napoleon bonaparte, v12-第7章
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〃My dear Constant； there is a hundred thousand francs waiting for you at
Peyrache's； if your wife arrives before our departure； you will give them
to her； if she should not； put them in the corner of your country…place；
note the exact location of the spot； which you will send to her by some
safe person。 When one has served me well he should not be in want。 Your
wife will build a farm； in which she will invest this money； she will
live with your mother and sister； and you will not have the fear of
leaving her in need。〃 Even more moved by the provident kindness of the
Emperor； who thus deigned to consider the interests of my family affairs；
than delighted with the great value of the present he had made me； I
could hardly find words to express to him my gratitude； and such was；
besides； my carelessness of the future； so far from me had been the
thought that this great Empire could come to an end； that this was the
first time I had really considered the embarrassed condition in which I
would have left my family； if the Emperor had not thus generously
provided for them。 I had； in fact； no fortune； and possessed in all the
world only my pillaged house； and the fifty thousand francs destined to
repair it。
Under these circumstances； not knowing when I should see my wife again； I
made arrangements to follow the advice his Majesty had been kind enough
to give me； converted my hundred thousand francs into gold； which I put
into five bags； and taking with me the wardrobe boy Denis； whose honesty
was above suspicion； we followed the road through the forest to avoid
being seen by any of the persons who occupied my house。 We cautiously
entered a little inclosure belonging to me； the gate of which could not
be seen on account of the trees； although they were now without foliage；
and with the aid of Denis I succeeded in burying my treasure； after
taking an exact note of the place； and then returned to the palace； being
certainly very far from foreseeing how much chagrin and tribulation those
hundred thousand francs would cause me； as we shall see in the succeeding
chapters。
CHAPTER XXVII。
Here more than ever I must beg the indulgence of my readers as to the
order in which I relate the events I witnessed during the Emperor's stay
at Fontainebleau； and those connected with them which did not come to my
knowledge until later。 I must also apologize for any inaccuracy in dates
of which I may be guilty； though I remember collectively； so to speak；
all that occurred during the unhappy twenty days which ensued between the
occupation of Paris and the departure of his Majesty for the Island of
Elba； for I was so completely absorbed in the unhappy condition of my
good master that all my faculties hardly sufficed for the sensations I
experienced every moment。 We suffered in the Emperor's sufferings； it
occurred to none of us to imprint on his memory the recollection of so
much agony； for we lived； so to speak； only provisionally。
During the first days of our stay at Fontainebleau the idea that the
Emperor would soon cease to reign over France was very far from entering
the minds of any of those around him； for every one was possessed with
the conviction that the Emperor of Austria would not consent that his
son…in…law； daughter； and grandson should be dethroned； in this they were
strangely mistaken。 I remarked during these first days that even more
petitions than usual were addressed to his Majesty； but I am ignorant
whether he responded favorably； or even if he replied at all。 The
Emperor often took up the daily papers； but after casting his eyes over
them threw them down angrily； and if we recall the shameless abuse in
which those writers indulged who had so often lavished fulsome praises on
him； it may well be understood that such a transition would naturally
excite his Majesty's disgust。 The Emperor usually remained alone； and
the person whom he saw most frequently was the Duke of Bassano； the only
one of his ministers then at Fontainebleau； for the Duke of Vicenza；
being charged continually with missions； was； so to speak； constantly on
the wing； especially as long as his Majesty retained the hope of seeing a
regency in favor of his son succeed him in the government。 In seeking to
recall the varied feelings whose impress I remarked on his Majesty's
countenance； I think I may affirm that he was even more deeply affected
by being compelled to renounce the throne for his son than in resigning
it for himself。 When the marshals or the Duke of Vicenza spoke to his
Majesty of arrangements relating to his person； it was easy to see that
he forced himself to listen to them only with the greatest repugnance。
One day when they spoke of the Island of Elba； and I do not know what sum
per year； I heard his Majesty reply vehemently： 〃That is too much； much
too much for me。 If I am no longer anything more than a common soldier；
I do not need more than one louis per day。〃
Nevertheless； the time arrived when； pressed on every side； his Majesty
submitted to sign the act of abdication pure and simple； which was
demanded of him。 This memorable act was conceived in these terms：
〃The allied powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is
the only obstacle to the re…establishment of peace in Europe； the
Emperor Napoleon； faithful to his oath； declares that he renounces
for himself and his heirs the thrones of France and Italy； and that
there is no personal sacrifice； even his life； which he is not
willing to make for the interests of France。
〃Done at the palace of Fontainebleau； 11th of April； 1814。
NAPOLEON。〃
I do not need to say that I then had no knowledge of the act of
abdication above given； it was one of those state secrets which emanated
from the cabinet； and hardly entered into the confidence of the bedroom。
I only recall that there was some discussion of the matter； though very
vague； that same day in the household； and； besides； it was evident that
something extraordinary was taking place； and the whole day his Majesty
seemed more depressed than at any previous time； but； nevertheless； I was
far from anticipating the agony which followed this fatal day！
I beg the reader in advance to give earnest attention to the event which
I shall now relate。 I now become a historian； since I inscribe the
painful remembrance of a striking act in the career of the Emperor； of an
event which has been the subject of innumerable controversies； though it
has been necessarily only a matter of surmise； since I alone knew all the
painful details。 I refer to the poisoning of the Emperor at
Fontainebleau。 I trust I do not need to protest my perfect truthfulness；
I feel too keenly the great importance of such a revelation to allow
myself to omit or add the least circumstance to the truth。 I shall
therefore relate events just as they occurred； just as I saw them； and as
memory； has engraved the painful details indelibly on my mind。
On the 11th of April I undressed the Emperor as usual； I think rather
earlier than usual； for； if I remember aright； it was not quite half…past
ten。 As he retired he appeared to me better than during the day； and in
nearly the same condition he had been on previous evenings。 I slept in a
room on the next floor； situated behind the Emperor's room； with which it
communicated by a small； dark staircase。 For some time past I had slept
in my clothes； in order to attend the Emperor more promptly if he should
call me； and I was sleeping soundly； when at midnight I was awaked by
M。 Pelard； who was on duty。 He told me that the Emperor had asked for
me； and on opening my eyes I saw on his face an expression of alarm which
astounded me。 I threw myself out of the bed； and rapidly descended the
staircase； as M。 Pelard added； 〃The Emperor has poured something in a
glass and drunk it。〃 I entered his Majesty's room； a prey to
indescribable anxiety。 The Emperor had lain down； but in advancing
towards his bed I saw on the floor between the fireplace and the bed the
little bag of black silk and skin； of which I spoke some time since。 It
was
