InFebruary1815，whileeverythingwaspreparingatElbafortheapproachingdepartureofNapoleon，MuratappliedtotheCourtofViennaforleavetomarchthroughtheAustrianProvincesofUpperItalyanarmydirectedonFrance.Itwasonthe26thofthesamemonththatBonaparteescapedfromElba.Thesetwofactswerenecessarilyconnectedtogether，for，inspiteofMurat’sextravagantideas，henevercouldhaveentertainedtheexpectationofobligingtheKingofFrance，bythemereforceofarms，toacknowledgehiscontinuedpossessionofthethroneofNaples.SincethereturnofLouisXVIII.theCabinetoftheTuilerieshadneverregardedMuratinanyotherlightthanasausurper，andIknowfromgoodauthoritythattheFrenchPlenipotentiariesattheCongressofViennawereespeciallyinstructedtoinsistthattherestorationofthethroneofNaplesinfavouroftheBourbonsoftheTwoSiciliesshouldbeaconsequenceoftherestorationofthethroneofFrance.IalsoknowthatthepropositionwasfirmlyopposedonthepartofAustria，whohadalwaysviewedwithjealousytheoccupationofthreethronesofEuropebythesingleHouseofBourbon.
Accordingtoinformation，fortheauthenticityofwhichIcanvouch，thefollowingweretheplanswhichNapoleonconceivedatElba.AlmostimmediatelyafterhisarrivalinFrancehewastoordertheMarshalsonwhomhecouldbestrelytodefendtotheutmosttheentrancestotheFrenchterritoryandtheapproachestoParis，bypivotingonthetriplelineoffortresseswhichgirdthenorthandeastofFrance.Davoustwas’inpetto’singledoutforthedefenceofParis.He，wastoarmtheinhabitantsofthesuburbs，andtohave，besides，20，000menoftheNationalGuardathisdisposal.Napoleon，notbeingawareofthesituationoftheAllies，neversupposedthattheycouldconcentratetheirforcesandmarchagainsthimsospeedilyastheydid.Hehopedtotakethembysurprise，anddefeattheirprojects，bymakingMuratmarchuponMilan，andbystirringupinsurrectionsinItaly.ThePobeingoncecrossed，andMuratapproachingthecapitalofLombardy，NapoleonwiththecorpsofSuchet，Brune，Grouchy，andMassena，augmentedbytroopssent，byforcedmarches，toLyons，wastocrosstheAlpsandrevolutionisePiedmont.There，havingrecruitedhisarmyandjoinedtheNeapolitansinMilan，hewastoproclaimtheindependenceofItaly，unitethewholecountryunderasinglechief，andthenmarchattheheadof100，000menonVienna，bytheJulianAlps，acrosswhichvictoryhadconductedhimin1797.Thiswasnotall：numerousemissariesscatteredthroughPolandandHungaryweretofomentdiscordandraisethecryoflibertyandindependence，toalarmRussiaandAustria.ItmustbeconfesseditwouldhavebeenanextraordinaryspectacletoseeNapoleongivinglibertytoEuropeinrevengefornothavingsucceededinenslavingher.
BymeansoftheseboldmanoeuvresandvastcombinationsNapoleoncalculatedthathewouldhavetheadvantageoftheinitiativeinmilitaryoperations.Perhapshisgeniuswasnevermorefullydevelopedthaninthisvastconception.Accordingtothisplanhewastoextendhisoperationsoveralineof500leagues，fromOstendtoVienna，bytheAlpsandItaly，toprovidehimselfwithimmenseresourcesofeverykind，topreventtheEmperorofAustriafrommarchinghistroopsagainstFrance，andprobablyforcehimtoterminateawarfromwhichthehereditaryprovinceswouldhaveexclusivelysuffered.SuchwasthebrightprospectwhichpresenteditselftoNapoleonwhenhesteppedonboardthevesselwhichwastoconveyhimfromElbatoFrance.ButthemadprecipitationofMuratputEuropeonthealert，andthebrilliantillusionvanishedlikeadream.
