napoleon bonaparte, v1-第9节

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　　　　　In　the　States…General　he　sided　with　the　Revolution。　　During　the
　　　　　Reign　of　Terror　he　visited　England　and　the　United　States。　　Recalled
　　　　　in　1796；　he　became　minister　of　foreign　affairs　under　the　Directory；
　　　　　which　post　he　retained　under　the　Consulate。　　In　1806　he　was　made
　　　　　Prince　of　Benevento。　　He　soon　fell　into　disgrace。　　Sided　with　the
　　　　　Bourbons　in　1814；　and　was　minister　at　the　congress　of　Vienna；
　　　　　president　of　the　council；　and　minister　under　the　king。　　Died　1838。
　　　　　TRANS。＇

giving　his　hand　to　Madame　Bonaparte；　had　the　honor　of　presenting　to　her；
one　after　another；　the　members　of　the　Diplomatic　Corps；　not　according　to
their　names；　but　that　of　the　courts　they　represented。　　He　then　made　with
her　the　tour　of　the　two　saloons；　and　the　circuit　of　the　second　was　only
half　finished　when　the　First　Consul　entered　without　being　announced。　　He
was　dressed　in　a　very　plain　uniform；　with　a　tricolored　silk　scarf；　with
fringes　of　the　same　around　his　waist。　　He　wore　close…fitting　pantaloons
of　white　cassimere；　and　top…boots；　and　held　his　hat　in　his　hand。　　This
plain　dress；　in　the　midst　of　the　embroidered　coats　loaded　with　cordons
and　orders　worn　by　the　ambassadors　and　foreign　dignitaries；　presented　a
contrast　as　striking　as　the　toilette　of　Madame　Bonaparte　compared　with
that　of　the　other　ladies　present。

Before　relating　how　I　exchanged　the　service　of　Madame　Bonaparte　for　that
of　the　chief　of　state；　and　a　sojourn　at　Malmaison　for　the　second　campaign
of　Italy；　I　think　I　should　pause　to　recall　one　or　two　incidents　which
belong　to　the　time　spent　in　the　service　of　Madame　Bonaparte。　　She　loved
to　sit　up　late；　and；　when　almost　everybody　else　had　retired；　to　play　a
game　of　billiards；　or　more　often　of　backgammon。　　It　happened　on　one
occasion　that；　having　dismissed　every　one　else；　and　not　yet　being　sleepy；
she　asked　if　I　knew　how　to　play　billiards；　and　upon　my　replying　in　the
affirmative；　requested　me　with　charming　grace　to　play　with　her；　and　I　had
often　afterwards　the　honor　of　doing　so。　　Although　I　had　some　skill；　I
always　managed　to　let　her　beat　me；　which　pleased　her　exceedingly。　　If
this　was　flattery；　I　must　admit　it；　but　I　would　have　done　the　same
towards　any　other　woman；　whatever　her　rank　and　her　relation　to　me；　had
she　been　even　half　as　lovely　as　was　Madame　Bonaparte。

The　concierge　of　Malmaison；　who　possessed　the　entire　confidence　of　his
employers；　among　other　means　of　precaution　and　watchfulness　conceived　by
him　in　order　to　protect　the　residence　and　person　of　the　First　Consul　from
any　sudden　attack；　had　trained　for　the　chateau　several　large　dogs；　among
which　were　two　very　handsome　Newfoundlands。　　Work　on　the　improvements　of
Malmaison　went　on　incessantly；　and　a　large　number　of　workmen　lodged　there
at　night；　who　were　carefully　warned　not　to　venture　out　alone；　but　one
night　as　some　of　the　watchdogs　were　with　the　workmen　in　their　lodgings；
and　allowed　themselves　to　be　caressed；　their　apparent　docility　encouraged
one　of　these　men　to　attempt　the　imprudence　of　venturing　out。　　Believing
that　the　surest　way　to　avoid　danger　was　to　put　himself　under　the
protection　of　one　of　those　powerful　animals；　he　took　one　of　them　with
him；　and　in　a　very　friendly　manner　they　passed　out　of　the　door　together；
but　no　sooner　had　they　reached　the　outside；　than　the　dog　sprang　upon　his
unfortunate　companion　and　threw　him　down。　　The　cries　of　the　poor　workman
brought　some　of　the　guard；　who　ran　to　his　aid。　　Just　in　time；　for　the　dog
was　holding　him　fast　to　the　ground；　and　had　seized　him　by　the　throat。　　He
was　rescued；　badly　wounded。　　Madame　Bonaparte；　when　she　was　informed　of
this　accident；　had　him　nursed　till　perfectly　cured；　and　gave　him　a
handsome　gratuity；　but　recommended　him　to　be　more　prudent　in　the　future。

