napoleon bonaparte, v4-第7章

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nobility；　generosity；　courage；　and　skill　in　the　art　of　governing；　were
needed；　for　never　did　prince　more　sincerely　desire　the　prosperity　of　the
people　confided　to　his　care。　　I　have　often　observed　how　truly　happy　he
was；　and　what　genuine　delight　beamed　from　his　countenance　when　he　had
shed　happiness　around　him。

The　Emperor　and　Empress　went　one　day　to　breakfast　in　the　environs　of
Milan；　on　a　little　island　called　Olona。　　While　walking　over　it；　the
Emperor　met　a　poor　woman；　whose　cottage　was　near　the　place　where　their
Majesties'　table　had　been　set；　and　he　addressed　to　her　a　number　of
questions。　　〃Monsieur；〃　replied　she　（not　knowing　the　Emperor）；　〃I　am　very
poor；　and　the　mother　of　three　children；　whom　I　have　great　difficulty　in
supporting；　because　my　husband；　who　is　a　day　laborer；　has　not　always
work。〃　〃How　much　would　it　take；〃　replied　his　Majesty；　〃to　make　you
perfectly　happy？〃〃O　Sire；　it　would　take　a　great　deal　of　money。〃〃But
how　much；　my　good　woman；　how　much　would　be　necessary？〃〃Ah；　Monsieur；
unless　we　had　twenty　louis；　　we　would　not　be　above　want；　but　what　chance
is　there　of　our　ever　having　twenty　louis？〃

The　Emperor　gave　her；　on　the　spot；　the　sum　of　three　thousand　francs　in
gold；　and　ordered　me　to　untie　the　rolls　and　pour　them　all　into　the　good
woman's　lap。

At　the　sight　of　so　much　gold　the　latter　grew　pale；　reeled；　and　I　saw　she
was　fainting。　　〃All；　that　is　too　much；　Monsieur；　that　is　indeed　too　much。
Surely　you　could　not　be　making　sport　of　a　poor　woman！〃

The　Emperor　assured　her　that　it　was　indeed　all　hers；　and　that　with　this
money　she　could　buy　a　little　field；　a　flock　of　goats；　and　raise　her
children　well。

His　Majesty　did　not　make　himself　known；　for　he　liked；　in　dispensing　his
benefits；　to　preserve　his　incognito；　and　I　knew；　during　his　life；　a　large
number　of　instances　similar　to　the　foregoing。　　It　seems　that　historians
have　made　it　a　point　to　pass　them　over　in　silence；　and　yet　it　is；　I
think；　by　the　rehearsal　of　just　such　deeds　that　a　correct　idea　of　the
Emperor's　character　can　and　should　be　formed。

Deputations　from　the　Ligurian　Republic；　with　the　Doge　at　their　head；　had
come　to　Milan　to　entreat　the　Emperor　to　annex　Genoa　and　its　territory　to
the　Empire；　which　demand　his　Majesty　took　care　not　to　refuse；　and　by　a
decree　formed　of　the　Genoese　states　three　departments　of　his　Italian
kingdom。　　The　Emperor　and　Empress　set　out　from　Milan　to　visit　these
departments　and　some　others。

We　had　been　at　Mantua　a　short　time；　when　one　evening；　about　six　o'clock；
Grand　Marshal　Duroc　gave　me　an　order　to　remain　alone　in　a　little　room
adjoining　that　of　the　Emperor；　and　informed　me　that　Count　Lucien
Bonaparte　would　arrive　soon。　　He　came　in　a　few　moments；　and　as　soon　as　he
announced　himself；　I　introduced　him　into；　the　Emperor's　bedroom；　and　then
knocked　at　the　door　of　the　Emperor's　cabinet；　to　inform　him　of　his
arrival。　　After　saluting　each　other；　the　two　brothers　shut　themselves　up
in　the　room；　and　there　soon　arose　between　them　a　very　animated
discussion；　and　being　compelled　to　remain　in　the　little　saloon；　much
against　my　will；　I　overheard　a　great　part　of　the　conversation。　　The
Emperor　was　urging　his　brother　to　get　a　divorce；　and　promised　him　a　crown
if　he　would　do　this；　but　Lucien　replied　that　he　would　never　abandon　the
mother　of　his　children；　which　refusal　irritated　the　Emperor　so　greatly；
that　his　expressions　became　harsh　and　even　insulting。　　When　this
altercation　had　lasted　more　than　an　hour；　M。　Lucien　came　out　from　it　in　a
deplorable　condition；　pale　and　disheveled；　his　eyes　red　and　filled　with
tears；　and　we　did　not　see　him　again；　for；　on　quitting　his　brother；　he
returned　to　Rome。