Afterbeingassuredthatallwastranquil，andthattheRoyalfamilywassecureagainsteverydanger，Imyselfsetoutatfouro’clockonthemorningofthe20thofMarch，takingtheroadtoLille.——NothingextraordinaryoccurreduntilIarrivedatthepost—officeofFins，infrontofwhichweredrawnupagreatnumberofcarriages，whichhadarrivedbeforemine，andtheownersofwhich，likemyself，wereimpatientlywaitingforhorses.Isoonobservedthatsomeonecalledthepostmasterasideinawaywhichdidnotappearentirelydevoidofmystery，andIacknowledgeIfeltsomedegreeofalarm.Iwasintheroominwhichthetravellerswerewaiting，andmyattentionwasattractedbyalargebillfixedagainstthewall.ItwasprintedinFrenchandRussian，anditprovedtobetheorderofthedaywhichIhadbeenfortunateenoughtoobtainfromtheEmperorAlexandertoexemptposthorses，etc.，fromtherequisitionsoftheAlliedtroops.
Iwasstandinglookingatthebillwhenthepostmastercameintotheroomandadvancedtowardsme."Sir，"saidhe，"thatisanorderofthedaywhichsavedmefromruin."——"Thensurelyyouwouldnotharmthemanbywhomitissigned？"——"Iknowyou，sir，Irecognisedyouimmediately.
IsawyouinPariswhenyouwereDirectorofthePost—office，andyougrantedajustclaimwhichIhaduponyou.Ihavenowcometotellyouthattheyareharnessingtwohorsestoyourcalash，andyoumaysetoffatfullspeed."Theworthymanhadassignedtomyusetheonlytwohorsesathisdisposal;hissonperformedtheofficeofpostilion，andI
setofftothenosmalldissatisfactionofsomeofthetravellerswhohadarrivedbeforeme，andwho，perhaps，hadasgoodreasonsasItoavoidthepresenceofNapoleon.
WearrivedatLilleateleveno’clockonthenightofthe21st.HereI
encounteredanothervexation，thoughnotofanalarmingkind.Thegatesofthetownwereclosed，andIwasobligedtocontentmyselfwithamiserablenight’slodginginthesuburb.
IenteredLilleonthe22d，andLouisXVIII.arrivedonthe23d.HisMajestyalsofoundthegatesclosed，andmorethananhourelapsedbeforeanordercouldbeobtainedforopeningthem，fortheDukeofOrleans，whocommandedthetown，wasinspectingthetroopswhenhisMajestyarrived.
TheKingwasperfectlywellreceivedatLille.Thereindeedappearedsomesymptomsofdefection，butitmustbeacknowledgedthattheofficersoftheoldarmyhadbeensosingularlysacrificedtothepromotionofthereturnedemigrantsthatitwasverynaturaltheformershouldhailthereturnofthemanwhohadsooftenledthemtovictory.IputupattheHoteldeGrand，certainlywithoutforminganyprognosticrespectingthefutureresidenceoftheKing.WhenIsawhisMajesty’sretinueIwentdownandstoodatthedoorofthehotel，whereassoonasLouisXVIII.
perceivedmehedistinguishedmefromamongallthepersonswhowereawaitinghisarrival，andholdingouthishandformetokisshesaid，"Followme，M.deBourrienne."
OnenteringtheapartmentspreparedforhimtheKingexpressedtomehisapprovalofmyconductsincetheRestoration，andespeciallyduringtheshortintervalinwhichIhaddischargedthefunctionsofPrefectofthePolice.Hedidmethehonourtoinvitemetobreakfastwithhim.Theconversationnaturallyturnedontheeventsoftheday，ofwhicheveryonepresentspokeaccordingtohishopesorfears.ObservingthatLouisXVIII.concurredinBerthier’sdiscouragingviewofaffairs，IventuredtorepeatwhatIhadalreadysaidattheTuileries，that，judgingfromthedispositionofthesovereignsofEuropeandtheinformationwhichI
hadreceived，itappearedveryprobablethathisMajestywouldbeagainseatedonhisthroneinthreemonths.BerthierbithisnailsashedidwhenhewantedtoleavethearmyofEgyptandreturntoParistotheobjectofhisadoration.Berthierwasnothopeful;hewasalwaysoneofthosemenwhohavetheleastconfidenceandthemostdepression.IcouldperceivethattheKingregardedmyobservationasoneofthosecomplimentswhichhewasaccustomedtoreceive，andthathehadnogreatconfidenceinthefulfilmentofmyprediction.However，wishingtoseemtobelieveit，hesaid，whathehadmorethanhintedbefore，"M.deBourrienne，aslongasIamKingyoushallbemyPrefectofthePolice."
