marie antoinette and her son-第101章

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door；　near　the　table　covered　with　papers。This　man　was　Fouche；
formerly　the　chief　of　police　in　Paris；　and　now　a　mere　member　of　the
senate　of　the　republic。　He　had　gone　to　the　Tuileries　in　order　to
request　a　secret　audience　of　Bonaparte；　who　had　now　forgotten　the
little　prefix　of　〃First〃　to　his　consular　title；　and　now　reigned
supreme　and　alone　over　France。

Bonaparte　suddenly　paused　in　his　rapid　walk；　coming　to　a　halt
directly　in　front　of　Fouche；　and　looked　at　him　with　flaming　eyes；　as
if　they　were　two　daggers　with　which　he　meant　to　pierce　deep　into　his
heart。　But　Fouche　did　not　see　this；　for　he　stood　with　downcast　eyes；
and　appeared　not　to　be　aware　that　Bonaparte　was　so　near　him。

〃Fouche；〃　cried　the　consul；　violently；　〃I　know　you；　and　I　am　not　to
be　deceived　by　your　indifferent；　affected　air！　You　shall　know　that　I
do　not　fear　youyou　and　all　the　ghosts　that　you　can　conjure　up。　You
think　that　you　frighten　me；　you　wish　that　I　should　pay　you　dearly
for　your　secret。　But　you　shall　know　that　I　am　not　at　all　of　a
timorous　nature；　and　that　I　shall　pay　no　money　for　the　solution　of　a
riddle　which　I　may　perhaps　be　able　to　solve　without　your　help。　I
warn　you；　sir；　you　secret…vender；　be　well　on　your　guard！　You　have
your　spies；　but　I　have　my　police；　and　they　inform　me　about　every
thing　out　of　the　usual　course。　It　is　known；　sir；　that　you　are
carrying　on　a　correspondence　with　people　out　of　the　country
understand　me；　with　people　out　of　the　country！〃

〃Consul；〃　replied　Fouche；　calmly；　〃I　have　certainly　not　known　that
the　republic　forbids　its　faithful　servants　to　send　letters　abroad。〃

〃The　republic　will　never　allow　one　of　its　servants　to　correspond
with　its　enemies；〃　cried　Bonaparte；　in　thundering　tones。　〃Be　silent；
sir！　no　evasions；　no　circumlocutions！　Let　us　speak　plainly；　and　to
the　point。　You　are　in　correspondence　with　the　Count　de　Lille。〃

〃You　know　that；　consul；　for　I　have　had　the　honor　to　give　you　a
letter　myself；　which　the　pretender　directed　to　you；　and　sent　to　me
to　be　delivered。〃

〃A　ridiculous；　nonsensical　letter；〃　replied　Bonaparte；　with　a　shrug；
〃a　letter　in　which　this　fool　demands　of　me　to　bring　him　back　to
France；　and　to　indicate　the　place　which　I　wish　to　occupy　in　his
government。　By　my　word；　an　idiot　could　not　write　a　more　crazy
document！　I　am　to　indicate　the　place　which　I　wish　to　occupy　in　his
government！　Well；　I　shall　do　that；　but　there　will　be　no　place　left
near　me　for　the　Bourbons；　whom　France　has　spewed　out；　as　one　spews
out　mortal　poison。　These　hated　and　weak　Bourbons　shall　never　attain
to　power　and　prestige　again。　Prance　has　turned　away　from　them。
France　abhors　this　degenerate　race　of　kings；　it　will　erect　a　new
edifice　of　power　and　glory；　but　there　will　be　no　room　in　it　for　the
Bourbons！　Mark　that；　intriguer；　and　build　no　air…castles　on　it。　I
demand　of　you　an　open　confession；　for　I　shall　accuse　yon　as　a
traitor　and　a　royalist。〃

〃Consul；　I　shall　not　avoid　this　charge；〃　replied　Fouche；　calmly；
〃and　I　am　persuaded　that　Prance　will　follow　with　interest　the　course
of　a　trial　which　will　unveil　an　important　secretwhich　will　inform
it　that　the　rightful　King　of　France；　according　to　the　opinion　of
Consul　Bonaparte；　did　not　die　in　the　Temple　under　the　tender　care　of
Simon　the　cobbler；　but　is　still　alive；　and　is；　therefore；　the　true
heir　of　the　crown。　That　would　occasion　some　joy　to　the　royalists；
surely！〃

The　consul　stamped　on　the　floor　with　rage；　his　eyes　shot　flames；　and
when　he　spoke　again；　his　voice　rang　like　peals　of　thunder；　so
angrily　and　so　powerfully　did　it　pour　forth。

