第22章

AfterasleepofafewhourstheEmperorawoke，seemingalmostasusual，althoughhisfacestillboretracesofwhathehadsuffered，andwhileI

assistedhiminhismorningtoiletdidnotutterawordrelatinginthemostindirectmannertothefrightfulnighthehadjustpassed。Hebreakfastedasusual，onlyalittlelaterthanordinary。Hisappearancehadresumeditsusualcalm，andheseemedmorecheerfulthanforalongtimepast。Wasittheresultofhissatisfactionathavingescapeddeath，whichamomentarydespairhadmadehimdesire？Ordiditnotratherarisefromthecertaintyofnolongerfearingitinhisbedmorethanonthebattlefield？Howeverthatmaybe，IattributetheremarkablepreservationoftheEmperor\'slifetothefactthatthepoisoncontainedinthebaghadlostitsefficacy。

Wheneverythinghadreturnedtoitsusualorder，withoutanyoneinthepalaceexceptthoseIhavenamedsuspectingwhathadoccurred，IlearnedthatM。YvanhadleftFontainebleau。OverwhelmedbythequestiontheEmperorhadaddressedtohiminthepresenceoftheDukeofVicenza，andfearingthathemightsuspectthathehadgivenhisMajestythemeansofattemptinghislife，thisskillfulphysician，solongandsofaithfullyattachedtotheEmperor\'sperson，had，sotospeak，losthisheadinthinkingoftheresponsibilityrestingonhim。HastilydescendingthestairsfromtheEmperor\'sapartments，andfindingahorsereadysaddledandbridledinoneofthecourtsofthepalace，hethrewhimselfuponit，andhastilytooktheroadtoParis。ThiswasthemorningofthesamedaythatRoustanleftFontainebleau。

Onthe12thofApril，theEmperoralsoreceivedthelastadieuxofMarshalMacdonald。Whenhewasintroduced，theEmperorwasstillfeelingtheeffectsoftheeventsoftheprecedingnight；andIamsuretheDukeofTarentumperceived，withoutdiviningthecause，thathisMajestywasnotinhisusualcondition。HewasaccompaniedbytheDukeofVicenza；

andatthismomenttheEmperorwasstillsomuchdepressed，andseemedsoentirelyabsorbedinthought，thathedidnotatfirstperceivethesegentlemen，althoughhewasperfectlywideawake。TheDukeofTarentumbroughttotheEmperorthetreatywiththeallies，andIlefttheroomashewaspreparingtosignit。AfewmomentsaftertheDukeofVicenzasummonedme；andhisMajestysaid，“Constant，bringmethesaberwhichMourad-BeypresentedtomeinEgypt。Youknowwhichitis？“——“Yes，Sire。“Iwentout，andimmediatelyreturnedwiththismagnificentsword，whichtheEmperorhadwornatthebattleofMountTabor，asIhaveheardmanytimes。IhandedittotheDukeofVicenza，fromwhosehandstheEmperortookit，andpresentedittoMarshalMacdonald；andasIretiredheardtheEmperorspeakingtohimmostaffectionately，andcallinghimhisworthyfriend。

Thesegentlemen，accordingtomyrecollection，werepresentattheEmperor\'sbreakfast，whereheappearedcalmerandmorecheerfulthanforalongtimepast；andwewereallsurprisedtoseehimconversefamiliarlyandinthemostamiablemannerwithpersonstowhomforsometimepasthehadusuallyaddressedverybriefanddistantremarks。

However，thisgayetywasonlymomentary；and，indeed，themannerinwhichtheEmperor\'smoodvariedfromonemomenttoanotherduringthewholetimeofourstayatFontainebleauwasperfectlyindescribable。Ihaveseenhimonthesamedayplungedforseveralhoursintothemostterribledepression；then，amomentafter，walkingwithgreatstridesupanddownhisroom，whistlingorhummingLaMonaco；afterwhichhesuddenlyfellintoakindofstupor，seeingnothingaroundhim，andforgettingeventheordershehadgiven。AfactwhichimpressedmeforciblywastheremarkableeffectproducedonhimbylettersaddressedtohimfromParis。

Assoonasheperceivedthemhisagitationbecameextreme，——Imightsayconvulsive，withoutfearofbeingtaxedwithexaggeration。

