WhenCambaceres（who，withaslightreservation，hadvotedthedeathofLouisXVI.）warmlyopposedintheCounciltheDucd’Enghien’sarrest，theFirstConsulobservedtohim，"Methinks，Sir，youhavegrownverycharyofBourbonblood！"
MeanwhiletheDued’EnghienwasatEttenheim，indulginginhoperatherthanplottingconspiracies.ItiswellknownthatanindividualmadeanoffertothePrincedeCondetoassassinatetheFirstConsul，butthePrinceindignantlyrejectedtheproposition，andnoblyrefusedtorecovertherightsoftheBourbonsatthepriceofsuchacrime.Theindividualabove—mentionedwasafterwardsdiscoveredtobeanagentoftheParispolice，whohadbeencommissionedtodrawthePrincesintoaplotwhichwouldhaveruinedthem，forpublicfeelingrevoltsatassassinationunderanycircumstances.
IthasbeenallegedthatLouisXVIII.’srefusaltotreatwithBonaparteledtothefatalcatastropheoftheDued’Enghien’sdeath.ThefirstcorrespondencebetweenLouisXVIII.andtheFirstConsul，whichhasbeengivenintheseMemoirs，clearlyprovesthecontrary.ItiscertainlyprobablethatLouisXVIII.’srefusaltorenouncehisrightsshouldhaveirritatedBonaparte.Butitwasratherlatetotakehisrevengetwoyearsafter，andthattooonaPrincetotallyignorantofthoseovertures.Itisneedlesstocommentonsuchabsurdities.ItisequallyunnecessarytospeakofthemysteriousbeingwhooftenappearedatmeetingsintheFaubourgSt.Germain，andwhowasafterwardsdiscoveredtobePichegru.
AfurtherlightisthrownonthismelancholycatastrophebyaconversationNapoleonhad，afewdaysafterhiselevationtotheimperialthrone，withM.Masaias，theFrenchMinisterattheCourtoftheGrandDukeofBaden.ThisconversationtookplaceatAix—la—Chapelle.AftersomeremarksontheintriguesoftheemigrantsBonaparteobserved，"YououghtatleasttohavepreventedtheplotswhichtheDued’EnghienwashatchingatEttenheim."——"Sire，Iamtoooldtolearntotellafalsehood.Believeme，onthissubjectyourMajesty’searhasbeenabused."——"Doyounotthink，then，thathadtheconspiracyofGeorgesandPichegruprovedsuccessful，thePrincewouldhavepassedtheRhine，andhavecomeposttoParis？"
M.Massias，fromwhomIhadtheseparticulars，added，"AtthislastquestionoftheEmperorIhungdownmyheadandwassilent，forIsawhedidnotwishtohearthetruth."
Nowletusconsider，withthatattentionwhichtheimportanceofthesubjectdemands，whathasbeensaidbythehistoriansofSt.Helena.
Napoleonsaidtohiscompanionsinexilethat"theDued’Enghien’sdeathmustbeattributedeithertoanexcessofzealforhim（Napoleon），toprivateviews，ortomysteriousintrigues.Hehadbeenblindlyurgedon;
hewas，ifhemightsayso，takenbysurprise.Themeasurewasprecipitated，andtheresultpredetermined."
Thishemighthavesaid;butifhedidsoexpresshimself，howarewetoreconcilesuchadeclarationwiththestatementofO’Meara？Howgivecredittoassertionssoveryopposite？
NapoleonsaidtoM.deLasCasas：
"Onedaywhenalone，Irecollectitwell，Iwastakingmycoffee，halfseatedonthetableatwhichIhadjustdined，whensuddenlyinformationwasbroughttomethatanewconspiracyhadbeendiscovered.Iwaswarmlyurgedtoputanendtotheseenormities;
theyrepresentedtomethatitwastimeatlasttogivealessontothosewhohadbeendayafterdayconspiringagainstmylife;thatthisendcouldonlybeattainedbysheddingthebloodofoneofthem;andthattheDued’Enghien，whomightnowbeconvictedofformingpartofthisnewconspiracy，andtakenintheveryact，shouldbethatone.ItwasaddedthathehadbeenseenatStrasburg;thatitwasevenbelievedthathehadbeeninParis;andthattheplanwasthatheshouldenterFrancebytheeastatthemomentoftheexplosion，whilsttheDuedeBerriwasdisembarkinginthewest.Ishouldtellyou，"observedtheEmperor，"thatIdidnotevenknowpreciselywhotheDued’Enghienwas（theRevolutionhavingtakenplacewhenIwasyetaveryyoungman，andIhavingneverbeenatCourt），andthatIwasquiteinthedarkastowherehewasatthatmoment.HavingbeeninformedonthosepointsIexclaimedthatifsuchwerethecasetheDukeoughttobearrested，andthatordersshouldbegiventothateffect.Everythinghadbeenforeseenandprepared;thedifferentorderswerealreadydrawnup，nothingremainedtobedonebuttosignthem，andthefateoftheyoungPrincewasthusdecided."
