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is the only capable one。
〃My Italian people＇52＇ must know me well enough not to forget that
there is more in my little finger than in all their brains put
together。〃
Alongside of him； they are children； 〃minors；〃 the French also； and
likewise the rest of mankind。 A diplomat； who often saw him and
studied him under all as aspects； sums up his character in one
conclusive phrase：
〃He considered himself an isolated being in this world； made to govern
and direct all minds as he pleased。〃＇53＇
Hence； whoever has anything to do with him； must abandon his
independence and become his tool of government。
〃That terrible man；〃 often exclaimed Decrés＇54＇ 〃has subjugated us
all！ He holds all our imaginations in his hands； now of steel and now
of velvet； but whether one or the other during the day nobody knows；
and there is no way to escape from them whatever they seize on they
never let go！〃
Independence of any kind； even eventual and merely possible； puts him
in a bad mood； intellectual or moral superiority is of this order； and
he gradually gets rid of it；＇55＇ toward the end he no longer tolerates
alongside of him any but subject or captive spirits。 His principal
servants are machines or fanatics； a devout worshipper； like Maret； a
gendarme； like Savary；＇56＇ ready to do his bidding。 From the outset；
he has reduced his ministers to the condition of clerks； for he is
administrator as well as ruler； and in each department he watches
details as closely as the entire mass。 Accordingly； he requires
simply for head of departments active pen pushers； mute executors；
docile and special hands； no need for honest and independent advisers。
〃I should not know what to do with them；〃 he said； 〃if they were not
to a certain extent mediocre in mind and character。〃
As to his generals； he admits himself that 〃he likes to award fame
only to those who cannot stand it。〃 In any event； 〃he must be sole
master in making or unmaking reputations；〃 according to his personal
requirements。 Too brilliant a soldier would become too important； a
subordinate should never be tempted to be less submissive。 To this
end he studies what he will omit in his bulletins； what alterations
and what changes shall be made in them。
〃It is convenient to keep silent about certain victories； or to
convert the defeat of this or that marshal into a success。 Sometimes
a general learns by a bulletin of an action that he was never in and
of a speech that he never made。〃
If he complains； he is notified to keep still； or by way of recompense
he is allowed to pillage； levy contributions； and enrich himself。 On
becoming duke or hereditary prince； with half a million or a million
of revenue from his estate； he is not less held in subjection； for the
creator has taken precautions against his own creations。
〃There are men；〃＇57＇ he said； 〃who I have made independent； but I know
well where to find them and keep them from being ungrateful。〃
In effect； if he has endowed them magnificently it is with domains
assigned to them in conquered countries； which insures their fortune
being his fortune。 Besides； in order that they may not enjoy any
pecuniary stability； he expressly encourages them and all his grand
dignitaries to make extravagant outlays； thus； through their financial
embarrassments be holds them in a leash。 〃We have seen most of his
marshals； constantly pressed by their creditors； come to him for
assistance； which he has given as he fancied； or as he found it for
his interest to attach some one to him。〃＇58＇
Thus； beyond the universal ascendancy which his power and genius have
conferred on him； he craves a personal； supplementary； and
irresistible hold on everybody。 Consequently；＇59＇〃he carefully
cultivates all the bad passions 。 。 。 。 he is glad to find the bad
side in a man； so as to get him in his power〃； the thirst for money in
Savary； the Jacobin defects of Fouché； the vanity and sensuality of
Cambacérès； the careless cynicism and 〃the easy immorality〃 of
Talleyrand； the 〃dry bluntness 〃 of Duroc； the courtier…like
insipidity of Maret； 〃the silliness〃 of Berthier； he brings this out；
diverts himself with it； and profits by it。 〃Where he sees no vice；
he encourages weaknesses； and； in default of anything better； he
provokes fear； so that he may be ever and continually the strongest。 。
。 。He dreads ties of affection； and strives to alienate people from