InsupportofwhatIhavesaidoftheincrediblepreoccupationoftheEmperor，Iwillmentionanoccurrencewhichcomestomymemory。DuringoursojournatFontainebleautheCountessWalewska，ofwhomIhaveheretoforespoken，came，andhavingsummonedme，toldmehowanxiousshewastoseetheEmperor。ThinkingthatthiswouldbesuretodistracthisMajesty，Imentionedittohimthatveryevening，andreceivedorderstohavehercomeatteno\'clock。MadameWalewskawas，asmaywellbebelieved，promptlyonhandattheappointedhour，andIenteredtheEmperor\'sroomtoannounceherarrival。Hewaslyingonhisbed，andplungedsodeeplyinmeditationthatitwasonlyonasecondreminderfrommehereplied，“Askhertowait。“ShethenwaitedintheapartmentinfrontofhisMajesty\'s，andIremainedtokeephercompany。Meanwhilethenightpassedon，andthehoursseemedlongtothebeautifulvisitor；

andherdistressthattheEmperordidnotsummonherbecamesoevidentthatItookpityonher，andreenteredtheEmperor\'sroomtoremindhimagain。Hewasnotasleep，butwassodeeplyabsorbedinthoughtthathemadenoreply。Atlastdaybegantobreak；andthecountess，fearingtobeseenbythepeopleofthehousehold，withdrewindespairatnothavingbiddenadieutotheobjectofheraffections；andshehadbeengonemorethananhourwhentheEmperorrememberedthatshewaswaiting，andaskedforher。ItoldhisMajestyhowitwas，anddidnotconcealthestateofdespairinwhichthecountesstookherdeparture。TheEmperorwasmuchaffected。“Poorwoman，shethinksherselfhumiliated！Constant，Iamreallygrieved。Ifyouseeheragain，tellherso。ButIhavesomanythingsthere！“addedheina，veryenergetictone，strikinghisbrowwithhishand。

ThevisitofthisladytoFontainebleaurecallsanotherofalmostthesamekind，buttodescribewhichitisnecessarythatItakeupthethreadofeventsalittlefurtherback——

[IhavelearnedsincethattheCountessdeWalewskawentwithhersontovisittheEmperorontheIslandofElba。ThischildresembledhisMajestysogreatlythatthereportwasstartedthattheKingofRomehadvisitedhisfather。MadamedeWalewskaremainedonlyashorttimeattheIslandofElba——CONSTANT。]——

AshorttimeafterhismarriagewiththeArchduchessMarieLouise，althoughshewasayoungandbeautifulwoman，andalthoughhereallylovedherdevotedly，theEmperorwasnomorecarefulthaninthetimeoftheEmpressJosephinetoscrupulouslyobserveconjugalfidelity。DuringoneofourstaysatSaint-CloudhetookafancytoMadamoiselleL——，whosemother\'ssecondhusbandwasachiefofsquadron。TheseladiesthenstayedatBourg-la-Reine，wheretheywerediscoveredbyM。de——，oneofthemostzealousprotectorsoftheprettywomenwhowerepresentedtohisMajesty，andwhospoketohimofthisyoungperson，thenseventeenyearsold。Shewasabrunetteofordinaryheight，butwithabeautifulfigure，andprettyfeetandhands，herwholepersonfullofgrace，andwasindeedperfectlycharminginallrespects，and，besides，unitedwithmostenticingcoquetryeveryaccomplishment，dancedwithmuchgrace，playedonseveralinstruments，andwasfullofintelligence；infact，shehadreceivedthatkindofshowyeducationwhichformsthemostcharmingmistressesandtheworstwives。TheEmperortoldmeoneday，ateighto\'clockintheevening，toseekherathermother\'s，tobringherandreturnateleveno\'clockatlatest。Myvisitcausednosurprise；andI

sawthattheseladieshadbeenforewarned，nodoubtbytheirobligingpatron，fortheyawaitedmewithanimpatiencetheydidnotseektoconceal。Theyoungpersonwasdazzlingwithornamentsandbeauty，andthemotherradiantwithjoyattheideaofthehonordestinedforherdaughter。IsawwellthatsheimaginedtheEmperorcouldnotfailtobecaptivatedbysomanycharms，andthathewouldbeseizedwithagreatpassion；butallthiswasonlyadream，fortheEmperorwasamorousonlywhenallthingssuited。However，wearrivedatSaint-Cloudateleveno\'clock，andenteredthechateaubytheorangery，forfearofindiscreeteyes。AsIhadapass-keytoallthegatesofthechateau，IconductedherintotheEmperor\'sapartmentswithoutbeingseenbyanyone，wheresheremainedaboutthreehours。AttheendofthistimeIescortedhertoherhome，takingthesameprecautionsonleavingthechateau。