Every　moment　that　the　First　Consul　could　snatch　from　affairs　of　state　he
passed　at　Malmaison。　　The　evening　of　each　decadii

　　　　　＇Under　the　Republic；　Sunday　was　abolished。　　A　decade　of　ten　days
　　　　　was　substituted　for　the　week；　and　the　decadi；　or　tenth　day；　took　the
　　　　　place　of　the　Sabbath。TRANS。＇

was　a　time　of　expectation　and　joy　at　the　chateau。　　Madame　Bonaparte　sent
domestics　on　horseback　and　on　foot　to　meet　her　husband；　and　often　went
herself；　accompanied　by　her　daughter　and　her　Malmaison　friends。　　When　not
on　duty；　I　went　myself　and　alone：　　for　everybody　felt　for　the　First
Consul　the　same　affection；　and　experienced　in　regard　to　him　the　same
anxiety；　and　such　was　the　bitterness　and　boldness　of　his　enemies　that　the
road；　though　short；　between　Paris　and　Malmaison　was　full　of　dangers　and
snares。　　We　knew　that　many　plans　had　been　laid　to　kidnap　him　on　this
road；　and　that　these　attempts　might　be　renewed。　　The　most　dangerous　spot
was　the　quarries　of　Nanterre；　of　which　I　have　already　spoken；　so　they
were　carefully　examined；　and　guarded　by　his　followers　each　day　on　which
the　First　Consul　was　to　pass；　and　finally　the　depressions　nearest　the
road　were　filled　up。　　The　First　Consul　was　gratified　by　our　devotion　to
him；　and　gave　us　proofs　of　his　satisfaction；　though　he　himself　seemed
always　free　from　fear　or　uneasiness。　　Very　often；　indeed；　he　mildly
ridiculed　our　anxiety；　and　would　relate　very　seriously　to　the　good
Josephine　what　a　narrow　escape　he　had　on　the　road；　how　men　of　a　sinister
appearance　had　shown　themselves　many　times　on　his　way；　how　one　of　them
had　had　the　boldness　to　aim　at　him；　etc。　　And　when　he　saw　her　well
frightened；　he　would　burst　out　laughing；　give　her　some　taps　or　kisses　on
her　cheek　and　neck；　saying　to　her；　〃Have　no　fear；　little　goose；　they
would　not　dare。〃　　On　these　〃days　of　furlough；〃　as　he　called　them；　he　was
occupied　more　with　his　private　affairs　than　with　those　of　state；　but
never　could　he　remain　idle。　　He　would　make　them　pull　down；　put　up　again；
build；　enlarge；　set　out；　prune；　incessantly；　both　in　the　chateau　and　in
the　park；　while　he　examined　the　bills　of　expenses；　estimated　receipts；
and　ordered　economies。　　Time　passed　quickly　in　all　these　occupations；　and
the　moment　soon　came　when　it　was　necessary　to　return；　and；　as　he
expressed　it；　put　on　again　the　yoke　of　misery。




