marie antoinette and her son-第97章

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lost！〃

But　he　did　use　them！　With　fearful　rapidity　the　disembarkation　of　the
troops　was　effected；　with　fearful　rapidity　the　French　army　arranged
itself　on　Egyptian　soil　in　three　divisions；　under　Morand；　Bon；　and
Kleber。　Above　them　all　was　he　whose　head　had　conceived　the　gigantic
undertaking；　he　whose　heroic　spirit　comprehended　the　whole。　This　was
Bonaparte。

After　inspecting　all　the　army　and　issuing　his　orders；　he　rode　up　the
hill　in　company　with　his　staff　to　the　pillar　of　Pompey；　in　order　to
observe　from　that　point　the　course　of　events。　The　army　was　advancing
impetuously；　and　soon　the　city　built　by　Alexander　the　Great　must
open　its　gates　to　his　successor；　Bonaparte　the　Great。

After　a　short　respite；　the　army　advanced　farther　into　the　land　of
the　pyramids。　〃Remember；〃　cried　Bonaparte　to　his　soldiers；　pointing
to　those　monuments〃remember　that　forty　centuries　look　down　upon
you。〃

And　the　pyramids　of　the　great　plain　of　Cairo　beheld　the　glorious
deeds　and　victories　of　the　French　army；　beheld　the　overthrow　of　the
Egyptian　host。　The　Nile　murmured　with　its　blood…red　waves　the　death…
song　of　the　brave　Mamelukes；　and　the　〃forty　centuries〃　which　looked
down　from　the　pyramids　were　obliterated　by　the　glorious　victories
that　Bonaparte　gained　at　the　foot　of　those　sacred　monuments。　A　new
epoch　was　to　begin。　The　old　epoch　was　buried　for　Egypt；　and　out　of
the　ruins　of　past　centuries　a　new　Egypt　was　to　be　born；　an　Egypt
which　was　to　serve　France　and　be　tributary　to　it　as　a　vassal。

This　was　Bonaparte's　plan；　and　he　did　every　thing　to　bring　it　to
completion。　He　passed　from　battle　to　battle；　from　victory　to
victory；　and　after　conquering　Egypt　and　taking　up　his　residence　in
Cairo；　he　at　once　began　to　organize　the　newly…won　country；　and　to
introduce　to　the　idle　and　listless　East　the　culture　of　the　earnest
and　progressive　West。　But　Egypt　would　not　accept　the　treasures　of
culture　at　the　hand　of　its　conqueror。　It　rose　again　and　again　in
rebellion　against　the　power　that　held　it　down；　and　hurled　its
flaming　torches　of　revenge　against　the　hated　enemy。　A　token　of　this
may　be　seen　in　the　dreadful　revolt　at　Cairo；　which　began　in　the
night　of　the　20th　of　October；　and；　after　days　of　violence；　ended
with　the　cruel　cutting　down　of　six　thousand　Mamelukes。　A　proof　of　it
may　be　seen　in　the　constantly　renewed　attacks　of　swarms　of　Bedouins
and　Mamelukes　on　the　French　army。　These　hordes　advanced　even　to　the
gates　of　Cairo；　and　terrified　the　population；　which　had　at　last
taken　refuge　beneath　the　foot　of　the　conqueror。　But　Bonaparte
succeeded　in　subjugating　the　hostile　Bedouin　tribes；　as　he　had
already　subjugated　the　population　of　the　cities。　He　sent　one　of　his
adjutants；　General　Croisier；　with　a　corps　of　brave　soldiers；　into
the　desert　to　meet　the　emir　of　the　hostile　tribes；　and　Croisier　won
respect　for　the　commands　of　his　general。　He　succeeded　in　taking
captive　the　whole　body。　A　fearful　sentence　was　inflicted　on　them。
Before　the　eyes　of　their　wives；　their　children；　and　their　mothers；
all　the　men　of　the　tribe；　more　than　five　hundred　in　number；　were
killed　and　their　heads　put　into　sacks。　The　howling　and　weeping　women
and　children　were　driven　to　Cairo。　Many　perished　of　hunger　on　the
road；　or　died　beneath　the　sabre…blows　of　their　enemies；　but　more
than　a　thousand　succeeded　in　reaching　Cairo。　They　were　obliged　to
encamp　upon　the　great　square　El　Bekir；　in　the　heart　of　Cairo；　till
the　donkeys　arrived　which　bore　the　dreadful　spoils　of　victory　in
blood…dripping　bags　upon　their　backs。　The　whole　population　of　Cairo
was　summoned　to　this　gigantic　square；　and　was　obliged　to　look　on
while　the　sacks　were　opened　and　the　bloody　heads　rolled　out　upon　the
sacred　soil　of　Egypt。