ItwasthedecidedintentionofLouisXVIII.toremaininFranceaslongashecould，buttheNapoleonicfever，whichspreadlikeanepidemicamongthetroops，hadinfectedthegarrisonofLille.MarshalMortier，whocommandedatLille，andtheDukeofOrleans，expressedtometheirwell—foundedfears，andrepeatedlyrecommendedmetourgetheKingtoquitLillespeedily，inordertoavoidanyfataloccurrence.DuringthetwodaysIpassedwithhisMajestyIentreatedhimtoyieldtotheimperiouscircumstancesinwhichhewasplaced.AtlengththeKing，withdeepregret，consentedtogo，andIleftLillethedaybeforethatfixedforhisMajesty’sdeparture.
InSeptember1814theKinghadappointedmecharged’affairesfromFrancetoHamburg，butnothavingreceivedorderstorepairtomypostIhavenothithertomentionedthisnomination.However，whenLouisXVIII.wasonthepointofleavingFrancehethoughtthatmypresenceinHamburgmightbeusefulforthepurposeofmakinghimacquaintedwithallthatmightinteresthiminthenorthofGermany.Butitwasnottherethatdangerwastobeapprehended.Thereweretwopointstobewatched——theheadquartersofNapoleonandtheKing’sCouncilatGhent.I，however，lostnotimeinrepairingtoacitywhereIwassureoffindingagreatmanyfriends.OnpassingthroughBrusselsIalightedattheHoteldeBellevue，wheretheDucdeBerriarrivedshortlyafterme.HisRoyalHighnesstheninvitedmetobreakfastwithhim，andconversedwithmeveryconfidentially.Iafterwardscontinuedmyjourney.
CHAPTERVI.
1815.
MessagetoMadamedeBourrienneonthe20thofMarch——Napoleon’snocturnalentranceintoParis——GeneralBectonsenttomyfamilybyCaulaincourt——Recollectionofoldpersecutions——GeneralDriesen——
Solutionofanenigma——Sealsplacedonmyeffects——Uselesssearches——Persecutionofwomen——MadamedeStaelandMadamedeRecamier——
ParisduringtheHundredDays——Thefederatesandpatrioticsongs——
DeclarationofthePlenipotentiariesatVienna.
AtLille，andagainatHamburg，Ireceivedlettersfrommyfamily，whichIhadlookedforwithgreatimpatience.TheycontainedparticularsofwhathadoccurredrelativetomesinceBonaparte’sreturntoParis.
TwohoursaftermydepartureMadamedeBourriennealsoleftParis，accompaniedbyherchildren，andproceededtoanasylumwhichhadbeenofferedhersevenleaguesfromthecapital.SheleftatmyhouseinParishersister，twoofherbrothers，andherfriendtheComtessedeNeuilly，whohadresidedwithussinceherreturnfromtheemigration.
Ontheverymorningofmywife’sdeparture（namely，the20thofMarch）aperson，withwhomIhadalwaysbeenontermsoffriendship，andwhowasentirelydevotedtoBonaparte，senttorequestthatMadamedeBourriennewouldcallonhim，ashewishedtospeaktoheronmostimportantandurgentbusiness.Mysister—in—lawinformedthemessengerthatmywifehadleftParis，but，beggingafriendtoaccompanyher，shewentherselftotheindividual，whosenamewillbeprobablyguessed，thoughIdonotmentionit.ThepersonwhocamewiththemessagetomyhouseputmanyquestionstoMadamedeBourrienne’ssisterrespectingmyabsence，andadvisedher，aboveallthings，toconjuremenottofollowtheKing，observingthatthecauseofLouisXVIII.wasutterlylost，andthatI
shoulddowelltoretirequietlytoBurgundy，astherewasnodoubtofmyobtainingtheEmperor’spardon.