The　Emperor　was　greatly　troubled　by　this　refusal　of　his　brother；　and　did
not　open　his　mouth　on　retiring。　　It　has　been　maintained　that　the
disagreement　between　the　brothers　was　caused　by　the　elevation　of　the
First　Consul　to　the　Empire；　and　Lucien's　disapproval　of　this　step；　but
that　is　a　mistake。　　It　is　indeed　true　that　the　latter　had　proposed　to
continue　the　Republic　under　the　government　of　two　consuls；　who　were　to　be
Napoleon　and　Lucien；　one　to　be　at　the　head　of　the　department　of　war　and
foreign　relations；　the　other　of　everything　connected　with　the　affairs　of
the　interior；　but　although　the　failure　of　this　plan　must　have
disappointed　Lucien；　the　avidity　with　which　he　accepted　the　titles　of
senator　and　count　of　the　Empire　proved　that　he　cared　very　little　for　a
republic　of　which　he　was　not　to　be　one　of　the　heads。　　I　am　sure　that　the
marriage　of　Monsieur　Lucien　to　Madame　Jouberthon　was　the　only　cause　of
this　disagreement。　　The　Emperor　disapproved　of　this　union　because　the
lady's　reputation　was　somewhat　doubtful；　and　she　was　also　divorced　from
her　husband；　who　had　become　insolvent；　and　had　fled　to　America。　　This
insolvency；　and　the　divorce　especially；　offended　Napoleon　deeply；　who
always　felt　a　great　repugnance　for　divorced　people。

Before　this；　the　Emperor　had　wished　to　raise　his　brother　to　the　rank　of
sovereign；　by　making　him　marry　the　Queen　of　Etruria；　who　had　lost　her
husband。　　Lucien　had　refused　this　alliance　on　several　different
occasions；　and　at　last　the　Emperor　became　angry；　and　said　to　him；　〃You
see　how　far　you　are　carrying　your　infatuation　and　your　foolish　love　for　a
femme　galante。〃〃At　least；〃　replied　Lucien；　〃mine　is　young　and　pretty；〃
alluding　to　the　Empress　Josephine；　who　had　been　both　the　one　and　the
other。

The　boldness　of　this　reply　excited　the　Emperor's　anger　beyond　all　bounds。
At　that　moment　he　held　in　his　hands　his　watch；　which　he　dashed　with　all
his　might　on　the　floor；　crying　out；　〃Since　you　will　listen　to　nothing；
see；　I　will　break　you　like　this　watch。〃

Differences　had　arisen　between　the　brothers　before　the　establishment　of
the　Empire；　and　among　the　acts　which　caused　the　disgrace　of　Lucien；　I
have　often　heard　the　following　cited。

Lucien；　being　minister　of　the　interior；　received　the　order　of　the　First
Consul　to　let　no　wheat　go　out　of　the　territory　of　the　Republic。　　Our
warehouses　were　filled；　and　France　abundantly　supplied；　but　this　was　not
the　case　in　England；　and　the　scarcity　of　it　was　beginning　to　be　felt
there。　　It　was　never　known　how　it　happened；　but　the　larger　part　of　this
grain　passed　the　Strait　of　Calais；　and　it　was　stated　positively　that　the
sum　of　twenty　millions　was　received　for　it。　　On　learning　this；　the　First
Consul　took　away　the　portfolio　of　the　interior　from　his　brother；　and
appointed　him　ambassador　to　Spain。

At　Madrid；　Monsieur　Lucien　was　well　received　by　the　king　and　the　royal
family；　and　became　the　intimate　friend　of　Don　Manuel　Godoy；　Prince　de　la
Paix。　　It　was　during　this　mission；　and　by　agreement　with　the　Prince　de　la
Paix；　that　the　treaty　of　Badajos　was　concluded；　in　order　to　procure　which
it　is　said　that　Portugal　gave　thirty　millions。　　It　has　been　also　declared
that　more　than　this　sum；　paid　in　gold　and　diamonds；　was　divided　between
the　two　plenipotentiaries；　who　did　not　think　it　necessary　to　render　an
account　of　this　transaction　to　their　respective　courts。

Charles　IV。　loved　Lucien　tenderly；　and　felt　for　the　First　Consul　the
greatest　veneration。　　After　examining　carefully　several　Spanish　horses
which　he　intended　for　the　First　Consul；　he　said　to　his　head　groom：　〃How
fortunate　you　are；　and　how　I　envy　your　happiness！　　you　are　going　to　see
the　great　man；　and　you　will　speak　to　him；　how　I　should　like　to　take　your
place！〃