each other。 。 。 。 He sells his favors only by arousing anxiety； he
thinks that the best way to attach individuals to him is to compromise
them； and often； even； to ruin them in public opinion。〃 … 〃 If
Caulaincourt is compromised；〃 said he； after the murder of the Duc
d'Enghien； 〃it is no great matter； he will serve me all the better。〃
Once that the creature is in his clutches； let him not imagine that he
can escape or withhold anything of his own accord； all that he has
belongs to him。 Zeal and success in the performance of duty； punctual
obedience within limits previously designated； is not enough； behind
the functionary he claims the man。 〃All that may well be；〃 he
replies； to whatever may be said in praise of him；＇60＇ 〃but he does
not belong to me as I would like。〃 It is devotion which he exacts；
and； by devotion； he means the irrevocable and complete surrender 〃of
the entire person； in all his sentiments and opinions。〃 According to
him； writes a witness； 〃one must abandon every old habit； even the
most trifling； and be governed by one thought alone；。 that of his
will and interests。〃＇61＇ For greater security； his servitors ought to
extinguish in themselves the critical sense。 〃What he fears the most
is that； close to him or far off； the faculty of judging should be
applied or even preserved。〃
〃His idea is a marble groove；〃 out of which no mind should
diverge。＇62＇ Especially as no two minds could think of diverging at
the same time； and on the same side； their concurrence； even when
passive； their common understanding； even if kept to themselves； their
whispers； almost inaudible； constitute a league； a faction； and； if
they are functionaries； 〃a conspiracy。〃 On his return from Spain he
declares； with a terrible explosion of wrath and threats；＇63＇ 〃that
the ministers and high dignitaries whom he has created must stop
expressing their opinions and thoughts freely； that they cannot be
otherwise than his organs； that treason has already begun when they
begin to doubt； and that it is under full headway when； from doubt；
they proceed to dissent。〃 If； against his constant encroachments； they
strive to preserve a last refuge； if they refuse to abandon their
conscience to him； their faith as Catholics or their honor as honest
men； he is surprised and gets irritated。 In reply to the Bishop of
Ghent； who； in the most respectful manner； excuses himself for not
taking a second oath that is against his conscience； he rudely turns
his back； and says； 〃Very well； sir； your conscience is a
blockhead！〃＇64＇ Portalis； director of the publishing office；＇65＇
having received a papal brief from his cousin； the Abbé d'Astros；
respected a confidential communication； he simply recommended his
cousin to keep this document secret； and declared that； if it were
made public； he would prohibit its circulation； by way of extra
precaution he notified the prefect of police。 But he did not
specially denounce his cousin； have the man arrested and the document
seized。 On the strength of this； the Emperor； in full council of
state； apostrophizes him to his face； and； 〃with one of those looks
which go straight through one；〃＇66＇ declares that he has committed
〃the vilest of perfidies〃； he bestows on him for half an hour a
hailstorm of reproaches and insults； and then orders him out of the
room as if a lackey who had been guilty of a theft。 Whether he keeps
within his function or not； the functionary must be content to do
whatever is demanded of him； and readily anticipate every commission。
If his scruples arrest him； if he alleges personal obligations； if he
had rather not fail in delicacy； or even in common loyalty； he incurs
the risk of offending or losing the favor of the master； which is the
case with M。 de Rémusat；＇67＇ who is unwilling to become his spy；
reporter； and denunciator for the Faubourg Saint…Germain； who does not
offer； at Vienna； to pump out of Madame d'André the address of her
husband so that M。 d'André may be taken and immediately shot。 Savary；
who was the negotiator for his being given up； kept constantly telling
M。 de Rémusat； 〃You are going against your interest … I must say that
I do not comprehend you！〃 And yet Savary； himself minister of the
police； executor of most important services； head manager of the
murder of the Duc d'Enghien and of the ambuscade at Bayonne；
counterfeiter of Austrian bank…notes for the campaign of 1809 and of
Russian banknotes for that of 1812；＇68＇ Sava