louisa of prussia and her times-第47节

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let　me　do　so？〃

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　said　Bonaparte；　hastily。　〃Read；　I　implore　you；　read！〃

Josephine　made　a　profound；　ceremonious　obeisance；　and　withdrawing
her　hand　with　the　letter　from　her　back；　she　unfolded　several　sheets
of　paper。

〃Here　is　first　a　letter　from　my　friend　Botot；〃　she　said；　〃just
listen：'Citoyenne　Generale：　The　Directory　wished　to　send　off　to…
day　a　courier　with　the　enclosed　dispatches　to　General　Bonaparte。　I
induced　the　gentlemen；　however；　to　intrust　that　dispatch　to　myself；
and　to　permit　me　to　send　it　to　you　instead　of　the　general。　It　is　to
yourself　chiefly　that　the　general　is　indebted　for　the　contents　of
this　dispatch　from　the　Directory。　It　is　but　just；　therefore；
Citoyenne；　that　you　should　have　the　pleasure　of　handing　it　to　him。
Do　so；　Citoyenne；　and　at　the　same　time　beg　your　husband　not　to
forget　your　and　his　friend。Botot。'　That　is　my　letter　Bonaparte；
and　here；　my　friend；　is　the　enclosure　for　yourself。　You　see；　I　am
devoid　of　the　common　weakness　of　woman；　I　am　not　inquisitive；　for
the　seal　is　not　violated；　as　you　may　see　yourself。〃

And　with　a　charming　smile　she　handed　the　letter　to　Bonaparte。　But　he
did　not　take　it。

〃Break　the　seal；　my　Josephine；〃　he　said；　profoundly　moved。　〃I　want
to　learn　the　contents　of　the　letter　from　your　lips。　If　it　should
bring　me　evil　tidings；　they　will　sound　less　harshly　when　announced
by　you；　is　it　joyful　news；　however；　your　voice　will　accompany　it
with　the　most　beautiful　music。〃

Josephine　nodded　to　him　with　a　tender　and　grateful　glance；　and
hastily　broke　the　seal。

〃Now　pray；　quick！　quick！〃　said　Bonaparte；　trembling　with　impatience。

Josephine　read：

〃The　executive　Directory　presumes；　citizen　general；　that　you　have
arrived　at　Rastadt。　It　is　impatient　to　see　and　to　weigh　with　you　the
most　important　interests　of　the　country。　Hence　it　desires　you　to
bring　the　exchanged　ratifications　personally　to　Paris；　and　to　inform
us　what　dispositions　you　have　taken　in　regard　to　the　occupation　of
Mentz　by　our　troops；　in　order　that　this　event　may　take　place　without
further　delay。　It　may　be；　however；　that　you　have　forwarded　this
intelligence　to　us　already　by　means　of　a　courier　or　an　aide…de…camp；
in　that　case　it　will　be　kept　secret　until　your　arrival。　The　journey
you　are　now　going　to　make　to　Paris　will　first　fulfil　the　sincere
desire　of　the　Directory　to　manifest　to　you　publicly　its　most
unbounded　satisfaction　with　your　conduct　and　to　be　the　first
interpreter　of　the　nation's　gratitude　toward　you。　Besides；　it　is
necessary　for　you　to　be　fully　informed　of　the　government's　views　and
intentions；　and　to　consider　in　connection　with　it　the　ultimate
consequences　of　the　great　operations　which　you　will　be　invited　to
undertake；　so　we　expect　you　immediately；　citizen　general。　The
executive　Directory　also　desires　you　to　indicate　to　the　returning
courier；　who　is　to　deliver　this　dispatch　to　you；　the　precise　day　of
your　arrival　at　Paris。〃

〃In　the　name　of　the　Directory：〃

〃Barkas。〃

〃We　shall　set　out　at　once！〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　radiant　with　joy。

