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worth　the　trouble　to　salute　me！　You　do　not　come　to　meet　me！〃

〃But；　Bonaparte；　you　have　given　me　no　time　for　it；〃　said　Josephine；
with　a　charming　smile。　〃While　I　thought　you　were　just　about　to
alight　from　your　carriage；　you　burst　already　into　this　room　like　a
thunder…bolt　from　heaven。〃

〃Oh；　and　that　has　dazzled　your　eyes　so　much　that　you　are　even　unable
to　salute　me？〃　he　asked　angrily。

〃And　you；　Bonaparte？〃　she　asked；　tenderly。　〃You　do　not　open　your
arms　to　me！　You　do　not　welcome　me！　Instead　of　pressing　me　to　your
heart；　you　scold　me！　Oh；　come；　my　friend；　let　us　not　pass　this　first
hour　in　so　unpleasant　a　manner！　We　have　not　seen　each　other　for
almost　two　months；　and〃

〃Ah；　madame；　then　you　know　that　at　least；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；
〃then　you　have　not　entirely　forgotten　that　you　took　leave　of　me　two
months　ago；　and　that　you　swore　to　me　at　that　time　eternal　love　and
fidelity；　and　promised　most　sacredly　to　write　to　me　every　day。　You
have　not　kept　your　oaths　and　pledges；　madame！〃

〃But；　my　friend；　I　have　written　to　you　whenever　I　was　told　that　a
courier　would　set　out　for　your　headquarters。〃

〃You　ought　to　have　sent　every　day　a　courier　of　your　own　for　the
purpose　of　transmitting　your　letters　to　me；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；
wildly　stamping　his　foot；　so　that　the　jars　and　vials　on　the　table
rattled　violently；　while　Zephyr　jumped　down　from　his　arm…chair　and
commenced　snarling。　Josephine　looked　anxiously　at　him　and　tried　to
calm　him　by　her　gestures。

Bonaparte　continued：　〃Letters！　But　those　scraps　I　received　from　time
to　time　were　not　even　letters。　Official　bulletins　of　your　health
they　were；　and　as　cold　as　ice。　Madame；　how　could　you　write　such
letters　to　me；　and　moreover　only　every　fourth　day？　If　you　really
loved　me；　you　would　have　written　every　day。　But　you　do　not　love　me
any　longer；　I　know　it。　Your　love　was　but　a　passing　whim。　You　feel
now　how　ridiculous　it　would　be　for　you　to　love　a　poor　man　who　is
nothing　but　a　soldier；　and　who　has　to　offer　nothing　to　you　but　a
little　glory　and　his　love。　But　I　shall　banish　this　love　from　my
heart；　should　I　have　to　tear　my　heart　with　my　own　teeth。〃　＇Footnote：
Bonaparte's　own　words。Vide　〃Lettres　a　Josephine。　Memoires　d'une
Contemporaine；〃　vol。　i。；　p。　853。＇

〃Bonaparte；〃　exclaimed　Josephine；　half　tenderly；　half　anxiously；
〃what　have　I　done　that　you　should　be　angry　with　me？　Why　do　you
accuse　me　of　indifference；　while　you　know　very　well　that　I　love
you？〃

〃Ah；　it　is　a　very　cold　love；　at　all　events；〃　he　said；　sarcastically。
〃It　is　true；　I　am　only　your　husband；　and　it　is　not　in　accordance
with　aristocratic　manners　to　love　one's　husband；　that　is　mean；
vulgar；　republican！　But　I　am　a　republican；　and　I　do　not　want　any
wife　with　the　manners　and　habits　of　the　ANCIEN　REGIME。　I　am　your
husband；　but　woe　to　him　who　seeks　to　become　my　wife's　lover！　I　would
not　even　need　my　sword　in　order　to　kill　him。　My　eyes　alone　would
crush　him！＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's　own　words。Ibid。＇　And　I　shall　know
how　to　find　him；　and　if　he　should　escape　to　the　most　remote　regions；
my　arm　is　a　far…reaching　one；　and　I　will　extend　it　over　the　whole
world　in　order　to　grasp　him。〃

