napoleon bonaparte, v11-第20节

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Majesty；　but　they　refused；　and　as　a　faithful　servant　M。　de　Saint…Aignan
performed　his　duty；　and　prepared　to　speak　the　whole　truth；　whatever
danger　he　might　incur　by　so　doing。

When　he　arrived　at　the　wheelwright's　shop　at　Chatres；　the　Emperor；　as　we
have　just　seen；　was　abandoning　himself　to　most　brilliant　dreams；　which
circumstance　was　most　unfortunate　for　M。　de　Saint…Aignan；　since　he　was
the　bearer　of　disagreeable　news。　　He　came；　as　we　have　learned　since；　to
announce　to　his　Majesty　that　he　should　not　count　upon　the　public　mind　at
the　capital；　since　they　were　murmuring　at　the　prolongation　of　the　war；
and　desired　that　the　Emperor　should　seize　the　occasion　of　making　peace。
It　has　even　been　stated　that　the　word　disafection　was　uttered　during　this
secret　conference　by　the　sincere　and　truthful　lips　of　M。　de　Saint…Aignan。
I　cannot　assert　that　this　is　true；　for　the　door　was　closely　shut；　and　M。
de　Saint…Aignan　spoke　in　a　low　tone。　　It　is　certain；　however；　that　his
report　and　his　candor　excited　his　Majesty's　anger　to　the　highest　degree；
and　in　dismissing　him　with　an　abruptness　he　had　certainly　not　merited；
the　Emperor　raised　his　voice　to　such　a　pitch　as　to　be　heard　outside。
When　M。　de　Saint…Aignan　withdrew；　and　his　Majesty　summoned　me　to　my
duties　near　him；　I　found　him　much　agitated；　and　pale　with　anger。　　A　few
hours　after　this　scene　the　Emperor　ordered　his　horse；　and　M。　de　Saint…
Aignan；　who　had　resumed　his　duties　as　equerry；　approached　to　hold　his
stirrup；　but　as　soon　as　the　Emperor　perceived　him　he　threw　on　him　an
angry　glance；　made　him　a　sign　to　withdraw；　exclaiming　loudly；
〃Mesgrigny！〃　　This　was　Baron　de　Mesgrigny；　another　of　his　Majesty's
squires。　　In　compliance　with　his　Majesty's　wishes；　M。　de　Mesgrigny
performed　the　duties　of　M。　de　Saint…Aignan；　who　withdrew　to　the　rear　of
the　army　to　wait　till　the　storm　should　be　past。　　At　the　end　of　a　few　days
his　disgrace　was　ended；　and　all　who　knew　him　rejoiced；　for　the　Baron　de
Saint…Aignan　was　beloved　by　all　for　his　affability　and　loyalty。

From　Chatres　the　Emperor　marched　on　Troyes。　　The　enemy　who　occupied　this
town　seemed　at　first　disposed　to　defend　themselves　there；　but　soon
yielded；　and　evacuated　it　at　the　close　of　a　capitulation。　　During　the
short　time　the；　allies　passed　at　Troyes；　the　Royalists　had　publicly
announced　their　hatred　to　the　Emperor；　and　their　adherence　to　the　allied
powers；　who　came；　they　said；　only　to　establish　the　Bourbons　on　the
throne；　and　even　had　the　imprudence　to　display　the　white　flag　and　white
cockade；　and　the　foreign　troops　had　consequently　protected　them；　while
exercising　extreme　harshness　and　severity　towards　those　inhabitants　who
held　contrary　opinions。

Unfortunately　for　the　Royalists　they　were　in　a　very　feeble　minority；　and
the　favor　shown　to　them　by　the　Russians　and　Prussians　led　the　populace
oppressed　by　the　latter　to　hate　the　proteges　as　much　as　their　protectors。

Even　before　the　entrance　of　the　Emperor　into　Troyes；　Royalist
proclamations　addressed　to　the　officers　of　his　household　or　the　army　had
fallen　into　his　hands。　　He　had　showed　no　anger；　but　had　urged　those　who
had　received；　or　who　might　receive；　communications　of　this　nature；　to
destroy　them；　and　to　inform　no　one　of　the　contents。　　On　his　arrival　at
Troyes　his　Majesty　rendered　a　decree　proclaiming　penalty　of　death　against
all　Frenchmen　in　the　service　of　the　enemy；　and　those　who　wore　the　emblems
and　decorations　of　the　ancient　dynasty。　　An　unfortunate　emigre；　accused
before　a　council　of　war；　was　convicted　of　having　worn　the　cross　of　St。
Louis　and　the　white　cockade　during　the　stay　of　the　allies　at　Troyes；　and
of　having　furnished　to　the　foreign　generals　all　the　information　in　his
power。

The　council　pronounced　sentence　of　death；　for　the　proofs　were　positive；
and　the　law　not　less　so；　and　Chevalier　Gonault　fell　a　victim　to　his　ill…
judged　devotion　to　a　cause　which　was　still　far　from　appearing　national；
especially　in　the　departments　occupied　by　the　allied　armies；　and　was
executed　according　to　military　usage。









End