〃In　order　to　arrive　together　with　the　courier？〃　asked　Josephine；
laughing；　〃and　to　lose　all　the　triumphs　which　the　grateful　country
is　preparing　for　you？　No；　my　impatient　friend；　you　will　patiently
remain　to…day　by　the　side　of　your　Josephine　and　we　shall　start　only
to…morrow。　Do　you　promise　it？〃

〃Well；　be　it　so！〃　he　exclaimed；　glowing　with　excitement；　〃we　will
set　out　to…morrow　for　Paris。　My　task　in　Italy　is　accomplished；　if　it
please　God；　there　will　be　new　work　for　me　at　Paris。〃

〃Your　enemies　will　soon　find　means　to　drive　you　away　from　the
capital；　if　you　should　be　incautious；　and　if　they　should　fear　lest
your　presence　might　become　dangerous　to　themselves。　Nothing　is　more
dangerous　to　small；　insignificant　souls　than　a　great　man。　Remember
that；　my　friend；　and　do　not　irritate　them。〃

Bonaparte　eagerly　grasped　her　hand。　〃Believe　me；〃　he　said；　in　a　low
voice；　〃as　soon　as　I　have　reached　Paris；　I　shall　know　what　line　of
policy　I　must　pursue　hereafter。　Two　years　shall　not　elapse　ere　the
whole　ridiculous　republican　edifice　will　be　overthrown。〃　＇Footnote：
〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；　p。　60。＇　〃And　then；〃　exclaimed
Josephine；　joyfully；　〃when　you　have　accomplished　thatwhen　you
stand　as　a　victorious　general　on　the　ruins　of　the　republicyou　will
reestablish　the　throne　over　them；　I　hope？〃

〃Yes；　I　will　reestablish　the　throne；〃　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's　own
words。〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；　p。　70。＇　said
Bonaparte；　enthusiastically。

〃And　your　arm　will　place　upon　this　throne　him　to　whom　this　throne　is
due。　Oh；　my　generous　and　noble　friend；　what　a　heavenly　day　it　will
be　when　the　King　of　France　by　your　side　makes　his　solemn　entry　into
Paris；　for　you　will　recall　the　legitimate　king；　Louis　XVIII。；　from
his　exile。〃

Bonaparte　stared　at　her　in　amazement。　〃Do　you　really　believe　that？〃
he　asked；　with　a　peculiar　smile。

〃I　have　no　doubt　of　it；〃　she　said；　innocently。　〃Bonaparte　can　do
whatever　he　wishes　to　do。　He　has　overthrown　thrones　in　Italy；　he　can
reestablish　the　throne　in　France。　I　repeat；　Bonaparte　can　do
whatever　he　wishes　to　do。〃

〃And　do　you　know；　then；　you　little　fool；　do　you　know　what　I　really
wish　to　do？〃　he　asked。　〃I　wish　to　be　the　great　regulator　of　the
destinies　of　Europe；　or　the　first　citizen　of　the　globe。　I　feel　that
I　have　the　strength　to　overthrow　every　thing　and　to　found　a　new
world。　The　astonished　universe　shall　bow　to　me　and　be　compelled　to
submit　to　my　laws。　Then　I　shall　make　the　villains　tremble；　who
wished　to　keep　me　away　from　my　country。　＇Footnote：　Le　Normand；　vol。
1。；　p。　347。＇　I　have　made　the　beginning　already；　and　this　miserable
government　has　to　call　me　back　to　Paris　notwithstanding　its　own
secret　hostility。　Soon　it　shall　be　nothing　but　a　tool　in　my　hands；
and　when　I　do　not　need　this　tool　any　longer；　I　shall　destroy　it。
This　government　of　lawyers　has　oppressed　France　long　enough。　It　is
high　time　for　us　to　drive　it　away。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme
d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；　p。　70。＇

