marie antoinette and her son-第144章

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misfortune　breaks　in　upon　us！　You　have　intoxicated　him　with　the
incense　of　adulation；　you　pour　into　his　veins　daily　and　hourly　the
sweet　poison　which　is　to　destroy　our　happiness　and　our　peace！　He　was
so　good；　so　cheerful；　so　happy；　my　Bonaparte！　He　was　contented　with
the　laurels　which　victory　laid　upon　his　brow；　but　you　continued　to
whisper　in　his　ear　that　a　crown　would　add　new　grace　to　his　laurels。
You　flattered　his　ambition；　and　what　was　quietly　sleeping　at　the
bottom　of　his　heart；　and　what　I　hushed　with　my　kisses　and　with　my
hand；　that　you　took　all　efforts　to　bring　out　into　the　light：　his
vanityhis　love　of　power！　Oh；　Fouche！　you　are　wicked；　cruel；　and
pitiless！　I　hate；　I　abhor　you　all；　for　you　are　the　murderers　of　my
Bonaparte！〃

She　spoke　all　this　softly；　with　quick　breath；　while　the　tears　were
streaming　over　her　beautiful　face；　and　her　whole　frame　trembled　with
emotion。　She　then　sank；　wholly　overcome；　upon　a　lounge；　and　pressed
her　small　hands；　sparkling　with　jewels；　over　her　eyes。

〃Madame；　you　are　unjust；〃　replied　Fouche；　softly。　〃If　you　have
overheard　my　conversation　with　the　First　Consul；　you　are　aware　that
the　direct　object　of　my　coming　was　to　save　him　from　murderers；　and
to　insure　his　precious　life。〃

〃And；　moreover；　to　pour　into　his　ear　the　poison　of　a　future　imperial
crown！〃　said　Josephine；　indignantly。　〃Oh；　I　know　it！　With　talk　of
conspiracies　and　of　daggers　you　urged　him　on。　You　want　him　to　be　an
emperor；　that　you　may　be　a　prince　or　duke！　I　see　it　all；　and　I
cannot　prevent　it；　for　he　no　longer　listens　to　me；　he　no　longer
heeds　the　voice　of　his　Josephine；　only　that　of　his　ambitious
flatterers；　and　he　will　put　on　the　imperial　crown　and　complete　our
misfortune！　Oh！　I　knew　it！　This　imperial　crown　will　ruin　us。　It　was
prophesied　to　me　in　my　youth　that　I　should　be　an　empress；　but　it　was
added　that　it　would　be　for　no　long　time。　And　yet　I　should　like　to
live；　and　I　should　like　to　be　happy　still！〃

〃You　will　be　so；　madame；〃　said　Fouche；　with　a　smile。　〃It　is　always
good　fortune　to　wear　an　imperial　crown；　and　your　beautiful　head　is
worthy　to　bear　one。〃

〃No；　no；〃　she　cried；　angrily。　〃Do　not　try　me　with　your　flatteries！　I
am　contented　with　being　a　beloved　and　happy　wife；　I　desire　no　crown。
The　crowned　heads　that　have　dwelt　in　the　Tuileries　have　become　the
prey　of　destruction；　and　the　pearls　of　their　diadems　have　been
changed　to　tears！　But　what　advantage　is　it　that　I　should　say　all
this　to　you？　It　is　all　in　vain；　in　vain！　I　did　not　bring　you　to　talk
of　this。　It　was　something　entirely　different。　Listen；　Fouche；　I
cannot　prevent　Bonaparte's　becoming　an　emperor；　but　you　shall　not
make　him　a　regicide！　I　will　not　suffer　it！　By　Heaven；　and　all　the
holy　angels；　I　will　not　suffer　it！〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you；　madame。　I　do　not　know　what　you　mean。〃

〃Oh；　you　understand　me　very　well；　Fouche。　You　know　that　I　am
speaking　of　King　Louis　XVII。〃

〃Ah；　madame；　you　are　speaking　of　the　impostor；　who　gives　himself　out
to　be　the　'orphan　of　the　Temple。'　〃

〃He　is　it；　Fouche。　I　know　it；　I　am　acquainted　with　the　history　of
his　flight。　I　was　a　prisoner　in　the　Conciergerie　at　the　same　time
with　Toulan；　the　queen's　loyal　servant。　He　knew　my　devotion　to　the
unhappy　Marie　Antoinette；　he　intrusted　to　me　his　secret　of　the
dauphin's　escape。　Later；　when　I　was　released；　Tallien　and　Barras
confirmed　the　story　of　his　flight；　and　informed　me　that　he　was
secreted　by　the　Prince　de　Conde。　I　have　known　it　all；　and　I　tell　you
I　knew　who　Kleber's　adjutant　was；　I　inquired　for　him　after　he
disappeared　at　the　battle　of　Marengo；　and　when　my　agents　told　me
that　the　young　king　died　there；　I　wore　mourning　and　prayed　for　him。

And；　now　that　I　learn　that　the　son　of　my　beautiful　queen　is　still
alive；　shall　I　suffer　him　to　die　like　a　traitor？　No；　never！　Fouche；
I　tell　you　I　will　never　suffer　it；　I　will　not　have　this　unfortunate
young　man　sacrificed！　You　must　save　himI　will　have　it　so！〃

