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 3 1822 01182 3192
 
 NAPOLEON'S 
 LOVE STORY 
 
 H Ibfstorfcal IRomancc 
 
 BY 
 
 WACŁAW GASIOROWSKI 
 
 AUTHOR OF "the HURRICANE," " KAJETAN STUART," " THE LIGHT HORSE, 
 
 "the black general," etc. 
 
 TRANSLATED BY 
 
 THE COUNT DE SOISSONS 
 
 NEW YORK 
 E. P. BUTTON AND CO. 
 
 1905
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
 
 Printed hi Great Britain
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 WHEN the young school of Polish literati, led bj 
 Przybyszewski, attacked the writers of the school 
 at the head of which stands Henryk Sienkiewicz, accusing 
 them, among other things, of sterihty, the author of Qiio 
 Vadis refuted their accusation, and pointed to Wacław 
 Gasiorowski as the worthy champion of that art of novel- 
 writing which secured a world-Avide renoAvn to Sienkiewicz. 
 And it is true that although Wacław Gasiorowski does not 
 bring into literature any new element, he is a very able 
 master of the historic romance, originated by Sir Walter 
 Scott, as the readers of Napoleoii's Love Story can judge 
 for themselves. 
 
 It is strange tliat although there is an enormous number 
 of volumes on the Napoleonic epoch, no one has revealed 
 to us until now that charming idyll in which Madame 
 Walewska appears as the embodiment of all the noble 
 qualities of woman in general and of Polish ladies in par- 
 ticular. This is done by the author of the present volume 
 thi'ough the medium of a fascinating story told simply and 
 convincingly. 
 
 Wacław Gasiorowski was born some thirty years ago in 
 Warsaw and comes from that petty Polish nobility of which 
 there were, during the existence of the Polish Common- 
 wealth, about 100,000, and which stood like a wall defending
 
 vi INTRODUCTION 
 
 eastern Europe against the invasions of Tartars, Turks, and 
 Cossacks, their last extraordinarily valorous deed being the 
 defeat at Vienna, in 1863, of 300,000 Turks by 25,000 Polish 
 horsemen. 
 
 The two revolutions of 1848 and 1863 ruined Gasiorowski's 
 father, so that the novelist from the age of fifteen was forced 
 both to earn his own living and educate himself as best he 
 could. This he has done well, the best proofs of which are 
 his several historical romances, such as The Hurricane, The 
 Light Horseman, Kajdan Stuart, The Black General, etc. 
 
 Gasiorowski is an enthusiastic admirer of Napoleon, and 
 he has spent four years following his trail through Italy, 
 Austria, Germany, Spain, Russia, Corsica and Elba. Finally 
 he settled down in Paris where he goes from time to time 
 to the tomb of VEmpercur, whose last romance and a good 
 study of Polish society of a century ago I introduce to the 
 English people with the hope that they will enjoy reading 
 it as much as I have enjoyed translating it. 
 
 S. C. DE SOISSONS. 
 
 London, 
 
 March 80th, 1905.
 
 NAPOLEON'S 
 LOVE STORY 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE last day of 1806 was an agreeable surprise to Warsaw : 
 during the night the sky shook off the lead-hke clouds 
 and rainy veils^ which for a whole week had covered it, and 
 appeared in a shining snowy mantle, with the smile of the sun 
 and the calm of the frosty cold. 
 
 Warsaw was awaiting the long-desired guest, and welcomed 
 him heartily as a foreboding of the new year, as a presage of 
 brighter times, as an augury of the fulfilment of overgrown 
 hope. 
 
 Merciless rain, as though in spite of the brightness of hearts, 
 seemed to slander the country lying between the Rivers Oder, 
 Niemen, Warta, and Wisla. The P'rench soldiers swore at the 
 mud, the general staff cursed the bad weather, and the swells 
 of the army wondered how it was possible to stand winter in 
 a country with such a wretched climate. Even the inhabitants 
 of the mansion of Count Maurycy Potocki, who offered his 
 hospitality to Marshal Murat, whispered that the Emperor him- 
 self complained of the bad weather. 
 
