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 Emperor Napoleon had become so stout。 But none of the brothers of
the Emperor possessed that imposing and majestic air and that rapid and
imperious manner which came to him at first by instinct； and afterwards
from the habit of command。 Louis had peaceful and modest tastes。 It has
been asserted that at the time of his marriage he was deeply attached to
a person whose name could not be ascertained； and who； I think； is still
a mystery。
Mademoiselle Hortense was extremely pretty； with an expressive and mobile
countenance； and in addition to this was graceful； talented； and affable。
Kindhearted and amiable like her mother； she had not that excessive
desire to oblige which sometimes detracted from Madame Bonaparte's
character。 This is； nevertheless； the woman whom evil reports；
disseminated by miserable scandal…mongers； have so outrageously
slandered！ My heart is stirred with disgust and indignation when I hear
such revolting absurdities repeated and scattered broadcast。 According
to these honest fabricators； the First Consul must have seduced his
wife's daughter； before giving her in marriage to his own brother。；
Simply to announce such a charge is to comprehend all the falsity of it。
I knew better than any one the amours of the Emperor。 In these
clandestine liaisons he feared scandal； hated the ostentations of vice；
and I can affirm on honor that the infamous desires attributed to him
never entered his mind。 Like every one else； who was near Mademoiselle
de Beauharnais； and because he knew his step…daughter even more
intimately； he felt for her the tenderest affection； but this sentiment
was entirely paternal； and Mademoiselle Hortense reciprocated it by that
reverence which a wellborn young girl feels towards her father。 She
could have obtained from her step…father anything that she wished； if her
extreme timidity had not prevented her asking； but； instead of addressing
herself directly to him； she first had recourse to the intercession of
the secretary； and of those around the Emperor。 Is it thus she would
have acted if the evil reports spread by her enemies； and those of the
Emperor； had had the least foundation？
Before her marriage Hortense had an attachment for General Duroc； who was
hardly thirty years of age； had a fine figure； and was a favorite with
the chief of state； who； knowing him to be prudent and discreet； confided
to him important diplomatic missions。 As aide…de…camp of the First
Consul； general of division； and governor of the Tuileries； he lived long
in familiar intimacy at Malmaison； and in the home life of the Emperor；
and during necessary absences on duty； corresponded with Mademoiselle
Hortense； and yet the indifference with which he allowed the marriage of
the latter with Louis to proceed； proves that he reciprocated but feebly
the affection which he had inspired。 It is certain that he could have
had。 Mademoiselle de Beauharnais for his wife； if he had been willing to
accept the conditions on which the First Consul offered the hand of his
step…daughter； but he was expecting something better； and his ordinary
prudence failed him at the time when it should have shown him a future
which was easy to foresee； and calculated to satisfy the promptings of an
ambition even more exalted than his。 He therefore refused positively；
and the entreaties of Madame Bonaparte； which had already influenced her
husband； succeeded。
Madame Bonaparte； who saw herself treated with so little friendship by
the brothers of the First Consul； tried to make his family a defense for
herself against the plots which were gathering incessantly around her to
drive her away from the heart of her husband。 It was with this design
she worked with all her might to bring about the marriage of her daughter
with one of her brothers…in…law。
General Duroc doubtless repented immediately of his precipitate refusal
when crowns began to rain in the august family to which he had had it in
his power to ally himself； when he saw Naples； Spain； Westphalia； Upper
Italy； the duchies of Parma； Lucca； etc。； become the appendages of the
new imperial dynasty； when the beautiful and graceful Hortense herself；
who had loved him so devotedly； mounted in her turn a throne that she
would have been only too happy to have shared with the object of her
young affections。 As for him； he married Mademoiselle Hervas d'Almenara；
daughter of the banker of the court of Spain。 She was a little woman
with a very dark complexion； very thin； and without grace； but； on the
other hand； of a most peevish； haughty； exacting； and capricious temper。
As she was to have on her marriage an enormous dowry； the First Consul
had demanded her hand in marriage for his senior aide…de…camp。 Madame
Duroc forgot herself； I have heard； so far as to beat her servants； and
to bear herself in a most singular manner toward people who were in no
wise her dependants。 When M。 Dubois came to tune her piano；
unfortunately she was at home； and finding the noise required by this
operation unendurable； drove the tuner off with the greatest violence。
In one of these singular attacks she one day broke all the keys of his
instrument。 Another time Mugnier； clockmaker of the Emperor； and the
head of his profession in Paris； with Breguet； having brought her a watch
of very great value that madame； the Duchess of Friuli had herself
ordered； but which did not please her； she became so enraged； that； in
the presence of Mugnier； she dashed the watch on the floor； danced on it；
and reduced it to atoms。 She utterly refused to pay for it； and the
marshal was compelled to do this himself。 Thus Duroc's want of foresight
in refusing the hand of Hortense； together with the interested
calculations of Madame Bonaparte； caused the misery of two households。
The portrait I have sketched； and I believe faithfully； although not a
flattering picture； is merely that of a young woman with all the
impulsiveness of the Spanish character； spoiled as an only daughter； who
had been reared in indulgence； and with the entire neglect which hinders
the education of all the young ladies of her country。 Time has calmed
the vivacity of her youth； and madame； the Duchess of Friuli； has since
given an example of most faithful devotion to duty； and great strength of
mind in the severe trials that she has endured。 In the loss of her
husband； however grievous it might be； glory had at least some
consolation to offer to the widow of the grand marshal。 But when her
young daughter； sole heiress of a great name and an illustrious title；
was suddenly taken away by death from all the expectations and the
devotion of her mother； who could dare to offer her consolation？ If
there could be any （which I do not believe）； it would be found in the
remembrance of the cares and tenderness lavished on her to the last by
maternal love。 Such recollections； in which bitterness is mingled with
sweetness； were not wanting to the duchess。
The religious ceremony of marriage between Louis and Hortense took place
Jan。 7； in a house in the Rue de la Victoire； and the marriage of General
Murat with Caroline Bonaparte； which had been acknowledge