WhatBonapartesaidthatdaygood—naturedlytohiswifeIhaveoftenheardhimdeclareseriously.Ihavebeenpresentatfiveorsixaltercationsonthesubject.Thatthereexisted，too，anenmityconnectedwiththisquestionbetweenthefamilyofBEAUHARNAISandthefamilyofBonapartecannotbedenied.
Fouche，asIhavestated，wasintheinterestofJosephine，andLucienwasthemostbitterofherenemies.OnedayRaedererinveighedwithsomuchviolenceagainstFoucheinthepresenceofMadameBonapartethatsherepliedwithextremewarmth，"TherealenemiesofBonapartearethosewhofeedhimwithnotionsofhereditarydescent，ofadynasty，ofdivorce，andofmarriage！"Josephinecouldnotcheckthisexclamation，assheknewthatRoedererencouragedthoseideas，whichhespreadabroadbyLucien’sdirection.IrecollectonedaywhenshehadbeentoseeusatourlittlehouseatRuel：asIwalkedwithheralongthehighroadtohercarriage，whichshehadsentforward，IacknowledgedtoounreservedlymyfearsonaccountoftheambitionofBonaparte，andoftheperfidiousadviceofhisbrothers."Madame，"saidI，"ifwecannotsucceedindissuadingtheGeneralfrommakinghimselfaKing，Idreadthefutureforhissake.Ifeverhere—establishesroyaltyhewillinallprobabilitylabourfortheBourbons，andenablethemonedaytore—ascendthethronewhichheshallerect.Noone，doubtless，withoutpassingforafool，canpretendtosaywithcertaintywhatseriesofchancesandeventssuchaproceedingwillproduce;butcommonsensealoneissufficienttoconvinceanyonethatunfavourablechancesmustlongbedreaded.Theancientsystembeingre—established，theoccupationofthethronewillthenbeonlyafamilyquestion，andnotaquestionofgovernmentbetweenlibertyanddespoticpower.WhyshouldnotFrance，ifitceasestobefree，prefertheraceofherancientkings？Yousurelyknowit.Youhadnotbeenmarriedtwoyearswhen，onreturningfromItaly，yourhusbandtoldmethatheaspiredtoroyalty.NowheisConsulforlife.Wouldhebutresolvetostopthere！Healreadypossesseseverythingbutanemptytitle.NosovereigninEuropehassomuchpowerashehas.Iamsorryforit，Madame，butIreallybelievethat，inspiteofyourself，youwillbemadeQueenorEmpress."
MadameBonapartehadallowedmetospeakwithoutinterruption，butwhenI
pronouncedthewordsQueenandEmpresssheexclaimed，"MyGod！
Bourrienne，suchambitionisfarfrommythoughts.ThatImayalwayscontinuethewifeoftheFirstConsulisallIdesire.Saytohimallthatyouhavesaidtome.TryandpreventhimfrommakinghimselfKing."——"Madame，"Ireplied，timesaregreatlyaltered.Thewisestmen，thestrongestminds，haveresolutelyandcourageouslyopposedhistendencytothehereditarysystem.Butadviceisnowuseless.Hewouldnotlistentome.Inalldiscussionsonthesubjectheadheresinflexiblytotheviewhehastaken.Ifhebeseriouslyopposedhisangerknowsnobounds;hislanguageisharshandabrupt，histoneimperious，andhisauthoritybearsdownallbeforehim."——"Yet，Bourrienne，hehassomuchconfidenceinyouthatofyoushouldtryoncemore！"——"Madame，Iassureyouhewillnotlistentome.Besides，whatcouldIaddtotheremarksImadeuponhisreceivingthelettersofLouisXVIII.，whenIfearlesslyrepresentedtohimthatbeingwithoutchildrenhewouldhavenoonetowhomtobequeaththethrone——that，doubtless，fromtheopinionwhichbeentertainedofhisbrothers，hecouldnotdesiretoerectitforthem？"HereJosephineagaininterruptedmebyexclaiming，"Mykindfriend，whenyouspokeofchildrendidhesayanythingtoyou？Didhetalkofadivorce？"——"Notaword，Madame，I
assureyou."——"Iftheydonoturgehimtoit，Idonotbelievehewillresolvetodosuchathing.YouknowhowhelikesEugene，andEugenebehavessowelltohim.HowdifferentisLucien.ItisthatwretchLucien，towhomBonapartelistenstoomuch，andofwhom，however，healwaysspeaksilltome."——"Idonotknow，Madame，whatLuciensaystohisbrotherexceptwhenhechoosestotellme，becauseLucienalwaysavoidshavingawitnessofhisinterviewswithyourhusband，butIcanassureyouthatfortwoyearsIhavenotheardtheword’divorce’fromtheGeneral’smouth."——"Ialwaysreckononyou，mydearBourrienne;toturnhimawayfromit;asyoudidatthattime."——"Idonotbelieveheisthinkingofit，butifitrecurstohim，consider，Madame，thatitwillbenowfromverydifferentmotives：Heisnowentirelygivenuptotheinterestsofhispolicyandhisambition，whichdominateeveryotherfeelinginhim.Therewillnotnowbeanyquestionofscandal，orofatrialbeforeacourt，butofanactofauthoritywhichcomplaisantlawswilljustifyandwhichtheChurchperhapswillsanction."——"That’strue.