 Those who surrounded the Emperor would swear that they 
 did not remember such an awful December, and the witty ones 
 explained that the rain was due to the abundant tears of 
 General Kohler, who was forced to leave Warsaw ; all, however, 
 agreed that every day very cold weather might be expected. 
 In the meanwhile the rain, with penetrating cold, continued. 
 B
 
 2 NAPOLEON'S 1,0 VE STORV 
 
 The reviev/s of the troops were not successful ; stores were 
 drenched and rotted, fever decimated the regiments, and, what 
 was worse, there came news from Carnow, Golymin, Dzialdow, 
 and Pułtusk that there also the bad weather was very much in 
 the way of the Emperor's plans. 
 
 Then suddenly, on the 29th of December, came the news 
 about Napoleon's new victory on the shores of the River Narew ; 
 but it was not confirmed officially — the drums in the guard- 
 house were silent. 
 
 It was impossible to get any news from Alexandre Potocki's 
 mansion ; for that day, as it seemed, even the Countess Anna 
 herself could not see Murat, who was not well, and there was 
 no other source, Wybicki having gone with the Emperor. 
 
 Only on the Festival of St. Sylvester, as if under the in- 
 fluence of the sun, the guard-house became animated with the 
 noise of drums, and the Prince of Berg communicated to Count 
 Potocki the news about the victory at Pułtusk and the expected 
 return of the Empei-or to Warsaw. The last news seemed to 
 arouse the greatest enthusiasm, for nobody doubted Napoleon's 
 victory, whereas it was difficult to believe that he would return 
 to the capital of New Western Prussia, for during his previous 
 sojourn in Warsaw he had made clear that it was merely one 
 more headquarters and a military depot. 
 
 On that occasion he came during the night, not paying any 
 attention to the bunting disjilayed for his reception. He was 
 satisfied with the empty castle and bread and water for his 
 supper. He had a short conversation with the representatives 
 of the country and with Wybicki, in which the principal topic 
 was provisions for the army ; the following day was given to 
 a hasty inspection of the shores of the River Wisla — such was 
 his first acquaintance with Warsaw. He came like a thunderbolt 
 and disappeared like a meteor. 
 
 Therefore the news about the Emperor's coming made the 
 hearts of the inhabitants of Warsaw throb. The statesmen 
 regarded that visit as an historical fact of great importance, 
 and the accomplishment of lavish promises made in Berlin and 
 Posen ; the youths hoped that they would have more chances 
 to adorn themselves with epaulettes and crosses, and to get 
 the diplomas for the higher military grades ; a crowd of the
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 3 
 
 courtiers of the late King Stanislaus Poniatowski had become 
 arrogant, remembering former favours, and were beginning to 
 intrigue with Talleyrand, with Prince Borghese, the Emperor's 
 brother-in-law, with Murat, and even with such officers of the 
 staff as MM. de Noailles and Lagrange. The first news of 
 balls and receptions was circulating in the drawing-rooms, and 
 in the castle the privilege of precedence, court dress, and 
 etiquette were the principal topics. 
 
 The dusk Avas falling, and the streets of Warsaw were 
 thronged with people. The noise of the frozen snow under 
 the feet of the pedestrians was mingled with the joyful tintin- 
 abulation of sledge-bells, shouting of coachmen, and noisy 
 conversation. 
 
 The houses were lit up ; in the porticoes of the mansions 
 shone big lanterns ; the footmen lighted the torches ; shops and 
 restaurants were ablaze with yellowish-red light. 
 
 The noise increased every hour. 
 
 As if in response to the thousand lights with which Warsaw 
 adorned herself, the sapphire-like sky shone with millions of 
 stars, and the bright moon lit up the immensity of the horizon. 
 
 From the direction of the Wolska Gate was heavily rolling 
 an old-fashioned carriage drawn by six fat bay horses dragging 
 the vehicle with difficulty through the heavy drifts of snow. 
 The wheels of the carriage were clogged with snow, and, 
 besides all this, when entering Senatorska Street it met so 
 many different kinds of vehicles that it was obliged to go very 
 slowly and to stop every little while. 
 