After　this　time　quiet　reigned　for　a　season。　Horror　had　brought　the
conquered　into　subjection；　and　Bonaparte　could　continue　his
victorious　course。　He　withdrew　to　Syria；　taking　with　him　Kleber　and
Kleber's　young　adjutant；　the　little　Louis。　He　saw　the　horrors　of
war；　he　was　there；　the　son　of　the　Kings　of　France；　when　the　army　of
the　republic　conquered　the　cities　El　Arish　and　Gaza；　he　took　part　by
the　side　of　Kleber　in　the　storming　of　Jaffa。　He　was　there　when　the
captured　Jaffa　had　to　open　its　gates　to　the　victors。　He　was　there
when；　in　the　great　caravansary；　four　thousand　Turkish　soldiers
grounded　their　arms　and　surrendered　themselves　as　prisoners；　after
receiving　the　promise　that　their　lives　should　be　spared。　He　was
there；　too；　the　son　of　Marie　Antoinette；　when　the　unfortunates　were
driven　down　to　the　sea…coast　and　shot；　in　order　that　their　enemies
might　be　rid　of　them。　He　was　there；　the　son　of　Louis　XVI。；　when
Bonaparte　visited　the　pest…house　in　Jaffa；　he　walked　through　the
sick…rooms　at　the　side　of　his　uncle　Kleber；　who　noticed　how　the　face
of　the　young　man；　which　had　so　often　been　calm　in　meeting　death　on
the　battle…field　or　in　the　storm　of　assault；　now　quivered；　and　the
paleness　of　death　swept　over　his　cheeks。

〃What　was　the　matter；　my　son？〃　asked　Kleber；　as　he　returned　home
from　this　celebrated　visit　to　the　pest…house。　〃Why　did　you　turn　pale
all　at　once；　Louis？〃

〃General；〃　responded　Louis；　perplexed；　〃I　know　not　how　to　answer。〃

〃You　ought　not　to　have　gone　with　me　to　the　hospital；〃　said　Kleber；
shaking　his　head。　〃You　know　I　did　not　want　you　to　go　at　first；　but
you　insisted　on　it；　and　begged　and　implored　so　long　that　at　last　I
had　to　yield　and　let　you　accompany　us。　But；　I　confess　it　myself；　it
was　a　dreadful　sight；　these　sick　people　with　their　swollen　bodies
covered　with　blood　and　running　sores。　I　understand　now　why　you
trembled　and　turned　paleyou　were　afraid　of　this　dreadful
sickness？〃

〃No；　general；〃　answered　Louis；　softly〃no；　I　have　no　fear。　Did　you
not　notice　that　I　sprang　forward　and　assisted　General　Bonaparte；
when　he　lifted　up　the　poor　sick　man　who　lay　on　the　floor　before　the
door；　and　that　I　helped　carry　him　into　the　room？〃

〃I　saw　it；　Louis；　and　I　was　much　pleased　with　your　courage；　and　was
therefore　surprised　afterward　when　you　turned　pale　and　trembled；　and
I　saw　tears　in　your　eyes。　What　agitated　you　all　at　once　so　much？〃

The　young　man　slowly　raised　his　head　and　looked　at　Kleber　with　his
great　blue　eyes。　〃General；〃　he　said；　softly；　〃I　myself　do　not　know
what　agitated　me　so　much。　We　were　both　standing　before　the　bed　of　a
sick　man；　to　whom　I　handed　a　pitcher　of　water　which　he　begged　for
earnestly。　He　fixed　his　great　eyes　upon　me；　and　his　quivering　lips
murmured：　'God　bless　you！　all　saints　and　angels　protect　you！'　As　he
spoke　these　words；　there　resounded　in　my　heart　the　echo　of　a　time
long　since　past。　It　seemed　to　me　as　if　suddenly　a　dark　curtain
parted；　and　I　looked　as　in　a　dream　at　a　wondrous；　brilliant
spectacle。　I　saw　a　beautiful　and　dignified　woman　of　princely　figure；
of　noble；　majestic　nature。　With　her　I　saw　two　children；　a　girl　and　a
boy；　whom　she　led　by　the　hand；　and　with　whom　she　walked　through　a
long　hall　which　was　filled　with　rows　of　beds。　And　as　she　walked
there；　it　seemed　as　if　the　sun　lightened　up　the　dismal　hall；　and
illumined　the　pale　faces　of　the　sick　ones。　They　raised　themselves　up
in　their　beds　and　extended　their　thin；　emaciated　hands　to　the　tall
lady；　and　thanked　her　with　earnest　blessings　for　her　visit　and　her
comforting　words。　There　was　only　one　of　the　patients　who　did　not
rise；　but　lay　stiff　upon　his　bed　and　moaned　and　sighed　and　whispered
unintelligible　words；　which　no　one　heeded；　because　the　attention　of
all　was　fixed　upon　the　great　visitor。　But　the　boy　who　was　walking　by
the　side　of　the　tall　lady　had　understood　the　sobs　of　the　sick　one。
He　left　his　mother；　took　the　jug　which　stood　upon　a　table　between
two　beds；　filled　a　glass　with　water　from　it；　and　held　it　to　the　dry；
quivering　lips　of　the　sick　one。　He　drank　greedily；　and　then　fixed
his　eyes　upon　the　boy　and　lisped　the　words：　'God　bless　you！　all
saints　and　angels　protect　you！'　And　all　the　people　repeated　aloud：
'God　bless　you；　all　saints　and　angels　protect　you！'　The　dignified
lady　stooped　with　a　heavenly　smile　to　her　son；　pressed　a　tender　kiss
upon　his　golden　locks；　and　repeated　the　same　words　aloud。　This；
general；　was　the　fantasy　which　suddenly　appeared　before　my　eyes　when
the　patient　spoke　those　words　to…day。　It　seemed　to　me　as　if　I
perceived　all　at　once　a　long…silent　song　of　home。　I　heard　the
wonderful　voice　of　the　exalted　lady　who　spoke　those　words。　It　seemed
to　me　as　if　I　felt　the　kiss　which　she　then　imprinted　on　the　head　of
the　five…year…old　boy；　felt　it　to　my　inmost　heart；　and　it　glowed
there　with　the　fire　of　an　undying　love；　and　shook　my　whole　being；
and　filled　my　eyes　with　tears。　You　will　not　chide　me　for　that；
general；　for　those　were　the　lips　of　my　mother　who　pressed　that　kiss
of　blessing　on　her　unhappy　son。〃