NapoleonnextassertsthatintheDuke’sarrestandcondemnationalltheusualformswerestrictlyobserved.ButhehasalsodeclaredthatthedeathofthatunfortunatePrincewillbeaneternalreproachtothosewho，carriedawaybyacriminalzeal，waitednotfortheirSovereign’sorderstoexecutethesentenceofthecourt—martial.Hewould，perhaps，haveallowedthePrincetolive;butyethesaid，"ItistrueIwishedtomakeanexamplewhichshoulddeter."
IthasbeensaidthattheDued’EnghienaddressedalettertoNapoleon，whichwasnotdeliveredtillaftertheexecution.Thisisfalseandabsurd！HowcouldthatPrincewritetoBonapartetoofferhimhisservicesandtosolicitthecommandofanarmy？Hisinterrogatorymakesnomentionofthisletter，andisindirectoppositiontothesentimentswhichthatletterwouldattributetohim.Thetruthis，nosuchlettereverexisted.TheindividualwhowaswiththePrincedeclaredheneverwroteit.ItwillneverbebelievedthatanyonewouldhavepresumedtowithholdfromBonapartealetteronwhichdependedthefateofsoaugustavictim.
InhisdeclarationstohiscompanionsinexileNapoleonendeavouredeithertofreehimselfofthiscrimeortojustifyit.Hisfearorhissusceptibilitywassuch，thatindiscoursingwithstrangershemerelysaid，thathadheknownofthePrince’sletter，whichwasnotdeliveredtohim.——Godknowswhy！——untilafterhehadbreathedhislast，hewouldhavepardonedhim.Butatasubsequentdatehetraced，withhisownhand，hislastthoughts，whichhesupposedwouldbeconsecratedinthemindsofhiscontemporaries，andofposterity.Napoleon，touchingonthesubjectwhichhefeltwouldbeoneofthemostimportantattachedtohismemory，saidthatifthethingweretodoagainhewouldactashethendid.Howdoesthisdeclarationtallywithhisavowal，thatifhehadreceivedthePrince’sletterheshouldhavelived？Thisisirreconcilable.ButifwecompareallthatNapoleonsaidatSt.Helena，andwhichhasbeentransmittedtousbyhisfaithfulfollowers;ifweconsiderhiscontradictionswhenspeakingoftheDued’Enghien’sdeathtostrangers，tohisfriends，tothepublic，ortoposterity，thequestionceasestobedoubtfulBonapartewishedtostrikeablowwhichwouldterrifyhisenemies.FancyingthattheDucdeBerriwasreadytolandinFrance，hedespatchedhisaidedecampSavary，indisguise，attendedbygendarmes，towatchtheDuke’slandingatBiville，nearDieppe.Thisturnedoutafruitlessmission.TheDukewaswarnedintimenottoattempttheuselessanddangerousenterprise，andBonaparte，enragedtoseeonepreyescapehim，pounceduponanother.ItiswellknownthatBonaparteoften，andinthepresenceevenofpersonswhomheconceivedtohavemaintainedrelationswiththepartisansoftheBourbonsatParis，expressedhimselfthus："Iwillputanendtotheseconspiracies.Ifanyoftheemigrantsconspiretheyshallbeshot.IhavebeentoldthatCobentzelharbourssomeofthem.Idonotbelievethis;butifitbetrue，Cobentzelshallbearrestedandshotalongwiththem.IwilllettheBourbonsknowIamnottobetrifledwith."TheabovestatementoffactsaccountsforthesuppositionsrespectingtheprobableinfluenceoftheJacobinsinthisaffair.Ithasbeensaid，notwithoutsomeappearanceofreason，thattogettheJacobinstohelphimtoascendthethroneBonaparteconsentedtosacrificeavictimofthebloodroyal，astheonlypledgecapableofensuringthemagainstthereturnoftheproscribedfamily.Bethisasitmay，therearenopossiblemeansofrelievingBonapartefromhisshareofguiltinthedeathoftheDued’Enghien.