 Before coming to Maryville the street became broader. The 
 coachman whipped up the horses in order to pass a sledge 
 going ahead, when from the direction of Bielańska Street there 
 came several peasant carts escorted by soldiers. The traffic was 
 stopped, and the carriages were obliged to wait. 
 
 It seemed that the new obstacle aroused the impatience of 
 those who were within the carriage, for its window, covered 
 with frost, opened, and the charming voice of a lady was heard. 
 
 " Ian, why did you stop again } " 
 
 A sturdy footman sitting beside the coachman turned to 
 answer, when, at the same moment, there came out from the 
 coach another voice— sharp and irritable.
 
 4 NAPOLEONS LOVE STORY 
 
 '•'Evidently you wish me to catch cold again ! " 
 
 " No, but . . ." 
 
 '^ You are in a hurry ! . . . I know, I know ! But it's useless 
 for you to hurry. I told you that if the Princess did not leave 
 her visiting cards at our residence we would stay at home." 
 
 "As you wish/' answered the woman's trembling voice. 
 
 The window was closed. The footman, who was waiting for 
 an opportunity to answer the question, turned towards the 
 coachman and muttered — 
 
 " Pretty sour ! " 
 
 " Old age makes him so," answered the coachman. 
 
 "And jealousy too." 
 
 "Yes, and he torments that poor thing awfully. To-day, in 
 Walewice, she cried, not wishing to go. The chambermaid told 
 me so." 
 
 " I know," answered the footman sorrowfully. " I used to 
 carry her in my arms. Her father turns in his grave at the 
 thought of the miserable life our lady is living Avith that old 
 man, who abuses everybody. Yesterday he scolded me as if 
 I were an ordinary farm-hand." 
 
 The coachman nudged the footman. "Be careful, they 
 might hear you." 
 
 " I don't care," he answered angrily, and became silent, for 
 at that moment there resounded again the harsh voice. 
 
 "You have shut the window. , . You wish me to suffo- 
 cate . . ." 
 
 The window opened again. 
 
 " Why did you stop .^ " screeched the same voice. " And you 
 do not care at all . . ." 
 
 "You did not permit me to ask," said the same sweet 
 woman's voice. 
 
 "Yes, perhaps you would like to have a written consent. 
 Yes, I know, you would not care even if I froze to death. 
 Nothing to sigh about, madame ; I am old, you will outlive me. 
 Yes, you will." 
 
 A sudden jerk of the coach and creaking of the frozen axles 
 interrupted the quarrel. 
 
 Now the coach rolled swiftly, turned into Miodowa Street, 
 passed the Pace Mansion, and, keeping on the side of the
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 5 
 
 Basilean Churchy stopped in the front of the last house in 
 Dluga Street^ not far from the famous Raczyński Mansion. 
 
 The footman jumped down from his box and rapped at the 
 porte cochere. The door opened wide, showing a brightly 
 lighted hall. Several servants rushed out and began to unstrap 
 the boxes at the back of the coach. The footman opened the 
 carriage door and helped a lady wrapped up in costly fur to 
 alight ; then he called one of the servants, and with his aid 
 helped out the old gentleman all wrapped up in furs. 
 
 The lady entered the hall and disappeared, whilst the gentle- 
 man was still at the door of the coach scolding and asking the 
 footman ten times over about every smallest package. 
 
 The passers by, attracted by the coach, surrounded it. The 
 gentleman grew impatient, searched for his ebony stick, and 
 looked contemptuously towards the crowd. At the same moment 
 a fat man, clad in a shabby fur, came to him and bowed humbly. 
 The gentleman looked him up and down, and asked hesitat- 
 ingly — "Excuse me. . . I do not remember. . ." 
 
 "Are you not Pan Anastazy Walewski.^" asked in his turn 
 the fat man. 
 
 "Yes ... but . . ." 
 
 "' The Chamberlain. . . I haven't seen you for half a century ! 
 Don't you recognise me ? Parole d'konneiir ! as for me, it's no 
 wonder; you grow younger. Well, do you still not recollect.^ 
 ... I am Bolesha." 
 
 " A . . . Bolesha ! I am glad," answered Walewski, shaking 
 hands quite stiffly with the man. 
 