NothingcouldbemoregloomythanBonaparte’sentranceintoParis.Hearrivedatnightinthemidstofathickfog.Thestreetswerealmostdeserted，andavaguefeelingofterrorprevailedalmostgenerallyinthecapital.
Atnineo’clockonthesameevening，theveryhourofBonaparte’sarrivalattheTuileries，alady，afriend，ofmyfamily，andwhosesonservedintheYoungGuard，calledandrequestedtoseeMadamedeBourrienne.Sherefusedtoenterthehouselestsheshouldbeseen，andmysister—in—lawwentdowntothegardentospeaktoherwithoutalight.Thislady’sbrotherhadbeenontheprecedingnighttoFontainebleautoseeBonaparte，andhehaddirectedhissistertodesiremetoremaininParis，andtoretainmypostinthePrefectureofthePolice，asIwassureofafullandcompletepardon.
Onthemorningofthe21stGeneralBecton，whohassincebeenthevictimofhismadenterprises，calledatmyhouseandrequestedtospeakwithmeandMadamedeBourrienne.Hewasreceivedbymywife’ssisterandbrothers，andstatedthathecamefromM.deCaulaincourttorenewtheassurancesofsafetywhichhadalreadybeengiventome.Iwas，I
confess，verysensibleoftheseproofsoffriendshipwhentheycametomyknowledge，butIdidnotforasinglemomentrepentthecourseIadopted.
IcouldnotforgettheintriguesofwhichIhadbeentheobjectsince1811，northecontinualthreatsofarrestwhich，duringthatyear，hadnotleftmeamoment’squiet;andsinceInowreverttothattime，Imaytaketheopportunityofexplaininghowin1814IwasmadeacquaintedwiththerealcausesofthepersecutiontowhichIhadbeenaprey.Aperson，whosenameprudenceforbidsmementioning，communicatedtomethefollowingletter，theoriginalcopyofwhichisinmypossession：
MONSIEURLEDUCDEBASSANO——IsendyousomeveryimportantdocumentsrespectingtheSieurBourrienne，andbegyouwillmakemeaconfidentialreportonthisaffair.Keepthesedocumentsforyourselfalone.Thisbusinessdemandstheutmostsecrecy.
EverythinginducesmetobelievethatBourriennehascarriedaseriesofintrigueswithLondon.BringmethereportonThursday.
IprayGod，etc.
（Signed）NAPOLEON
PARIS，25thDecember1811.
Icouldnowclearlyperceivewhattomehadhithertobeenenvelopedinobscurity;butIwasnot，asyet，madeacquaintedwiththedocumentsmentionedinNapoleon’sepistle.Still，however，thecauseofhisanimositywasanenigmawhichIwasunabletoguess，butIobtaineditssolutionsometimeafterwards.
GeneralDriesen，whowastheGovernorofMittauwhileLouisXVIII.
residedinthattown，cametoParisin1814.Ihadbeenwellacquaintedwithhimin1810atHamburg，wherehelivedforaconsiderabletime.
WhileatMittauheconceivedachivalrousandenthusiasticfriendshipfortheKingofFrance.Wewereatfirstdistrustfulofeachother，butafterwardsthemostintimateconfidencearosebetweenus.GeneralDriesenlookedforwardwithcertaintytothereturnoftheBourbonstoFrance，andinthecourseofourfrequentconversationsonhisfavouritethemehegraduallythrewoffallreserve，andatlengthdisclosedtomethathewasmaintainingacorrespondencewiththeKing.
HetoldmethathehadsenttoHartwellseveraldraftsofproclamations，withnoneofwhich，hesaid，theKingwassatisfied.OnallowingmethecopyofthelastofthesedraftsIfranklytoldhimthatIwasquiteoftheKing’sopinionastoitsunfitness.IobservedthatiftheKingshouldonedayreturntoFranceandactasthegeneraladvisedhewouldnotkeeppossessionofhisthronesixmonths.Driesenthenrequestedmetodictateadraftofaproclamationconformablywithmyideas.ThisI
consentedtodoononecondition，viz.thathewouldnevermentionmynameinconnectionwiththebusiness，eitherinwritingorconversation.
