louisa of prussia and her times-第39节

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bedroom　and　closely　scanned　in　it　her　own　features。

〃Oh；　oh！　I　am　growing　old；〃　she　muttered　after　a　while。　〃Bonaparte
must　love　me　tenderly；　very　tenderly；　not　to　notice　it；　or　I　must
use　great　skill　not　to　let　him　see　it。　Eh　bien；　nous　verrons！〃

And　she　glanced　at　herself　with　such　a　triumphant；　charming　smile
that　her　features　at　once　seemed　to　grow　younger　by　ten　years。　〃Oh；
he　shall　find　me　beautifulhe　shall　love　me；〃　she　whispered；　〃for　I
love　him　so　tenderly。〃

Just　then　Amelia　entered　loaded　with　bandboxes　and　cartons；　and
followed　by　the　servants　carrying　the　heavy　trunks。　Josephine
personally　superintended　the　lowering　of　the　trunks　for　the　purpose
of　preventing　the　men　from　injuring　any　of　those　delicate　cartons；
and　when　every　thing　was　at　last　duly　arranged；　she　looked　around
with　the　triumphant　air　of　a　great　general　mustering　his　troops　and
conceiving　the　plans　for　his　battle。

〃Now　lock　the　door　and　admit　no　one；　Amelia；〃　she　said；　rapidly
divesting　herself　of　her　travelling…dress。　〃Within　an　hour　I　must　be
ready　to　receive　the　general。　But　stop！　We　must　first　think　of
Zephyr；　who　is　sick　and　exhausted。　The　dear　little　fellow　cannot
stand　travelling　in　a　coach。　He　frequently　looked　at　me　on　the　road
most　dolorously　and　imploringly；　as　if　he　wanted　to　beseech　me　to
discontinue　these　eternal　travels。　Come；　Zephyr；　come；　my　dear
little　fellow。〃

On　hearing　her　voice；　a　small；　fat　pug…dog；　with　a　morose　face　and　a
black　nose；　arose　from　the　trunk　on　which　he　had　been　lying；　and
waddled　slowly　and　lazily　to　his　mistress。

〃I　really　believe　Zephyr　is　angry　with　me；〃　exclaimed　Josephine；
laughing　heartily。　〃Just　look　at　him；　Ameliajust　notice　this
reserved　twinkling　of　his　eyes；　this　snuffling　pug…nose　of　his；　this
proudly…erect　head　that　seems　to　smell　roast　meat　and　at　the　same
time　to　utter　invectives！　He　exactly　resembles　my　friend　Tallien
when　the　latter　is　making　love　to　the　ladies。　Come；　my　little
Tallien；　I　will　give　you　some　sweetmeats；　but　in　return　you　must　be
kind　and　amiable　toward　Bonaparte；　you　must　not　bark　so　furiously
when　he　enters；　you　must　not　snap　at　his　legs　when　he　gives　me　a
kiss；　you　must　not　snarl　when　he　inadvertently　steps　on　your　toes。
Oh；　be　gentle；　kind；　and　amiable；　my　beautiful　Zephyr；　so　as　not　to
exasperate　Bonaparte；　for　you　know　very　well　that　he　does　not　like
dogs；　and　that　he　would　throw　you　out　of　the　window　rather　than
suffer　you　at　my　feet。〃

Patting　the　dog　tenderly；　she　lifted　him　upon　an　arm…chair；　and　then
spread　out　biscuits　and　sweetmeats　before　him；　which　Zephyr
commenced　examining　with　a　dignified　snuffling　of　the　nose。

〃Now；　Amelia；　we　will　attend　to　my　toilet；〃　said　Josephine；　when　she
saw　that　Zephyr　condescended　to　eat　some　of　the　biscuits。