Totheabovefacts，whichcamewithinmyownknowledge，Imayaddthefollowingcuriousstory，whichwasrelatedtomebyanindividualwhohimselfhearditfromthesecretaryofGeneralDavoust.
DavoustwascommandingadivisioninthecampofBoulogne，andhissecretarywhenproceedingthithertojoinhimmetinthediligenceamanwhoseemedtobeabsorbedinaffliction.Thismanduringthewholejourneyneveroncebrokesilencebutbysomedeepsighs，whichhehadnotpowertorepress.GeneralDavoust’ssecretaryobservedhimwithcuriosityandinterest，butdidnotventuretointrudeuponhisgriefbyanyconversation.TheconcourseoftravellersfromParistothecampwas，however，atthattimeverygreat，andtheinnatwhichthediligencestoppedintheeveningwassocrowdedthatitwasimpossibletoassignachambertoeachtraveller.Two，therefore，wereputintooneroom，anditsohappenedthatthesecretarywaslodgedwithhismysterioustravellingcompanion.
Whentheywerealoneheaddressedhiminatorsoofinterestwhichbanishedallappearanceofintrusion.Heinquiredwhetherthecauseofhisgriefwasofanaturetoadmitofanyalleviation，andofferedtorenderhimanyassistanceinhispower."Sir，"repliedthestranger，"Iammuchobligedforthesympathyyouexpressforme——Iwantnothing.
Thereisnopossibleconsolationforme.Myafflictioncanendonlywithmylife.Youshalljudgeforyourself，fortheinterestyouseemtotakeinmymisfortunefullyjustifiesmyconfidence.Iwasquartermasterintheselectgendarmerie，andformedpartofadetachmentwhichwasorderedtoVincennes.Ipassedthenightthereunderarms，andatdaybreakwasordereddowntothemoatwithsixmen.Anexecutionwastotakeplace.
Theprisonerwasbroughtout，andIgavethewordtofire.Themanfell，andaftertheexecutionIlearnedthatwehadshottheDued’Enghien.
Judgeofmyhorror！IknewtheprisoneronlybythenameofthebrigandofLaVendee！Icouldnolongerremainintheservice——Iobtainedmydischarge，andamabouttoretiretomyfamily.WouldthatIhaddonesosooner！"TheabovehasbeenrelatedtomeandotherpersonsbyDavoust’ssecretary，whomIshallnotname.
CHAPTERXXIII.
1804.
GeneralOrdener’smission——ArrestoftheDued’Enghien——Horriblenight—scene———Harrel’saccountofthedeathofthePrince——Orderfordiggingthegrave——Thefoster—sisteroftheDuod’Enghien——Readingthesentence——Thelantern——GeneralSavary——Thefaithfuldogandthepolice——MyvisittoMalmaison——Josephine’sgrief——
TheDucd’Enghien’sportraitandlockofhair——Savary’semotion——
M.deChateaubriand’sresignation——M.deChatenubriand’sconnectionwithBonaparte——MadameBacciocchiandM.deFontanes——CardinalFesch——Dedicationofthesecondeditionofthe’GenieduChristianisme’
——M.deChateaubriand’svisittotheFirstConsulonthemorningoftheDued’Enghien’sdeath——ConsequencesoftheDuod’Enghien’sdeath——Changeofopinionintheprovinces——TheGentryoftheChateaus——EffectoftheDued’Enghien’sdeathonforeignCourts——
RemarkablewordsofMr.Pitt——LouisXVIII.sendsbacktheinsigniaoftheGoldenFleecetotheKingofSpain.
