登陆注册
5254900000082

第82章 CHAPTER XXII. THE BANNER OF GLORY.(1)

Four days had elapsed since Bonaparte's arrival at Rastadt, and the congress had profited by them in order to give the most brilliant festivals to the French general and his beautiful wife. All those ambassadors, counts, barons, bishops, and diplomatists seemed to have assembled at Rastadt for the sole purpose of giving banquets, tea-parties, and balls; no one thought of attending to business, and all more serious ideas seemed to have been utterly banished, while every one spoke of the gorgeous decorations of the ball-rooms and of the magnificence of the state dinners, where the most enthusiastic toasts were drunk in honor of the victorious French general; and the people seemed most anxious entirely to forget poor, suffering, and patient Germany.

Josephine participated in these festivities with her innate cheerfulness and vivacity. She was the queen of every party; every one was doing homage to her; every one was bent upon flattering her in order to catch an affable word, a pleasant glance from her; and, encouraged by her unvaried kindness, to solicit her intercession with her husband, in whose hands alone the destinies of the German princes and their states now seemed to lie.

But while Josephine's radiant smiles were delighting every one-- while she was promising to all to intercede for them with her husband, Bonaparte's countenance remained grave and moody, and it was only in a surly mood that he attended the festivals that were given in his honor. His threatening glances had frequently already been fixed upon his wife, and those moody apprehensions, ever alive in his jealous breast, had whispered to him: "Josephine has deceived you again! In order to silence your reproaches, she invented a beautiful story, in which there is not a word of truth, for the letter that was to call you back to Paris does not arrive, and the Directory keeps you here at Rastadt."

And while he was indulging in such reflections, his features assumed a sinister expression, and his lips muttered: "Woe to Josephine, if she should have deceived me!"

Thus the fourth day had arrived, and the Bavarian ambassador was to give a brilliant soiree. Bonaparte had promised to be present, but he had said to Josephine, in a threatening manner, that he would attend only if the expected courier from Paris did arrive in the course of the day, so that he might profit by the Bavarian ambassador's party to take leave of all those "fawning and slavish representatives of the German empire."

But no courier had made his appearance during the whole morning.

Bonaparte had retired to his closet and was pacing the room like an angry lion in his cage. All at once, however, the door was hastily opened, and Josephine entered with a radiant face, holding in her uplifted right hand a large sealed letter.

"Bonaparte!" she shouted, in a jubilant voice, "can you guess what I have got here?"

He ran toward her and wanted to seize the letter. But Josephine would not let him have it, and concealed it behind her back. "Stop, my dear sir," she said. "First you must beg my pardon for the evil thoughts I have read on your forehead during the last few days. Oh, my excellent general, you are a poor sinner, and I really do not know if I am at liberty to grant you absolution and to open the gates of paradise to you."

"But what have I done, Josephine?" he asked. "Was I not as patient as a lamb? Did I not allow myself to be led like a dancing-bear from festival to festival? Did I not look on with the patience of an angel while every one was making love to you, and while you were lavishing smiles and encouraging, kind glances in all directions?"

"What have you done, Bonaparte?" she retorted gravely. "You inwardly calumniated your Josephine. You accused her in your heart, and day and night the following words were written on your forehead in flaming characters: 'Josephine has deceived me.' Do you pretend to deny it, sir?"

"No," said Bonaparte, "I will not deny any thing, dear, lovely expounder of my heart! I confess my sins, and implore your forgiveness. But now, Josephine, be kind enough not to let me wait any longer. Let me have the letter!"

"Hush, sir! this letter is not directed to you, but to myself," replied Josephine, smiling.

Bonaparte angrily stamped his foot. "Not to me!" he exclaimed, furiously. "Then is it not from the Directory--it does not call me back from Rastadt?--"

"Hush, Bonaparte!" said Josephine, smiling, "must you always effervesce like the stormy sea that roared around your cradle, you big child? Be quiet now, and let me read the letter to you. Will you let me do so?"

"Yes, I will," said Bonaparte, hastily. "Read, I implore you, read!"

Josephine made a profound, ceremonious obeisance, and withdrawing her hand with the letter from her back, she unfolded several sheets of paper.

"Here is first a letter from my friend Botot," she said, "just listen:--'Citoyenne Generale: The Directory wished to send off to- day a courier with the enclosed dispatches to General Bonaparte. I induced the gentlemen, however, to intrust that dispatch to myself, and to permit me to send it to you instead of the general. It is to yourself chiefly that the general is indebted for the contents of this dispatch from the Directory. It is but just, therefore, Citoyenne, that you should have the pleasure of handing it to him.

Do so, Citoyenne, and at the same time beg your husband not to forget your and his friend.--Botot.' That is my letter Bonaparte, and here, my friend, is the enclosure for yourself. You see, I am devoid of the common weakness of woman, I am not inquisitive, for the seal is not violated, as you may see yourself."

And with a charming smile she handed the letter to Bonaparte. But he did not take it.

"Break the seal, my Josephine," he said, profoundly moved. "I want to learn the contents of the letter from your lips. If it should bring me evil tidings, they will sound less harshly when announced by you; is it joyful news, however, your voice will accompany it with the most beautiful music."