GeneralDriesenpromisedthis，andthenIdictatedtohimadraftwhichI
wouldnowcandidlylaybeforethereaderifIhadacopyofit.ImayaddthatinthedifferentproclamationsofLouisXVIII.IremarkedseveralpassagespreciselycorrespondingwiththedraftIhaddictatedatHamburg.
DuringthefouryearswhichintervenedbetweenmyreturntoParisandthedownfalloftheEmpireitseveraltimesoccurredtomethatGeneralDriesenhadbetrayedmysecret，andonhisveryfirstvisittomeaftertheRestoration，ourconversationhappeningtoturnonHamburg，IaskedhimwhetherhehadnotdisclosedwhatIwishedhimtoconceal？"Well，"
saidhe，"thereisnoharmintellingthetruthnow.AfteryouhadleftHamburgtheKingwrotetomeinquiringthenameoftheauthorofthelastdraftIhadsenthim，whichwasverydifferentfromallthathadprecededit.Ididnotanswerthisquestion，buttheKinghavingrepeateditinasecondletter，andhavingdemandedananswer，Iwascompelledtobreakmypromisetoyou，andIputintothepost—officeofGothenberginSwedenaletterfortheKing，inwhichImentionedyourname."
Themysterywasnowrevealedtome.IclearlysawwhathadexcitedinNapoleon’smindthesuspicionthatIwascarryingonintrigueswithEngland.Ihavenodoubtastothewayinwhichtheaffaircametohisknowledge.TheKingmusthavedisclosedmynametooneofthosepersonswhosesituationsplacedthemabovethesuspicionofanybetrayalofconfidence，andthusthecircumstancemusthavereachedtheearofBonaparte.Thisisnotamerehypothesis，forIwellknowhowpromptlyandfaithfullyNapoleonwasinformedofallthatwassaidanddoneatHartwell.
HavingshownGeneralDrieaenNapoleon’saccusatoryletter，hebeggedthatIwouldentrusthimwithitforadayortwo，sayinghewouldshowittotheKingataprivateaudience.Hisobjectwastoserveme，andtoexciteLouisXVIII.’sinterestinmybehalf，bybrieflyrelatingtohimthewholeaffair.ThegeneralcametomeonleavingtileTuileries，andassuredmethattheKingafterperusingtheletter，hadthegreatkindnesstoobservethatImightthinkmyselfveryhappyinnothavingbeenshot.IknownotwhetherNapoleonwasafterwardsinformedofthedetailsofthisaffair，whichcertainlyhadnoconnectionwithanyintrigueswithEngland，andwhich，afterall，wouldhavebeenamerepeccadilloincomparison，withtheconductIthoughtitmydutytoadoptatthetimeoftheRestoration.
MeanwhileMadamedeBourrienneinformedmebyanexpressthatsealsweretobeplacedontheeffectsofallthepersonsincludedinthedecreeofLyons，andconsequentlyuponmine.AssoonasmywifereceivedinformationofthisshequittedherretreatandrepairedtoParistofacethestorm.Onthe29thofMarch，atnineintheevening，thepoliceagentspresentedthemselvesatmyhouse.MadamedeBourrienneremonstratedagainstthemeasureandtheinconvenienthourthatwaschosenforitsexecution;butallwasinvain，andtherewasnoalternativebuttosubmit.
ButthematterdidnotendwiththefirstformalitiesperformedbyFouche’salguazils.DuringthemonthofMaysevenpersonswereappointedtoexamine，mypapers，andamongtheinquisitorialseptemvirateweretwomenwellknownandfillinghighsituations.Oneoftheseexecutedhiscommission，buttheother，sensibleoftheodiumattachedtoit，wrotetosayhewasunwell，andnevercame.Thenumberofmyinquisitors，’indomo’，wasthusreducedtosix.Theybehavedwithgreatrudeness，andexecutedtheirmissionwitharigourandseverityexceedinglypainfultomyfamily.Theycarriedtheirsearchsofarastorummagethepocketsofmyoldclothes，andeventounripthelinings.AllthiswasdoneinthehopeoffindingsomethingthatwouldcommitmeintheeyesofthenewmasterofFrance.ButIwasnottobecaughtinthatway，andbeforeleavinghomeIhadtakensuchprecautionsastosetmymindperfectlyatease.