Youareright.GoodGod！howunhappyIam."
——[WhenBourriennecomplainsofnotknowingwhatpassedbetweenLucienandNapoleon，wecanturntoLucien’saccountofBourrienne，apparentlyaboutthisverytime."AfterastormyinterviewwithNapoleon，"saysLucien，"IatoncewentintothecabinetwhereBourriennewasworking，andfoundthatunbearablebusybodyofasecretary，whosestarhadalreadypaledmorethanonce，whichmadehimmorepryingthanever，quiteupsetbythetimetheFirstConsulhadtakentocomeoutofhisbath.Hemust，oratleastmight，haveheardsomenoise，forenoughhadbeenmade.Seeingthathewantedtoknowthecausefromme，Itookupanewspapertoavoidbeingboredbyhisconversation"（Iung’sLucien，tomeii.p.156]——
SuchwasthenatureofoneoftheconversationsIhadwithMadameBonaparteonasubjecttowhichsheoftenrecurred.ItmaynotperhapsbeuninterestingtoendeavourtocomparewiththiswhatNapoleonsaidatSt.Helena，speakingofhisfirstwife.AccordingtotheMemorialNapoleontherestatedthatwhenJosephinewasatlastconstrainedtorenounceallhopeofhavingachild，sheoftenletfallallusionstoagreatpoliticalfraud，andatlengthopenlyproposedittohim.ImakenodoubtBonapartemadeuseofwordstothiseffect，butIdonotbelievetheassertion.IrecollectonedaythatBonaparte，onenteringourcabinet，whereIwasalreadyseated，exclaimedinatransportofjoyimpossibleformetodescribe，"Well，Bourrienne，mywifeisatlastenceinte！Isincerelycongratulatedhim，more，Iown，outofcourtesythanfromanyhopeofseeinghimmadeafatherbyJosephine，forIwellrememberedthatCorvisart，whohadgivenmedicinestoMadameBonaparte，hadneverthelessassuredmethatheexpectednoresultfromthem.
MedicinewasreallytheonlypoliticalfraudtowhichJosephinehadrecourse;andinhersituationwhatotherwomanwouldnothavedoneasmuch？Here，then，thehusbandandthewifeareincontradiction，whichisnothinguncommon.Butonwhichsideistruth？IhavenohesitationinreferringittoJosephine.Thereisindeedanimmensedifferencebetweenthestatementsofawomen——trustingherfearsandherhopestothesoleconfidantofherfamilysecrets，andthetardydeclarationofamanwho，afterseeingthevastedificeofhisambitionleveledwiththedust，isonlyanxious，inhiscompulsoryretreat，topreserveintactandspotlesstheothergreatedificeofhisglory.BonaparteshouldhaverecollectedthatCaesardidnotliketheideaofhiswifebeingevensuspected.
CHAPTERXII.
1802.