同类推荐
  • 至分水戍

    至分水戍

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Mysterious Island

    The Mysterious Island

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 解拳论

    解拳论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 汉魏南北朝墓志汇编

    汉魏南北朝墓志汇编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东北舆地释略

    东北舆地释略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 霸天武神

    霸天武神

    十万年前统治九天十地的将王皇朝崩塌,将王陨落,三大战将战死,血染九天十地!十万年后,三大战将之首李潇重生。身怀前世记忆,修炼无上功法,在这个万族鼎立,天才争锋,恢弘浩荡的世界中,镇万族,踏天骄,登天路,破苍穹!天地无间,唯我霸天!
  • 无限独步天下

    无限独步天下

    这是一个拥有穿越世界能力的家伙在别人的世界里搅风搅雨,在自己的浅水潭子里威压天下......几百上千年的故事。
  • 沧浪诗话

    沧浪诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 藏獒笔记之反盗猎可可西里

    藏獒笔记之反盗猎可可西里

    肖兵只身前往可可西里,加入反盗猎组织“暴风”,与凶残的盗猎者斗智斗勇、浴血搏杀……
  • 傀龙剑与无妄刀

    傀龙剑与无妄刀

    五十年前,一场起义战争拯救了天下,但就在万民被拯救于水火之中时,起义领袖易孤行却突然被迫坠崖身亡。五十年后,一个失忆的小子易天行突然现身江湖,他虽不谙武功但却凭借着自身的才智结识了不少的江湖好友,解决了无数江湖上的悬案,并且也在一点一点地接近着五十年前战争的真相。有感于江湖人事青山常在人易老,恩怨情仇何时了?名利富贵皆浮云,是非成败抛九霄。
  • 翻红身价的密码

    翻红身价的密码

    《翻红身价的密码》由欧阳吉强编著,按照本书中的方法操作,让自己成为自己想成为的那个样子,展现出大家风范,赚取更多的财富,拥有更高的身价。
  • 古尊宿语要目录

    古尊宿语要目录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 我本妖孽:美人在侧

    我本妖孽:美人在侧

    她庄周梦蝶般而来,却已有了两个月的身孕,这是,谁的孩子?向晚:这位公子,若你要劫财,我没有,若你要劫色,我更没有,我们无怨无仇,为什么你要……西临锦:真啰嗦。向晚:你是不是有个胞胎兄弟?西绮玉:这又是你新的勾引手段?装疯卖傻,欲拒还迎?向晚:我想要的,不是被折断的羽翼。莲陌:你若敢飞,我便让这天下,都是我的!
  • 倾世盛宠:落魄皇女要逆袭

    倾世盛宠:落魄皇女要逆袭

    “这硕大的皇城,是我从小到大生存之地,我厌恶里面那不眠不休的斗争算计,我小心翼翼步步为营,不是为的什么权倾朝野,而是早日离开这个是非之地。”大顺嫡公主,顺倾权,父亲为当今大顺的顺元皇帝,母亲为前郑国公嫡女奔逝的先皇后,舅舅又是权倾朝野的一品郑国公,生于皇族,却低贱如仆,无人爱,无人宠,无人疼,只因七月半天胎,终为不祥。生如瘦弱小兽,无力自保,放火烧殿,买凶杀人,逐放庙宇……在皇城后宫的弱肉强食被逼绝境,总有一权力之手在后面暗害,事已至此不得不崛起反抗,初露獠牙,为求安稳。极力保命,请求太后庇护,只为求得成年之后,走出皇城,追寻命途,执子之手,共闯三国四海五境,命运难料,生死难卜,一并共赴天下。“世人总是嘲弄我身世地位,可我偏偏不觉得我哪儿不如人,论尊贵,那些嘲讽之人,有几人是比我高贵的?说我算计,说我狼子野心,确实是不假,可如今,你们用顺倾权的性命要挟我,天要亡我,我先灭天!地若灭我,我必毁地!人若阻我,我必杀之!天上地下,今日,无人可阻我!”大夏王朝朝历长公主之子,苏瑾言,是朝历长公主与昔年西南苏靖王之子,由于出生时父亲已经离世,便被朝历长公主自出生便贴身带于西北顾家之中,年少之时,便已经懂得自己的责任和义务,由于朝历长公主之前未有与自己的父亲苏靖王成婚,所以身份处处被人在暗地里面嗤以笑之,他不卑不亢,精于算计,算计了天下众人却把自己算进到她的心里面去,自此之后,三国四海五境,全力以护。“长恨人心不如水,等闲平地起波澜。”北国驯龙密族之后,在家族被官场中人所害全部灭族仅剩下自己一人,抹去过往名字,自称自己为“长恨”,信仰北国密教千面教,在被灭族之时身患重伤被误以为贱奴而被押送至大顺处刑,恰好被顺倾权所救,许诺为顺倾权杀死三人,并在顺倾权在北国探寻冰龙秘史之时告诉顺倾权自己的家族身份,助力顺倾权养训冰龙,因心怀仇恨终究不得释怀,守护顺倾权多时。
  • 全隋文

    全隋文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。