memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v8-第14章
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in Egypt； nor the great projects which you enfolded to me to relieve the
solitude and sometimes the weariness of the cabinet of Cairo。 Besides； I
long since knew your opinion of Amedee； of his fidelity； his ability；
and his courage。 I felt convinced； therefore； that he had a mission to
the Shah of Persia。〃〃You guessed right； but I beg of you； Bourrienne；
say nothing of this to any person whatever。 Secrecy on this point is of
grew importance。 The English would do him an ill turn； for they are well
aware that my views are directed against their possessions and their
influence in the East。〃〃I think； Sire； that my answer to Anedee's
worthy father is a sufficient guarantee for my discretion。 Besides； it
was a mere supposition on my part； and I could have stated nothing with
certainty before your Majesty had the kindness to inform me of the fact。
Instead of going to Hamburg； if your Majesty pleases； I will join
Jaubert； accompany him to Persia； and undertake half his mission。〃
〃How！ would you go with him？〃〃Yes； Sire； I am much attached to him。 He
is an excellent man； and I am sure that he would not be sorry to have me
with him。〃〃 But 。 。 。 Stop； Bourrienne； 。 。 。 this； perhaps；
would not be a bad idea。 You know a little of the East。 You are
accustomed to the climate。 You could assist Jaubert 。 。 。 。 But。 。
。 。 。 No。 daubert must be already far off I； fear you could not
overtake him。 And besides you have a numerous family。 You will be more
useful to me in Germany。 All things considered； go to Hamburgyou know
the country； and； what is better you speak the language。〃
I could see that Bonaparte still had something to say to me。 As we were
walking up and down the room he stopped； and looking at me with an
expression of sadness； he said； 〃Bourrienne； you must； before I proceed
to Italy； do me a service。 You sometimes visit my wife； and it is right；
it is fit you should。 You have been too long one of the family not to
continue your friendship with her。 Go to her。
＇This employment of Bourrienne to remonstrate with Josephine is a
complete answer to the charge sometimes made that Napoleon； while
scolding； really encouraged the foolish expenses of his wife； as
keeping her under his control。 Josephine was incorrigible。 〃On the
very day of her death；〃 says Madame de Remusat 〃she wished to put on
a very pretty dressing…gown because she thought the Emperor of
Russia would perhaps come to see her。 She died all covered with
ribbons and rose…colored satin。〃 〃One would not； sure； be frightful
when one's dead！〃 As for Josephine's great faulther failure to
give Napoleon an heirhe did not always wish for one。 In 1802； on
his brother Jerome jokingly advising Josephine to give the Consul a
little Caesar。 Napoleon broke out； 〃Yea； that he may end in the
same manner as that of Alexander？ Believe me； Messieurs； that at
the present time it is better not to have children： I mean when one
is condemned to role nations。〃 The fate of the King of Rome shows
that the exclamation was only too true！＇
Endeavour once more to make her sensible of her mad extravagance。 Every
day I discover new instances of it； and it distresses me。 When I speak
to heron the subject I am vexed； I get angryshe weeps。 I forgive
her； I pay her billsshe makes fair promises； but the same thing occurs
over and over again。 If she had only borne me a child！ It is the
torment of my life not to have a child。 I plainly perceive that my power
will never be firmly established until I have one。 If I die without an
heir； not one of my brothers is capable of supplying my place。 All is
begun； but nothing is ended。 God knows what will happen！ Go and see
Josephine； and do not forget my injunctions。。〃
Then he resumed the gaiety which he had exhibited at intervals during our
conversation； far clouds driven by the wind do not traverse the horizon
with such rapidity as different ideas and sensations succeeded each other
m Napoleon's mind。 He dismissed me with his usual nod of the head； and
seeing him in such good humour I said on departing； 〃well； Sire； you are
going to hear the old bell of Brienne。 I have no doubt it will please
you better than the bells of Ruel。〃 He replied； 〃That's treeyou are
right。 Adieu！〃
Such are my recollections of this conversation； which lasted for more
than an hour and a half。 We walked about all the time； for Bonaparte was
indefatigable in audiences of this sort； and would； I believe； have
walked and talked for a whole day without being aware of it。 I left him；
and； according to his desire； went to see Madame Bonaparte； which indeed
I had intended to do before he requested it。
I found Josephine with Madame de la Rochefoucauld； who had long been in
her suite； and who a short time before had obtained the title of lady of
honour to the Empress。 Madame de la Rochefoucauld was a very amiable
woman； of mild disposition； and was a favourite with Josephine。 When I
told the Empress that I had just left the Emperor； she； thinking that I
would not speak freely before a third person； made a sign to Madame de la
Rochefoucauld to retire。 I had no trouble in introducing the
conversation on the subject concerning which Napoleon had directed me to
speak to Josephine； for； after the interchange of a few indifferent
remarks； she herself told me of a violent scene； which had occurred
between her and the Emperor two days before。 〃When I wrote to you
yesterday；〃 said she； 〃to announce your appointment； and to tell you that
Bonaparte would recall you； I hoped that you would come to see me on
quitting him； but I did not think that he would have sent for you so
soon。 Ah！ how I wish that you were still with him； Bourrienne； you
could make him hear reason。 I know not who takes pleasure in bearing
tales to him； but really I think there are persons busy everywhere in
finding out my debts； and telling him of them。〃
These complaints； so gently uttered by Josephine rendered less difficult
the preparatory mission with which I commenced the exercise of my
diplomatic functions。 I acquainted Madame Bonaparte with all that the
Emperor had said to me。 I reminded her of the affair of the 1；200；000
francs which we had settled with half that sum。 I even dropped some
allusions to the promises she had made。
〃How can I help it？〃 Said she。 〃Is it my fault？〃 Josephine uttered
these words in a tone of sincerity which was at once affecting and
ludicrous。 〃All sorts of beautiful things are brought to me；〃 she
continued； 〃they are praised up； I buy themI am not asked for the
money； and all of a sudden； when I have got none； they come upon me with
demands for payment。 This reaches Napoleon's ears； and he gets angry。
When I have money； Bourrienne you know how I employ it。 I give it
principally to the unfortunate who solicit my assistance； and to poor
emigants。 But I will try to be more economical in future。 Tell him so
if you see him again； But is it not my duty to bestow as much in charity
as I can？〃〃Yes； Madame； but permit me to say that nothing requires
greater discernment than the distribution of chaxity。 If you had always
sat upon a throne you might have always supposed that your bounty always
fall into the hands of the deserving； but you cannot be ignorant that it
oftener falls to the lot of intrigue than to the meritorious needy。
I cannot disguise from you that the Emperor was very earnest when he
spoke on this subject； and he desired me to tell you so。〃〃Did he
reproach me with nothing else？〃〃No Madame。 You know the influence you
have over him with respect to everything but what relates to politics。
Allow a faithful and sincere friend to prevail upon you seriously not to
vex him on this point。〃〃Bourrienne； I give you my word。 Adieu！ my
friend。〃
In communicating to Josephine what the Emperor had said to me I took care
not to touch a chord which would have awakened feelings far more painful
to her than even the Emperor's harsh reproof on account of her
extravagance。 Poor Josephine！ how I should have afflicted her had I
uttered a word of Bonaparte's