He　ceased；　tears　choked　his　utterance；　and；　as　if　ashamed　of　his
deep　emotion；　he　hid　his　face　in　his　hands。

General　Kleber　turned　away　too；　and　put　his　hand　over　his　eyes；　as
though　a　film　had　come　over　them。　Then；　after　a　long　pause　he　gently
laid　his　hand　upon　the　shoulder　of　the　young　man；　who　was　still
sitting　with　covered　face。

〃Such　memories　are　holy；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　honor　them；　my　dear；
faithful　son。　May　the　blessing　which　then　fell　from　the　lips　of　a
woman　whom　I　too　knew　and　honored；　but　whose　name　may　never　be
spoken　between　us；　may　it　be　fulfilled　to　you！　May　angels　and　saints
protect　you　when　men　shall　no　longer　have　the　power；　and　when　fate
shall　separate　you　from　those　who　have　devoted　their　love　and
fidelity　to　you！〃

The　youth　let　his　hands　fall　from　his　face；　and　looked　at　the
general　with　a　startled；　searching　glance。

〃What　do　you　mean；　uncle？　You　do　not　mean　to　say　that〃

〃That　we　must　part？　Yes；　my　dear　nephew；　that　is　what　I　must　say；〃
interrupted　Kleber；　sadly。　〃This　word　has　long　been　burning　in　my
soul；　and　it　is　necessary　that　I　speak　it。　Yes；　we　must　part；
Louis。〃

〃Why；　oh　why？〃　asked　Louis；　bitterly。　〃Why　will　you　too　drive　me
away？　You；　the　only　one　who　loves　me　a　little！〃

〃Exactly　because　I　love　youexactly　for　that　reason　must　I　separate
myself　from　you。　Since　we　came　to　Egypt　you　have　been　sickly；　your
cheeks　have　become　pale。　The　fulness　of　your　limbs　has　gone；　and　the
dry　and　hard　cough　that　troubles　you　every　morning　has　long　made　me
anxious；　as　you　know。　On　that　account；　after　all　the　appliances　of
my　physician　failed；　I　applied；　as　you　know；　to　the　physician　of　the
commanding　general；　to　Corvisart；　and　he　has　subjected　you　to　a
thorough　examination。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Louis；　thoughtfully；　〃he　has　investigated　me　with
the　carefulness　of　a　merchant　who　is　about　to　buy　a　slave　and　means
to　test　him。　He　made　a　hearing…trumpet　of　his　ear　and　laid　it　on　my
breast；　and　listened　while　I　had　to　breathe　as　if　I　were　a　volcano。
He　put　his　ear　to　my　heart；　he　told　me　that　his　father　had　been
physician　at　the　French　court；　and　that　the　murdered　queen　had　a
great　deal　of　confidence　in　him；　and　then　he　wondered　that　my　heart
beat　so　violently　while　he　told　me　this。〃

〃And　the　result　of　all　these　investigations　is；　that　you　must　return
to　Europe；　Louis；〃　said　Kleber；　sadly。　〃Corvisart　had　declared　it　an
unavoidable　necessity　for　your　constitution；　and　the　command　of　the
physician　must　be　obeyed　as　if　it　w