CitizenFeschcreatedCardinalFesch——Artsandindustry——ExhibitionintheLouvre——AspectofParisin1802——TheMediceanVenusandtheVelletrianPallas——Signsofgeneralprosperity——Riseofthefunds——
IrresponsibleMinisters——TheBourbons——ThemilitaryGovernment——
AnnoyingfamiliarityofLannes——Planlaidforhisdisgrace——
IndignationofLannes——HisembassytoPortugal——Thedelayeddespatch——Bonaparte’srage——Iresignmysituation——Duroc——
IbreakfastwithBonaparte——Duroc’sintercession——Temporaryreconciliation.
CitizenFesch，who，whenwewereforcedtostopatAjaccioonourreturnfromEgypt，discountedatratherahighratetheGeneral—in—Chief’sEgyptiansequins，becameagaintheAbbeFesch，assoonasBonapartebyhisConsularauthorityre—erectedthealtarswhichtheRevolutionhadoverthrown.Onthe15thofAugust1802hewasconsecratedBishop，andthefollowingyearreceivedtheCardinal’shat.ThusBonapartetookadvantageofoneofthemembersofhisfamilybeinginorderstoelevatehimtothehighestdignitiesoftheChurch.HeafterwardsgaveCardinalFeschtheArchbishopricofLyons，ofwhichplacehewaslongthetitular.
——[LikeCambacerestheCardinalwasabitofagourmet，andononeoccasionhadinvitedalargepartyofclericalmagnatestodinner.
"ByacoincidencetwoturbotsofsingularbeautyarrivedaspresentstohisEminenceontheverymorningofthefeast.Toservebothwouldhaveappearedridiculous，buttheCardinalwasmostanxioustohavethecreditofboth.Heimpartedhisembarrassmenttohischef：
’Beofgoodfaith，yourEminence，’wasthereply，’bothshallappearandenjoythereceptionsojustlytheirdue.’Thedinnerwasserved：oneoftheturbotsrelievedthesoup.Delightwasoneveryface——itwasthemomentofthe’eprouvettepositive’.The’maitrea’hotel’advances;twoattendantsraisetheturbotandcarryhimofftocuthimup;butoneofthemloseshisequilibrium：theattendantsandtheturbotrolltogetheronthefloor.AtthissadsighttheassembledCardinalsbecameaspaleasdeath，andasolemnsilencereignedinthe’conclave’——itwasthemomentofthe’eprouvettenegative’;butthe’maitrea’hotel’suddenlyturnstooneoftheattendants，Bringanotherturbot，’saidhe，withthemostperfectcoolness.Thesecondappeared，andtheeprouvettepositivewasgloriouslyrenewed."（Hayward’sArtofDining，P.65.）]——
TheFirstConsulpridedhimselfagooddealonhistriumph，atleastinappearance，overthescrupleswhichthepersonswhosurroundedhimhadmanifestedagainstthere—establishmentofworship.Hereadwithmuchself—satisfactionthereportsmadetohim，inwhichitwasstatedthatthechurcheswerewellfrequented：Indeed，throughouttheyear1802，allhisattentionwaddirectedtothereformationofmanners，whichhadbecomemoredissoluteundertheDirectorythanevenduringtheReignofTerror.
InhismarchofusurpationtheFirstConsulletslipnoopportunityofendeavouringtoobtainatthesametimetheadmirationofthemultitudeandtheapprobationofjudiciousmen.Hewasveryfondofthearts，andwassensiblethatthepromotionofindustryoughttobethepeculiarcareoftheheadoftheGovernment.Itmust，however，atthesametimebeownedthatherenderedtheinfluenceofhisprotectionnullandvoidbythecontinualviolationshecommittedonthatlibertywhichistheanimatingprincipleofallimprovement.
DuringthesupplementarydaysoftheyearX.，thatistosay，aboutthebeginningoftheautumnof1802，therewasheldattheLouvreanexhibitionoftheproductsofindustry.TheFirstConsulvisitedtheexhibition，andasevenatthatperiodhehadbeguntoattributeeverygoodresulttohimself，heseemedproudofthehighdegreeofperfectionthemanufacturingartshadattainedinFrance.Hewas，aboveall，delightedwiththeadmirationthisexhibitionexcitedamongthenumerousforeignerswhoresortedtoParisduringthepeace.