 " The same. One of the triumvirate ! Dlucki, Bolesha, 
 Hulewich. And do you remember Dzbanski, hrave homme, he 
 can't move either hand or foot ; they bled him three times. I 
 see, you have just come. For the Carnival ? Ha ! ha ! I under- 
 stand — Madame voire epouse. And the Carnival promises to 
 be a brilliant one ; Prince Borghese is going to give a ball ; 
 Monsieur de Talleyrand is at home twice a week ; Madame de 
 Vauban is indefatigable as usual ; the Countess Potocka's recep- 
 tions are famous for her suppers, and when the Emperor returns, 
 Mada?ne voire epouse willTje very busy." 
 
 " You are mistaken ; we came only for a few days on some 
 business. But you must excuse me, it is cold "
 
 6 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I v,-ouldn't dare to refuse you ! I am at your service ! " 
 Walewski looked astonished at Bolesha^ for he could not under- 
 stand how it happened that he invited him while he wished so 
 much to get rid of him ; but not finding a polite excuse for 
 sending "the bore" away, he turned towards the hall. Bolesha 
 followed him, talking constantly and keeping close to him. 
 
 The Chamberlain was met by his French valet, who very 
 adroitly helped him to take off his fur overcoat, fur overshoes, 
 fur gaiters, and fur jacket, till his master appeared in a steel- 
 coloured, swallow-tail coat on which shone the star of an order, 
 a pale yellow waistcoat embroidered with flowers, and brown 
 kneebreeches. 
 
 The Chamberlain breathed now with evident pleasure, and 
 being seated in front of a blazing fire, drank a bowl of hot 
 grog served to him by the valet. As for Bolesha, he looked at 
 Walewski, and rubbed his frozen hands, while a malicious smile 
 wandered over his brick-red face, the principal characteristic of 
 which was a large bluish cucumber-like nose. 
 
 Walewski seemed to have guessed Bolesha's thought, for he 
 swallowed the punch, and said abruptly — 
 
 " What do you think of me now ł " 
 
 " You have grown thinner w'hile I was looking at you. Two- 
 thirds were taken off you by your valet." 
 
 Walewski made an impatient movement with his mouth, and 
 said, with barely concealed irritation — 
 
 " You mean that I am old." 
 
 " Jamais de la vie ! We are both of the same age. I am 
 obliged to wear a wig, while you . . . then when one has such 
 a young wife, one grows younger. What ! But you used to 
 have good wine. I am glad you do not offer me any grog, for 
 I can't drink it . . . Parole d'honneur !" 
 
 The Chamberlain rang for the valet and ordered some wine. 
 Bolesha was beaming. 
 
 "This morning I had a presentiment of good news, and it's 
 realised. How glad I am to see you again. For there are few 
 men left from our times . . . good times ! We are scattered 
 . . . Some of them, like that brave Grabski, became monks ; 
 others, like Grotus, were married, and they dandle grand- 
 children; and those who did not die entered the army."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 7 
 
 " Perhaps you are going to do the same, eh ? " 
 
 "Parole d'honneur! They all enter the army . . . Rautenstrauch 
 and Hebduski have enlisted already. The stream carries them 
 all ; everybody wishes to wear a uniform. Ah ! wine ! You 
 must be glad that Wybicki does not know about your wine ; he 
 would have commandeered it for the army." 
 
 "And who is at the head of the Government .'' " 
 
 " His Majesty Pan Joseph Wybicki ! " answered Bolesha, with 
 comical gravity. 
 
 ''Which Wybicki .>" 
 
 " There is only one Sun, one Cato, one Wybicki ! The member 
 of the Diet, General Dombrowski's comrade, friend of M. de la 
 Roche, owner of the Manichek estate, father of two sons ! " 
 
 " And such a man is at the head } " 
 
 "Yes . . . yes, he is." 
 
 " I am sure he secured this position by intrigue, for it would 
 have been proper to look to those who formerly were of some 
 importance. That Bonaparte sympathises with vulgar people. 
 . . . My brother has written to me about it, but I did not think 
 that he would go as far as that." 
 