CHAPTER　IV。

Towards　the　end　of　March；　1800；　five　or　six　months　after　my　entrance　into
the　service　of　Madame。　Bonaparte；　the　First　Consul　while　at　dinner　one
day　regarded　me　intently；　and　having　carefully　scrutinized　and　measured
me　from　head　to　foot；　〃Young　man；〃　said　he；　〃would　you　like　to　go　with　me
on　the　campaign？〃　　I　replied；　with　much　emotion；　that　I　would　ask　nothing
better。　　〃Very　well；　then；　you　shall　go　with　me！〃　and　on　rising　from　the
table；　he　ordered　Pfister；　the　steward；　to　place　my　name　on　the　list　of
the　persons　of　his　household　who　would　accompany　him。　　My　preparations
did　not　require　much　time；　for　I　was　delighted　with　the　idea　of　being
attached　to　the　personal　service　of　so　great　a　man；　and　in　imagination
saw　myself　already　beyond　the　Alps。　　But　the　First　Consul　set　out　without
me。　　Pfister；　by　a　defect　of　memory；　perhaps　intentional；　had　forgotten
to　place　my　name　on　the　list。　　I　was　in　despair；　and　went　to　relate；　with
tears；　my　misfortune　to　my　excellent　mistress；　who　was　good　enough　to
endeavor　to　console　me；　saying；　〃Well；　Constant；　everything　is　not　lost；
you　will　stay　with　me。　　You　can　hunt　in　the　park　to　pass　the　time；　and
perhaps　the　First　Consul　may　yet　send　for　you。〃　　However；　Madame
Bonaparte　did　not　really　believe　this；　for　she　thought；　as　I　did；
although　out　of　kindness　she　did　not　wish　to　say　this　to　me；　that　the
First　Consul　having　changed　his　mind；　and　no　longer　wishing　my　services
on　the　campaign；　had　himself　given　the　counter　orders。　　However；　I　soon
had　proof　to　the　contrary。　　In　passing　through　Dijon；　on　his　way　to　Mt。
St。　Bernard；　the　First　Consul　asked　for　me；　and　learning　that　they　had
forgotten　me；　expressed　his　dissatisfaction；　and　directed　Bourrienne　to
write　immediately　to　Madame　Bonaparte；　requesting　her　to　send　me　on
without　delay。

One　morning；　when　my　chagrin　was　more　acute　than　ever；　Madame　Bonaparte
sent　for　me；　and　said；　holding　Bourrienne's　letter　in　her　hand；
〃Constant；　since　you　have　determined　to　quit　us　to　make　the　campaign；　you
may　rejoice；　for　you　are　now　about　to　leave。　　The　First　Consul　has　sent
for　you。　　Go　to　the　office　of　Maret；　and　ascertain　if　he　will　not　soon
send　a　courier。　　You　will　accompany　him。〃　　I　was　inexpressibly　delighted
at　this　good　news；　and　did　not　try　to　conceal　my　pleasure。　　〃You　are　very
well　satisfied　to　leave　us；〃　said　Madame　Bonaparte　with　a　kind　smile。
〃It　is　not　leaving　Madame；　but　joining　the　First　Consul；　which　delights
me。〃〃I　hope　so；〃　replied　she。　　〃Go；　Constant；　and　take　good　care　of
him。〃　　If　any　incentive　had　been　needed；　this　injunction　of　my　noble
mistress　would　have　added　to　the　zeal　and　fidelity　with　which　I　had
determined　to　discharge　my　new　duties。　　I　hurried　without　delay　to　the
office　of　Maret；　　secretary　of　state；　who　already　knew　me；　and　had　shown
his　good…will　for　me。　　〃Get　ready　at　once；〃　said　he；　〃a　courier　will　set
out　this　evening　or　to…morrow　morning。〃　　I　returned　in　all　haste　to
Malmaison；　and　announced　to　Madame　Bonaparte　my　immediate　departure。　　She
immediately　had　a　good　post…chaise　made　ready　for　me；　and　T