napoleon bonaparte, v11-第16章
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were seen to make a new effort； place themselves in line of battle； and
prepare to pass the Aube。 The Emperor； who could pursue them no farther
without exposing his army to the danger of being swallowed up in the
marshes； arrested the impetuosity of his soldiers； believing that the
heights of Baudemont were covered with artillery ready to overwhelm the
enemy； but hearing not a single shot in this direction； he hurried to
Sezanne to hasten the advance of the troops； only to learn that those he
expected to find there had been sent toward Fere Champenoise。
During this interval； a man named Ansart； a land owner at Anglure；
mounted his horse； and hurried at the utmost speed to Sezanne in order to
inform the marshal that the enemy were pursued by the Emperor； and about
to cross the Aube。 Having reached the Duke； and seeing that the corps he
commanded was not taking the road to Anglure； he hastened to speak。
Apparently the Emperor's； orders had not been received； for the marshal
would not listen to him； treated him as a spy； and it was with much
difficulty this brave man escaped being shot。
While this scene was taking place； his Majesty had already reached
Sezanne； and seeing many inhabitants of this village around him； he
requested some one to guide him to Fere Champenoise； whereupon a bailiff
presented himself。 The Emperor immediately set out； escorted by the
officers who had accompanied him to Sezanne； and left the town； saying to
his guide； 〃Go in front； monsieur； and take the shortest road。〃 Arrived
at a short distance from the battlefield of Fere Champenoise； his Majesty
saw that every report of the artillery made the poor bailiff start。 〃You
are afraid；〃 said the Emperor to him。 〃No； Sire。〃〃Then； what makes you
dodge your head？〃〃It is because I am not accustomed like your Majesty
to hearing all this uproar。〃〃One should accustom himself to everything。
Fear nothing； keep on。〃 But the guide； more dead than alive； reined in
his horse； and trembled in every limb。 〃Come； come； I see you are really
afraid。 Go behind me。〃 He obeyed； turned his horse's head； and galloped
as far as Sezanne without stopping； promising himself most faithfully
never again to serve as guide to the Emperor on such an occasion。
At the battle of Mery； the Emperor； under the very fire of the enemy； had
a little bridge thrown over the river which flows near the town。 This
bridge was constructed in an hour by means of ladders fastened together；
and supported by wooden beams； but as this was not sufficient； it was
necessary that planks should be placed on this。 None could be found；
however； for those who might have been able to procure them did not dare
to approach the exposed spot his Majesty occupied at this moment。
Impatient； and even angry； because he could not obtain the planks for
this bridge； his Majesty had the shutters of several large houses a short
distance from the river taken down； and had them placed and nailed down
under his own eyes。 During this work he was tormented by intense thirst；
and was about to dip water up in his hand to slake it； when a young girl；
who had braved danger in order to draw near the Emperor； ran to a
neighboring house； and brought him a glass of water and some wine； which
he eagerly drank。
Astonished to see this young girl in so perilous a place； the Emperor
said to her； smiling； 〃You would make a brave soldier； Mademoiselle； and
if you are willing to wear epaulets you shall be one of my aides…de…
camp。〃 The young girl blushed； and made a courtesy to the Emperor； and
was going away； when he held out his hand to her； and she kissed it。
〃Later；〃 he said； 〃come to Paris； and remind me of the service you have
rendered me to…day。 You will be satisfied of my gratitude。〃 She thanked
the Emperor and withdrew； very proud of his words of commendation。
The day of the battle of Nangis an Austrian officer came in the evening
to headquarters； and had a long； secret conference with his Majesty。
Forty…eight hours after； at the close of the engagement at Mery； appeared
a new envoy from the Prince von Schwarzenberg； with a reply from the
Emperor of Austria to the confidential letter which his Majesty had
written two days before to his father…in…law。 We had left Mery in
flames； and in the little hammock of Chatres； where headquarters had been
established； there could no shelter be found for his Majesty except in
the shop of a wheelwright； and the Emperor passed the night there；
working； or lying on the bed all dressed； without sleeping。 It was there
also he received the Austrian envoy； the Prince of Lichtenstein。 The
prince long remained in conversation with his Majesty； and though nothing
was known of the subject of their conversation； no one doubted that it
related to peace。 After the departure of the prince； the Emperor was in
extraordinarily high spirits； which affected all those around him。
Our army had taken from the enemy thousands of prisoners； Paris had just
