napoleon bonaparte, v3-第3章

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indeed；　in　order　to　avoid　compromising　yourself；　you　would　perhaps　do
well　〃the　Marshal　hesitated。　　〃I　will　do　well？〃　demanded　the　Colonel。

〃Perhaps　to　withdraw　without　making　any　display〃

Here　the　colonel　interrupted　the　president　of　the　deputation：　〃Marshal；
permit　me　to　decline　this　advice；　I　have　not　come　so　far　to　be
discouraged；　like　a　child；　before　the　first　obstacle。　　I　am　weary　of　a
disgrace　which　I　have　not　deserved；　and　still　more　weary　of　enforced
idleness。　　Let　the　Emperor　be　irritated　or　pleased；　he　shall　see　me；　let
him　order　me　to　be　shot；　if　he　wishes。　　I　do　not　count　worth　having　such
a　life　as　I　have　led　for　the　last　four　years。　　Nevertheless；　I　will　be
satisfied　with　whatever　my　colleagues；　the　deputies　of　Besancon；　shall
decide。〃

These　latter　did　not　disapprove　of　the　colonel's　resolution；　and　he
accompanied　them　to　the　Tuileries　on　the　day　of　the　solemn　reception　of
all　the　deputations　of　the　Empire。　　All　the　halls　of　the　Tuileries　were
packed　with　a　crowd　in　richly　embroidered　coats　and　brilliant　uniforms。
The　military　household　of　the　Emperor；　his　civil　household；　the　generals
present　at　Paris；　the　diplomatic　corps；　ministers　and　chiefs　of　the
different　administrations；　the　deputies　of　the　departments　with　their
prefects；　and　mayors　decorated　with　tricolored　scarfs；　were　all　assembled
in　numerous　groups；　and　conversed　in　a　low　tone　while　awaiting　the
arrival　of　his　Majesty。

In　one　of　these　groups　was　seen　a　tall　officer　dressed　in　a　very　simple
uniform；　cut　in　the　fashion　of　several　years　past。　　He　wore　neither　on
his　collar；　nor　even　on　his　breast　the　decoration　which　no　officer　of　his
grade　then　lacked。　　This　was　Colonel　Delelee。　　The　president　of　the
deputation　of　which　he　was　a　member　appeared　embarrassed　and　almost
distressed。　　Of　the　former　comrades　of　the　colonel；　very　few　dared　to
recognize　him；　and　the　boldest　gave　him　a　distant　nod　which　expressed　at
the　same　time　anxiety　and　pity；　while　the　more　prudent　did　not　even
glance　at　him。

As　for　him；　he　remained　unconcerned　and　resolute。

At　last　the　folding　doors　were　opened；　and　an　usher　cried　〃The　Emperor；
gentlemen。〃

The　groups　separated；　and　a　line　was　formed；　the　colonel　placing　himself
in　the　first　rank。

His　Majesty　commenced　his　tour　of　the　room；　welcoming　the　president　of
each　delegation　with　a　few　flattering　words。　　Arrived　before　the
delegation　from　Doubs；　the　Emperor；　having　addressed　a　few　words　to　the
brave　marshal　who　was　president；　was　about　to　pass　on　to　the　next；　when
his　eyes　fell　upon　an　officer　he　had　not　yet　seen。　　He　stopped　in
surprise；　and　addressed　to　the　deputy　his　familiar　inquiry；　〃Who　are
you？〃

〃Sire；　I　am　Colonel　Delelee；　former　aide…de…camp　of　General　Moreau。〃

These　words　were　pronounced　in　a　firm　voice；　which　resounded　in　the　midst
of　the　profound　silence　which　the　presence　of　the　sovereign　imposed。

The　Emperor　stepped　back；　and　fastened　both　eyes　on　the　colonel。　　The
latter　showed　no　emotion；　but　bowed　slightly。

Marshal　Moncey　was　pale　as　death。

The　Emperor　spoke。　　〃What　do　you　come　to　ask　here？〃

〃That　which　I　have　asked　for　many　years；　Sire：　that　your　Majesty　will
deign　to　tell　me　wherein　I　have　been　in　fault；　or　restore　to　me　my　rank。〃

Among　those　near　enough　to　hear　these　questions　and　replies；　few　could
breathe　freely。　　At　last　a　smile　half　opened　the　firmly　closed　lips　of
the　Emperor；　he　placed　his　finger　on　his　mouth；　and；　approaching　the
colonel；　said　to　him　in　a　softened　and　almost　friendly　tone；　〃You　have
reason　to　complain　a　little　of　that；　but　let　us　say　no　more　about　it；〃
and　continued　his　round。　　He　had　gone　ten　steps　from　the　group　formed　by
the　deputies　of　Bescancon；　when　he　came　back；　and；　stopping　before　the
colonel；　said；　〃Monsieur　Minister　of　War；　take　the　name　of　this　officer；
and　be　sure　to　remind　me　of　him。　　He　is　tired　of　doing　nothing；　and　we
will　give　him　occupation。〃

