louisa of prussia and her times-第125节

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said；　in　a　low　voice；　after　a　short　pause；　as　if　speaking　to
himself；　〃the　agent　of　the　Count　de　Provence；　who　delivered　to　me
the　letter；　and　whom　I　then　expelled　from　Paris。〃

〃Have　you　got　the　diary　of　the　mistress　of　ceremonies　and　the　other
papers　with　you？〃　he　then　asked　the　governor。

〃I　have；　sire；　here　they　are；〃　replied　M。　de　Vincennes；　drawing　a
few　papers　from　his　bosom。　〃Here　is　also　the　singular　agreement　of
the　princess。〃

〃Give　them　to　me；〃　said　Napoleon；　and　taking　the　papers；　he　looked
over　them　and　read　a　few　lines　here　and　there。　〃Indeed；〃　he　then
said；　〃this　affair　is　piquant　enough；　it　begins　to　excite　my
curiosity。　Constant；　where　is　the　lady？〃

〃Sire；　M。　de　Bausset　has　taken　her　to　the　small　reception…room　of
your　majesty；　she　is　waiting　there。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Napoleon；　〃she　has　waited　long　enough；　and　might　become
impatient；　I　will；　therefore；　go　to　her。〃

〃But；　sire；　you　will　not　see　her　alone；　I　hope？〃　asked　Duroc；
anxiously。　〃I　trust　your　majesty　will　permit　me　to　accompany　you？〃

〃Ah；　you　are　anxious　to　see　the　famous　belle？〃　asked　Napoleon；
laughing。　〃Another　time；　M。　grand…marshalbut　this　time　I　shall　go
alone。　Just　remember　that　the　princess　is　passionately　enamoured　of
me；　and　that　it；　therefore；　would　terribly　offend　her　if　I　should
not　come　alone　to　the　interview　with　her。〃

He　advanced　a　few　steps　toward　the　door。　But　now　Constant　rushed
toward　him；　and　kneeling　before　him；　exclaimed；　in　a　voice　trembling
with　anguish：　〃Sire；　your　majesty　must　have　pity　on　me。　Do　not
expose　your　priceless　life　to　such　a　danger！　Do　not　plunge　my　poor
heart　which　adores　your　majesty　into　everlasting　despair！　It　was　I
who　first　dared　to　request　your　majesty　to　receive　this　lady！　Now；
sire；　I　implore　your　majesty　on　my　kneesdo　not　receive　her！〃

〃Sire；　I　venture　to　unite　my　prayers　with　those　of　Constant；〃　said
Duroc；　urgently。　〃Sire；　do　not　receive　this　lady！〃

〃Your　majesty；　permit　me　rather　to　arrest　her　immediately；〃
exclaimed　M。　de　Vincennes。

Napoleon's　flaming　eyes　glanced　in　succession　smilingly　at　the　three
men。　〃Truly；〃　he　said；　〃on　hearing　you；　one　might　almost　believe
this　beautiful　woman　to　be　a　mine；　and　that　it　was　merely　necessary
to　touch　her　in　order　to　explode　and　be　shattered！　Reassure
yourselves；　I　believe　we　will　save　our　life　this　time。　You　have
warned　me；　and　I　shall　be　on　my　guard。　Not　another　word；　no　more
prayers！　My　resolution　is　fixed；　I　will　see　this　beautiful　woman；
and；　moreover；　alone！〃

〃Sire；〃　exclaimed　Constant；　anxiously；　〃suppose　this　crazy　woman
should　fire　a　pistol　at　your　head　at　the　moment　when　your　majesty
appears　before　her？〃

〃In　that　case　the　bullets　would　harmlessly　glance　off　from　me；　or
the　pistol　would　miss　fire；〃　replied　Napoleon；　in　a　tone　of　firm
conviction。　〃Fate　did　not　place　me　here　to　fall　by　the　hands　of　an
assassin！　Go；　gentlemen；　and　accept　my　thanks　for　your　zeal　and
sympathy。　M。　de　Vincennes；　return　to　Vienna；　I　shall　keep　your
papers　here。　Is　Count　Haugwitz　still　at　your　rooms；　Duroc？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　we　were　just　engaged　in　drawing　up　the　several　sections
of　the　treaty；　when　M。　de　Vincennes　sent　for　me。〃

