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第18章

napoleon bonaparte, v4-第18章

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continuing to weep; 〃take this candle and let us go and listen at his
door。  We will hear much。〃  Madame de Remusat did all in her power to
dissuade her from this project; representing to her the lateness of the
hour; the darkness of the passage; and the danger they would run of being
surprised; but all in vain; her Majesty put the candle in her hand;
saying; 〃It is absolutely necessary that you should go with me; but; if
you are afraid; I will go in front。〃  Madame de Remusat obeyed; and
behold the two ladies advancing on their tiptoes along the corridor; by
the light of a single candle flickering in the air。  Having reached the
door of the Emperor's antechamber; they stopped; hardly daring to
breathe; and the Empress softly turned the knob; but; just as she put her
foot into the apartment; Roustan; who slept there and was then sleeping
soundly; gave a formidable and prolonged snore。  These ladies had not
apparently remembered that they would find him there; and Madame de
Remusat; imagining that she already saw him leaping out of bed saber and
pistol in hand; turned and ran as fast as she could; still holding the
candle in her hand; and leaving the Empress in complete darkness; and did
not stop to take breath until she reached the Empress's bedroom; when she
remembered that the latter had been left in the corridor with no light。
Madame de Remusat went back to meet her; and saw her returning; holding
her sides with laughter; and forgetting her chagrin in the amusement
caused by this adventure。  Madame de Remusat attempted to excuse herself。
〃My dear friend;〃 said her Majesty; 〃you only anticipated me; for that
pigheaded Roustan frightened me so that I should have run first; if you
had not been a greater coward than I。〃

I do not know what these ladies would have discovered if their courage
had not failed them before reaching the end of their expedition; but
probably nothing at all; for the Emperor rarely received at the Tuileries
any one for whom he had a temporary fancy。  I have already stated that;
under the consulate; he had his meetings in a small house in the allee
des Veuves; and after he became Emperor; such meetings still took place
outside the chateau; and to these rendezvous he went incognito at night;
exposing himself to all the chances that a man runs in such adventures。

One evening; between eleven o'clock and midnight; the Emperor called me;
asked for a black frock coat and round hat; and ordered me to follow him;
and with Prince Murat as the third party; we entered a close carriage
with Caesar as driver; and only a single footman; both without livery。
After a short ride; the Emperor stopped in the rue de ; alighted; went a
few steps farther; and entered a house alone; while the prince and I
remained in the carriage。  Some hours passed; and we began to be uneasy;
for the life of the Emperor had been so often menaced; that it was very
natural to fear some snare or surprise; and imagination takes the reins
when beset by such fears。  Prince Murat swore and cursed with all his
might; sometimes the imprudence of his Majesty; then his gallantry; then
the lady and her complaisance。  I was not any better satisfied than he;
but being calmer I tried to quiet him; and at last; unable longer to
restrain his impatience; the prince sprang out of the carriage; and I
followed; but; just as his hand was on the knocker of the door; the
Emperor came out。  It was then already broad daylight; and the Prince
informed him of our anxiety; and the reflections we had made upon his
rashness。  〃What childishness!〃  said his Majesty; 〃what is there to
fear?  Wherever I am; am I not in my own house?〃

It was as volunteers that any courtiers mentioned to the Emperor any
young and pretty persons who wished to make his acquaintance; for it was
in no wise in keeping with his character to give such commissions。  I was
not enough of a courtier to think such an employment honorable; and never
voluntarily took part in any business of the kind。

It was not; however; for want of having been indirectly sounded; or even
openly solicited; by certain ladies who were ambitious of the title of
favorites; although this title would have given very few rights and
privileges with the Emperor; but I would never enter into such bargains;
restricting myself to the duties which my position imposed on me; and not
going beyond them; and; although his Majesty took pleasure in reviving
the usages of the old monarchy; the secret duties of the first valet de
chambre were not re…established; and I took care not to claim them。

Many others (not valets de chambre) were less scrupulous than I。  General
L spoke to the Emperor one day of a very pretty girl whose mother
kept a gambling…house; and who desired to be presented to him; but the
Emperor received her once only; and a few days afterwards she was
married。  Some time later his Majesty wished to see her again; and asked
for her; but the young woman replied that she did not belong to herself
any longer; and refused all the invitations and offers made to her。  The
Emperor seemed in no wise dissatisfied; but on the contrary praised
Madame D for her fidelity to duty; and approved her conduct highly。

In 1804 her imperial highness Princess Murat had in her household a young
reader named Mademoiselle E; seventeen or eighteen years of age;
tall; slender; well made; a brunette; with beautiful black eyes;
sprightly; and very coquettish。  Some persons who thought it to their
interest to create differences between his Majesty and the Empress; his
wife; noticed with pleasure the inclination of this young reader to try
the power of her glances upon the Emperor; and his disposition to
encourage her; so they stirred up the fire adroitly; and one of them took
upon himself all the diplomacy of this affair。  Propositions made through
a third party were at once accepted; and the beautiful E came to the
chateau secretly; but rarely; and remained there only two or three;
hours。  When she became enceinte; the Emperor had a house rented for her
in the Rue Chantereine; where she bore a fine boy; upon whom was settled
at his birth an income of thirty thousand francs。  He was confided at
first to the care of Madame I; nurse of Prince Achille Murat; who
kept him three or four years; and then Monsieur de Meneval; his Majesty's
secretary; was ordered to provide for the education of this child; and
when the Emperor returned from the Island of Elba; the son of
Mademoiselle E was placed in the care of her Majesty; the Empress…
mother。  The liaison of the Emperor with Mademoiselle E did not last
long。  She came one day with her mother to Fontainebleau; where the court
then happened to be; went up to his Majesty's apartment; and asked me to
announce her; and the Emperor; being exceedingly displeased by this step;
directed me to say to Mademoiselle E that he forbade her to present
herself before him again without his permission; and not to remain a
moment longer at Fontainebleau。  In spite of this harshness to the
mother; the Emperor loved the son tenderly; and I brought him to him
often; on which occasions he caressed the child; gave him a great many
dainties; and was much amused by his vivacity and repartees; which showed
remarkable intelligence for his age。

This child and that of the Polish beauty; of whom I will speak later;

     'This son of Countess Walewska became Count Walewski; a leading
     statesman of the Second Empire; ambassador to London; 1852; minister
     of foreign affairs; 1855; minister of state; 1860; president of
     Corps Legislatif; 1865。  Born 1810; died 1868。 TRANS。'

and the King of Rome; were the only children of the Emperor。  He never
had a daughter; and I believe he desired none。

I have seen it stated; I know not where; that the Emperor; during the
long stay we made at Boulogne; indemnified himself at night for the
labors of the day with a beautiful Italian; and I will now relate what I
know of this adventure。  His Majesty complained one morning; while I was
dressing him; in the presence of Prince Murat; that he saw none but
moustached faces; which he said was very tiresome; and the prince; ever
ready on 

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