Infact，throughouttheyear1802thecapitalpresentedaninterestingandanimating—spectacle.Theappetiteforluxuryandpleasurehadinsinuateditselfintomanners——whichwerenolongerrepublican，andthevastnumberofRussiansandEnglishwhodroveabouteverywherewithbrilliantequipagescontributednotalittletothismetamorphosis.
AllParisflockedtotheCarrouselonreviewdays，andregardedwitheyesofdelighttheunusualsightofrichforeignliveriesandemblazonedcarriages.ThepartiesattheTuilerieswerebrilliantandnumerous，andnothingwaswantingbutthenameoflevees.CountMarkoff，whosucceededM.deKalitscheffasRussianambassador;theMarquisdeLucchesini，thePrussianambassador;andLordWhitworth，theMinisterfromEngland，madenumerouspresentationsoftheircountrymentotheFirstConsul，whowaswellpleasedthattheCourthewasformingshouldhaveexamplessetbyforeigncourtiers.NeversincethemeetingoftheStates—Generalhadthetheatresbeensofrequented，orfetessomagnificent;andneversincethatperiodhadParispresentedsocheeringanaspect.TheFirstConsul，onhispart，sparednoexertiontorenderthecapitalmoreandmoreworthytheadmirationofforeigners.ThestatueoftheVenusdeMedicis，whichhadbeenrobbedfromthegalleryoftheGrandDukeofTuscany，nowdecoratedthegalleryoftheLouvre，andnearitwasplacedthatoftheVelletrianPallas，amorelegitimateacquisition，sinceitwastheresultoftheresearchesofsomeFrenchengineersatVelletri.Everywhereanairofprosperitywasperceptible，andBonaparteproudlyputinhisclaimtoberegardedastheauthorofitall.Withwhatheartfeltsatisfactiondidhelikewisecasthiseyeuponwhathecalledthegrandthermometerofopinion，thepriceofthefunds！Forifhesawthemdoubledinvalueinconsequenceoftherevolutionofthe18thBrumaire，risingastheydidatthatperiodfromseventosixteenfrancs，thisvaluewasevenmorethantripledafterthevoteofConsulshipforlifeandthe’Senates—consulte’
ofthe4thofAugust，——whentheyrosetofifty—twofrancs.
WhileParispresentedsosatisfactoryanaspectthedepartmentswereinastateofperfecttranquillity;andforeignaffairshadeveryappearanceofsecurity.TheCourtoftheVatican，whichsincetheConcordatmaybesaidtohavebecomedevotedtotheFirstConsul，gave，underallcircumstances，examplesofsubmissiontothewishesofFrance.TheVaticanwasthefirstCourtwhichrecognisedtheerectionofTuscanyintotheKingdomofEtruria，andtheformationoftheHelvetic，Cisalpine，andBatavianRepublics.PrussiasoonfollowedtheexampleofthePope，whichwassuccessivelyimitatedbytheotherpowersofEurope.
Thewholeofthesenewstates，realms，orrepublicswereundertheimmediateinfluenceofFrance.TheIsleofElba，whichNapoleon’sfirstabdicationafterwardsrenderedsofamous，andPiedmont，dividedintosixdepartments，werealsounitedtoFrance，stillcalleditRepublic.
Everythingnowseemedtoconcurinsecuringhisaccessiontoabsolutepower.Wewerenowatpeacewithalltheworld，andeverycircumstancetendedtoplaceinthehandsoftheFirstConsulthatabsolutepowerwhichindeedwastheonlykindofgovernmentbewascapableofforminganyconceptionof.Indeed，oneofthecharacteristicsignsofNapoleon’sgovernment，evenundertheConsularsystem，leftnodoubtastohisrealintentions.HadhewishedtofoundafreeGovernmentitisevidentthatheworldhavemadetheMinistersresponsibletothecountry，whereashetookcarethatthereshouldbenoresponsibilitybuttohimself.Heviewedthem，infact，inthelightofinstrumentswhichhemightbreakasbepleased.IfoundthissingleindexsufficienttodiscloseallhisfuturedesignsInordertomaketheirresponsibilityofhisMinisterstothepublicperfectlyclear，hehadalltheactsofhisGovernmentsignedmerelybyM.Maret，SecretaryofState.ThustheConsulshipforlifewasnothingbutanEmpireindisguise，theusufructofwhichcouldnotlongsatisfytheFirstConsul’sambition.Hisbrothersinfluencedhim，anditwasresolvedtofoundanewdynasty.