As　soon　as　the　audience　was　over；　the　struggle　was；　who　should　be　most
attentive　to　the　colonel。　　He　was　surrounded；　congratulated；　embraced；
and　pulled　about。　　Each　of　his　old　comrades　wished　to　carry　him　off；　and
his　hands　were　not　enough　to　grasp　all　those　extended　to　him。　　General
Savary；　who　that　very　evening　had　added　to　the　fright　of　Marshal　Moncey；
by　being　astonished　that　any　one　could　have　the　audacity　to　brave　the
Emperor；　extended　his　arm　over　the　shoulders　of　those　who　pressed　around
the　colonel；　and　shaking　his　hand　in　the　most　cordial　manner　possible；
〃Delelee；〃　cried　he；　〃do　not　forget　that　I　expect　you　to…morrow　to
breakfast。〃

Two　days　after　this　scene　at　court；　Colonel　Delelee　received　his
appointment　as　chief　of　staff　of　the　army　of　Portugal；　commanded　by　the
Duke　d'Abrantes。　　His　preparations　were　soon　made；　and　just　before
setting　out　he　had　a　last　interview　with　the　Emperor；　who　said　to　him；
〃Colonel；　I　know　that　it　is　useless　to　urge　you　to　make　up　for　lost　time。
In　a　little　while　I　hope　we　shall　both　be　satisfied　with　each　other。〃

On　coming　out　from　this　last　audience；　the　brave　Delelee　said　there　was
nothing　wanting　to　make　him　happy　except　a　good　opportunity　to　have
himself　cut　to　pieces　for　a　man　who　knew　so　well　how　to　close　the　wounds
of　a　long　disgrace。　　Such　was　the　sway　that　his　Majesty　exercised　over
the　minds　of　men。

The　colonel　had　soon　crossed　the　Pyrenees；　passed　through　Spain；　and　been
received　by　Junot　with　open　arms。　　The　army　of　Portugal　had　suffered　much
in　the　two　years　during　which　it　had　struggled　against　both　the
population　and　the　English　with　unequal　forces。　　Food　was　secured　with
difficulty；　and　the　soldiers　were　badly　clothed；　and　half…shod。　　The　new
chief　of　staff　did　all　that　was　possible　to　remedy　this　disorder；　and　the
soldiers　had　just　begun　to　feel　the　good　effects　of　his　presence；　when　he
fell　sick　from　overwork　and　fatigue；　and　died　before　being　able；
according　to　the　Emperor's　expression；　to　〃make　up　for　lost　time。〃

I　have　said　elsewhere　that　upon　each　conspiracy　against　the　life　of　the
First　Consul　all　the　members　of　his　household　were　at　once　subjected　to　a
strict　surveillance；　their　smallest　actions　were　watched；　they　were
followed　outside　the　chateau；　their　conduct　was　reported　even　to　the
smallest　details。　　At　the　time　the　conspiracy　of　Pichegru　was　discovered；
there　was　only　a　single　guardian　of　the　portfolio；　by　the　name　of
Landoire；　and　his　position　was　very　trying；　for　he　must　always　be　present
in　a　little　dark　corridor　upon　which　the　door　of　the　cabinet　opened；　and
he　took　his　meals　on　the　run；　and　half…dressed。　　Happily　for　Landoire；
they　gave　him　an　assistant；　and　this　was　the　occasion　of　it。

Angel；　one　of　the　doorkeepers　of　the　palace；　was　ordered　by　the　First
Consul　to　place　himself　at　the　barrier　of　Bonshommes　during　the　trial　of
Pichegru；　to　recognize　and　watch　the　people　of　the　household　who　came　and
went　in　the　transaction　of　their　business；　no　one　being　allowed　to　leave
Paris　without　permission。　　Augel's　reports　having　pleased　the　First
Consul；　he　sent　for　him；　was　satisfied　with　his　replies　and　intelligence；
and　appointed　him　assistant　to　Landoire　in　the　custody　of　the　portfolio。
Thus　the　task　of　the　latter　became　lighter　by　half。　　In　1812　Angel　was　in
the　campaign　of　Russia；　and　died　on　the　return；　when　within　a　few　leagues
of　Paris；　in　consequence　of　the　fatigue　and　privations　which　we　shared
with　the　army。