〃Return　to　the　count；　and　you；　Constant；　go　to　M。　von　Brandt　and
count　with　him　the　minutes　which　his　lady　will　pass　in　my　company。　I
should　not　be　surprised　if　he　should　earn　a　great　many　gold…pieces；
for　I　do　not　intend　dismissing　the　interesting　belle　so　soon。〃

He　nodded　to　them；　and　hastily　crossing　the　room；　passed　through　the
door　which　Constant　opened。　With　rapid　steps；　and　without　any
further　hesitation；　he　walked　across　the　two　large　reception…halls；
and　then　opened　the　door　of　the　small　reception…room　where　the　lady；
as　Constant　had　told　him；　was　waiting　for　him。

He　remained　for　a　moment　on　the　threshold；　and　his　burning　glances
turned　toward　Marianne；　who；　as　soon　as　she　saw　him　coming　in；　had
risen　from　the　arm…chair　in　which　she　had　been　sitting。

〃It　is　true；〃　murmured　Napoleon　to　himself；　〃she　is　really
beautiful！〃

He　advanced　a　few　steps；　then；　as　if　remembering　only　at　this　moment
that　he　had　left　the　door　wide　open；　he　turned　around　and　closed　it。
〃I　suppose　you　want　to　speak　to　me　without　witnesses？〃　he　asked；
approaching　Marianne。

〃Sire；　the　words　of　love　and　adoration　fail　too　often　in　the
presence　of　others；〃　whispered　Marianne；　casting　a　flaming　glance　on
him。

Napoleon　smiled。　〃Well；　why　did　you　hesitate；　then；　just　now　to
write　the　words　of　love　and　adoration　between　my　shoulders？〃　he
asked。　〃I　turned　my　back　to　you　intentionally；　I　wished　to　give　you
an　opportunity　for　carrying　out　your　heroic　deed。〃

〃What？〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　in　terror；　〃has　your　majesty　any　doubts
of　my　intentions？〃

〃No；〃　said　Napoleon；　laughing；　〃I　have　no　doubts　whatever　of　your
intentions；　on　the　contrary；　I　am　quite　sure　of　them。　I　know　that
you　have　come　hither　to　translate　the　Bible；　the　truth　of　which　has
been　questioned　so　often；　into　reality。　You　intended　to　make　of　the
chapter　of　Judith　and　Holofernes　a　tragedy　of　our　times。　But
although　you　are　as　beautiful　and　seductive　as　Judith；　I　am　no
Holofernes；　who　allows　himself　to　be　ruled　by　his　passion；　and
forgets　the　dictates　of　prudence　in　the　arms　of　a　woman。　I　never　was
the　slave　of　my　passions；　madame；　and　it　is　not　sufficient　for　a
woman　to　be　beautiful　in　order　to　win　my　heart；　I　must　be　able；　too；
to　esteem　her；　and　never　should　I　be　able　to　esteem　a　woman　capable
of　loving　the　conqueror　of　her　country。　You　see；　therefore；　that　I
am　no　Holofernes；　and　that　I　should　not　have　opened　my　arms　to　you
if　I　should　have　believed　you　to　be　a　recreant　daughter　of　your
country。　But　I　know　that　you　are　a　patriot；　and　that　alters　the
case：　I　know　that　I　may　esteem　you；　hence；　I　do　not　say　that　I
cannot　love　you；　for　it　is　true；　you　are　enchantingly　beautiful。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Marianne；　indignantly；　〃if　you　have　only　received　me　to
insult　and　mortify　me；　pray　permit　me　to　withdraw！〃

〃No；　I　have　received　you　because　I　wanted　to　give　you　good　advice；〃
said　Napoleon；　gravely；　〃I；　therefore；　pray　you　to　remain。　You　must
choose　your　servants　more　cautiously；　madame；　you　must　confide　in
them　less　and　watch　them　better；　for　slavish　souls　are　easily　led
astray；　and　money　is　a　magnet　they　are　unable　to　withstand。　Your
mistress　of　ceremonies　is　a　traitress；　beware　of　her！〃