ItwasnotintheinteriorofFrancethatdifficultieswerelikelyfirsttoariseonBonaparte’scarryinghisdesignsintoeffect，buttherewassomereasontoapprehendthatforeignpowers，afterrecognisingandtreatingwiththeConsularGovernment，mightdisplayadifferentfeeling，andentertainscrupleswithregardtoaGovernmentwhichhadresumeditsmonarchicalform.ThequestionregardingtheBourbonswasinsomemeasurekeptinthebackgroundaslongasFranceremainedaRepublic，butthere—establishmentofthethronenaturallycalledtorecollectionthefamilywhichhadoccupieditforsomanyages.Bonapartefullyfeltthedelicacyofhisposition，butheknewhowtofaceobstacles，andhadbeenaccustomedtoovercomethem：he，however，alwaysproceededcautiously，aswhenobstaclesinducedhimtodefertheperiodoftheConsulshipforlife.
BonapartelabouredtoestablishiiiFrancenotonlyanabsolutegovernment，but，whatisstillworse，amilitaryone.Heconsideredadecreesignedbyhishandpossessedofamagicvirtuecapableoftransforminghisgeneralsintoablediplomatists，andsohesentthemonembassies，asiftoshowtheSovereignstowhomtheywereaccreditedthathesoonmeanttotaketheirthronesbyassault.TheappointmentofLannestotheCourtofLisbonoriginatedfromcauseswhichprobablywillbereadwithsomeinterest，sincetheyservetoplaceBonaparte’scharacterin，itstruelight，andtopointout，atthesametime，themeanshedisdainednottoresortto，ifhewishedtobanishhismostfaithfulfriendswhentheirpresencewasnolongeragreeabletohim.
BonapartehadceasedtoaddressLannesinthesecondpersonsingular;butthatgeneralcontinuedthefamiliarityoftheeandthouinspeakingtoNapoleon.ItishardlypossibletoconceivehowmuchthisannoyedtheFirstConsul.Awareoftheunceremoniouscandourofhisoldcomrade，whosedaringspiritheknewwouldprompthimtogoasgreatlengthsincivilaffairsasonthefieldofbattle，Bonaparte，onthegreatoccasionofthe18thBrumaire，fearinghisreproaches，hadgivenhimthecommandofParisinordertoensurehisabsencefromSt.Cloud.
Afterthattime，notwithstandingthecontinuallygrowinggreatnessoftheFirstConsul，which，asitincreased，dailyexactedmoreandmoredeference，Lannesstillpreservedhisfreedomofspeech，andwastheonlyonewhodaredtotreatBonaparteasacomrade，andtellhimthetruthwithoutceremony.ThiswasenoughtodetermineNapoleontoridhimselfofthepresenceofLannes.ButunderwhatpretestwastheabsenceoftheconquerorofMontebellotobeprocured？Itwasnecessarytoconjureupanexcuse;andinthetrulydiabolicalmachinationresortedtoforthatpurpose，Bonapartebroughtintoplaythatcraftydispositionforwhichhewassoremarkable.
Lannes，whoneverlookedforwardtothemorrow，wasascarelessofhismoneyasofhisblood.Poorofficersandsoldierspartooklargelyofhisliberality.Thushehadnofortune，butplentyofdebtswhenhewantedmoney，andthiswasnotseldom，heusedtocome，asifitwereamerematterofcourse，toaskitoftheFirstConsul，who，Imustconfess，neverrefusedhim.Bonaparte，thoughhewellknewthegeneral’scircumstances，saidtohimoneday，"Myfriend，youshouldattendalittlemoretoappearances.Youmusthaveyourestablishmentsuitabletoyourrank.ThereistheHoteldeNoailles——whydon’tyoutakeit，andfurnishitinproperstyle？"Lannes，whoseowncandourpreventedhimfromsuspectingtheartfuldesignsofothers，followedtheadviceoftheFirstConsulTheHoteldeNoailleswastakenandsuperblyfittedup.
