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！
other stories about him of a still more shocking character； which I will
not allow myself to repeat。 The truth is； General Junot prided himself
much less on respecting the proprieties than on being one of the best
pistol…shots in the army。 While riding in the country； he would often
put his horse into a gallop； and with a pistol in each hand； never fail
to cut off； in passing； the heads of the ducks or chickens which he took
as his target。 He could cut off a small twig from a tree at twenty…five
paces； and I have even heard it said （I am far from guaranteeing the
truth of this） that on one occasion； with the consent of the party whose
imprudence thus put his life in peril； he cut half in two the stem of a
clay pipe； hardly three inches long； which a soldier held between his
teeth。
In the first journey which Madame Bonaparte made into Italy to rejoin her
husband； she remained some time at Milan。 She had at that time in her
service a 'femme de chambre' named Louise； a large and very beautiful
woman； and who showed favors； well remunerated however； to the brave
Junot。 As soon as her duties were ended； Louise； far more gorgeously
attired than Madame Bonaparte； entered an elegant carriage； and rode
through the city and the principal promenades； often eclipsing the wife
of the General…in…chief。 On his return to Paris； the latter obliged his
wife to dismiss the beautiful Louise； who； abandoned by her inconstant
lover； fell into great destitution； and I often saw her afterwards at the
residence of Josephine begging aid； which was always most kindly granted。
This young woman； who had dared to rival Madame Bonaparte in elegance；
ended by marrying； I think； an English jockey； led a most unhappy life；
and died in a miserable condition。
The First Consul of the French Republic； now become Emperor of the
French； could no longer be satisfied with the title of President of
Italy。 Therefore； when new deputies of the Cisalpine Republic passed
over the mountains； and gathered at Paris for consultation； they
conferred on his Majesty the title of King of Italy； which he accepted；
and a few days after his acceptance he set out for Milan； where he was to
be crowned。
I returned with the greatest pleasure to that beautiful country； of
which； notwithstanding the fatigues and dangers of war； I retained the
most delightful recollections。 How different the circumstances now！ As
a sovereign the Emperor was now about to cross the Alps； Piedmont； and
Lombardy； each gorge； each stream； each defile of which we had been
obliged in a former visit to carry by force of arms。 In 1800 the escort
of the First Consul was a warlike army； in 1805 it was a peaceful
procession of chamberlains； pages； maids of honor； and officers of the
palace。
Before his departure the Emperor held in his arms at the baptismal font；
in company with Madame his mother； Prince Napoleon Louis； second son of
his brother Prince Louis。＇The third son lived to become Napoleon III。＇…
The three sons of Queen Hortense had； if I am not much mistaken； the
Emperor as godfather； but he loved most tenderly the eldest of the three；
Prince Napoleon Charles； who died at the age of five years； Prince Royal
of Holland。 I shall speak afterwards of this lovely child； whose death
threw his father and mother into the most overwhelming grief； was the
cause of great sorrow to the Emperor； and may be considered as the source
of the gravest events。
After the baptismal fetes we set out for Italy； accompanied by the
Empress Josephine。 Whenever it was convenient the Emperor liked to take
her with him； but she always desired to accompany her husband； whether or
not this was the case。
The Emperor usually kept his journey a profound secret up to the moment
of his departure； and ordered at midnight horses for his departure to
Mayence or Milan； exactly as if a hunt at Saint…Cloud or Rambouillet was
in question。
On one of his journeys （I do not remember which）； his Majesty had decided
not to take the Empress Josephine。 The Emperor was less disturbed by
this company of ladies and women who formed her Majesty's suite； than he
was by the annoyance of the bandboxes and bundles with which they were
usually encumbered； and wished on this occasion to travel rapidly； and
without ostentation； and spare the towns on his route an enormous
increase of expense。
He therefore ordered everything to be in readiness for his departure； at
one o'clock in the morning； at which hour the Empress was generally
asleep； but； in spite of all precautions； some slight noise warned the
Empress of what was taking place。 The Emperor had promised her that she
should accompany him on his first journey； but he had deceived her；
nevertheless； and was about to set out without her！ She instantly called
her women； but vexed at their slowness； her Majesty sprang out of bed；
threw on the first clothing she found at hand； and ran out of her room in
slippers and without stockings。 Weeping like a little child that is
being taken back to boarding…school； she crossed the apartments； flew
down the staircase； and threw herself into the arms of the Emperor； as he
was entering his carriage； barely in time； however； for a moment later he
set out。 As almost always happened at the sight of his wife's tears； the
Emperor's heart was softened； and she； seeing this； had already entered
the carriage； and was cowering down in the foot； for the Empress was
scantily clad。 The Emperor covered her with his cloak； and before
starting gave the order in person that； with the first relay； his wife
should receive all she needed。
The Emperor； leaving his wife at Fontainebleau； repaired to Brienne；
where he arrived at six o'clock in the evening； and found Mesdames de
Brienne and Lomenie； with several ladies of the city； awaiting him at the
foot of the staircase to the chateau。 He entered the saloon； and
received most graciously all persons who were presented to him； and then
passed into the garden； conversing familiarly with Mesdames Brienne and
Lomenie； and recalling with surprising accuracy the smallest particulars
of the stay which he made during his childhood at the military school of
Brienne。
His Majesty invited to his table at dinner his hostesses and a few of
their friends； and afterwards made a party at a game of whist with
Mesdames de Brienne； de Vandeuvre； and de Nolivres。 During this game； as
also at the table； his conversation was animated and most interesting；
and he displayed such liveliness and affability that every one was
delighted。
His Majesty passed the night at the chateau of Brienne； and rose early to
visit the field of la Rothiere； one of his favorite walks in former days。
He revisited with the greatest pleasure those spots where his early youth
had been passed； and pointed them out with a kind of pride； all his
movements； all his reflections； seeming to say； 〃See whence I set out；
and where I have arrived。〃
His Majesty walked in advance of the persons who accompanied him； and
took much pleasure in being first to call by their names the various
localities he passed。 A peasant； seeing him thus some distance from his
suite； cried