按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the case in England； and the scarcity of it was beginning to be felt
there。 It was never known how it happened； but the larger part of this
grain passed the Strait of Calais； and it was stated positively that the
sum of twenty millions was received for it。 On learning this； the First
Consul took away the portfolio of the interior from his brother； and
appointed him ambassador to Spain。
At Madrid； Monsieur Lucien was well received by the king and the royal
family； and became the intimate friend of Don Manuel Godoy； Prince de la
Paix。 It was during this mission； and by agreement with the Prince de la
Paix； that the treaty of Badajos was concluded； in order to procure which
it is said that Portugal gave thirty millions。 It has been also declared
that more than this sum； paid in gold and diamonds； was divided between
the two plenipotentiaries； who did not think it necessary to render an
account of this transaction to their respective courts。
Charles IV。 loved Lucien tenderly； and felt for the First Consul the
greatest veneration。 After examining carefully several Spanish horses
which he intended for the First Consul； he said to his head groom： 〃How
fortunate you are； and how I envy your happiness！ you are going to see
the great man； and you will speak to him； how I should like to take your
place！〃
During his embassage Lucien had paid his court to a person of most
elevated rank； and had received her portrait in a medallion surrounded
with very fine brilliants。 I have seen a hundred times this portrait
which he wore suspended from his neck by a chain of most beautiful black
hair； and far from making a mystery of it； he endeavored； on the
contrary； to show it； and bent over so that the rich medallion could be
seen hanging on his breast。
Before his departure from Madrid； the king likewise made him a present of
his own portrait in miniature； also set in diamonds。
These stones； remounted and set in the form of a hat buckle； passed to
the second wife of Lucien。 I will now give an account of his marriage
with Madame Jouberthon； as related to me by a person who resided in the
same house。
The First Consul was informed each day； and very promptly； of all that
took place in the interior of the homes of his brothers； a circumstantial
account being rendered； even as to the smallest particulars and the
slightest details。 Lucien； wishing to marry Madame Jouberthon； whom he
had met at the house of the Count de L； an intimate friend of his；
wrote between two and three o'clock in the afternoon to Duquesnoy； mayor
of the tenth arrondissement； requesting him to come to his residence； Rue
Saint Dominique； about eight o'clock in the evening； and bring the
marriage register。
Between five and six o'clock Monsieur Duquesnoy； mayor of the tenth
arrondissement； received from the chateau of the Tuileries an order not
to take the register out of the municipality； and above all not to
celebrate any marriage whatever； unless； in accordance with the law； the
names of the parties thereto had been published for eight days。
At the hour indicated Duquesnoy arrived at the residence； and asked to
speak in private to the count； to whom he communicated the order
emanating from the chateau。
Beside himself with anger； Lucien immediately hired a hundred post…horses
for himself and friends； and without delay he and Madame Jouberthon； with
these friends and the people of his household； took carriages for the
chateau of Plessis…Chamant； a pleasure…house half a league beyond Senlis。
The cure of the place； who was also associate mayor； was summoned； and at
midnight pronounced the civil marriage； then； putting on his sacerdotal
robes over the scarf he wore as an officer of the civil state； he
bestowed on the fugitives the nuptial benediction。 A good supper was
then served； at which the assistant and cure were present； but； as he
returned to his vicarage about six o'clock in the morning； he saw at his
gate a post…chaise； guarded by two soldiers； and on entering his house；
found there an officer of the armed police； who invited him politely to
be kind enough to accompany him to Paris。 The poor curate thought
himself lost； but he was compelled to obey； under penalty of being
carried to Paris from one guard…house to another by the police。
Nothing was left for him but to enter the fatal chaise； which was drawn
at a gallop by two good horses； and soon arrived at the Tuileries； where
he was brought into the cabinet of the First Consul； who said to him in a
voice of thunder； 〃It is you； then； Monsieur； who marry members of my
family without my consent； and without having published the bans； as is
your duty in your double character of cure and assistant mayor。 You well
know that you deserve to be deprived of your office； excommunicated； and
tried before the courts。〃 The unfortunate priest believed himself
already in prison； but after a severe lecture he was sent back to his
curacy； and the two brothers were never reconciled。
In spite of all these differences； Lucien always counted on the affection
of his brother to obtain him a kingdom。 I guarantee the authenticity of
the following incident； which was related to me by a reliable person：
Lucien had in charge of his establishment a friend of his early youth；
the same age as himself； and like him born in Corsica； who was named
Campi； and enjoyed the most confidential relations in the count's
household。 On the day that the 'Moniteur' gave a list of the new French
princes； Campi was promenading in the handsome gallery of pictures
collected by Lucien； with the latter's young secretary； when the
following conversation occurred between them。 〃You have no doubt read
the 'Moniteur' of to…day？〃〃Yes。〃〃You have seen that all the members
of the family have had the title of French princes bestowed on them； and
the name of monsieur le count alone is wanting to the list。〃〃What
matters that？ There are kingdoms。〃〃Considering the care that
sovereigns take to keep them； there will hardly be any vacancy。〃
〃Ah； well； they will be made。 All the royal families of Europe are worn
out； and we must have new ones。〃 Thereupon Campi was silent； and advised
the young man to hold his tongue； if he wished to preserve the favor of
the count。 However； it was not long after this before the young
secretary repeated this confidential conversation； which； without being
singularly striking； gives； however； an idea of the amount of confidence
which should be placed in the pretended moderation of Count Lucien； and
in the epigrams against his brother and his family which have been
attributed to him。
No one in the chateau was ignorant of the hostility which existed between
Lucien Bonaparte and the Empress Josephine； and to make their court to
the latter the former habitues of Malmaison； now become the courtiers of
the Tuileries； were in the habit of relating to her the most piquant
anecdotes they could collect relative to the younger brother of the
Emperor。 Thus it happened that by chance one day I heard a dignified
person and a senator of the Empire give the Empress； in the gayest manner
imaginable； very minute details as to one of the temporary liaisons of
Count Lucien。 I do not guarantee the authenticity of the anecdote； and I
experience in writing it more embarrassment than the senator displayed in
relating it； and omit； indeed； a mass of details which the narrator gave
without blushing； and without driving off his audience； for my object is
to throw light upon the family secrets of the imperial household； and on
the habits of the persons who were nearest the Emperor； and not to
publish scandal； though I could justify myself by the example of a
dignitary of the Empire。
Count Lucien （I do not know in what year） established himself in the good
graces of Mademoiselle Meserai； an actress of the Theatre Francais； who
was both pretty and sprightly。 The conquest was not difficult； in the
first place； because this had never been her character towards any one；
and； secondly； because the artiste knew the great wealth of the count；
and believed him to be prodigal。 The first attentions of her lover
confirmed her in this opinion； and she demanded a house。 He at once
presented her with one richly and elegantly furnished； the deed being put
in her hands on the day she took possession； and each visit of the count
added to the actress's wardrobe or jewel…case some new gifts。 This
lasted some months； at the end of which Lucien became disgusted with his
bargain； and began to consider by what means to break it without losing
too much。 Among other things； he had made mademoiselle a present of a
pair of girandoles； containing diamonds of great value。 In one of the
last interviews； before the count had allowed any signs of coldness to be
seen； he perceived the girandoles on the toilet…table of his mistress；
and； taking them in his hands； said； 〃Really； my dear； you do me
injustice； why do you not show more confidence in me？ I do not wish you
to wear jewelry so much out of date as these。〃〃Why； it has been only
six months since you gave them to me。〃〃I know it； but a woman of good
taste； a woman who respects herself； should never