〃I！〃　cried　Fouche；　in　amazement。　〃But　you　know　that　it　is
impossible；　for　you　have　heard　my　conversation　with　the　consul。　He
himself　said；　'The　republic　demands　a　royal　victim。　If　it　is　not
this　so…called　King　Louis；　let　it　be　the　Duke　d'Enghien；　for　a
victim　must　fall；　in　order　to　intimidate　the　royalists；　and　bring
peace　at　last。〃

〃But　I　will　not　have　you　bring　human　victims；〃　cried　Josephine；　〃the
republic　shall　no　longer　be　a　cruel　Moloch；　as　it　was　in　the　days　of
the　guillotine。　You　shall；　and　you　must；　save　the　son　of　Queen　Marie
Antoinette。　I　desire　to　have　peace　in　my　conscience；　that　I　may　live
without　reproach；　and　be　happier　perhaps　than　now。〃

〃But　it　is　impossible；〃　insisted　Fouche。　〃You　have　heard　yourself
that　if；　before　the　sun　goes　down；　Louis　be　not　imprisoned；　the　sun
of　my　good　fortune　will　have　set。〃

〃And　I　told　you；　Fouche；　that　if　you　do　thisif　you　become　a
regicide　a　second　timeI　will　be　your　unappeasable　enemy　your　whole
life　long；　I　will　undertake　to　avenge　on　you　the　death　of　the　queen
and　her　son；　I　will　follow　your　every　step　with　my　hate；　and　will
not　rest　till　I　have　overthrown　you。　And　you　know　well　that
Bonaparte　loves　me；　that　I　have　influence　with　him；　and　that　what　I
mean　to　do；　I　accomplish　at　last　by　prayers；　tears；　and　frowns。　So
do　not　exasperate　me；　Fouche；　do　not　make　me　your　irreconcilable
enemy。　Save　the　son　of　the　king　whom　you　killed；　conciliate　the
shades　of　his　unhappy　parents。　Fouche；　we　are　in　the　cabinet　of　the
queen！　Here　she　often　tarried；　here　she　often　pressed　her　son　to　her
heart；　and　asked　God's　blessing　on　him。　Fouche；　the　spirit　of　Marie
Antoinette　is　with　us；　and　she　will　know　it　if　you　in　pity　spare　the
life　of　her　son。　Marie　Antoinette　will　accuse　you　at　the　throne　of
God；　and　plead　with　God　to　show　you　no　compassion；　if　you　refuse　to
be　merciful　to　her　son。　Fouche；　in　the　name　of　the　queenon　my
kneesI　implore　you；　save　her　son！〃

And　Josephine；　her　face　bathed　in　tears；　sank　before　him　and　raised
her　folded　hands　suppliantly　to　Fouche。　The　minister；　deeply　moved；
pale　with　the　recollections　which　Josephine　awakened　within　him；
stooped　down　to　her；　and　bade　her　arise；　and　when　she　refused；　and
begged　and　threatened；　and　wept；　his　obstinacy　was　at　last　touched；
or　perhaps　his　prudence；　which　counselled　him　to　make　a　friend；
rather　than　an　enemy；　out　of　the　all…powerful　wife　of　the　future
emperor。

〃Rise；　madame；〃　he　said。　〃What　mortal　is　able　to　resist　your
requests；　since　Bonaparte　himself　cannot？　I　will　save　your　protege；
whatever　shall　come　to　me　afterward　from　it。〃

She　sprang　up；　and　in　the　wildness　of　her　joy　threw　her　beautiful
arms　around　Fouche's　neck；　and　kissed　him。

〃Fouche；〃　she　said；　〃I　give　you　this　kiss　in　the　name　of　Queen　Marie
Antoinette。　It　is　a　kiss　of　forgiveness；　and　of　blessing。　You　swear
to　me　that　you　will　save　him？〃

〃I　swear　it；　madame！〃

〃And　I　swear　to　you　that　as　soon　as　he　is　saved；　and　Bonaparte's
anger　can　no　longer　reach　him；　I　will　confess　all　to　my　husband；　and
put　it　in　such　a　Light　that　Bonaparte　shall　thank　and　reward　you。
Now　tell　me；　how　you　will　save　him。〃

〃I　shall　only　be　able　if　you　will　help　me；　madame。〃

〃I　am　ready　for　any　thingthat　you　know　well。　Tell　me　what　I　shall
do。〃

〃You　must　yourself　direct　a　few　lines　to　the　young　man；　conjuring
him　in　the　name　of　his　mother　to　fly；　to　save　himself　from　the　anger
of　the　First　Consulto　leave　Europe。〃

〃Oh！　Fouche；　how　sly　you　are！〃　said　Josephine；　sadly。

〃You　want　my　handwriting；　in　order　to　justify　yourself　to　the　First
Consul　in　case　of　emergency；　very　good。　I　will　write　the　billet。〃

She　hastened　to　her　table；　dashed　a　few　words　upon　paper；　and　then
passed　the　note　to　Fouche。　〃Read　it；〃　she　said；　〃it　contains　all
that　is　necessary；　does　it　not？〃

〃Yes；　madame；　and　you　have　written　in　such　beautiful　and　moving
words；　that　the　young　man　will　be　melted；　and　will　obey　you。　Will
you　now　have　the　goodness　to　put　the　note　in　an　envelope　and　to
address　it？〃

She　folded　it；　and　put　it　into　an　envelope。　〃To　whom　shall　I　address
it？〃　she　then　asked。

〃Address　it　to　King　Louis　XVII。〃

She　did　so　with　a　quick　stroke　of　the　pen　and　handed　the　letter　to
Fouche。　〃Take　it；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　your　justi