Thisyoungperson，whomtheEmperorhadsinceseenthreeorfourtimesatmost，alsocametoFontainebleau，accompaniedbyhermother；but，beingunabletoseehisMajesty，thislady，liketheCountessWalewska，determinedtomakethevoyagetotheIslandofElba，whereitissaidtheEmperormarriedMademoiselleL——toacolonelofartillery。

WhatIhavejustwrittenhascarriedmebackalmostunconsciouslytohappiertimes。Itisnecessary，however，toreturntothesadstayatFontainebleau；and，afterwhatIhavesaidofthedejectioninwhichtheEmperorlived，itisnotsurprisingthat，overwhelmedbysuchcrushingblows，hismindwasnotdisposedtogallantry。ItseemstomeIcanstillseetheevidencesofthegloomymelancholywhichdevouredhim；andinthemidstofsomanysorrowsthekindnessofheartofthemanseemedtoincreaseinproportiontothesufferingsofthedethronedsovereign。

Withwhatamenityhespoketousintheselastdays！Hethenfrequentlydeignedtoquestionmeastowhatwassaidofrecentevents。WithmyusualartlesscandorIrelatedtohimexactlywhatIhadheard；andI

rememberthatoneday，havingtoldhimIhadheardmanypersonsremarkthatthecontinuationofthelastwarswhichhadbeensofataltouswasgenerallyattributedtotheDukeofBassano，“TheydopoorMaretgrossinjustice，“saidhe。“Theyaccusehimwrongfully。HehasneverdoneanythingbutexecuteorderswhichIgave。“Then，accordingtohisusualhabit，whenhehadspokentomeamomentoftheseseriousaffairs，headded，“Whatashame！whathumiliation！TothinkthatIshouldhaveinmyverypalaceitselfalotofforeignemissaries！“

CHAPTERXXVIII。

Afterthe12thofAprilthereremainedwiththeEmperor，ofallthegreatpersonageswhousuallysurroundedhim，onlythegrandmarshalofthepalaceandCountDrouot。ThedestinationreservedfortheEmperor，andthefactthathehadacceptedit，wasnotlongasecretinthepalace。

Onthe16thwewitnessedthearrivalofthecommissionersofthealliesdeputedtoaccompanyhisMajestytotheplaceofhisembarkmentfortheIslandofElba。ThesewereCountSchuwaloff，aide-de-campoftheEmperorAlexanderfromRussia；ColonelNeilCampbellfromEngland；GeneralKohlerfromAustria；andfinallyCountofWaldburg-TruchsessforPrussia。

AlthoughhisMajestyhadhimselfdemandedthatheshouldbeaccompaniedbythesefourcommissioners，theirpresenceatFontainebleauseemedtomakeamostdisagreeableimpressiononhim。However，eachofthesegentlemenreceivedfromtheEmperoradifferentwelcome；andafterafewwordsthatIheardhisMajestysay，Iwasconvincedonthis，asonmanypreviousoccasions，thatheesteemedtheEnglishfarmorethanallhisotherenemies，andColonelCampbellwas，therefore，welcomedwithmoredistinctionthantheotherministers；whiletheill-humoroftheEmperorventeditselfespeciallyonthecommissioneroftheKingofPrussia，whotooknonoticeofit，andputonthebestpossiblecountenance。

WiththeexceptionoftheveryslightapparentchangemadeatFontainebleaubythepresenceofthesegentlemen，noremarkableincident，noneatleastinmyknowledge，cametodisturbthesadandmonotonouslifeoftheEmperorinthepalace。Everythingremainedgloomyandsilentamongtheinhabitantsofthislastimperialresidence；but，nevertheless，theEmperorpersonallyseemedtomemorecalmsincehehadcometoadefiniteconclusionthanatthetimehewaswaveringinpainfulindecision。HespokesometimesinmypresenceoftheEmpressandhisson，butnotasoftenasmighthavebeenexpected。Butonethingwhichstruckmedeeplywas，thatneverasingletimedidaawordescapehislipswhichcouldrecalltheactofdesperationofthenightofthe11th，whichfortunately，aswehaveseen，hadnotthefatalresultswefeared。

Whatanight！Whatanight！InmywholelifesinceIhaveneverbeenabletothinkofitwithoutshuddering。

Afterthearrivalofthecommissionersofthealliedpowers，theEmperorseemedbydegreestoacclimatehimself，sotospeak，totheirpresence；

andthechiefoccupationofthewholehouseholdconsistedofdutiesrelatingtoourpreparationsfordeparture。Oneday，asIwasdressinghisMajesty，hesaidtomesmiling，“Ah，well，myson，prepareyourcart；

wewillgoandplantourcabbages。“Alas！Iwasveryfarfromthinking，asIheardthesefamiliarwordsofhisMajesty，thatbyaninconceivableconcurrenceofevents，Ishouldbeforcedtoyieldtoaninexplicablefatality，whichdidnotwillthatinspiteofmyardentdesireIshouldaccompanytheEmperortohisplaceofexile。