〃But　whom　do　you　allude　to？〃　asked　Josephine；　in　dismay。

〃Whom？〃　he　exclaimed　in　a　thundering　voice。　〃Ah；　madame；　you　believe
I　do　not　know　what　has　occurred？　You　believe　I　see　and　hear　nothing
when　I　am　no　longer　with　you？　Let　me　compliment　you；　madame！　The
handsome　aide…de…camp　of　Leclerc　is　a　conquest　which　the　ladies　of
Milan　must　have　been　jealous　of；　and　Botot；　the　spy；　whom　Barras
sent　after　me；　passes　even　at　Paris　for　an　Adonis。　What　do　you　mean
by　your　familiarities　with　these　two　men；　madame？　You　received
Adjutant　Charles　at　eleven　o'clock　in　the　morning；　while　you　never
leave　your　bed　before　one　o'clock。　Oh；　that　handsome　young　fellow
wanted　to　tell　you　how　he　was　yearning　for　his　home　in　Paris；　and
what　his　mother　and　sister　had　written　to　him；　I　suppose？　For　that
reason　so　convenient　an　hour　had　to　be　chosen？　For　that　reason　he
came　at　eleven　o'clock　while　you　were　in　bed　yet。　His　ardor　was　so
intense；　and　if　he　had　been　compelled　to　wait　until　one　o'clock；
impatience　would　have　burned　his　soul　to　ashes！〃　＇Footnote：
Bonaparte's　own　words。Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Contemporaine；〃　vol。
ii。；　p。　80。＇

〃He　wanted　to　set　out　for　Paris　precisely　at　twelve　o'clock。　That
was　the　only　reason　why　I　received　him　so　early；　my　friend；〃　said
Josephine；　gently。

〃Oh；　then；　you　do　not　deny　that　you　have　actually　received　him？〃
shouted　Bonaparte；　and　his　face　turned　livid。　With　flaming　eyes　and
uplifted　hand；　he　stepped　up　close　to　Josephine。　〃Madame；〃　he
exclaimed；　in　a　thundering　voice；　〃then　you　dare　to　acknowledge　that
Charles　is　your　lover？〃

Before　Josephine　had　time　to　reply　to　him　Zephyr；　who　saw　him
threaten　his　mistress；　furiously　pounced　upon　Bonaparte；　barking　and
howling；　showing　his　teeth；　and　quite　ready　to　lacerate　whom　he
supposed　to　be　Josephine's　enemy。

〃Ah；　this　accursed　dog　is　here；　too；　to　torment　me！〃　exclaimed
Bonaparte；　and　raising　his　foot；　he　stamped　with　crushing　force　on
the　body　of　the　little　dog。　A　single　piercing　yell　was　heard；　then
the　blood　gushed　from　Zephyr's　mouth；　and　the　poor　beast　lay
writhing　convulsively　on　the　floor。　＇Footnote：　Vide　〃Rheinischer…
Antiquar。；〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　574。＇

〃Bonaparte；　you　have　killed　my　dog；〃　exclaimed　Josephine；
reproachfully；　and　bent　over　the　dying　animal。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　with　an　air　of　savage　joy；　〃I　have　killed　your　dog；
and　in　the　same　manner　I　shall　crush　every　living　being　that　dares
to　step　between　you　and　myself！〃

Josephine　had　taken　no　notice　of　his　words。　She　had　knelt　down　by
the　side　of　the　dog；　and　tenderly　patted　his　head　and　writhing　limbs
till　they　ceased　moving。

〃Zephyr　is　dead；〃　she　said　rising。　〃Poor　little　fellow；　he　died
because　he　loved　me。　Pardon　me；　general；　if　I　weep　for　him。　But
Zephyr　was　a　cherished　souvenir　from　a　friend　who　died　only　a　short
while　ago。　General　Hoche　had　given　the　dog　to　me。〃