However，thosewhohaddeclaredthemselvesstronglyagainstNapoleonwerenottheonlypersonswhohadreasontobealarmedathisreturn.Womeneven，byasystemofinquisitionunworthyoftheEmperor，butunfortunatelyquiteinunisonwithhishatredofallliberty，werecondemnedtoexile，andhadcausetoapprehendfurtherseverity.ItisfortheexclusiveadmirersoftheChiefoftheEmpiretoapproveofeverythingwhichproceededfromhim，evenhisrigouragainstadefencelesssex;itisforthemtolaughatthemiseryofawoman，andawriterofgenius，condemnedwithoutanyformoftrialtothemostseverepunishmentshortofdeath.Formypart，IsawneitherjusticenorpleasantryintheexileofMadamedeChevreuseforhavinghadthecourage（andcouragewasnotcommonthenevenamongmen）tosaythatshewasnotmadetobethegaoleroftheQueenofSpain.OnNapoleon’sreturnfrom.
theisleofElba，MadamedeStaelwasinastateofweakness，whichrenderedherunabletobearanysuddenandviolentemotion.ThisdebilitatedstateofhealthhadbeenproducedbyherflightfromCoppettoRussiaimmediatelyafterthebirthofthesonwhowasthefruitofhermarriagewithM.Rocca.Inspiteofthedangerofajourneyinsuchcircumstancesshesawgreaterdangerinstayingwhereshewas，andshesetoutonhernewexile.Thatexilewasnotoflongduration，butMadamedeStaelneverrecoveredfromtheeffectofthealarmandfatigueitoccasionedher.
ThenameoftheauthoressofCorinne，naturallycallstomindthatofthefriendwhowasmostfaithfultoherinmisfortune，andwhowasnotherselfscreenedfromtheseverityofNapoleonbythejustanduniversaladmirationofwhichshewastheobject.In1815MadameRecamierdidnotleaveParis，towhichshehadreturnedin1814，thoughherexilewasnotrevoked.IknowpositivelythatHortenseassuredherofthepleasureshewouldfeelinreceivingher，andthatMadameRecamier，asanexcusefordecliningtheperiloushonour，observedthatshehaddeterminedneveragaintoappearintheworldaslongasherfriendsshouldbepersecuted.
ThememorialdeSainteHelene，referringtotheoriginoftheill—willoftheChiefoftheEmpiretowardsthesocietyofMadamedeStaelandMadameRecamier，etc.，seemstoreproachMadameRecamier，"accustomed，"saystheMemorial，"toaskforeverythingandtoobtaineverything，"forhavingclaimednothinglessthanthecompletereinstatementofherfather.
WhatevermayhavebeenthepretensionsofMadameRecamier，Bonaparte，notalittleaddictedtothecustomhecomplainsofinher，couldnothave，withagoodgrace，madeacrimeofheringratitudeifheonhissidehadnotclaimedaverydifferentsentimentfromgratitude.IwaswiththeFirstConsulatthetimeM.Bernard，thefatherofMadameReamier，wasaccused，andIhavenotforgottenonwhatconditionsthere—establishmentwouldhavebeengranted.
ThefrequentinterviewsbetweenMadameRecamierandMadamedeStaelwerenotcalculatedtobringNapoleontosentimentsandmeasuresofmoderation.Hebecamemoreandmoreirritatedatthisfriendshipbetweentwowomenformedforeachother’ssociety;and，ontheoccasionofoneofMadameRecamier’sjourneystoCoppetheinformedher，throughthemediumofFouche，thatshewasperfectlyatlibertytogotoSwitzerland，butnottoreturntoParis."Ah，Monseigneur！agreatmanmaybepardonedfortheweaknessoflovingwomen，butnotforfearingthem."ThiswastheonlyreplyofMadameRecamiertoFouchewhenshesetoutforCoppet.
ImayhereobservethatthepersonalprejudicesoftheEmperorwouldnothavebeenofaperseveringandviolentcharacterifsomeofthepeoplewhosurroundedhimhadnotsoughttofomentthem.Imyselffellavictimtothis.Napoleon’saffectionformewould...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：