〃I　will　change　the　paecans　and　the　joy　of　these　royalists　to
lamentations　and　wailings；〃　he　cried。　〃All　the　enemies　of　France
shall　know　that　I　hold　the　sword　in　my　hands；　and　mean　to　use　it；
not　only　against　foes　without；　but　foes　within。　France　has　given　me
this　sword；　and　I　shall　not　lay　it　down；　even　if　all　the　kings　of
Europe；　and　all　the　Bourbons　who　lie　in　the　vaults　of　St。　Denis；
leave　their　graves；　to　demand　it　from　me！　I　am　the　living　sword　of
France；　and　never　shall　this　sword　bow　before　the　sceptre　of　a
Bourbon。　Fresh　shoots　might　sooner　spring　from　the　dead　stick　which
the　wanderer　carries　through　the　desert；　than　a　Bourbon　sceptre
could　grow　from　the　sword　of　Bonaparte；　and　all　the　same；　whether
this　Bourbon　calls　himself　Louis　XVII。　or　Louis　XVIII。！　Mark　that；
Fouche；　and　mark　also　that　when　I　once　say　'I　will；'　I　shall　know
how　to　make　my　will　good；　even　if　the　whole　world　ventures　to
confront　me。〃

〃I　know　that；　consul；〃　said　Fouche；　with　deference。　〃God　gave　you；
for　the　weal　of　France；　an　iron　will　and　a　brain　of　fire；　and
destined　you　to　wear　not　only　laurels；　but　crowns。〃

A　flame　glared　from　the　eyes　of　the　consul　and　played　over　the　face
of　Fouche；　but　the　latter　appeared　not　to　notice　it；　for　he　cast
down　his　eyes　again；　and　his　manner　was　easy　and　unconstrained。

〃You　now　speak　a　word　which　is　not　becoming；〃　said　Bonaparte；
calmly。　〃I　am　the　first　servant　of　the　republic；　and　in　a　republic
there　are　no　crowns。〃

〃Not　citizens'　crowns；　general？〃　asked　Fouche；　with　a　faint　smile。
〃I　mean；　that　this　noblest　of　crowns　can　everywhere　be　acceptable；
and　no　head　has　merited　such　a　crown　more　than　the　noble　Consul
Bonaparte；　who　has　made　the　republic　of　France　a　worthy　rival　of　its
sister　in　North　America。〃

Bonaparte　threw　his　head　proudly　back。　〃I　am　not　ambitious　of　the
honor；〃　he　said；　〃of　being　Washington　of　France。〃

〃Yet　you　are　he；　general；〃　replied　Fouche；　with　a　smile。　〃Only　the
Washington　of　France　does　not　live　in　the　White　House　which　a
republic　has　built；　but　in　the　Tuileries；　which　he　has　received　as
the　heir　of　the　French　kings。　General；　as　the　worthiest；　the
greatest；　the　most　powerful；　and　the　most　signally　called；　you　have
come　into　the　possession　of　the　inheritance　of　the　kings　of　France。
For　to　this　inheritance　belongs　also　the　crown　of　France。　Why　do　you
refuse　this；　while　accepting　all　the　rest？〃

〃And　what　if　I　show　you　that　I　do　not　want　it？〃　asked　Bonaparte。
〃And　what　if　I　should　tell　you　that　I　do　not　feel　myself　worthy　to
assume　the　whole；　undivided　inheritance　of　the　Bourbons？　Would　you
be　foolish　and　senseless　enough　to　believe　such　an　idle　tale？〃

〃Consul；　you　have　already　done　so　many　things　that　are　wonderful；
and　have　brought　so　many　magic　charms　to　reality；　that　I　no　longer
hold　any　thing　to　be　impossible；　as　soon　as　you　have　laid　your　hand
upon　it。〃

〃And　therefore　you　hold　a　concealed　magician's　wand；　which　you
propose　to　draw　forth　at　some　decisive　moment；　and　present　to　me；　as
the　cross　is　presented　to　Beelzebub　in　the　tale？〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you；　consul；〃　replied　Fouche；　with　the　most
innocent　air　in　the　world。

〃Well；　then；　I　will　make　myself　intelligible。　The　magician's　wand；
which　you　are　keeping　concealed；　is　called　Louis　XVII。　Oh！　do　not
shake　your　cunning　head；　do　not　deny　with　your　smooth　lips；　which
once　uttered　the　death…sentence　of　Louis　XVI。；　and　which　now　are
used　to　teach　a　fool　and　a　pretender　that　he　is　the　son　of　the
murdered　king。　Truly；　it　is　ridiculous。　The　regicide　wants　to　atone
for　his　offence　by　hatching　a　fable；　and　making　a　king　out　of　a
manikin。〃

〃General；　no　fable；　and　no　manikin；〃　cried　Fouche；　with　a
threatening　voice。　〃The　son　of　the　unfortunate　king　is　alive；　and〃

〃Ah！〃　interrupted　Bonaparte；　triumphantly；　〃so　you　confess　at　last；
you　reveal　your　great　secret　at　length！　I　have　driven　the　sly　fox
out　of　his　hole　and　the　hunt　can　now　begin。　It　will　be　a　hot　chase；
I　promise　you；　and　I　shall　not　rest　till　I　have　drawn　the　skin　over
the　ears　of　the　fox；　or〃