 " The revolution is still I'uling. The Chevalier de Saint Villa 
 got jaundice when they enumerated the new dues to him. 
 There were instances also in our country that partisans with 
 blue blood . . . Fous vous rappelez ! Pani Roch Kossowska, 
 Merlini's daughter, better known as Orzelska . . . But to grant 
 coronets to simple officers ! And it seems that the same will 
 be done in our country. ISIme. de Vauban is in despair, for 
 her loyal attachment to the Bourbons was hurt ; if it were 
 not for her love for Prince Joseph Poniatowski, vidgo Pepi, 
 she would have left for Vienna. Naturally our ladies are very 
 satisfied with such a state of affairs, and many a heart beats 
 already for uniforms. What can we do? In the meanwhile, 
 there is no order, one does not know who rules, any general 
 does what he likes. Everywhere spurs and swoi-ds and the cry, 
 War ! dominate. Parole d'honneur ! All is going wrong ! " 
 
 Bolesha became silent and filled his glass. Walewski was 
 sitting motionless looking into the fire. 
 
 The silence was broken by the valet carrying a letter and 
 spectacles on a silver tray.
 
 8 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Chamberlain tore the envelope nervously, glanced at the 
 letter, and said abruptly — 
 
 "Tell her ladyship to dress ! Call Bapti&te to me." 
 
 Bolesha growled at the title " her ladyship." The Chamberlain 
 turned. " You say . . . ? " 
 
 " I am delighted with your wine ! It is the best cheap wine 
 I ever drank." 
 
 Walewski laughed at the hint. 
 
 " Excuse me, I have not my butler with me ; we came here 
 for a few days only. The Princess writes to me." 
 
 "About the marriage of your grandson with the Princess 
 Radziwil." 
 
 " How do you know it ? " 
 
 " It's my secret." 
 
 " Have you heard anything else .'' " 
 
 "Only this, that the Countess Ossolińska proposes to push 
 her son in that direction." 
 
 "Then I do not understand why my sister . . ." 
 
 "The Princess Jabłonowska has her plans ... all depends 
 . . . your son is very rich ; but should the estate of Walewice 
 be excluded from his expected inheritance, then your grandson 
 will not be such a good parti as he seems to be just now." 
 
 " What an idea ! I settled on my wife two estates — the 
 remainder of my property will come to my son Ksaweiy." 
 
 " It is so . . . but suppose you have an heir^ what then ? " 
 
 W^alewski made a movement of impatience. 
 
 " You are joking at me. Y^ou think that my wife's beauty 
 has deprived me of my common sense, that I have forgotten 
 that I am an old man." 
 
 Bolesha laughed, and closing his eyes, cunningly answered — 
 
 " I would not make any wager. One of the most beautiful 
 women in Poland ! Parole d'honnair ! I do not mean to hurt 
 jour feelings, but it happens very often. One must count with 
 this. The daughter of a Prince Radziwil . . ." 
 
 "Let us not talk about that," interrupted Walewski drily. 
 " I am sorry to be obliged to stop such an interesting conversa- 
 tion, but I must dress." 
 
 "That's right, you must not stand on ceremony with me, 
 parole d'//on?iciir ! When are you going to leave town ? "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 9 
 
 " In three or four days ; I have nothmg to do here." 
 
 "What a pity, parole d' honjieiir ! The Carnival will be un- 
 usually brilliant this year. I am your servant ! I hope I shall 
 see you to-night. Pray present my respects to Madame voire 
 epouse." 
 
 Bolesha shook hands Avith the Chamberlain and went out. 
 
 Walewski breathed freely, sat in the armchair and closed his 
 eyes. But the valet, who was already waiting at the door, 
 cleared his throat significantly. The Chamberlain woke up and 
 looked round. 
 
 " Ah ! it's you, Baptiste," he said in French. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; it's time to dress." 
 
 "W^ell, then I must." 
 
 Walewski rose slowly, as a man who must go to do some hard 
 work, and, leaning on a walking-stick, went to the dressing- 
 room ; there he sat in an armchair, and dropped his arms to 
 signify that his valet could do what he pleased with him. 
 