During　his　embassage　Lucien　had　paid　his　court　to　a　person　of　most
elevated　rank；　and　had　received　her　portrait　in　a　medallion　surrounded
with　very　fine　brilliants。　　I　have　seen　a　hundred　times　this　portrait
which　he　wore　suspended　from　his　neck　by　a　chain　of　most　beautiful　black
hair；　and　far　from　making　a　mystery　of　it；　he　endeavored；　on　the
contrary；　to　show　it；　and　bent　over　so　that　the　rich　medallion　could　be
seen　hanging　on　his　breast。

Before　his　departure　from　Madrid；　the　king　likewise　made　him　a　present　of
his　own　portrait　in　miniature；　also　set　in　diamonds。

These　stones；　remounted　and　set　in　the　form　of　a　hat　buckle；　passed　to
the　second　wife　of　Lucien。　　I　will　now　give　an　account　of　his　marriage
with　Madame　Jouberthon；　as　related　to　me　by　a　person　who　resided　in　the
same　house。

The　First　Consul　was　informed　each　day；　and　very　promptly；　of　all　that
took　place　in　the　interior　of　the　homes　of　his　brothers；　a　circumstantial
account　being　rendered；　even　as　to　the　smallest　particulars　and　the
slightest　details。　　Lucien；　wishing　to　marry　Madame　Jouberthon；　whom　he
had　met　at　the　house　of　the　Count　de　L；　an　intimate　friend　of　his；
wrote　between　two　and　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　to　Duquesnoy；　mayor
of　the　tenth　arrondissement；　requesting　him　to　come　to　his　residence；　Rue
Saint　Dominique；　about　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening；　and　bring　the
marriage　register。

Between　five　and　six　o'clock　Monsieur　Duquesnoy；　mayor　of　the　tenth
arrondissement；　received　from　the　chateau　of　the　Tuileries　an　order　not
to　take　the　register　out　of　the　municipality；　and　above　all　not　to
celebrate　any　marriage　whatever；　unless；　in　accordance　with　the　law；　the
names　of　the　parties　thereto　had　been　published　for　eight　days。

At　the　hour　indicated　Duquesnoy　arrived　at　the　residence；　and　asked　to
speak　in　private　to　the　count；　to　whom　he　communicated　the　order
emanating　from　the　chateau。

Beside　himself　with　anger；　Lucien　immediately　hired　a　hundred　post…horses
for　himself　and　friends；　and　without　delay　he　and　Madame　Jouberthon；　with
these　friends　and　the　people　of　his　household；　took　carriages　for　the
chateau　of　Plessis…Chamant；　a　pleasure…house　half　a　league　beyond　Senlis。
The　cure　of　the　place；　who　was　also　associate　mayor；　was　summoned；　and　at
midnight　pronounced　the　civil　marriage；　then；　putting　on　his　sacerdotal
robes　over　the　scarf　he　wore　as　an　officer　of　the　civil　state；　he
bestowed　on　the　fugitives　the　nuptial　benediction。　　A　good　supper　was
then　served；　at　which　the　assistant　and　cure　were　present；　but；　as　he
returned　to　his　vicarage　about　six　o'clock　in　the　morning；　he　saw　at　his
gate　a　post…chaise；　guarded　by　two　soldiers；　and　on　entering　his　house；
found　there　an　officer　of　the　armed　police；　who　invited　him　politely　to
be　kind　enough　to　accompany　him　to　Paris。　　The　poor　curate　thought
himself　lost；　but　he　was　compelled　to　obey；　under　penalty　of　being
carried　to　Paris　from　one　guard…house　to　another　by　the　police。

Nothing　was　left　for　him　but　to　enter　the　fatal　chaise；　which　was　drawn
at　a　gallop　by　two　good　horses；　and　soon　arrived　at　the　Tuileries；　where
he　was　brought　into　the　cabinet　of　the　First　Consul；　who　said　to　him　in　a
voice　of　thunder；　〃It　is　you；　then；　Monsieur；　who　marry　members　of　my
family　without　my　consent；　and　without　having　published　the　bans；　as　is
your　duty　in　your　double　character　of　cure　and　assistant　mayor。　　You　well
know　that　you　deserve　to　be　deprived　of　your　office；　excommunicated；　and
tried　before　the　courts。〃　　The　unfortunate　priest　believed　himself
already　in　prison；　but　after　a　severe　lecture　he　was　sent　back　to　his
curacy；　and　the　two　brothers　were　never　reconciled。

In　spite　of　all　these　differences；　Lucien　always　counted　on　the　affection
of　his　brother　to　obtain　him　a　kingdom。　　I　guarantee　the　authenticity　of
the