〃Until　he　says　his　pater　peccavi？〃　asked　Fouche；　with　a　gentle
smile。

〃Until　he　delivers　to　me　the　changeling　whom　he　wants　to　use　as　his
Deus　ex　machina；〃　replied　Bonaparte。　〃My　dear　sir；　it　helps　you　not
at　all　to　begin　again　this　system　of　lies。　Your　anger　has　betrayed
you；　and　I　have　succeeded　in　outwitting　the　fox。　The　so…called　'son
of　the　king　is　alive；'　that　has　escaped　you；　and　you　cannot　take　it
back。〃

〃No；　it　cannot　be　taken　back；〃　replied　Fouche；　with　a　sigh。　〃I　have
disclosed　myself；　or　rather　I　have　been　outwitted。　You　are　in　all
things　a　hero　and　a　master；　in　cunning　as　much　as　in　bravery　and
discretion。　I　bow　before　you　as　before　a　genius　whom　God　Himself　has
sent　upon　the　earth；　to　bring　the　chaotic　world　into　order　again；　I
bow　before　you　as　before　my　lord　and　master；　and　instead　of　opposing
you；　I　will　henceforth　be　content　with　being　your　instrument；
provided　that　you　will　accept　me　as　such。〃

〃That　is；　Fouche；　provided　that　I　will　fulfil　your　conditions；〃
cried　Bonaparte；　with　a　shrug。　〃Very　well　name　your　conditions！
Without　circumlocution！　What　do　you　demand？〃

〃Consul；　in　order　that　we　may　understand　one　another；　we　must　both
be　open　and　unreserved。　Will　you　permit　me　to　be　free　with　you？〃

〃Certainly；〃　replied　Bonaparte；　with　a　condescending　nod。

〃Consul；　you　have　thrust　me　aside；　you　have　no　longer　confidence　in
me。　You　have　taken　from　me　the　post　of　minister　of　police；　and　given
it　to　my　enemy　Regnier。　That　has　given　me　pain；　it　has　injured　me；
for　it　has　branded　me　before　all　the　world　as　a　useless　man；　whom
Bonaparte　suspects。　Your　enemies　have　believed　that　my　alienation
from　you　would　conduce　to　their　advantage；　and　that　out　of　the
dismissed　police　prefect　they　might　gain　an　enemy　to　Bonaparte。
Conspirators　of　all　kinds　have　come　to　meemissaries　of　Count　de
Lille；　deputies　from　the　royalists　in　Vendee；　as　well　as　from　the
red　republicans；　by　whom　you；　Bonaparte；　are　as　much　hated　as　by　the
royalists；　for　they　will　never　forgive　you　for　putting　yourself　at
the　head　of　the　republic；　and　making　yourself　their　master。　All　of
these　parties　have　made　propositions　to　me；　all　of　them　want　me　to
join　them。　I　have　lent　my　ear　to　them　all；　I　have　been　informed　of
all　their　plans；　and　am　at　this　hour　the　sworn　ally　of　both　the
republicans　and　the　royalists。　Oh！　I　beg　you；〃　continued　Fouche；　as
Bonaparte　started　up；　and　opened　his　lips　to　speak〃I　beg　you；
general；　hear　me　to　the　end；　and　do　not　interrupt　me　till　I　have
told　you　all。Yes；　I　have　allied　myself　to　three　separate
conspiracies；　and　have　become　zealous　in　them　all。　There　is；　first；
that　of　the　republicans；　who　hate　you　as　a　tyrant　of　the　republic；
there　is；　in　the　second　place；　the　conspiracy　of　the　royalists；　who
want　to　put　the　Count　de　Lille　on　the　throne；　and　third；　there　is
that　of　the　genuine　Capetists；　who　want　to　make　the　'orphan　of　the
Temple'　Louis　XVII。　These　three　conspiracies　have　it　as　their　first
object　to　remove　and　destroy　Consul　Bonaparte。　Yes；　to　reach　this
end　the　three　have　united；　and　made　a　mutual　compromise。　Whichever
party　succeeds　in　murdering　you；　is　to　come　into　power；　and　the
others　are　to　relinquish　the　field　to　it：　and　so　if　Bonaparte　is
killed　by　a　republican　dagger；　the　republic　is　to　remain　at　present
the　recognized　form　of　government；　and　if　the　ball　of　a　royalist
removes　you；　the　republicans　strike　their　banner；　and　grant　that
France　shall　determine；　by　a　general　ballot；　〃whether　it　shall　be　a
republic　or　a　kingdom。〃

〃Well；〃　asked　Bonaparte；　calmly；　as　Fouche　closed；　and　cast　an
inquiring　glance　at　the　consul's