter's　hand。　　But　Duroc
　　　　　looked　forward　to　something　better；　and　his　ordinary　prudence
　　　　　forsook　him　at　a　moment　when　he　might　easily　have　beheld　a
　　　　　perspective　calculated　to　gratify　even　a　more　towering　ambition　than
　　　　　his。　　He　declined　the　proposed　marriage；　and　the　union　of　Hortense
　　　　　and　Louis；　which　Madame　Bonaparte；　to　conciliate　the　favour　of　her
　　　　　brothers…in…law；　had　endeavoured　to　bring　about；　was　immediately
　　　　　determined　on　（Memoires　de　Constant）。

　　　　　In　allusion　to　the　alleged　unfriendly　feeling　of　Napoleon's　brothers
　　　　　towards　Josephine；　the　following　observation　occurs　in　Joseph
　　　　　Bonaparte's　Notes　on　Bourrienne：

　　　　　〃None　of　Napoleon's　brothers；〃　he　says；　〃were　near　him　from　the　time
　　　　　of　his　departure　for　Italy　except　Louis　who　cannot　be　suspected　of
　　　　　having　intrigued　against　Josephine；　whose　daughter　he　married。
　　　　　These　calumnies　are　without　foundation〃　（Erreurs；　tome　i。　p。　244）＇

On　his　arrival　from　Rastadt　the　most　magnificent　preparations　were　made
at　the　Luxembourg　for　the　reception　of　Bonaparte。　　The　grand　court　of　the
Palace　was　elegantly　ornamented；　and　at　its　farther　end；　close　to　tho
Palace；　a　large　amphitheatre　was　erected　for　the　accommodation　of
official　persons。　　Curiosity；　as　on　all　like　occasions；　attracted
multitudes；　and　the　court　was　filled。　　Opposite　to　the　principal
vestibule　stood　the　altar　of　the　country；　surrounded　by　the　statues　of
Liberty；　Equality；　and　Peace。　　When　Bonaparte　entered　every　head　was
uncovered。　　The　windows　were　full　of　young　and　beautiful　females。　　But
notwithstanding　this　great　preparation　an　icy　coldness　characterized　the
ceremony。　　Every　one　seemed　to　be　present　only　for　the　purpose　of
beholding　a　sight；　and　curiosity　was　the　prevailing　expression　rather
than　joy　or　gratitude。　　It　is　but　right　to　say；　however；　that　an
unfortunate　event　contributed　to　the　general　indifference。　　The　right
wing　of　the　Palace　was　not　occupied；　but　great　preparations　had　been
making　there；　and　an　officer　had　been　directed　to　prevent　anyone　from
ascending。　　One　of　the　clerks　of　the　Directory；　however；　contrived　to　get
upon　the　scaffolding；　but　had　scarcely　placed　his　foot　on　the　first　plank
when　it　tilted　up；　and　the　imprudent　man　fell　the　whole　height　into　the
court。　　This　accident　created　a　general　stupor。　　Ladies　fainted；　and　the
windows　were　nearly　deserted。

However；　the　Directory　displayed　all　the　Republican　splendour　of　which
they　were　so　prodigal　on　similar　occasions。　　Speeches　were　far　from　being
scarce。　　Talleyrand；　who　was　then　Minister　for　Foreign　Affairs；　on
introducing　Bonaparte　to　the　Directory；　made　a　long　oration；　in　the
course　of　which　he　hinted　that　the　personal　greatness　of　the　General
ought　not　to　excite　uneasiness；　even　in　a　rising　Republic。　　〃Far　from
apprehending　anything　from　his　ambition；　I　believe　that　we　shall　one　day
be　obliged　to　solicit　him　to　tear　himself　from　the　pleasures　of　studious
retirement。　　All　France　will　be　free；　but　perhaps　he　never　will；　such　is
his　destiny。〃

Talleyrand　was　listened　to　with　impatience；　so　anxious　was　every　one　to
hear　Bonaparte。　　The　conqueror　of　Italy　then　rose；　and　pronounced　with　a
modest　air；　but　in　a　firm　voice；　a　short　address　of　congratulation　on　the
improved　position　of　the　nation。

Barras；　at　that　time　President　of　the　Directory；　replied　to　Bonaparte
with　so　much　prolixity　as　to　weary　everyone；　and　as　soon　as　he　had
finished　speaking　he　threw　himself　into　the　arms　of　the　General；　who　was
not　much　pleased　with　such　affected　displays；　and　gave　him　what　was　then
called　the　fraternal　embrace。　　The　other　members　of　the　Directory；
following　the　example　of　the　President；　surrounded　Bonaparte　and　pressed
him　in　their　arms；　each　acted；　to　the　best　of　his　ability；　his　part　in
the　sentimental　comedy。

Chenier　composed　for　this　occasion　a　hymn；　which　Mehul　set　to　music。　　A
few　days　after　an　opera　was　produced；　bearing　the　title　of　the　'Fall　of
Carthage'；　which　was　meant　as　an　allusion　to　the　anticipated　exploits　of
the　conqueror　of　Italy；　recently　appointed　to　the　command　of　the　〃Army　of
England。〃　　The　poets　were　all　employed　in　praising　him；　and　Lebrun；　with
but　little　of　the　Pindaric　fire　in　his　soul；　composed　the　following
distich；　which　certainly　is　not　worth　much：

　　　　　　　　　〃Heros；　cher　a　la　paix；　aux　arts；　a　la　victoire
　　　　　　　　　　Il　conquit　en　deux　ans　mille　siecles　de　gloire。〃

The　two　councils　were　not　disposed　to　be　behind　the　Directory　in　the
manifestation　of　joy。　　A　few　days　after　they　gave　a　banquet　to　the
General　in　the　gallery　of　the　Louvre；　which　had　recently　been　enriched　by
the　masterpieces　of　painting　conquered　in　Italy。

At　this　time　Bonaparte　displayed　great　modesty　in　all　his　transactions　in
Paris。　　The　administrators　of　the　department　of　the　Seine　having　sent　a
deputation　to　him　to　inquire　what　hour　and　day　he　would　allow　them　to
wait　on　him；　he　carried　himself　his　answer　to　the　department；　accompanied
by　General　Berthier。　　It　was　also　remarked　that　the　judge　of　the　peace　of
the　arrondissement　where　the　General　lived　having　called　on　him　on　the
6th　of　December；　the　evening　of　his　arrival；　he　returned　the　visit　next
morning。　　These　attentions；　trifling　as　they　may　appear；　were　not　without
their　effect　on　the　minds　of　the　Parisians。

In　consequence　of　General　Bonaparte's　victories；　the　peace　he　had
effected；　and　the　brilliant　reception　of　which　he　had　been　the　object；
the　business　of　Vendemiaire　was　in　some　measure　forgotten。　　Every　one　was
eager　to　get　a　sight　of　the　young　hero　whose　career　had　commenced　with　so
mu