napoleon bonaparte, v2-第14章
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Andre Ossy； and a few other great personages； were at her feet； though
two alone； it is said； succeeded in gaining her affections； and of those
two； one was Colonel Joseph； who soon had the reputation of being the
preferred lover of Madame F。 The beautiful lady from Dunkirk often
gave soirees； at which Colonel Joseph never failed to be present。 Among
all his rivals； and certainly they were very numerous； one alone bore him
ill…will； this was the general…in…chief； Soult。 This rivalry did no
injury to the interests of Madame F； but like a skillful tactician；
she adroitly provoked the jealousy of her two suitors； while accepting
from each of them compliments； bouquets； and more than that sometimes。
The First Consul； informed of the amours of his brother； concluded one
evening to go and make himself merry in the little salon of Madame F；
who was very plainly domesticated in a room on the first floor in the
house of a joiner； in the Rue des Minimes。 In order not to be
recognized； he was dressed as a citizen； and wore a wig and spectacles。
He took into his confidence General Bertrand； who was already in great
favor with him； and who did all in his power to render his disguise
complete。
Thus disguised； the First Consul and his companion presented themselves
at Madame F's； and asked for Monsieur the Superintendent Arcambal。
The most perfect incognito was impressed on Arcambal by the First Consul；
who would not for all the world have been recognized； and M。 Arcambal
promising to keep the secret； the two visitors were announced under the
title of commissaries of war。
They were playing bouillotte； gold covered the tables； and the game and
punch absorbed the attention of the happy inmates to such a degree； that
none of them took note of the persons who had just entered。 As for the
mistress of the lodging； she had never seen the First Consul except at a
distance； nor General Bertrand； consequently； there was nothing to be
feared from her。 I myself think that Colonel Joseph recognized his
brother； but he gave no evidence of this。
The First Consul； avoiding as best he could all glances； spied those of
his brother and of Madame F。 Thinking signals were passing between
them； he was preparing to quit the salon of the pretty Dunkirkess； when
she； very anxious that the number of her guests should not yet be
diminished； ran to the two false commissaries of war； and detained them
gracefully； saying that all were going to play forfeits； and they must
not go away without having given pledges。 The First Consul having first
consulted General Bertrand by a glance； found it agreeable to remain and
play those innocent games。
Indeed； at the end of a few moments； at the request of Madame F； the
players deserted the bouillotte； and placed themselves in a circle around
her。 They began by dancing the Boulangere； then the young innocents kept
the ball in motion。 The turn of the First Consul came to give a forfeit。
He was at first very much embarrassed； having with him only a piece of
paper； on which he had written the names of a few colonels； he gave；
however； this paper to Madame F； begging her not to open it。
The wish of the First Consul was respected； and the paper remained folded
on the lap of the beautiful woman until the time came to redeem the
forfeits。 Then the queer penalty was imposed on the great captain of
making him doorkeeper； while Madame F； with Colonel Joseph； made the
'voyage a Cythere' in a neighboring room。 The First Consul acquitted
himself with a good grace of the role given him； and after the forfeits
had been redeemed； made a sign to General Bertrand to follow him； and
they went out。 The joiner who lived on the ground floor soon came up to
bring a little note to Madame F。
This was the note：
I thank you； Madame； for the kind welcome you have given me。 If you
will come some day to my barracks； I will act as doorkeeper； if it
seems good to you； but on that occasion I will resign to no； other
the pleasure of accompanying you in the 'voyage a Cythre'。
（Signed） BONAPARTE
The pretty woman did not read the note aloud； neither did she allow the
givers of forfeits to remain in ignorance that she had received a visit
from the First Consul。 At the end of an hour the company dispersed； and
Madame F remained alone； reflecting on the visit and the note of the
great man。
It was during this same visit that there occurred a terrible combat in
the roadstead of Boulogne to secure the entrance into the port of a
flotilla composed of twenty or thirty vessels； which came from Ostend；
from Dunkirk； and from Nieuport； loaded with arms for the national fleet。
A magnificent frigate； carrying thirty…six pounders； a cutter； and a
brig； detached themselves from the English fleet； in order to intercept
the route of the Dutch flotilla； but they were received in a manner which
took away all desire to return。
The port of Boulogne was defended by five forts； the Fort de la Creche；
the Fort en Bois； Fort Musoir； Castle Croi； and the Castle d'Ordre； all
fortified with large numbers of cannon and howitzers。 The line of
vessels which barred the entrance was composed of two hundred and fifty
gunboats and other vessels； the division of imperial gunboats formed a
part of this。
Each sloop bore three pieces of cannon； twenty…four pounders；two pieces
for pursuit； and one for retreat； and five hundred mouths of fire were
thus opened on the enemy； independently of all the batteries of the
forts； every cannon being fired more than three times a minute。
The combat began at one o'clock in the afternoon。 The weather was
beautiful。 At the first report of the cannon the First Consul left the
headquarters at the Pont de Brique； and came at a gallop； followed by his
staff； to give orders to Admiral Bruix； but soon wishing to examine for
himself the operations of the defense； and to share in directing them； he
threw himself； followed by the admiral and a few officers； into a launch
which was rowed by sailors of the Guard。 Thus the First Consul was borne
into the midst of the vessels which formed the line of defense； through a
thousand dangers； amid a tempest of shells； bombs； and cannon…balls。
With the intention of landing at Wimereux； after having passed along the
line； he ordered them to steer for the castle of Croi； saying that he
must double it。 Admiral Bruix； alarmed at the danger he was about to
incur； in vain represented to the First Consul the imprudence of doing
this。 〃What shall we gain；〃 said he； 〃by doubling this fort？ Nothing；
except to expose ourselves to the cannon…balls。 General； by flanking it
we will arrive as soon。〃 The First Consul was not of the admiral's
opinion； and insisted on doubling the fort。 The admiral； at the risk of
being reprimanded； gave contrary orders to the sailors； and the First
Consul saw himself obliged to pass behind the fort； though much irritated
and reproaching the admiral。
This soon ceased； however； for； hardly had the launch passed； when a
transport； which had doubled the castle of Croi； was crashed into and
sunk by three or four shells。
The First Consul became silent； on seeing how correct the admiral's
judgment had been； and the rest of the journey； as far as the little port
of Wimereux； was made without hindrance from him。 Arriving there； he
climbed upon the cliff to encourage the cannoneers； spoke to all of them；
patted them on the shoulder； and urged them to aim well。 〃Courage； my
friends；〃 said he； 〃remember you are not fighting fellows who will hold
out a long time。 Drive them back with the honors of war。〃 And noticing
the fine resistance and majestic maneuvers of a frigate； he asked； 〃Can
you believe； my children； that captain is English？ I do not think so。〃
The artillerymen； animated by the words of the First Consul； redoubled
their zeal and the rapidity of their fire。 One of them said； 〃Look at
the frigate； General； her bowsprit is going to fall。〃 He spoke truly；
the bowsprit was cut in two by his ball。 〃Give twenty francs to that
brave man；〃 said the First Consul to the officers who were with him。
Near the bat