Odiotsuppliedaserviceofplatevaluedat200，000francs.
GeneralLanneshavingthusconformedtothewishesofBonapartecametohimandrequested400，000francs，theamountoftheexpenseincurred，asitwere，byhisorder."But，"saidtheFirstConsul，"Ihavenomoney."
——"Youhavenomoney！WhatthedevilamItodo，then？"
ButistherenoneintheGuard’schest？Takewhatyourequire，andwewillsettleit，hereafter."
Mistrustingnothing，LanneswenttothetreasureroftheGuards，whomadesomeobjectionsatfirsttotheadvancerequired，butwhosoonyieldedonlearningthatthedemandwasmadewiththeconsentoftheFirstConsul.
Withintwenty—fourhoursafterLanneshadobtainedthe400，000francsthetreasurerreceivedfromtheheadcommissaryanordertobalancehisaccounts.Thereceiptforthe400，000francsadvancedtoLannes，wasnotacknowledgedasavoucher.InvainthetreasurerallegedtheauthorityoftheFirstConsulforthetransaction.Napoleon’smemoryhadsuddenlyfailedhim;hehadentirelyforgottenallaboutit.Inaword，itwasincumbentonLannestorefundthe400，000francstotheGuards’chest;
and，asIhavealreadysaid，hehadnopropertyonearth，butdebtsinabundance.HerepairedtoGeneralLefebre，wholovedhimashisson，andtohimherelatedallthathadpassed."Simpleton，"saidLefebvre，"
whydidyounotcometome？Whydidyougoandgetintodebtwiththat—————？Well，herearethe400，000francs;takethemtohim，andlethimgotothedevil！"
LanneshastenedtotheFirstConsul."What！"——heexclaimed，"isitpossibleyoucanbeguiltyofsuchbasenessasthis？Totreatmeinsuchamanner！TolaysuchafoulsnareformeafterallthatIhavedoneforyou;afterallthebloodIhaveshedtopromoteyourambition！Isthistherecompenseyouhadinstoreforme？Youforgetthe13thVendemiaire，tothesuccessofwhichIcontributedmorethanyou！YouforgetMillesimo：Iwascolonelbeforeyou！ForwhomdidIfightatBassano？
YouwerewitnessofwhatIdidatLodiandatGovernolo，whereIwaswounded;andyetyouplaymesuchatrickasthis！Butforme，Pariswouldhaverevoltedonthe18thBrumaire.Butforme，youwouldhavelostthebattleofMarengo.Ialone，yes，Ialone，passedthePo，atMontebello，withmywholedivision.YougavethecreditofthattoBerthier，whowasnotthere;andthisismyreward——humiliation.Thiscannot，thisshallnotbe.Iwill————"Bonaparte，palewithanger，listenedwithoutstirring，andLanneswasonthepointofchallenginghimwhenJunot，whoheardtheuproar，hastilyentered.TheunexpectedpresenceofthisgeneralsomewhatreassuredtheFirstConsul，andatthesametimecalmed，insomedegree，thefuryofLannes."Well，"saidBonaparte，"gotoLisbon.Youwillgetmoneythere;andwhenyoureturnyouwillnotwantanyonetopayyourdebtsforyou."ThuswasBonaparte’sobjectgained.LannessetoutforLisbon，andneverafterwardsannoyedtheFirstConsulbyhisfamiliarities，foronhisreturnheceasedtoaddresshimwiththeeandthou.
HavingdescribedBonaparte’sill—treatmentofLannesImayheresubjoinastatementofthecircumstanceswhichledtoarupturebetweentheFirstConsulandme.SomanyfalsestorieshavebeencirculatedonthesubjectthatIamanxioustorelatethefactsastheyreallywere.
NinemonthshadnowpassedsinceIhadtenderedmyresignationtotheFirstConsul.Thebusinessofmyofficehadbecometoogreatforme，andmyhealthwassomuchendangeredbyover—applicationthatmyphysician，M.Corvisart，whohadforalongtimeimpresseduponmethenecessityofrelaxation，no...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：