〃Then　she　has　slandered　me？〃　asked　Marianne；　with　quivering　lips。

〃No；　she　has　only　betrayed　you；〃　said　Napoleon；　smiling。　〃Even　the
diamond　ring　which　you　gave　her　as　a　souvenir　did　not　touch　her
heart。　Do　you　yet　remember　what　you　said　to　her　when　you　handed　it
to　her？〃

〃Sire；　how　should　I　remember　it？〃　asked　Marianne。

〃Well；　I　will　repeat　it　to　you；〃　exclaimed　Napoleon；　unfolding　the
papers　which　M。　de　Vincennes　had　given　to　him；　and　which　he　had　kept
all　the　time　rolled　up　in　his　hand。　〃Here　it　is。　You　said：　'I　know
you　are　a　good　and　enthusiastic　Austrian；　like　myself；　you　hate　the
tyrant　who　wants　to　subjugate　us；　and　you　will　bless　the　hand　which
will　order　him　to　stop；　and　put　an　end　to　his　victorious　career。'
Well；　was　it　not　so；　madame？〃

Marianne　made　no　reply；　her　cheeks　were　pale；　and　her　eyes　stared　at
the　emperor；　who　looked　at　her　smilingly。

〃A　moment　before　you　had　concealed　a　flashing　object　in　your　bosom；〃
continued　Napoleon。　〃That　object　which　your　mistress　of　ceremonies
did　not　see　distinctly　was　a　dagger　which　you　had　bought　this
forenoon。　Shall　I　tell　you　where？〃He　glanced　again　at　the　papers；
and　then　said：　〃You　bought　this　dagger　in　a　gun　store　on　the
Kohlmarkt；　and　paid　four　ducats　for　it。　You　have　now　got　this　dagger
with　you；　truly；　it　occupies　an　enviable　hiding…place；　and　I　might
be　jealous　of　it。　Why　do　you　not　draw　it　forth　and　carry　out　your
purpose？　Do　you　really　believe　what　so　many　fools　have　said　about
me；　viz；　that　I　was　in　the　habit　of　wearing　a　coat…of…mail？　I　pledge
you　my　imperial　word；　my　breast　is　unprotected；　and　a　dagger　will
meet　with　no　resistance　provided　it　is　able　to　reach　my　breast。　Just
try　it！〃

Marianne；　who；　while　the　emperor　was　speaking；　had　dropped　on　a
chair　as　if　stupefied；　now　rose　impetuously。　〃Sire；〃　she　said；
proudly；　〃it　is　enough。　Your　officers　doubtless　await　me　in　the
adjoining　room；　in　order　to　arrest　me　like　a　criminal。　Permit　me　to
go　thither　and　surrender　to　them。〃

She　was　about　turning　toward　the　door；　but　Napoleon　seized　her　hand
and　kept　her　back。　〃Oh；　no；〃　he　said；　〃our　interview　is　not　yet
over；　it　has　scarcely　lasted　fifteen　minutes；　and　remember　that　M。
von　Brandt　would　consequently　get　only　fifteen　gold…pieces。　Ah；　you
look　at　me　in　surprise。　You　wonder　that　I　should　be　aware　of　that；
too？　I　am　no　magician；　however；　and　have　acquired　my　knowledge　of
this　laughable　incident　in　a　very　simple　manner。　Look　here；　this　is
the　written　agreement　you　gave　to　M。　von　Brandt！〃

He　offered　the　paper　to　Marianne；　she　did　not　take　it；　however；　but
only　glanced　at　it。　〃Your　majesty　may　see　from　it　how　ardently　I
longed　for　an　interview　with　you；〃　she　said。　〃Had　M。　von　Brandt
asked　half　my　fortune　for　this　interview　with　your　majesty；　I　should
have　joyfully　given　it　to　him；　for　an　hour　in　the　presence　of　y