 The Frenchman set to work not only Avith skill, but also Avith 
 the familiarity of a man who knoAvs all the feeble and sore 
 points of his master. The task was a very difficult one. 
 Walewski was over seventy years old, different ailments had 
 made a skeleton of him, covered Avith parchment-like skin, and 
 a stormy life had made him sour and irritable. 
 
 WaleAvski had seen much in his life. He remembered Briihl, 
 the Prime Minister of Augustus III., King of Poland; he kneAV 
 well the last king, Stanislaus PoniatOAvski ; he used to be a 
 frequent guest in his Łazienki Palace, and never missed a ball 
 or a levee ; he Avas a good companion to men, and very much 
 liked by the ladies, perhaps too impressionable to their 
 charms. That kind of fast living had some effect on his 
 financial position, but as he was the grandson in direct line of 
 Joseph Colonna WaleAvski, Palatine of Lenczyca, who married 
 the enormously rich Panna Grabska, and as he inherited also 
 from a cousin, he could afford to spend lavishly and still to be 
 very rich, the more so as he had some other inheritance from 
 collateral branches of the family. 
 
 Walewski's riches had this effect upon him, that he forgot his 
 old age, and that he did not hesitate to marry for a third time, 
 although he Avas seventy-eight years old, his neighbour Pani
 
 10 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Lonoz}Tiska's daugliter^ whose estate^ Kiernozia^ was mortgaged 
 to the last penny. 
 
 Only a few weeks after this merry wedding Pan Walewski had 
 understood that he was very old. Up to that time face powder, 
 red paintj corsets, and certain drugs sufficed in a certain degree 
 to make him look younger, when suddenly even those means 
 became insufficient. Then he got hold of the famous Baptiste, 
 who was in the service of the Prince de Ligne. The French- 
 man did his best. It was not difficult for him to make Pan 
 Walewski look a well-preserved husband, but the difficulty was 
 to do as he wished, to be as young as his twenty years' old 
 wife. 
 
 There were days that Pan Walewski would lose his faith in 
 Baptiste, and would not allow himself to be dressed by him, but 
 it was only when in Walewice he could order the doors of his 
 chateau to be shut and not receive anybody. 
 
 Closeted in his apartments, he would read novels, would try 
 to cure himself, would listen to long reports of what "her 
 lad3"ship " w^as doing, would doze, and delight in all the habits 
 of old age. 
 
 But as soon as he was obliged to perform some social duty, 
 when he was to show himself to the people, he would jump 
 from his soft chair, would throw away the warm wraps with 
 which he was enveloped, and call Baptiste. 
 
 That evening the French valet was obliged to work harder 
 than ever, for Pan Walewski was tired by the journey, irritated 
 by the conversation with Bolesha, and therefore suffering more 
 than ever. Baptiste began by administering refreshing salts to 
 him and rubbing his stiff limbs, for the Chamberlain told him 
 that he would not take his walking-stick to the Princess's ball. 
 
 More than an hour passed, and Baptiste had not yet finished 
 his work. Walewski interrupted him twice, telling him that he 
 would not go to the ball ; but the respect for the drawing-room 
 took the upper hand over the old courtier. The Princess 
 counted on him, his son Ksawery begged him to come, some 
 one of the Radziwil family could say that there was lack of 
 love between father and son, and the gossip would injure his 
 matrimonial plans with the young Princess. They were already 
 gossiping about them, as he learned from Bolesha.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 11 
 
 The Chamberlain was thinking with fear how many times he 
 would be obliged to bow at that ball, how many tiresome hours 
 he would be obliged to spend there, and all that he was going 
 to undergo for Ksawery, or rather for the sake of an alliance 
 with the Radziwils ; for the Chamberlain had been angry with 
 his son for some time past. 
 
 As long as Ksawery Vv^as a bachelor and his father not married 
 their relations were most pleasant, but when Ksawery manied 
 Panna Wodzińska and had children, and then when later on 
 his father took the fancy also to marry a young wife, he was 
 irritated at the thought that he was a grandfather. Then 
 Ksawery was fond of talking about past times and of mention- 
 ing precise dates on every opportunity, which habit was the 
 principal cause of bad relations between father and son. 
 