However；　it　was　not　only　those　attached　to　the　service　of　the　First
Consul；　or　the　chateau；　who　were　subject　to　this　surveillance。

When　Napoleon　became　Emperor；　the　custodians　of　all　the　imperial　palaces
were　furnished　with　a　register　upon　which　all　persons　from　outside；　and
all　strangers　who　came　to　visit　any　one　in　the　palace　were　obliged　to
inscribe　their　names；　with　that　of　the　persons　whom　they　came　to　see。
Every　evening　this　register　was　carried　to　the　grand　marshal　of　the
palace；　and　in　his　absence　to　the　governor；　and　the　Emperor　often
consulted　it。　　He　once　found　there　a　certain　name　which；　as　a　husband；　he
had　his　reasons；　and　perhaps　good　ones；　to　suspect。　　His　Majesty　had
previously　ordered　the　exclusion　of　this　person；　and　finding　this　unlucky
name　again　upon　the　custodian's　register；　he　was　angry　beyond　measure；
believing　that　they　had　dared　on　both　sides　to　disobey　his　orders。
Investigation　was　immediately　made；　and　it　was　fortunately　ascertained
that　the　visitor　was　a　most　insignificant　person；　whose　only　fault　was
that　of　bearing　a　name　which　was　justly　compromised。




CHAPTER　XV。

The　year　1804；　which　was　so　full　of　glory　for　the　Emperor；　was　also　the
year　which　brought　him　more　care　and　anxiety　than　all　others；　except
those　of　1814　and　1815。　　It　is　not　my　province　to　pass　judgment　on　such
grave　events；　nor　to　determine　what　part　was　taken　in　them　by　the
Emperor；　or　by　those　who　surrounded　and　counseled　him；　for　it　is　my
object　to　relate　only　what　I　saw　and　heard。　　On　the　21st　of　March　of　that
year　I　entered　the　Emperor's　room　at　an　early　hour；　and　found　him　awake；
leaning　on　his　elbow。　　He　seemed　gloomy　and　tired；　but　when　I　entered　he
sat　up；　passed　his　hand　many　times　over　his　forehead；　and　said　to　me；
〃Constant；　I　have　a　headache。〃　　Then；　throwing　off　the　covering；　he
added；　〃I　have　slept　very　badly。〃　　He　seemed　extremely　preoccupied　and
absorbed；　and　his　appearance　evinced　melancholy　and　suffering　to　such　a
degree　that　I　was　surprised　and　somewhat　anxious。　　While　I　was　dressing
him　he　did　not　utter　a　word；　which　never　occurred　except　when　something
agitated　or　worried　him。　　During　this　time　only　Roustan　and　I　were
present。　　His　toilet　being　completed；　just　as　I　was　handing　him　his
snuff…box；　handkerchief；　and　little　bonbon　box；　the　door　opened　suddenly；
and　the　First　Consul's　wife　entered；　in　her　morning　negligee；　much
agitated；　with　traces　of　tears　on　her　cheeks。　　Her　sudden　appearance
astonished；　and　even　alarmed；　Roustan　and　myself；　for　it　was　only　an
extraordinary　circumstance　which　could　have　induced　Madame　Bonaparte　to
leave　her　room　in　this　costume；　before　taking　all　necessary　precautions
to　conceal　the　damage　which　the　want　of　the　accessories　of　the　toilet　did
her。　　She　entered；　or　rather　rushed；　into　the　room；　crying；　〃The　Duke
d'Enghien　is　dead！　　Ah；　my　friend！　　what　have　you　done？〃　　Then　she　fell
sobbing　into　the　arms　of　the　First　Consul；　who　became　pale　as　death；　and
said　with　extraordinary　emotion；　〃The　miserable　wretches　have　been　too
quick！〃　　He　then　left　the　room；　supporting　Madame　Bonaparte；　who　could
hardly　walk；　and　was　still　weeping。　　The　news　of　the　prince's　death
spread　consternation　in　the　chateau；　and　the　First　Consul　remarked　this
universal　grief；　but　reprimanded　no　one　for　it。　　The　fact　is；　the
greatest　chagrin　which　this　mournful　catastrophe　caused　his　servants；
most　of　whom　were　attached　to　him　by　affection　even　more　than　by　duty；
came　from　the　belief　that　it　would　inevitably　tarnish　the　glory　and
destroy　the　peace　of　mind　of　their　master。

The　First　Consul　probably　understood　our　feelings　perfectly；　but　however
that　may　be；　I　have　here　related　all　that　I　myself　saw　and　know　of　this
deplorable　event。　　I　do　not　pretend　to　know　what　passed　in　the　cabinet
meeting；　but　the　emotion　of　the　First　Consul　app