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