Theeveningbeforethedayfixedforourdeparturethegrandmarshalofthepalacehadmecalled。Aftergivingmesomeordersrelativetothevoyage，hesaidtomethattheEmperorwishedtoknowwhatwasthesumofmoneyIhadinchargeforhim。Iimmediatelygaveanaccounttothegrandmarshal；andhesawthatthesumtotalwasaboutthreehundredthousandfrancs，includingthegoldinabogwhichBaronFainhadsentme，sincehewouldnotbeonthejourney。ThegrandmarshalsaidhewouldpresenttheaccounttotheEmperor。Anhourafterheagainsummonedme，andsaidthathisMajestythoughthehadonehundredthousandfrancsmore。IrepliedthatIhadinmypossessiononehundredthousandfrancs，whichtheEmperorhadpresentedtome，tellingmetoburyitinmygarden；infact，IrelatedtohimalltheparticularsI

havedescribedabove，andbeggedhimtoinquireoftheEmperorifitwastheseonehundredthousandfrancstowhichhisMajestyreferred。CountBertrandpromisedtodothis，andIthenmadethegreatmistakeofnotaddressingmyselfdirectlytotheEmperor。Nothingwouldhavebeeneasierinmyposition；andIhadoftenfoundthatitwasalwaysbetter，whenpossible，togodirectlytohimthantohaverecoursetoanyintermediatepersonwhatever。Itwouldhavebeenmuchbetterformetoactthus，since，iftheEmperorhaddemandedtheonehundredthousandfrancswhichhehadgivenme，which，afterall，washardlypossible，I

wasmorethandisposedtorestorethemtohimwithoutamoment\'shesitation。MyastonishmentmaybeimaginedwhenthegrandmarshalreportedtomethattheEmperordidnotrememberhavinggivenmethesuminquestion。Iinstantlybecamecrimsonwithanger。What！theEmperorhadallowedittobebelievedbyCountBertrandthatIhadattempted——

I，hisfaithfulservant——toappropriateasumwhichhehadgivenmeunderallthecircumstancesIhaverelated！Iwasbesidemyselfatthisthought。Ileftinastateimpossibletobedescribed，assuringthegrandmarshalthatinanhouratmostIwouldrestoretohimthefatalpresentofhisMajesty。

WhilerapidlycrossingthecourtofthepalaceImetM。deTurenne，towhomIrelatedallthathadoccurred。“Thatdoesnotastonishme，“hereplied，“andwewillseemanyothersimilarcases。“Apreytoasortofmoralfever，myheaddistracted，myheartoppressed，IsoughtDenis，thewardrobeboy，ofwhomIhavespokenpreviously；Ifoundhimmostfortunately，andhastenedwithhimtomycountryplace；andGodismywitnessthatthelossofthehundredthousandfrancswasnotthecauseofmydistress，andIhardlythoughtofit。Asonthefirstoccasion，wepassedalongthesideofthewoodsinordernottobeseen；andbegantodiguptheearthtofindthemoneywehadplacedthere；andintheeagernesswithwhichIhuntedforthismiserablegold，inordertorestoreittothegrandmarshal，Idugupmorethanwasnecessary。I

cannotdescribemydespairwhenIsawthatwehadfoundnothing；I

thoughtthatsomeonehadseenandfollowedus，infact，thatIhadbeenrobbed。Thiswasamorecrushingblowtomethanthefirst，andI

foresawtheconsequenceswithhorror；whatwouldbesaid，whatwouldbethought，ofme？Wouldmywordbetaken？Thegrandmarshal，alreadyprejudicedbytheinexplicablereplyoftheEmperor，wouldconsidermeapersontotallydevoidofhonor。IwasoverwhelmedbythesefatalthoughtswhenDenissuggestedtomethatwehadnotdugintherightspot，andhadmadeamistakeofsomefeet。Ieagerlyembracedthisrayofhope；webeganagaintodiguptheearthwithmoreeagernessthanever，andIcansaywithoutexaggerationthatmyjoyborderedalmostondeliriumwhenIsawthefirstofthebags。Wedrewoutinsuccessionallthefive；andwiththeassistanceofDenisIcarriedthemtothepalace，andplacedthemwithoutdelayinthehandsofthegrandmarshal，withthekeysoftheEmperor\'strunk，andthecasketwhichM。Fainhadcommittedtome。IsaidtohimasIleft，“Monseigneur，begoodenoughtosaytohisMajestythatIwillnotaccompanyhim。“——“Iwilltellhim。“

