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embraced him； weeping； and in silence。
The day of the marshal's death his body was given to M。 Larrey and M。
Cadet de Gassicourt； ordinary chemist to the Emperor； with orders to
preserve it； as that of Colonel Morland had been； who was killed at the
battle of Austerlitz。 For this purpose the corpse was carried to
Schoenbrunn； and placed in the left wing of the chateau； far from the
inhabited rooms。 In a few hours putrefaction became complete； and they
were obliged to plunge the mutilated body into a bath filled with
corrosive sublimate。 This extremely dangerous operation was long and
painful； and M。 Cadet de Gassicourt deserves much commendation for the
courage he displayed under these circumstances； for notwithstanding every
precaution； and in spite of the strong disinfectants burned in the room；
the odor of this corpse was so fetid； and the vapor from the sublimate so
strong； that the distinguished chemist was seriously indisposed。
Like several other persons； I had a sad curiosity to see the marshal's
body in this condition。 It was frightful。 The trunk； which had been
covered by the solution； was greatly swollen； while on the contrary； the
head； which had been left outside the bath； had shrunk remarkably； and
the muscles of the face had contracted in the most hideous manner； the
wide…open eyes starting out of their sockets。 After the body had
remained eight days in the corrosive sublimate； which it was necessary to
renew； since the emanations from the interior of the corpse had
decomposed the solution； it was put into a cask made for the purpose； and
filled with the same liquid； and it was in this cask that it was carried
from Schoenbrunn to Strasburg。 In this last place it was taken out of
the strange coffin； dried in a net； and wrapped in the Egyptian style；
that is； surrounded with bandages； with the face uncovered。 M。 Larrey
and M。 de Gassicourt confided this honorable task to M。 Fortin； a young
chemist major； who in 1807 had by his indefatigable courage and
perseverance saved from certain death nine hundred sick； abandoned；
without physicians or surgeons； in a hospital near Dantzic； and nearly
all suffering from an infectious malady。 In the month of March； 1810
（what follows is an extract from the letter of M。 Fortin to his master
and friend M。 Cadet de Gassicourt）； the Duchess of Montebello； in passing
through Strasburg； wished to see again the husband she loved so tenderly。
〃Thanks to you and M。 Larrey （it is M。 Fortin who speaks）； the embalming
of the marshal has succeeded perfectly。 When I drew the body from the
cask I found it in a state of perfect preservation。 I arranged a net in
a lower hall of the mayor's residence； in which I dried it by means of a
stove； the heat being carefully regulated。 I then had a very handsome
coffin made of hard wood well oiled； and the marshal wrapped in bandages；
his face uncovered； was placed in an open coffin near that of General
Saint…Hilaire in a subterranean vault； of which I have the key。 A
sentinel watches there day and night。 M。 Wangen de Gueroldseck； mayor of
Strasburg； has given me every assistance in my work。
〃This was the state of affairs when； an hour after her Majesty the
Empress's arrival； Madame； the Duchess of Montebello； who accompanied her
as lady of honor； sent M。 Cretu； her cousin at whose house she was to
visit； to seek me。 I came in answer to her orders； and the duchess
questioned and complimented me on the honorable mission with which I was
charged； and then expressed to me； with much agitation； her desire to see
for the last time the body of her husband。 I hesitated a few moments
before answering her； and foreseeing the effect which would be produced
on her by the sad spectacle； told her that the orders which I had
received would prevent my doing what she wished； but she insisted in such
a pressing manner that I yielded。 We agreed （in order not to compromise
me； and that she might not be recognized） that I would…go for her at
midnight； and that she would be accompanied by one of her relatives。
〃I went to the duchess at the appointed hour； and as soon as I arrived；
she rose and said that she was ready to accompany me。 I waited a few
moments； begging her to consider the matter well。 I warned her of the
condition in which she would find the marshal； and begged her to reflect
on the impression she would receive in the sad place she was about to
visit。 She replied that she was well； prepared for this； and felt that
she had the necessary； courage； and she hoped to find in this last visit
