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！
only fabrications of the police to render themselves necessary to the
First Consul； or； perhaps； of the First Consul himself； to redouble the
interest which attached to his person； through fear of the perils which
menaced his life； and the absurdity of these attempts is alleged as proof
of this。 I could not pretend to elucidate such mysteries； but it seems
to me that in such matters absurdity proves nothing； or； at least； it
does not prove that such plots did not exist。 The conspirators of that
period set no bounds to their extravagance； for what could be more
absurd； and at the same time more real； than the atrocious folly of the
infernal machine？
Be that as it may； I shall relate what passed under my own eyes during
the first month of my stay at Malmaison。 No one there； or； at least； no
one in my presence； showed the least doubt of the reality of these
attempts。
In order to get rid of the First Consul； all means appeared good to his
enemies： they noted everything in their calculations； even his absence of
mind。 The following occurrence is proof of this：
There were repairs and ornamentations to be made to the mantel in the
rooms of the First Consul at Malmaison。 The contractor in charge of this
work had sent marblecutters； amongst whom had slipped in； it seems； a few
miserable wretches employed by the conspirators。 The persons attached to
the First Consul were incessantly on the alert； and exercised the
greatest watchfulness； and it was observed that among these workmen there
were men who pretended to work； but whose air and manner contrasted
strongly with their occupation。 These suspicions were unfortunately only
too well founded； for when the apartments had been made ready to receive
the First Consul； and just as he was on the eve of occupying them； some
one making a final inspection found on the desk at which he would first
seat himself； a snuff…box； in every respect like one of those which he
constantly used。 It was thought at first that this box really belonged
to him； and that it had been forgotten and left there by his valet； but
doubts inspired by the suspicious manner of a few of the marble…cutters；
leading to further investigation； the tobacco was examined and analyzed。
It was found to be poisoned。
The authors of this perfidy had； it is said； at this time； communication
with other conspirators； who engaged to attempt another means of ridding
themselves of the First Consul。 They promised to attack the guard of the
chateau （Malmaison）； and to carry off by force the chief of the
government。 With this intention； they had uniforms made like those of
the consular guards； who then stood sentinel； day and night； over the
First Consul； and followed him on horseback in his excursions。 In this
costume； and by the aid of signals； with their accomplices （the pretended
marble…cutters） on the inside； they could easily have approached and
mingled with the guard； who were fed and quartered at the chateau。 They
could even have reached the First Consul； and carried him off。 However；
this first project was abandoned as too uncertain； and the conspirators
flattered themselves that they would succeed in their undertaking more
surely； and with less danger； by taking advantage of the frequent
journeys of the First Consul to Paris。 By means of their disguise they
planned to distribute themselves on the road； among the guides of the
escort； and massacre them； their rallying…point being the quarries of
Nanterre； but their plots were for the second time foiled。 There was in
the park at Malmaison a deep quarry； and fears being entertained that
they would profit by it to conceal themselves therein； and exercise some
violence against the First Consul on one of his solitary walks； it was
decided to secure it with an iron door。
On the 19th of February； at one in the afternoon； the First Consul went
in state to the Tuileries； which was then called the Government palace；
to install himself there with all his household。 With him were his two
colleagues； one of whom； the third consul； was to occupy the same
residence； and be located in the Pavilion de Flore。 The carriage of the
consuls was drawn by six white horses； which the Emperor of Germany had
presented to the conqueror of Italy after the signature of the treaty of
peace of Campo…Formio。 The saber that the First Consul wore at this
ceremony was magnificent； and had also been presented to him by this
monarch on the same occasion。
A remarkable thing in this formal change of residence was that the
acclamations and enthusiasm of the crowd； and even of the most
distinguished spectators； who filled the windows of rue Thionville and of
the quai Voltaire； were addressed only to the First Consul； and to the
young warriors of his brilliant staff； who were yet bronzed by the sun of
the Pyramids or of Italy。 At their head rode General Lannes and Murat；
the first easy to recognize by his bold bearing and soldierly manners；
the second by the same qualities； and further by a striking elegance；
both of costume and equipments。 His new title of brother…in…law of the
First Consul contributed； also； greatly to fix upon him the attention of
all。 As for myself； all my attention was absorbed by the principal
personage of the cortege； whom； like every one around me； I regarded with
something like a religious reverence； and by his stepson； the son of my
excellent mistress； himself once my master；the brave； modest； good
Prince Eugene； who at that time； however； was not yet a prince。 On his
arrival at the Tuileries； the First Consul took possession at once of the
apartments which he afterwards occupied； and which were formerly part of
the royal apartments。 These apartments consisted of a bed…chamber； a
bathroom； a cabinet； and a saloon； in which he gave audience in the
forenoon； of a second saloon； in which were stationed his aides…de…camp
on duty； and which he used as a dining…room； and also a very large
antechamber。 Madame Bonaparte had her separate apartments on the ground
floor； the same which she afterwards occupied as Empress。 Beneath the
suite of rooms occupied by the First Consul was the room of Bourrienne；
his private secretary； which communicated with the apartments of the
First Consul by means of a private staircase。
Although at this period there were already courtiers； there was not；
however； yet a court； and the etiquette was exceedingly simple。 The
First Consul； as I believe I have already said； slept in the same bed
with his wife； and they lived together； sometimes at the Tuileries；
sometimes at Malmaison。 As yet there were neither grand marshal； nor
chamberlains； nor prefects of the palace； nor ladies of honor； nor lady
ushers； nor ladies of the wardrobe； nor pages。 The household of the
First Consul was composed only of M。 Pfister； steward； Venard； chief
cook； Galliot； and Dauger； head servants； Colin； butler。 Ripeau was
librarian； Vigogne； senior； in charge of the stables。 Those attached to
his personal service were Hambard； head valet； Herbert； ordinary valet；
and Roustan； mameluke of the First Consul。 There were； beside these；
fifteen persons to discharge the ordinary duties of the household。 De
Bourrienne superintended everything； and regulated expenses； and；
although very strict； won the esteem and affection of every one。
He was kind； obliging； and above all very just； and consequently at the
time of his disgrace the whole household was much distressed。 As for
myself； I retain a sincerely respectful recollection of him； and I
believe that； though he has had the misfortune to find enemies among the
great； he found among his inferiors only grateful hearts and sincere
regrets。
Some days after this installation； there was at the chateau a reception
of the diplomatic corps。 It will be seen from the details； which I shall
give； how very simple at that time was the etiquette of what they already
called the Court。
At eight o'clock in the evening； the apartments of Madame Bonaparte；
situated； as I have just said； on the ground floor adjoining the garden；
were crowded with people。 There was an incredible wealth of plumes；
diamonds； and dazzling toilets。 The crowd was so great that it was found
necessary to throw open the bedroom of Madame Bonaparte； as the two
saloons were so full there was not room to move。
When； after much embarrassment and difficulty； every one had found a
place as they could； Madame Bonaparte was announced； and entered； leaning
on the arm of Talleyrand。 She wore a dress of white muslin with short
sleeves； and a necklace of pearls。 Her head was uncovered； and the
beautiful braids of her hair； arranged with charming negligence； were
held in place by a tortoise…shell comb。 The flattering murmur which
greeted her appearance was most grateful to her； and never； I believe；
did she display more grace and majesty。
Talleyrand；
＇Charles Maurice de Talleyrand…Perigord； born at Paris； 1754； was
descended from the counts of Perigord。 Rendered lame by an
accident； he entered the clergy； and in 1788 became Bishop of Autun。
In the States…General he sided with the Revolution。 During the
Reign of