IwillnownarratemorefullythesanguinaryscenewhichtookplaceatVincennes.GeneralOrdener，commandingthemountedgrenadiersoftheGuard，receivedordersfromtheWarMinistertoproceedtotheRhine，togiveinstructionstothechiefsofthegendarmerieofNewBrissac，whichwasplacedathisdisposal.GeneralOrdenersentadetachmentofgendarmerietoEttenheim，wheretheDued’Enghienwasarrestedonthe15thofMarch.HewasimmediatelyconductedtothecitadelofStrasburg，whereheremainedtillthe18th，togivetimeforthearrivalofordersfromParis.Theseordersweregivenrapidly，andexecutedpromptly，forthecarriagewhichconveyedtheunfortunatePrincearrivedatthebarrierateleveno’clockonthemorningofthe20th，whereitremainedforfivehours，andafterwardsproceededbytheexteriorboulevardsontheroadtoVincennes，whereitarrivedatnight.Everysceneofthishorribledramawasactedundertheveilofnight：thesundidnotevenshineuponitstragicalclose.ThesoldiersreceivedorderstoproceedtoVincennesatnight.ItwasatnightthatthefatalgatesofthefortresswerecloseduponthePrince.AtnighttheCouncilassembledandtriedhim，orrathercondemnedhimwithouttrial.Whentheclockstrucksixinthemorningtheordersweregiventofire，andthePrinceceasedtoexist.
Hereareflectionoccurstome.SupposingonewereinclinedtoadmitthattheCouncilheldonthe10thofMarchhadsomeconnectionwiththeDued’Enghien’sarrest，yetasnoCouncilwasheldfromthetimeoftheDuke’sarrivalatthebarriertothemomentofhisexecution，itcouldonlybeBonapartehimselfwhoissuedtheorderswhichweretoopunctuallyobeyed.WhenthedreadfulintelligenceoftheDucd’Enghien’sdeathwasspreadinParisitexcitedafeelingofconsternationwhichrecalledtherecollectionoftheReignofTerror.CouldBonapartehaveseenthegloomwhichpervadedParis，andcompareditwiththejoywhichprevailedonthedaywhenhereturnedvictoriousfromthefieldofMarengo，hewouldhavefeltthathehadtarnishedhisglorybyastainwhichcouldneverbeeffaced.
Abouthalf—pasttwelveonthe22dofMarchIwasinformedthatsomeonewishedtospeakwithme.ItwasHarrel.
——[Harrel，whohadbeenunemployedtilltheplotofArenaandCeracchionthe18thVendemiaireanIX（10thOctober1800）whichhehadfeignedtojoin，andhadthenrevealedtothepolice（seeante），hadbeenmadeGovernorofVincennes.]——
Iwillrelatewordforwordwhathecommunicatedtome.Harrelprobablythoughtthathewasboundingratitudetoacquaintmewiththesedetails;
butheowedmenogratitude，foritwasmuchagainstmywillthathehadencouragedtheconspiracyofCeracchi，andreceivedtherewardofhistreacheryinthatcrime.ThefollowingisHarrel’sstatement：——
"Ontheeveningofthedaybeforeyesterday，whenthePrincearrived，IwasaskedwhetherIhadaroomtolodgeaprisonerin;Ireplied，No——
thattherewereonlymyapartmentsandtheCouncil—chamber.Iwastoldtoprepareinstantlyaroominwhichaprisonercouldsleepwhowastoarrivethatevening.Iwasalsodesiredtodigapitinthecourtyard.
——[Thisfactmustbenoted.Harrelistoldtodigatrenchbeforethesentence.ThusitwasknownthattheyhadcometokilltheDucd’Enghien.Howcanthisbeanswered？Canitpossiblybesupposedthatanyone，whoeveritwas，wouldhavedaredtogiveeachanorderinanticipationiftheorderhadnotbeenthecarryingoutofaformalcommandofBonaparte？Thatisincredible.——Bourrienne.]——
Irepliedthatthatcouldnotbeeasilydone，asthecourtyardwaspaved.