〃Hush；　Bonaparte；　for　God's　sake；　hush！〃　said　Josephine；　anxiously。
〃Let　no　one　here　suspect　your　plans；　for　we　are　surrounded　in　this
house　by　austere　and　rabid　republicans；　who；　if　they　had　heard　your
words；　would　arraign　you　as　a　criminal　before　the　Directory。　Intrust
your　plans　to　no　one　except　myself；　Bonaparte。　Before　the　world
remain　as　yet　a　most　enthusiastic　republican；　and　only　when　the
decisive　hour　has　come；　throw　off　your　tunic　and　exhibit　your　royal
uniform！〃

Bonaparte　smiled；　and　encircled　her　neck　with　his　arms。

〃Yes；　you　are　right；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　be　taciturn。　We　must　bury
our　most　secret　thoughts　in　the　deepest　recesses　of　our　souls；　and
intrust　them　to　no　one；　not　even　to　the　beloved。　But　come；
Josephine；　I　owe　you　my　thanks　yet　for　the　joyful　tidings　you　have
brought　me。　You　must　permit　me　to　make　you　a　few　little　presents　in
return。〃

〃Give　me　your　confidence；　and　I　am　abundantly　rewarded；〃　said
Josephine；　tenderly。

〃Henceforth　I　shall　never；　never　distrust　you；〃　he　replied；
affectionately。　〃We　belong　to　each　other；　and　no　power　of　earth　or
heaven　is　able　to　separate　us。　You　are　mine　and　I　am　thine；　and　what
is　mine　being　thine；　you　must　permit　me　to　give　you　a　trinket　sent
to　me　to…day　by　the　city　of　Milan。〃

〃A　trinket？〃　exclaimed　Josephine；　with　radiant　eyes；　〃let　me　see　it。
Is　it　a　beautiful　one？〃

Bonaparte　smiled。　〃Yes；　beautiful　in　the　eyes　of　those　to　whom　glory
seems　more　precious　than　diamonds　and　pearls；〃　he　said；　stepping　to
the　table　from　which　he　took　a　small　morocco　casket。　〃See；〃　he　said；
opening　it；　〃it　is　a　gold　medal　which　the　city　of　Milan　has　caused
to　be　struck　in　my　honor；　and　on　which　it　confers　upon　me　the　title
of　'The　Italian。'〃

〃Give　it　to　me；〃　exclaimed　Josephine；　joyfully〃give　it　to　me；　my
'Italian！'　Let　me　wear　this　precious　trinket　which　public　favor　has
bestowed　upon　you。〃

〃Public　favor；〃　he　said；　musingly〃public　favor；　it　is　light　as
zephyr；　as　fickle　as　the　seasons；　it　passes　away　like　the　latter；
and　when　the　north　wind　moves　it；　it　will　disappear。〃　＇Footnote：　Le
Normand；　vol。　i。；　p。　261。＇

He　was　silent；　but　proceeded　after　a　short　pause　in　a　less　excited
manner。

〃As　to　my　deeds；〃　he　said；　〃the　pen　of　history　will　trace　them　for
our　grandchildren。　Either　I　shall　have　lived　for　a　century；　or　I
shall　earn　for　all　my　great　exploits　nothing　but　silence　and
oblivion。　Who　is　able　to　calculate　the　whims　and　predilections　of
history？〃　＇Footnote：　Ibid。；　vol。　i；　p。　262。＇

He　paused　again；　and　became　absorbed　in　his　reflections。

Josephine　did　not　venture　to　arouse　him　from　his　musing。　She　fixed
her　eyes　upon　the　large　gold　medal；　and　tried　to　decipher　the
inscription。

Bonaparte　suddenly　raised　his　head　again；　and　turned　his　gloomy　eyes
toward　Josephine。　〃I　suppose　you　know；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　have　always
greatly　distinguished　the　Duke　of　Litalba　among　all　Milanese；　and
that　I　have　openly　courted　his　friendship？〃

〃You　have　always　manifested　the　greatest　kindness　for　him；〃　said
Josephine；　〃and　he　is　gratefully　devoted　to　you　for　what　you　have
done　for　him。〃

〃Gratefully！〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　sarcastically。　〃There　is　no
gratitude　on　earth