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pronounced the words Queen and Empress she exclaimed； 〃My God！
Bourrienne； such ambition is far from my thoughts。 That I may always
continue the wife of the First Consul is all I desire。 Say to him all
that you have said to me。 Try and prevent him from making himself
King。〃〃Madame；〃 I replied； times are greatly altered。 The wisest men；
the strongest minds； have resolutely and courageously opposed his
tendency to the hereditary system。 But advice is now useless。 He would
not listen to me。 In all discussions on the subject he adheres
inflexibly to the view he has taken。 If he be seriously opposed his
anger knows no bounds； his language is harsh and abrupt； his tone
imperious； and his authority bears down all before him。〃〃Yet；
Bourrienne； he has so much confidence in you that of you should try once
more！〃〃Madame； I assure you he will not listen to me。 Besides； what
could I add to the remarks I made upon his receiving the letters of Louis
XVIII。； when I fearlessly represented to him that being without children
he would have no one to whom to bequeath the thronethat； doubtless；
from the opinion which be entertained of his brothers； he could not
desire to erect it for them？〃 Here Josephine again interrupted me by
exclaiming； 〃My kind friend； when you spoke of children did he say
anything to you？ Did he talk of a divorce？〃〃 Not a word； Madame； I
assure you。〃〃If they do not urge him to it； I do not believe he will
resolve to do such a thing。 You know how he likes Eugene； and Eugene
behaves so well to him。 How different is Lucien。 It is that wretch
Lucien； to whom Bonaparte listens too much； and of whom； however； he
always speaks ill to me。〃〃I do not know； Madame； what Lucien says to
his brother except when he chooses to tell me； because Lucien always
avoids having a witness of his interviews with your husband； but I can
assure you that for two years I have not heard the word 'divorce' from
the General's mouth。〃〃I always reckon on you； my dear Bourrienne； to
turn him away from it； as you did at that time。〃〃I do not believe he is
thinking of it； but if it recurs to him； consider； Madame； that it will
be now from very different motives： He is now entirely given up to the
interests of his policy and his ambition； which dominate every other
feeling in him。 There will not now be any question of scandal； or of a
trial before a court； but of an act of authority which complaisant laws
will justify and which the Church perhaps will sanction。〃〃That's true。
You are right。 Good God！ how unhappy I am。〃
＇When Bourrienne complains of not knowing what passed between
Lucien and Napoleon； we can turn to Lucien's account of Bourrienne；
apparently about this very time。 〃After a stormy interview with
Napoleon；〃 says Lucien； 〃I at once went into the cabinet where
Bourrienne was working； and found that unbearable busybody of a
secretary； whose star had already paled more than once； which made
him more prying than ever； quite upset by the time the First Consul
had taken to come out of his bath。 He must； or at least might； have
heard some noise； for enough had been made。 Seeing that he wanted
to know the cause from me； I took up a newspaper to avoid being
bored by his conversation〃 （Iung's Lucien； tome ii。 p。156＇
Such was the nature of one of the conversations I had with Madame
Bonaparte on a subject to which she often recurred。 It may not perhaps
be uninteresting to endeavour to compare with this what Napoleon said at
St。 Helena； speaking of his first wife。 According to the Memorial
Napoleon there stated that when Josephine was at last constrained to
renounce all hope of having a child； she often let fall allusions to a
great political fraud； and at length openly proposed it to him。 I make
no doubt Bonaparte made use of words to this effect； but I do not believe
the assertion。 I recollect one day that Bonaparte； on entering our
cabinet； where I was already seated； exclaimed in a transport of joy
impossible for me to describe； 〃Well； Bourrienne； my wife is at last
enceinte！ I sincerely congratulated him； more； I own； out of courtesy
than from any hope of seeing him made a father by Josephine； for I well
remembered that Corvisart； who had given medicines to Madame Bonaparte；
had nevertheless assured me that he expected no result from them。
Medicine was really the only political fraud to which Josephine had
recourse； and in her situation what other woman would not have done as
much？ Here； then； the husband and the wife are in contradiction； which
is nothing uncommon。 But on which side is truth？ I have no hesitation
in referring it to Josephine。 There is indeed an immense difference
between the statements of a womentrusting her fears and her hopes to
the sole confidant of her family secrets； and the tardy declaration of a
man who； after seeing the vast edifice of his ambition leveled with the
dust； is only anxious； in his compulsory retreat； to preserve intact and
spotless the other great edifice of his glory。 Bonaparte should have
recollected that Caesar did not like the idea of his wife being even
suspected。
CHAPTER XII。
1802。
Citizen Fesch created Cardinal FeschArts and industryExhibition
in the LouvreAspect of Paris in 1802The Medicean Venus and the
Velletrian PallasSigns of general prosperityRise of the funds
Irresponsible MinistersThe BourbonsThe military Government
Annoying familiarity of LannesPlan laid for his disgrace
Indignation of LannesHis embassy to PortugalThe delayed
despatchBonaparte's rageI resign my situationDuroc
I breakfast with BonaparteDuroc's intercessionTemporary
reconciliation。
Citizen Fesch； who； when we were forced to stop at Ajaccio on our return
from Egypt； discounted at rather a high rate the General…in…Chief's
Egyptian sequins； became again the Abbe Fesch； as soon as Bonaparte by
his Consular authority re…erected the altars which the Revolution had
overthrown。 On the 15th of August 1802 he was consecrated Bishop； and
the following year received the Cardinal's hat。 Thus Bonaparte took
advantage of one of the members of his family being in orders to elevate
him to the highest dignities of the Church。 He afterwards gave Cardinal
Fesch the Archbishopric of Lyons； of which place he was long the titular。
＇Like Cambaceres the Cardinal was a bit of a gourmet； and on one
occasion had invited a large party of clerical magnates to dinner。
〃By a coincidence two turbots of singular beauty arrived as presents
to his Eminence on the very morning of the feast。 To serve both
would have appeared ridiculous； but the Cardinal was most anxious to
have the credit of both。 He imparted his embarrassment to his chef：
'Be of good faith； your Eminence；' was the reply； 'both shall appear
and enjoy the reception so justly their due。' The dinner was
served： one of the turbots relieved the soup。 Delight was on every
faceit was the moment of the 'eprouvette positive'。 The 'maitre
a'hotel' advances； two attendants raise the turbot and carry him off