Themoatwasthenfixedupon，andtherethepitwasdug.ThePrincearrivedatseveno’clockintheevening;hewasperishingwithcoldandhunger.Hedidnotappeardispirited.Hesaidhewantedsomethingtoeat，andtogotobedafterwards.Hisapartmentnotbeingyetsufficientlyaired，Itookhimintomyown，andsentintothevillageforsomerefreshment.ThePrincesatdowntotable，andinvitedmetoeatwithhim.HethenaskedmeanumberofquestionsrespectingVincennes——
whatwasgoingonthere，andotherparticulars.Hetoldmethathehadbeenbroughtupintheneighbourhoodofthecastle，andspoketomewithgreatfreedomandkindness.’Whatdotheywantwithme？’hesaid.Whatdotheymeantodowithme？’Butthesequestionsbetrayednouneasinessoranxiety.Mywife，whowasill，waslyinginthesameroominanalcove，closedbyarailing.Sheheard，withoutbeingperceived，allourconversation，andshewasexceedinglyagitated，forsherecognisedthePrince，whosefoster—sistershewas，andwhosefamilyhadgivenherapensionbeforetheRevolution.
"ThePrincehastenedtobed，butbeforehecouldhavefallenasleepthejudgessenttorequesthispresenceintheCouncil—chamber.Iwasnotpresentathisexamination;butwhenitwasconcludedhereturnedtohischamber，andwhentheycametoreadhissentencetohimhewasinaprofoundsleep.Inafewmomentsafterhewasledoutforexecution.
Hehadsolittlesuspicionofthefatethatawaitedhimthatondescendingthestaircaseleadingtothemoatheaskedwheretheyweretakinghim.Hereceivednoanswer.IwentbeforethePrincewithalantern.Feelingthecoldairwhichcameupthestaircasehepressedmyarmandsaid，’Aretheygoingtoputmeintoadungeon？’"
Therestisknown.IcanyetseeHarrelshudderingwhilethinkingofthisactionofthePrince’s.
MuchhasbeensaidaboutalanternwhichitispretendedwasattachedtooneoftheDued’Enghien’sbutton—holes.Thisisapureinvention.
CaptainDautancourt，whosesightwasnotverygood，tookthelanternoutofHarrel’shandtoreadthesentencetothevictim，whohadbeencondemnedwithaslittleregardtojudicialformsastojustice.ThiscircumstanceprobablygaverisetothestoryaboutthelanterntowhichI
havejustalluded.Thefataleventtookplaceatsixo’clockonthemorningofthe21stofMarch，anditwasthendaylight.
GeneralSavarydidnotdaretodelaytheexecutionofthesentence，althoughthePrinceurgentlydemandedtohaveaninterviewwiththeFirstConsul.HadBonaparteseentheprincetherecanbelittledoubtbutthathewouldhavesavedhislife.Savary，however，thoughthimselfboundtosacrificehisownopinionstothepowerfulfactionwhichthencontrolledtheFirstConsul;andwhilsthethoughthewasservinghismaster，hewasinfactonlyservingthefactiontowhich，Imustsay，hedidnotbelong.
Thetruthis，thatGeneralSavarycanonlybereproachedfornothavingtakenuponhimselftosuspendtheexecution，whichveryprobablywouldnothavetakenplacehaditbeensuspended.Hewasmerelyaninstrument，andregretonhispartwould，perhaps，havetoldmoreinhisfavourthanhisvaineffortstojustifyBonaparte.Ihavejustsaidthatiftherehadbeenanysuspensiontherewouldhavebeennoexecution;andIthinkthisisalmostprovedbytheuncertaintywhichmusthaveexistedinthemindoftheFirstConsul.Ifhehadmadeuphismindallthemeasureswouldhavebeentakeninadvance，andiftheyhadbeen，thecarriageoftheDukewouldcertainlynothavebeenkeptforfivehoursatthebarriers.Besides，itiscertainthatthefirstintentionwastotakethePrincetotheprisonoftheTemple.
FromallthatIhavestated，andparticularlyfromthenon—suspensionoftheexecution，itappearstomeasclearasdaythatGeneralSavaryhadreceivedaformalorderfromBonapartefortheDued’Enghien’sdeath，andalsoaformalorderthatitshouldbesomanagedastomakeitimpossibletospeaktoBonaparteagainonthesubjectuntilallshouldbeover.Cantherebeamoreevident，amoredirectproofofthisthanthediggingofthegravebeforehand？IhaverepeatedHarrel’sstoryjustasherelatedittome.Hetolditmewithoutsolicitation，andhecouldnotinventacircumstanceofthisnature.