〃Hoche？〃　asked　Bonaparte；　in　some　confusion。

〃Yes；　Lazarus　Hoche；　who　died　a　few　weeks　ago。　A　few　days　before　his
death　he　sent　the　dog　to　me　while　at　MilanLazarus　Hoche　who；　you
know　it　very　well；　loved　me；　and　whose　hand　I　rejected　because　I
loved　you；〃　said　Josephine；　with　a　noble　dignity　and　calmness；　which
made　a　deeper　impression　upon　Bonaparte　than　the　most　poignant
rebuke　would　have　done。

〃And　now；　general；〃　she　proceeded；　〃I　will　reply　to　your　reproaches。
I　do　not　say　that　I　shall　JUSTIFY　myself；　because　I　thereby　would
acknowledge　the　justice　of　your　charges；　but　I　will　merely　answer
them。　I　told　you　already　why　I　admitted　Charles　at　so　early　an　hour。
He　was　about　to　set　out　for　Paris；　and　I　wished　to　intrust　to　him
important　and　secret　letters　and　other　commissions。〃

〃Why　did　not　you　send　them　by　a　special　courier？〃　asked　Bonaparte；
but　in　a　much　gentler　voice　than　before。

〃Because　it　would　have　been　dangerous　to　send　my　letters　to　Botot　by
a　courier；〃　said　Josephine；　calmly。

〃To　Botot？　Then　you　admit　your　familiarities　with　Botot；　too？　People
did　not　deceive　me；　then；　when　they　told　me　that　you　received　this
spy　Botot；　whom　Barras　had　sent　after　me；　in　order　to　watch　me；
every　morning　in　your　boudoirthat　you　always　sent　your　maid　away
as　soon　as　he　came；　and　that　your　interviews　with　him　frequently
lasted　for　hours？〃

〃That　is　quite　true；　I　do　not　deny　it；〃　said　Josephine；　proudly。

Bonaparte　uttered　an　oath；　and　was　about　to　rush　at　her。　But　she
receded　a　step；　and　pointing　at　the　dead　dog　with　a　rapid　gesture；
she　said：　〃General；　take　care！　There　is　no　other　dog　here　for　you　to
kill；　and　I　am　only　a　weak；　defenceless　woman；　it　would　assuredly
not　behoove　the　victor　of　Arcole　to　attack　me！〃

Bonaparte　dropped　his　arm；　and；　evidently　ashamed　of　himself；
stepped　back　several　paces。

〃Then　you　do　not　deny　your　intimate　intercourse　with　Botot　and
Charles？〃

〃I　do　not　deny　that　both　of　them　love　me；　that　I　know　it；　and　that　I
have　taken　advantage　of　their　love。　Listen　to　me；　general：　I　have
taken　advantage　of　their　love。　That　is　mean　and　abominable；　it　is
playing　in　an　execrable　manner　with　the　most　exalted　feelings　of
others；　I　know　it　very　well；　but　I　did　so　for　your　sake；　generalI
did　so　in　your　interest。〃

〃In　my　interest？〃　asked　Bonaparte；　in　surprise。

〃Yes；　in　your　interest；〃　she　said。　〃Now　I　can　tell　and　confess　every
thing　to　you。　But　as　long　as　Charles　and　Botot　were　present；　I　could
not　do　so；　for　if　you　had　ceased　being　jealousif；　warned　by
myself；　you　had　treated　these　two　men　kindly　instead　of　showing　your
jealous　distrust　of　them　by　a　hostile　and　surly　demeanor；　they　might
have　suspected　my　game　and　divined　my　intrigue；　and　I　would　have
been　unable　to　avail　myself　any　longer　of　their　services。〃

〃But；　for　God's　sake；　tell　me　what　did　you　need　their　services　for？〃

〃Ah；　sir；　I　perceive　that　you　know　better　how　to　wield　the　sword
than　unravel　intrigues；〃　said　Josephine；　with　a　charming　smile。
〃Well；　I　made　use　of　my　two　lovers　in　order　to　draw　their　secrets
from　them。　And　secrets　they　had；　general；　for　you　know　Botot　is　the
most　intimate　and　influential　friend　of　Barras；　and　Madame　Tallien
adores