Amelia　had　opened　all　the　trunks　and　placed　a　large　number　of　small
jars　and　vials　on　the　dressing…table。　Josephine's　beauty　stood
already　in　need　of　some　assistance；　and　the　amiable　lady　was　by　no
means　disinclined　to　resort　to　cosmetics　for　this　purpose。　It　is
true；　the　republican　customs　of　the　times　despised　rouge；　for　the
latter　had　been　very　fashionable　during　the　reign　of　the　〃tyrant〃
Louis　XVI。；　and　Marie　Antoinette　had　greatly　patronized　this　fashion
and　always　painted　her　cheeks。　Nevertheless　Josephine　found　rouge　to
be　an　indispensable　complement　to　beauty；　and；　as　public　opinion　was
adverse　to　it；　she　kept　her　use　of　it　profoundly　secret。　Amelia
alone　saw　and　knew　itAmelia　alone　was　a　witness　to　all　the　little
secrets　and　artifices　by　which　Josephine；　the　woman　of　thirty…three
years；　had　to　bolster　up　her　beauty。　But　only　the　head　stood　in　need
of　some　artificial　assistance。　The　body　was　as　yet　youthful；
prepossessing；　and　remarkable　for　its　attractiveness　and　luxuriant
forms；　and　when　Josephine　now　had　finished　her　task；　she　was　truly　a
woman　of　enchanting　beauty　and　loveliness。　Her　eyes　were　so　radiant
and　fiery；　her　smile　so　sweet　and　sure　of　her　impending　triumph；　and
the　heavy　white　silk　dress　closely　enveloped　her　figure；　lending　an
additional　charm　to　its　graceful　and　classical　outlines。

〃Now；　a　few　jewels；〃　said　Josephine；　〃give　me　some　diamonds；　Amelia；
Bonaparte　likes　brilliant；　sparkling　trinkets。　Come；　I　will　select
them　myself。〃

She　took　from　Amelia's　hands　the　large　case　containing　all　of　her
caskets；　and　glanced　at　them　with　a　smile　of　great　satisfaction。

〃Italy　is　very　rich　in　precious　trinkets　and　rare　gems；〃　she　said；
with　a　gentle　shake　of　her　head。　〃When；　a　few　months　ago；　I　came
thither　from　Paris；　I　had　only　three　caskets；　and　the　jewelry　they
contained　was　not　very　valuable。　Now；　I　count　here　twenty…four
etuis；　and　they　are　filled　with　the　choicest　trinkets。　Just　look　at
these　magnificent　pearls　which　the　Marquis　de　Lambertin　has　given　to
me。　He　is　an　old　man；　and　I　could　not　refuse　his　princely　gift。　This
casket　contains　a　bracelet　which　Mancini；　the　last　Doge　of　Venice；
presented　to　me；　and　which　he　assured　me　was　wrought　by　Benvenuto
Cellini　for　one　of　his　great…great…grandmothers。　This　splendid　set
of　corals　and　diamonds　was　given　to　me　by　the　city　of　Genoa　when　she
implored　my　protection　and　begged　me　to　intercede　with　Bonaparte　for
her。　And　herebut　do　you　not　hear　the　shouts？　What　does　it　mean！
Should　Bonaparte〃

She　did　not　finish　the　sentence；　but　hastened　to　the　window。　The
market…place；　which　she　was　able　to　overlook　from　there；　was　now
crowded　with　people；　but　the　dense　masses　had　not　assembled　for　the
purpose　of　seeing　Josephine。　All　eyes　were　directed　toward　yonder
street　from　which　constantly　fresh　and　jubilant　crowds　of　people
were　hurrying　toward　the　market…place；　and　where　tremendous　cheers；
approaching　closer　and　closer；　resounded　like　the　angry　roar　of　the
sea。　Now　some　white　dots　might　be　discerned　in　the　midst　of　the
surging　black　mass。　They　came　nearer　and　grew　more　distinct；　these
dots　were　the　heads　of　white　horses。　They　advanced　very　slowly；　but
the　cheers　made　the　welkin　ring　more　rapidly　and　were　reechoed　by
thousands　and　thousands　of　voices。　Amidst　these　jubilant　cheers　the
procession　drew　near；　now　it　turned　from　the　street　into　the　market…
place。　Josephine；　uttering　a　joyful　cry；　opened　the　window　and　waved
her　hand；　for　it　was　Bonaparte　whom　the　excited　masses　were
cheering。