some amelioration of the bitter sorrow she endured。 While speaking thus；
her sad and beautiful countenance was calm and pensive。 We then started；
M。 Cretu giving his arm to his cousin。 The duchess's carriage followed
at a distance； empty； and two servants followed us。
〃The city was illuminated； and the good inhabitants were all taking
holiday； and in many houses gay music was inspiriting them to the
celebration of this memorable day。 What a contrast between this gayety
and the quest in which we were engaged！ I saw that the steps of the
duchess dragged now and then； while she sighed and shuddered； and my own
heart seemed oppressed； my ideas confused。
〃At last we arrived at the mayor's residence； where Madame de Montebello
gave her servants orders to await her； and descended slowly； accompanied
by her cousin and myself； to the door of the lower hall。 A lantern
lighted our way； and the duchess trembled while she affected a sort of
bravery； but when she entered a sort of cavern； the silence of the dead
which reigned in this subterranean vault； the mournful light which filled
it； the sight of the corpse extended in its coffin； produced a terrible
effect on her； she gave a piercing scream； and fainted。 I had foreseen
this； and had watched her attentively； and as soon as I saw her strength
failing； supported her in my arms and seated her； having in readiness
everything necessary to restore her。 I used these remedies； and she
revived at the end of a few moments； and we then begged her to withdraw；
but she refused； then rose； approached the coffin； and walked around it
slowly in silence； then stopping and letting her folded hands fall by her
side； she remained for some time immovable； regarding the inanimate
figure of her husband； and watering it with her tears。 At last she in a
measure regained her self…control and exclaimed in stifled tones through
her sobs； Mon Dieu； mon Dieu！ how he is changed！' I made a sign to M。
Cretu that it was time to retire； but we could drag the duchess away only
by promising her to bring her back next day； a promise which could not
be kept。 I closed the door quickly； and gave my arm to the duchess；
which she gratefully accepted。 When we left the mayoralty I took leave
of her； but she insisted on my entering her carriage； and gave orders to
carry me to my residence。 In this short ride she shed a torrent of
tears； and when the carriage stopped； said to me with inexpressible
kindness； 'I shall never forget； Monsieur； the important service you have
just rendered me。'〃
Long after this the Emperor and Empress Marie Louise visited together
the manufacture of Sevres porcelain； and the Duchess of Montebello
accompanied the Empress as lady of honor。 The Emperor； seeing a fine
bust of the marshal； in bisque； exquisitely made； paused； and； not
noticing the pallor which overspread the countenance of the duchess；
asked her what she thought of this bust； and if it was a good likeness。
The widow felt as if her old wound was reopened； she could not reply； and
retired； bathed in tears； and it was several days before she reappeared
at court。 Apart from the fact that this unexpected question renewed her
grief； the inconceivable thoughtlessness the Emperor had shown wounded
her so deeply that； her friends had much difficulty in persuading her to
resume her duties near the Empress。
CHAPTER XIX。
The battle of Essling was disastrous in every respect。 Twelve thousand
Frenchmen were slain； and the source of all this trouble was the
destruction of the bridges； which could have been prevented； it seems to
me； for the same accident had occurred two or three days before the
battle。 The soldiers complained loudly； and several corps of the
infantry cried out to the generals to dismount and fight in their midst；
but this ill humor in no wise affected their courage or patience； for
regiments remained five hours under arms； exposed to the most terrible
fire。 Three times during the evening the Emperor sent to inquire of
General Massena if he could hold his position； and the brave captain； who
that day saw his son on the field of battle for the first time； and his
friends and his bravest officers falling by dozens around him； held it
till night closed in。 〃I will not fall back；〃 said he； 〃while there is
light。 Those rascally Austrians would be too glad。〃 The constancy of
the marshal saved the day； but； as he himself said； he was always blessed
with good luck。 In the beginning of the battle； seeing that one of his
stirrups was too long； he called a soldier to shorten it； and during this
operation placed his leg o