按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Majesty the Empress herself； that he was engaged in his cabinet with a
minister。
The place of the interview was the apartment formerly occupied by
Bourrienne； communicating by a staircase which opened on his Majesty's
bedroom。 This room had been arranged and decorated very plainly； and had
a second exit on the staircase called the black staircase； because it was
dark and badly lighted； and it was through this that Madame Gazani
entered； while the Emperor came in by the other door。 They had been
together only a few moments when the Empress entered the Emperor's room；
and asked me what her husband was doing。 〃Madame； the Emperor is very
busy just now； he is working in his cabinet with a minister。〃〃Constant；
I wish to enter。〃〃That is impossible； Madame。 I have received a formal
order not to disturb his Majesty； not even for her Majesty the Empress；〃
whereupon she went away dissatisfied and somewhat irritated； and at the
end of half an hour returned； and； renewing her demand； I was obliged to
repeat my reply； and； though much distressed in witnessing the chagrin of
her Majesty the Empress； I could not disobey my orders。 That evening on
retiring the Emperor said to me； in a very severe tone； that the Empress
had informed him she had learned from me； that； at the time she came to
question me in regard to him； he was closeted with a lady。 Not at all
disturbed； I replied to the Emperor； that of course he could not believe
that。 〃No；〃 replied the Emperor； returning to the friendly tone with
which he habitually honored me； 〃I know you well enough to be assured of
your discretion； but woe to the idiots who are gossiping； if I can get
hold of them。〃 The next night the Empress entered； as the Emperor was
retiring； and his Majesty said to her in my presence； 〃It is very bad to
impute falsehood to poor Monsieur Constant； he is not the man to make up
such a tale as that you told me。〃 The Empress； seated on the edge of the
bed； began to laugh； and put her pretty little hand over her husband's
mouth； and； as it was a matter concerning myself； I withdrew。 For a few
days the Empress was cool and distant to me； but； as this was foreign to
her nature； she soon resumed the gracious manner which attached all
hearts to her。
The Emperor's liaison with Madame Gazani lasted nearly a year； but they
met only at long intervals。
The following instance of jealousy is not as personal to me as that which
I have just related。
Madame de Remusat；＇Authoress of the well…known Memoirs。 Born in Paris；
1780； died 1821。 Her husband was first chamberlain to the Emperor。 ＇
wife of one of the prefects of the palace； and one of the ladies of honor
to whom the Empress was most attached； found her one evening in tears and
despair； and waited in silence till her Majesty should condescend to tell
her the cause of this deep trouble。 She had not long to wait； however；
for hardly had she entered the apartment than her Majesty exclaimed； 〃I
am sure that he is now with some woman。 My dear friend；〃 added she；
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 ti