GeneralSavarywasnotinthemoatduringtheexecution，butonthebank，fromwhencehecouldeasilyseeallthatpassed.AnothercircumstanceconnectedwiththeDued’Enghien’sdeathhasbeenmentioned，whichistrue.ThePrincehadalittledog;thisfaithfulanimalreturnedincessantlytothefatalspotinthemoat.Therearefewwhohavenotseenthatspot.WhohasnotmadeapilgrimagetoVincennesanddroppedatearwherethevictimfell？Thefidelityofthepoordogexcitedsomuchinterestthatthepolicepreventedanyonefromvisitingthefatalspot，andthedogwasnolongerheardtohowloverhismaster’sgrave.
IpromisedtostatethetruthrespectingthedeathoftheDued’Enghien，andIhavedoneso，thoughithascostmesomepain.Harrel’snarrative，andtheshockingcircumstanceofthegravebeingdugbeforehand，leftmenoopportunityofcherishinganydoubtsImighthavewishedtoentertain;
andeverythingwhichfollowedconfirmedtheviewIthentookofthesubject.WhenHarrelleftmeonthe22dIdeterminedtogotoMalmaisontoseeMadameBonaparte，knowing，fromhersentimentstowardstheHouseofBourbon，thatshewouldbeinthegreatestaffliction.Ihadpreviouslysenttoknowwhetheritwouldbeconvenientforhertoseeme，aprecautionIhadneverbeforeobserved，butwhichIconceivedtobeproperuponthatoccasion.OnmyarrivalIwasimmediatelyintroducedtoherboudoir，whereshewasalonewithHortenseandMadamedeRemusat.
Theywerealldeeplyafflicted."Bourrienne，"exclaimedJosephine，assoonassheperceivedme，"whatadreadfulevent！DidyoubutknowthestateofmindBonaparteisin！Heavoids，hedreadsthepresenceofeveryone！Whocouldhavesuggestedtohimsuchanactasthis？"
IthenacquaintedJosephinewiththeparticularswhichIhadreceivedfromHarrel."Whatbarbarity！"sheresumed."Butnoreproachcanrestuponme，forIdideverythingtodissuadehimfromthisdreadfulproject.
Hedidnotconfidethesecrettome，butIguessedit，andheacknowledgedall.Howharshlyherepelledmyentreaties！Iclungtohim！Ithrewmyselfathisfeet！’Meddlewithwhatconcernsyou！’
heexclaimedangrily.’Thisisnotwomen’sbusiness！Leaveme！’AndherepulsedmewithaviolencewhichbehadneverdisplayedsinceourfirstinterviewafteryourreturnfromEgypt.Heavens！whatwillbecomeofus？"
IcouldsaynothingtocalmafflictionandalarminwhichIparticipated，fortomygriefforthedeathoftheDued’EnghienwasaddedmyregretthatBonaparteshouldbecapableofsuchacrime."What，"saidJosephine，"canbethoughtofthisinParis？Hemustbetheobjectofuniversal，imprecation，forevenherehisflatterersappearastoundedwhentheyareoutofhispresence.Howwretchedwehavebeensinceyesterday;andhe！Youknowwhatheiswhenbeisdissatisfiedwithhimself.Noonedarespeaktohim，andallismournfularoundus.WhatacommissionhegavetoSavary！YouknowIdonotlikethegeneral，becauseheisoneofthosewhoseflatterieswillcontributetoruinBonaparte.Well！IpitiedSavarywhenhecameyesterdaytofulfilacommissionwhichtheDued’Enghienhadentrustedtohim.Here，"addedJosephine，"ishisportraitandalockofhishair，whichhehasrequestedmetotransmittoonewhowasdeartohim.SavaryalmostshedtearswhenhedescribedtomethelastmomentsoftheDuke;then，endeavouringtoresumehisself—possession，hesaid：’Itisinvaintotrytobeindifferent，Madame！Itisimpossibletowitnessthedeathofsuchamanunmoved！’"
Josephineafterwardsinformedmeoftheonlyactofcouragewhichoccurredatthisperiod——namely，theresignationwhichM.deChateaubriandhadsenttoBonaparte.Sheadmiredhisconductgreatly，andsaid："Whatapityheisnotsurroundedbymenofthisd...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：