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napoleon bonaparte, v11-第11章

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attentions lavished on him by Baron Desgenettes。  With the exception of
the death of Marshal Duroc and Prince Poniatowski; I do not remember to
have ever seen the Emperor show more sincere sorrow than on this
occasion。  Meanwhile; almost at the very moment he lost M。 de Narbonne;
but before he had heard of his death; the Emperor had made arrangements
to fill the place near his person of the man he had loved most; not even
excepting General Desaix。  He had just called General Bertrand to the
high position of grand marshal of the palace; and this choice was
generally approved by all who had the honor of Count Bertrand's
acquaintance。  But what is there for me to say here of a man whose name
in history will never be separated from that of the Emperor?  This same
period had seen the fall of the Duke of Istria; one of the four colonel…
generals of the guard; and Marshal Duroc: and this same appointment
included the names of their successors; for Marshal Suchet was appointed
at the same time as General Bertrand; and took the place of Marshal
Bessieres as colonel…general of the guard。

     'Louis Gabriel Suchet; born at Lyons; 1770。  Served in the Italian
     campaign in 1796。  Brigadier…general; 1797; general of division;
     1799。  Governor of Genoa; 1800; and served at Austerlitz; 1805。  For
     his brilliant services in Spain he was created Duke of Albufera and
     marshal; 1811。  At St。 Helena; Napoleon stated he was the ablest of
     his generals then surviving。  Suchet married the niece of the wives
     of Joseph Bonaparte and Bernadotte; and his widow died as recently
     as 1891。  Suchet died 1826。'


At the same time his Majesty made several other changes in the higher
offices of the Empire。  A committee of the senate having conferred on the
Emperor the right to appoint; of his own choice; the president of the
Corps Legislatif; his Majesty bestowed this presidency on the Duke of
Massa; who was replaced in his former position as grand judge by Count
Mole;  the youngest of the Emperor's ministers。  The Duke of Bassano
became the secretary of state; and the Duke of Vicenza received the
portfolio of foreign relations。

As I have said; during the autumn of 1813 his Majesty frequently visited
the public works。  He usually went almost unattended; and on foot; to
visit those of the Tuileries and the Louvre; and afterwards mounted his
horse; accompanied by one or two officers at most; and M。 Fontaine; and
went to examine those which were more distant。  One day;it was about
the end of November; having seized the opportunity of his Majesty's
absence to take a walk through the Faubourg Saint Germain; I unexpectedly
encountered his Majesty on his way to the Luxembourg; just as he arrived
at the entrance of the Rue de Tournon; and it is impossible to describe
the intense satisfaction with which I heard shouts of 〃Vive l'Empereur〃
break forth as he approached。  I found myself driven by the crowd very
near the Emperor's horse; and yet I did not imagine for a moment that he
had recognized me。  On his return; however; I had proofs to the contrary。
His Majesty had seen me; and as I assisted him to change his clothing the
Emperor gayly remarked to me; 〃Well; M。 le Drole!  Ah!  ah!  what were
you doing in the Faubourg Saint Germain?  I see just how it is!  A fine
thing really!  You spy on me when I go out;〃 and many other jests of the
same kind; for on that day the Emperor was in such fine spirits that I
concluded he had been much pleased with his visit。

Whenever at this time the Emperor experienced any unusual anxiety; I
noticed that in order to dispel it he took pleasure in exhibiting himself
in public more frequently; perhaps; than during his other sojourns in
Paris; but always without any ostentation。  He went frequently to the
theater; and; thanks to the obliging kindness of Count de Remusat; I
myself frequently attended these assemblies; which at that time always
had the appearance of a fete。  Assuredly; when on the occasion of the
first representation of the ballet of Nina; their Majesties entered their
box; it would have been difficult to imagine that the Emperor had already
enemies among his subjects。  It is true that the mothers and widows in
mourning were not there; but I can affirm that I have never seen more
perfect enthusiasm。  The Emperor enjoyed this from the depths of his
heart; even more; perhaps; than after his victories。  The conviction that
he was beloved by the French people impressed him deeply; and in the
evening he condescended to speak to me of itshall I dare to say like a
child puffed up with pride at the reward he has just received?  Then in
the perfect freedom of privacy he said repeatedly; 〃My wife!  my good
Louise!  Truly; she should be well satisfied。〃  The truth is; that the
desire to see the Emperor at the theater was so great in Paris; that as
he always took his place in the box at the side; opening on the
proscenium; each time that he made his appearance there the boxes
situated on the opposite side of the hall were rented at incredible
figures; and even the uppermost tiers were preferred to those from which
they could not see him easily。  No one who lived in Paris at that time
can fail to recognize the correctness of this statement。

Some time after the first representation of the ballet of Nina; the
Emperor again attended the theater; and I was also present。  As formerly;
the Emperor accompanied her Majesty; and I could not keep back the
thought; as the play proceeded; that the Emperor had some memories
sufficient to distract his attention from the exquisite music。  It was at
the Italian theater then occupying the Odeon。  The Cleopatra of Nazzolini
was played; and the representation was among the number of those called
extraordinary; since it was on the occasion of Madame Grassini's benefit。
It had been only a short while since this singer; celebrated in more ways
than one; had first appeared in public on a Parisian stage; I think this
was really only the third or fourth time; and I should state; in order to
be exactly correct; that she did not produce on the Parisian public
exactly the impression which had been expected from her immense
reputation。  It had been long since the Emperor had received her
privately; but; nevertheless; her voice and Crescentini's had been
reserved until then for the privileged ears of the spectators of Saint…
Cloud and the theater of the Tuileries。  On; this occasion the Emperor
was very generous towards the beneficiary; but no interview resulted;
for; in the language of a poet of that period; the Cleopatra of Paris did
not conquer another Antony。

Thus; as we see; the Emperor on a few occasions laid aside the important
affairs which occupied him; less to enjoy the theater than for the
purpose of showing himself in public。  All useful undertakings were the
objects of his care; and he did not depend entirely even on the
information of men to whom he had most worthily committed them; but saw
everything for himself。  Among the institutions especially protected by
his Majesty; there was one in which he took an especial interest。  I do
not think that in any of the interv
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