He　sat　all　alone　in　an　open　barouche；　drawn　by　six　milk…white　horses
magnificently　caparisoned　in　a　silver　harness。　＇Footnote：　〃These　six
horses　with　their　magnificent　harness　were　a　gift　from　the　Emperor
of　Austria；　who　had　presented　them　to　Bonaparte　after　the　peace　of
Campo　Fonnio。　Bonaparte　had　rejected　all　other　offers。〃Bourrienne；
vol。　1。；　p。　389。＇

Leaning　back　into　the　cushions　in　a　careless　and　fatigued　manner；　he
scarcely　seemed　to　notice　the　tremendous　ovation　that　was　tendered
to　him。　His　face　looked　pale　and　tired；　a　cloud　had　settled　on　his
expansive　marble　forehead；　and　when　he　from　time　to　time　bowed　his
thanks；　he　did　so　with　a　weary　and　melancholy　smile。　But　it　was
exactly　this　cold；　tranquil　demeanor；　this　humble　reserve；　this　pale
and　gloomy　countenance　that　seemed　to　strike　the　spectators　and　fill
them　with　a　feeling　of　strange　delight　and　wondering　awe。　In　this
pale；　cold；　sombre；　and　imposing　face　there　was　scarcely　a　feature
that　seemed　to　belong　to　a　mortal；　earth…born　being。　It　seemed　as
though　the　spectre　of　one　of　the　old　Roman　imperators；　as　though　the
shadow　of　Julius　Caesar　had　taken　a　seat　in　that　carriage；　and
allowed　the　milk…white　horses　to　draw　him　into　the　surging　bustle
and　turmoil　of　life。　People　were　cheering　half　from　astonishment；
half　from　fear；　they　were　shouting；　〃Long　live　Bonaparte！〃　as　if
they　wanted　to　satisfy　themselves　that　he　was　really　alive；　and　not
merely　the　image　of　an　antique　imperator。

The　carriage　now　stopped　in　front　of　the　house。　Before　rising　from
his　seat；　Bonaparte　raised　his　eyes　hastily　to　the　windows。　On
seeing　Josephine；　who　stood　at　the　open　window；　his　features　became
more　animated；　and　a　long；　fiery　flash　from　his　eyes　struck　her
face。　But　he　did　not　salute　her；　and　the　cloud　on　his　brow　grew　even
gloomier　than　before。

〃He　is　in　bad　humor　and　angry；〃　whispered　Josephine；　closing　the
window；　〃and　I　am　afraid　he　is　angry　with　me。　Good　Heaven！　what　can
it　be　again？　What　may　be　the　cause　of　his　anger？　I　am　sure　I　have
committed　no　imprudence〃

Just　then　the　door　was　hastily　opened；　and　Bonaparte　entered。




CHAPTER　XIX。

BONAPARTE　AND　JOSEPHINE。


Bonaparte　had　scarcely　deigned　to　glance　at　the　French　ambassadors
and　their　ladies；　who　had　received　him　at　the　foot　of　the　staircase。
All　his　thoughts　centred　in　Josephine。　And　bowing　slightly　to　the
ladies　and　gentlemen；　he　had　impetuously　rushed　upstairs　and　opened
the　door；　satisfied　that　she　would　be　there　and　receive　him　with
open　arms。　When　he　did　not　see　her；　he　passed　on；　pale；　with　a
gloomy　face；　and　resembling　an　angry　lion。

Thus　he　now　rushed　into　the　front　room　where　he　found　Josephine。
Without　saluting　her；　and　merely　fixing　his　flashing　eyes　upon　her；
he　asked　in　a　subdued；　angry　voice：　〃Madame；　you　do　not　even　deem　it
worth　the　trouble　to　salute　me！　You　do　not　come　to　meet　me！〃

〃But；　Bonaparte；