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