received the Russian and Prussian banners taken at Nangis and Montereau；
the Emperor had put to flight the foreign sovereigns； who even feared for
a time that they might not be able to regain the frontiers； and the
effect of so much success had been to restore to his Majesty his former
confidence in his good fortune； though this was unfortunately only a
dangerous illusion。
The Prince of Lichtenstein had hardly left headquarters when M。 de Saint…
Aignan； the brother…in…law of the Duke of Vicenza； and equerry of the
Emperor； arrived。 M。 de Saint…Aignan went； I think； to his brother…in…
law； who was at the Congress of Chatillon； or at least had been； for the
sessions of this congress had been suspended for several days。 It seems
that before leaving Paris M。 de Saint…Aignan held an interview with the
Duke of Rovigo and another； minister； and they had given him a verbal
message to the Emperor。 This mission was both delicate and difficult。
He would have much preferred that these gentlemen should have sent in
writing the communications which they insisted he should bear to his
Majesty； but they refused； and as a faithful servant M。 de Saint…Aignan
performed his duty； and prepared to speak the whole truth； whatever
danger he might incur by so doing。
When he arrived at the wheelwright's shop at Chatres； the Emperor； as we
have just seen； was abandoning himself to most brilliant dreams； which
circumstance was most unfortunate for M。 de Saint…Aignan； since he was
the bearer of disagreeable news。 He came； as we have learned since； to
announce to his Majesty that he should not count upon the public mind at
the capital； since they were murmuring at the prolongation of the war；
and desired that the Emperor should seize the occasion of making peace。
It has even been stated that the word disafection was uttered during this
secret conference by the sincere and truthful lips of M。 de Saint…Aignan。
I cannot assert that this is true； for the door was closely shut； and M。
de Saint…Aignan spoke in a low tone。 It is certain； however； that his
report and his candor excited his Majesty's anger to the highest degree；
and in dismissing him with an abruptness he had certainly not merited；
the Emperor raised his voice to such a pitch as to be heard outside。
When M。 de Saint…Aignan withdrew； and his Majesty summoned me to my
duties near him； I found him much agitated； and pale with anger。 A few
hours after this scene the Emperor ordered his horse； and M。 de Saint…
Aignan； who had resumed his duties as equerry； approached to hold his
stirrup； but as soon as the Emperor perceived him he threw on him an
angry glance； made him a sign to withdraw； exclaiming loudly；
〃Mesgrigny！〃 This was Baron de Mesgrigny； another of his Majesty's
squires。 In compliance with his Majesty's wishes； M。 de Mesgrigny
performed the duties of M。 de Saint…Aignan； who withdrew to the rear of
the army to wait till the storm should be past。 At the end of a few days
his disgrace was ended； and all who knew him rejoiced； for the Baron de
Saint…Aignan was beloved by all for his affability and loyalty。
From Chatres the Emperor marched on Troyes。 The enemy who occupied this
town seemed at first disposed to defend themselves there； but soon
yielded； and evacuated it at the close of a capitulation。 During the
short time the； allies passed at Troyes； the Royalists had publicly
announced their hatred to the Emperor； and their adherence to the allied
powers； who came； they said； only to establish the Bourbons on the
throne； and even had the imprudence to display the white flag and white
cockade； and the foreign troops had consequently protected them； while
exercising extreme harshness and severity towards those inhabitants who
held contrary opinions。
Unfortunately for the Royalists they were in a very feeble minority； and
the favor shown to them by the Russians and Prussians led the populace
oppressed by the latter to hate the proteges as much as their protectors。
Even before the entrance of the Emperor into Troyes； Royalist
proclamations addressed to the officers of his household or the army had
fallen into his hands。 He had showed no anger； but had urged those who
had received； or who might receive； communications of this nature； to
destroy them； and to inform no one of the contents。 On his arrival at
Troyes his Majesty rendered a decree proclaiming penalty of death against
all Frenchmen in the service of the enemy； and those who wore the emblems
and decorations of the ancient dynasty。 An unfortunate emigre； accused
before a council of war； was convicted of having worn the cross of St。
Louis and the white cockade during the stay of the allies at Troyes； and
of having furnished to the foreign generals all the information in his
power。
The council pronounced sentence of death； for the proofs were positive；
and the law not less so； and Chevalier Gonault fell a victim to his ill…
judged devotion to a cause which was still far from appearing national；
especially in the departments occupied by the allied armies； and was
executed according to military usage。
End
