napoleon bonaparte, v12-第6章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



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　no　longer　fearing　it　in　his　bed　more
than　on　the　battlefield？　　However　that　may　be；　I　attribute　the　remarkable
preservation　of　the　Emperor's　life　to　the　fact　that　the　poison　contained
in　the　bag　had　lost　its　efficacy。

When　everything　had　returned　to　its　usual　order；　without　any　one　in　the
palace　except　those　I　have　named　suspecting　what　had　occurred；　I　learned
that　M。　Yvan　had　left　Fontainebleau。　　Overwhelmed　by　the　question　the
Emperor　had　addressed　to　him　in　the　presence　of　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；　and
fearing　that　he　might　suspect　that　he　had　given　his　Majesty　the　means　of
attempting　his　life；　this　skillful　physician；　so　long　and　so　faithfully
attached　to　the　Emperor's　person；　had；　so　to　speak；　lost　his　head　in
thinking　of　the　responsibility　resting　on　him。　　Hastily　descending　the
stairs　from　the　Emperor's　apartments；　and　finding　a　horse　ready　saddled
and　bridled　in　one　of　the　courts　of　the　palace；　he　threw　himself　upon　it；
and　hastily　took　the　road　to　Paris。　　This　was　the　morning　of　the　same　day
that　Roustan　left　Fontainebleau。

On　the　12th　of　April；　the　Emperor　also　received　the　last　adieux　of
Marshal　Macdonald。　　When　he　was　introduced；　the　Emperor　was　still　feeling
the　effects　of　the　events　of　the　preceding　night；　and　I　am　sure　the　Duke
of　Tarentum　perceived；　without　divining　the　cause；　that　his　Majesty　was
not　in　his　usual　condition。　　He　was　accompanied　by　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；
and　at　this　moment　the　Emperor　was　still　so　much　depressed；　and　seemed　so
entirely　absorbed　in　thought；　that　he　did　not　at　first　perceive　these
gentlemen；　although　he　was　perfectly　wide　awake。　　The　Duke　of　Tarentum
brought　to　the　Emperor　the　treaty　with　the　allies；　and　I　left　the　room　as
he　was　preparing　to　sign　it。　　A　few　moments　after　the　Duke　of　Vicenza
summoned　me；　and　his　Majesty　said；　〃Constant；　bring　me　the　saber　which
Mourad…Bey　presented　to　me　in　Egypt。　　You　know　which　it　is？〃〃Yes；
Sire。〃　　I　went　out；　and　immediately　returned　with　this　magnificent　sword；
which　the　Emperor　had　worn　at　the　battle　of　Mount　Tabor；　as　I　have　heard
many　times。　　I　handed　it　to　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；　from　whose　hands　the
Emperor　took　it；　and　presented　it　to　Marshal　Macdonald；　and　as　I　retired
heard　the　Emperor　speaking　to　him　most　affectionately；　and　calling　him
his　worthy　friend。

These　gentlemen；　according　to　my　recollection；　were　present　at　the
Emperor's　breakfast；　where　he　appeared　calmer　and　more　cheerful　than　for
a　long　time　past；　and　we　were　all　surprised　to　see　him　converse
familiarly　and　in　the　most　amiable　manner　with　persons　to　whom　for　some
time　past　he　had　usually　addressed　very　brief　and　distant　remarks。
However；　this　gayety　was　only　momentary；　and；　indeed；　the　manner　in　which
the　Emperor's　mood　varied　from　one　moment　to　another　during　the　whole
time　of　our　stay　at　Fontainebleau　was　perfectly　indescribable。　　I　have
seen　him　on　the　same　day　plunged　for　several　hours　into　the　most　terrible
depression；　then；　a　moment　after；　walking　with　great　strides　up　and　down
his　room；　whistling　or　humming　La　Monaco；　after　which　he　suddenly　fell
into　a　kind　of　stupor；　seeing　nothing　around　him；　and　forgetting　even　the
orders　he　had　given。　　A　fact　which　impressed　me　forcibly　was　the
remarkable　effect　produced　on　him　by　letters　addressed　to　him　from　Paris。
As　soon　as　he　perceived　them　his　agitation　became　extreme；I　might　say
convulsive；　without　fear　of　being　taxed　with　exaggeration。

In　support　of　what　I　have　said　of　the　incredible　preoccupation　of　the
Emperor；　I　will　mention　an　occurrence　which　comes　to　my　memory。　　During
our　sojourn　at　Fontainebleau　the　Countess　Walewska；　of　whom　I　have
heretofore　spoken；　came；　and　having　summoned　me；　told　me　how　anxious　she
was　to　see　the　Emperor。　　Thinking　that　this　would　be　sure　to　distract　his
Majesty；　I　mentioned　it　to　him　that　very　evening；　and　received　orders　to
have　her　come　at　ten　o'clock。　　Madame　Walewska　was；　as　may　well　be
believed；　promptly　on　hand　at　the　appointed　hour；　and　I　entered　the
Emperor's　room　to　announce　her　arrival。　　He　was　lying　on　his　bed；　and
plunged　so　deeply　in　meditation　that　it　was　only　on　a　second　reminder
from　me　he　replied；　〃Ask　her　to　wait。〃　　She　then　waited　in　the　apartment
in　front　of　his　Majesty's；　and　I　remained　to　keep　her　company。　　Meanwhile
the　night　passed　on；　and　the　hours　seemed　long　to　the　beautiful　visitor；
and　her　distress　that　the　Emperor　did　not　summon　her　became　so　evident
that　I　took　pity　on　her；　and　reentered　the　Emperor's　room　to　remind　him
again。　　He　was　not　asleep；　but　was　so　deeply　absorbed　in　thought　that　he
made　no　reply。　　At　last　day　began　to　break；　and　the　countess；　fearing　to
be　seen　by　the　people　of　the　household；　withdrew　in　despair　at　not　having
bidden　adieu　to　the　object　of　her　affections；　and　she　had　been　gone　more
than　an　hour　when　the　Emperor　remembered　that　she　was　waiting；　and　asked
for　her。　　I　told　his　Majesty　how　it　was；　and　did　not　conceal　the　state　of
despair　in　which　the　countess　took　her　departure。　　The　Emperor　was　much
affected。　　〃Poor　woman；　she　thinks　herself　humiliated！　　Constant；　I　am
really　grieved。　　If　you　see　her　again；　tell　her　so。　　But　I　have　so　many
things　there！〃　added　he　in　a；　very　energetic　tone；　striking　his　brow　with
his　hand。

The　visit　of　this　lady　to　Fontainebleau　recalls　another　of　almost　the
same　kind；　but　to　describe　which　it　is　necessary　that　I　take　up　the
thread　of　events　a　little　further　back。

　　　　　＇I　have　learned　since　that　the　Countess　de　Walewska　went　with　her
　　　　　son　to　visit　the　Emperor　on　the　Island　of　Elba。　　This　child
　　　　　resembled　his　Majesty　so　greatly　that　the　report　was　started　that
　　　　　the　King　of　Rome　had　visited　his　father。　　Madame　de　Walewska
　　　　　remained　only　a　short　time　at　the　Island　of　Elba。　CONSTANT。＇

A　short　time　after　his　marriage　with　the　Archduchess　Marie　Louise；
although　she　was　a　young　and　beautiful　woman；　and　although　he　really
loved　her　devotedly；　the　Emperor　was　no　more　careful　than　in　the　time　of
the　Empress　Josephine　to　scrupulously　observe　conjugal　fidelity。　　During
on