AfterthiscoldandlaconicreplyIimmediatelyleftthepalace，andwassoonafterinRueduCoq-Gris，withM。Clement，abailiff，whoforalongtimehadbeenchargedwithmysmallaffairs，andhadgiventhenecessaryattentiontomyfarmduringthelongabsenceswhichthejourneysandcampaignsoftheEmperornecessitated。ThenIgavefullventtomydespair。IwaschokingwithrageasIrememberedthatmyhonestyhadbeensuspected，——I，whoforfourteenyearshadservedtheEmperorwithadisinterestednesswhichwassoscrupulous，andevencarriedtosuchapointthatmanypersonscalleditsilliness；I，whohadneverdemandedanythingoftheEmperor，eitherformyselformypeople！MybrainreeledasItriedtoexplaintomyselfhowtheEmperor，whoknewallthissowell，couldhaveallowedmetoappeartoathirdpersonasadishonorableman；themoreIthoughtofitthemoreextremebecamemyirritation，andyetitwasnotpossibletofindtheshadowofamotivefortheblowaimedatme。Mydespairwasatitsheight，whenM。Hubert，ordinaryvaletdechambreoftheEmperor，cametotellmethathisMajestywouldgivemeallIwishedifIwouldfollowhim，andthatthreehundredthousandfrancswouldbeimmediatelyhandedme。Inthesecircumstances，Iaskofallhonestmen，whatcouldIdo，andwhatwouldtheyhavedoneinmyplace？IrepliedthatwhenIhadresolvedtoconsecratemywholelifetotheserviceoftheunfortunateEmperor，itwasnotfromviewsofvileinterest；butIwasindespairatthethoughtthatheshouldhavemademeappearbeforeCountBertrandasanimpostorandadishonestman。Ah！

howhappywoulditthenhavebeenformehadtheEmperorneverthoughtofgivingmethoseaccursedonehundredthousandfrancs！Theseideastorturedme。Ah！ifIcouldonlyhavetakentwenty-fourhoursforreflection，howeverjustmighthavebeenmyresentment，howgladlywouldIhavesacrificedit！IwouldhavethoughtoftheEmperoralone，andwouldhavefollowedhim；butasadandinexplicablefatalityhadnotdecreedthis。

Thistookplaceonthe19thofApril，themostmiserabledayofmylife。

Whatanevening，whatanightIpassed！WhatwasmygriefonlearningthenextdaythattheEmperorhaddepartedatnoon，aftermakinghisadieuxtohisguard！WhenIawokethatmorning，allmyresentmenthadbeenappeasedinthinkingoftheEmperor。TwentytimesIwishedtoreturntothepalace；twentytimesafterhisdepartureIwishedtotakeposthorsesandovertakehim；butIwasdeterredbytheofferhehadmademethroughM。Hubert。“Perhaps，“Ithought，“hewillthinkitisthemoneywhichinfluencesme；thiswill，doubtless，besaidbythosearoundhim；andwhatanopinionhewillhaveofme！“InthiscruelperplexityI

didnotdaretodecide。Isufferedallthatitispossibleforamantosuffer；and，attimes，thatwhichwasonlytootrueseemedlikeadreamtome，soimpossiblediditseemthatIcouldbewheretheEmperorwasnot。Everythinginthisterriblesituationcontributedtoaggravatemydistress。IknewtheEmperorwellenoughtobeawarethatevenhadI

returnedtohimthen，hewouldneverhaveforgottenthatIhadwishedtoleavehim；IfeltthatIhadnotthestrengthtobearthisreproachfromhislips。Ontheotherside，thephysicalsufferingcausedbymydiseasehadgreatlyincreased，andIwascompelledtoremaininbedalongwhile。

Icould，indeed，havetriumphedoverthesephysicalsufferingshowevercrueltheymighthavebeen，butinthefrightfulcomplicationsofmypositionIwasreducedtoaconditionofidiocy；Isawnothingofwhatwasaroundme；Iheardnothingofwhatwassaid；andafterthisstatementthereaderwillsurelynotexpectthatIshallhaveanythingtosayaboutthefarewelloftheEmperortohisoldandfaithfulguard，anaccountofwhich，moreover，hasbeenoftenenoughpublishedforthefactstobewellknownconcerningthisevent，which，besides，tookplaceinpublic。HeremyMemoirsmightwellclose；butthereader，Iwellbelieve，c