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！
always free from fear or uneasiness。 Very often； indeed； he mildly
ridiculed our anxiety； and would relate very seriously to the good
Josephine what a narrow escape he had on the road； how men of a sinister
appearance had shown themselves many times on his way； how one of them
had had the boldness to aim at him； etc。 And when he saw her well
frightened； he would burst out laughing； give her some taps or kisses on
her cheek and neck； saying to her； 〃Have no fear； little goose； they
would not dare。〃 On these 〃days of furlough；〃 as he called them； he was
occupied more with his private affairs than with those of state； but
never could he remain idle。 He would make them pull down； put up again；
build； enlarge； set out； prune； incessantly； both in the chateau and in
the park； while he examined the bills of expenses； estimated receipts；
and ordered economies。 Time passed quickly in all these occupations； and
the moment soon came when it was necessary to return； and； as he
expressed it； put on again the yoke of misery。
CHAPTER IV。
Towards the end of March； 1800； five or six months after my entrance into
the service of Madame。 Bonaparte； the First Consul while at dinner one
day regarded me intently； and having carefully scrutinized and measured
me from head to foot； 〃Young man；〃 said he； 〃would you like to go with me
on the campaign？〃 I replied； with much emotion； that I would ask nothing
better。 〃Very well； then； you shall go with me！〃 and on rising from the
table； he ordered Pfister； the steward； to place my name on the list of
the persons of his household who would accompany him。 My preparations
did not require much time； for I was delighted with the idea of being
attached to the personal service of so great a man； and in imagination
saw myself already beyond the Alps。 But the First Consul set out without
me。 Pfister； by a defect of memory； perhaps intentional； had forgotten
to place my name on the list。 I was in despair； and went to relate； with
tears； my misfortune to my excellent mistress； who was good enough to
endeavor to console me； saying； 〃Well； Constant； everything is not lost；
you will stay with me。 You can hunt in the park to pass the time； and
perhaps the First Consul may yet send for you。〃 However； Madame
Bonaparte did not really believe this； for she thought； as I did；
although out of kindness she did not wish to say this to me； that the
First Consul having changed his mind； and no longer wishing my services
on the campaign； had himself given the counter orders。 However； I soon
had proof to the contrary。 In passing through Dijon； on his way to Mt。
St。 Bernard； the First Consul asked for me； and learning that they had
forgotten me； expressed his dissatisfaction； and directed Bourrienne to
write immediately to Madame Bonaparte； requesting her to send me on
without delay。
One morning； when my chagrin was more acute than ever； Madame Bonaparte
sent for me； and said； holding Bourrienne's letter in her hand；
〃Constant； since you have determined to quit us to make the campaign； you
may rejoice； for you are now about to leave。 The First Consul has sent
for you。 Go to the office of Maret； and ascertain if he will not soon
send a courier。 You will accompany him。〃 I was inexpressibly delighted
at this good news； and did not try to conceal my pleasure。 〃You are very
well satisfied to leave us；〃 said Madame Bonaparte with a kind smile。
〃It is not leaving Madame； but joining the First Consul； which delights
me。〃〃I hope so；〃 replied she。 〃Go； Constant； and take good care of
him。〃 If any incentive had been needed； this injunction of my noble
mistress would have added to the zeal and fidelity with which I had
determined to discharge my new duties。 I hurried without delay to the
office of Maret； secretary of state； who already knew me； and had shown
his good…will for me。 〃Get ready at once；〃 said he； 〃a courier will set
out this evening or to…morrow morning。〃 I returned in all haste to
Malmaison； and announced to Madame Bonaparte my immediate departure。 She
immediately had a good post…chaise made ready for me； and Thibaut （for
that was the name of the courier I was to accompany） was directed to
obtain horses for me along the route。 Maret gave me eight hundred francs
for the expenses of my trip； which sum； entirely unexpected by me； filled
me with wonder； for I had never been so rich。 At four o'clock in the
morning； having heard from Thibaut that everything was ready； I went to
his house； where the post…chaise awaited me； and we set out。
I traveled very comfortably； sometimes in the postchaise； sometimes on
horseback； I taking Thibaut's place； and he mine。 I expected to overtake
the First Consul at Martigny； but his traveling had been so rapid； that I
caught up with him only at the convent of Mt。 St。 Bernard。 Upon our
route we constantly passed regiments on the march； composed of officers
and soldiers who were hastening to rejoin their different corps。 Their
enthusiasm was irrepressible；those who had made the campaign of Italy
rejoiced at returning to so fine a country； those who had not yet done so
were burning with impatience to see the battlefields immortalized by
French valor； and by the genius of the hero who still marched at their
head。 All went as if to a festival； and singing songs they climbed the
mountains of Valais。 It was eight o'clock in the morning when I arrived
at headquarters。 Pfister announced me； and I found the general…in…chief
in the great hall； in the basement of the Hospice。 He was taking
breakfast； standing； with his staff。 As soon as he saw me； he said；
〃Here you are； you queer fellow！ why didn't you come with me？〃 I excused
myself by saying that to my great regret I had received a counter order；
or； at least； they had left me behind at the moment of departure。 〃Lose
no time； my friend； eat quickly； we are about to start。〃 From this
moment I was attached to the personal service of the First Consul； in the
quality of ordinary valet； that is to say； in my turn。 This duty gave me
little to do； Hambard； the head valet of the First Consul； being in the
habit of dressing him from head to foot。
Immediately after breakfast we began to descend the mountain； many
sliding down on the snow； very much as they coast at the garden Beaujon；
from top to bottom of the Montagnes Russes； and I followed their example。
This they called 〃sledding。〃 The general…in…chief also descended in this
manner an almost perpendicular glacier。 His guide was a young
countryman； active and courageous； to whom the First Consul promised a
sufficiency for the rest of his days。 Some young soldiers who had
wandered off into the snow were found； almost dead with cold； by the
dogs sent out by the monks； and carried to the Hospice； where they
received every possible attention； and their lives were saved。 The First
Consul gave substantial proof of his gratitude to the good fathers for a
charity so useful and generous。 Before leaving the Hospice； where he had
found tables loaded with food already prepared awaiting the soldiers as
soon as they reached the summit of the mountain； he gave to the good
monk