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Bourrienne； I have something to tell you。 Madame de Brienne has begged
that I will pass through Brienne； and I promised that I will。 I will not
conceal from you that I shall feel great pleasure in again beholding the
spot which for six years was the scene of our boysh sports and studies。〃
Taking advantage of the Emperor's good humour I ventured to tell him what
happiness it would give me if it were possible that I could share with
him the revival of all recollections which were mutually dear to us。 But
Napoleon； after a moment's pause； said with extreme kindness； 〃Hark ye；
Bourrienne； in your situation and mine this cannot be。 It is more than
two years since we parted。 What would be said of so sudden a
reconciliation？ I tell you frankly that I have regretted you； and the
circumstances in which I have frequently been placed have often made me
wish to recall you。 At Boulogne I was quite resolved upon it。 Rapp；
perhaps； has informed you of it。 He liked you； and he assured me that he
would be delighted at your return。 But if upon reflection I changed my
mind it was because； as I have often told you； I will not have it said
that I stand in need of any one。 No。 Go to Hamburg。 I have formed some
projects respecting Germany in which you can be useful to me。 It is
there I will give a mortal blow to England。 I will deprive her of the
Continent；besides； I have some ideas not yet matured which extend much
farther。 There is not sufficient unanimity amongst the nations of
Europe。 European society must be regenerateda superior power must
control the other powers； and compel them to live in peace with each
other； and France is well situated for that purpose。 For details you
will receive instructions from Talleyrand； but I recommend you； above all
things； to keep a strict watch on the emigrants。 Woe to them if they
become too dangerous！ I know that there are still agitators；among them
all the 'Marquis de Versailles'； the courtiers of the old school。 But
they are moths who will burn themselves in the candle。 You have been an
emigrant yourself； Bourrienne； you feel a partiality for them； and you
know that I have allowed upwards of two hundred of them to return upon
your recommendation。 But the case is altered。 Those who are abroad are
hardened。 They do not wish to return home。 Watch them closely。 That is
the only particular direction I give you。 You are to be Minister from
France to Hamburg； but your place will be an independent one； besides
your correspondence with the Minister for Foreign Affairs； I authorise
you to write to me personally； whenever you have anything particular
to communicate。 You will likewise correspond with Fouche。〃
Here the Emperor remained silent for a moment； and I was preparing to
retire； but he detained me； saying in the kindest manner； 〃What； are you
going already； Bourrienne？ Are you in a hurry？ Let； us chat a little
longer。 God knows； when we may see each other again！〃 Then after two or
three moments' silence he said； 〃The more I reflect on our situation； on
our former intimacy； and our subsequent separation； the more I see the
necessity of your going to Hamburg。 Go； then； my dear fellow； I advise
you。 Trust me。 When do you think of setting out？〃 〃In May。〃〃In May？
。 。 。 Ah； I shall be in Milan then； for I wish to stop at Turin。 I
like the Piedmontese； they are the best soldiers in Italy。〃〃Sire； the
King of Italy will be the junior of the Emperor of France！〃
＇I alluded to a conversation which I had with Napoleon when we
first went to the Tuileries。 He spoke to me about his projects of
royalty； and I stated the difficulties which I thought he would
experience in getting himself acknowledged by the old reigning
families of Europe。 〃If it comes to that；〃 be replied。 〃I will
dethrone them all； and then I shall be the oldest sovereign among
them。〃Bourrienne。＇
〃Ah！ so you recollect what I said one day at the Tuileries； but； my
dear fellow； I have yet a devilish long way to go before I gain my
point。〃〃At the rate； Sire； at which you are going you will not be long
in reaching it。〃 〃Longer than you imagine。 I see all the obstacles in
my way； but they do not alarm me。 England is everywhere； and the
struggle is between her and me。 I see how it will be。 The whole of
Europe will be our instruments； sometimes serving one； sometimes the
other； but at bottom the dispute is wholly between England and France。
〃A propos；〃 said the Emperor； changing the subject； for all who knew him
are aware that this 'a propos' was his favourite； and； indeed； his only
mode of transition； a propos； Bourrienne； you surely must have heard of
the departure of Jaubert；
＇Amedee Jaubart had been with Napoleon in Egypt； and was appointed
to the cabinet of the Consul as secretary interpreter of Oriental
languages。 He was sent on several missions to the East； and brought
back； is 1818； goats from Thibet； naturalising in France the
manufacture of cashmeres。 He became a peer of France under the
Monarchy of July。＇
and his mission。 What is said on the subject？〃 〃Sire； I have only
heard it slightly alluded to。 His father； however； to whom he said
nothing respecting the object of his journey； knowing I was intimate with
Jaubert； came to me to ascertain whether I could allay his anxiety
respecting a journey of the duration of which he could form no idea。 The
precipitate departure of his son had filled him with apprehension I told
him the truth； viz。； that Jaubert had said no more to me on the subject
than to him。〃〃 Then you do not know where he is gone？〃〃I beg your
pardon； Sire； I know very well。〃〃 How； the devil！〃 said Bonaparte；
suddenly turning on me a look of astonishment。 〃No one； I； declare； has
ever told me； but I guessed it。 Having received a letter from Jaubert
dated Leipsic； I recollected what your Majesty had often told me of your
views respecting Persia and India。 I have not forgotten our conversation
in Egypt； nor the great projects which you enfolded to me to relieve the
solitude and sometimes the weariness of the cabinet of Cairo。 Besides； I
long since knew your opinion of Amedee； of his fidelity； his ability；
and his courage。 I felt convinced； therefore； that he had a mission to
the Shah of Persia。〃〃You guessed right； but I beg of you； Bourrienne；
say nothing of this to any person whatever。 Secrecy on this point is of
grew importance。 The English would do him an ill turn； for they are well
aware that my views are directed against their possessions and their
influence in the East。〃〃I think； Sire； that my answer to Anedee's
worthy father is a sufficient guarantee for my discretion。 Besides； it
was a mere supposition on my part； and I could have stated nothing with
certainty before your Majesty had the kindness to inform me of the fact。
Instead of going to Hamburg； if your Majesty pleases； I will join
Jaubert； accompany him to Persia； and undertake half his mission。〃
〃How！ would you go with him？〃〃Yes； Sire； I am much attached to him。 He
is an excellent man； and I am sure that he would not be sorry to have me
with him。〃〃 Bu