 Only the Princess Jabłonowska, Walewski's sister, undertook 
 to set to rights everything, or rather not to permit that such 
 a "goose" as was his young wife should have any influence 
 over him and wrong Ksawery's sons. 
 
 The Princess knew her brother's feeble side, and she almost 
 succeeded. 
 
 For three weeks letters were exchanged between her and 
 Pan Walewski, and finally he was persuaded to come to Warsaw. 
 The prestige of the Radziwils did that. 
 
 It is true that Pan Walewski traced his family to the Roman 
 patricians, and he was fond of repeating that there was hardly 
 another family as old as his. However, the hope of an alliance 
 with the Radziwils drove away his indifference towards his son 
 and grandsons ; it awoke the courtier's ambitions. 
 
 Full two hours had passed when the Chamberlain, perfumed, 
 powdered, and painted, looked into a mirror, and was obliged 
 to say to himself that he looked wonderfully young. His waist, 
 straightened by a corset, made him look much yoimger ; a grey 
 evening dress was becoming to him, and the blue ribbon of 
 the Order was in beautiful contrast with his gold waistcoat, 
 while the lace of his shirt covered discreetly the diamond 
 buttons ; only his face seemed to him to be too much painted, 
 and he dared to make a remark about it to Baptiste, who smiled 
 ironically, and said in a tone that permitted no reply — 
 
 "It can't be otherwise."
 
 12 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pan Walewski siglied^ took a snuff-box artistically chiselled 
 and set with diamondSj a present from the late king^ and^ trying 
 to stop his coughing with a very fine handkerchief^ dragged his 
 feet to his wife's apartments. 
 
 Pani Walewska was already waiting for her husband, and as 
 he entered her boudoir she rose and said — 
 
 " Then we are going ? " 
 
 Pan Walewski wanted to answer angrily, as was his custom, 
 but, enraptured by his wife's beauty, stopped, put his eyeglass 
 to his eye, and looked at his wife. Never before had he found 
 her as beautiful as that night. 
 
 Pani Walewska blushed under the influence of the cynical 
 look of her husband, a shiver ran through her beautiful face 
 and her big, dark sapphire eyes, hid under long lashes. 
 
 Pan Walewski laughed from sheer pleasure. " Charmante ! 
 Chamiante !" he whispered, coughing discreetly; and coming 
 near his wife, he put his arm round her waist and wanted to 
 kiss her with his toothless mouth. 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered with aversion and leaned backwards ; 
 her husband tottered and kept his equilibrium with an effort. 
 
 " You escape ! " he muttered, laugliing quietly. " I shall find 
 you ! By the way, again a white dress ! You have a fancy for 
 that colour. Why do you not wear the diamond necklace } " 
 
 " I have told you so many times that I do not like it." 
 
 *' You do not like it ! The idea ! It is a family jewel, a 
 costly souvenir from my grandmother, the Palatine of Lenczyca." 
 
 " You must excuse me this time." 
 
 "Every time you repeat 'this time.' After all, that modesty 
 is becoming to you ; one can admire you, although you are too 
 sentimental. You must remember that at the Princess's ball 
 the whole of society will be gathered." 
 
 " It is just the same to me." 
 
 " Very well ! I do not mean that you should care for com- 
 pliiuents, but you must remember your social position — you are 
 a Walewska ! You must take care of your frocks, especially 
 when there is a question about marrying my grandson with a 
 Rad/.iwil." 
 
 At the sound of the word "grandson" Pani W'alewska looked 
 at her husband with astonishment, and wished to ask him some
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 13 
 
 question^ but she refrained from doing so. Pan Walewski 
 finished his admonition by opening and closing his snuff-box. 
 
 " Let it be for to-night. I forgive you, for you are looking 
 charming, you do not know how beautiful you are. You are 
 still lacking in that animation which Anetka Tyszkiewicz has. 
 Well, let us be going. Take my arm, and do not go quickly." 
 
 The Chamberlain, having become suddenly animated, put his 
 fur overcoat on quickly, and sat beside his wife in the carriage. 
 
 He was highly pleased to have such a beautiful wife, and that 
 everybody should envy his good luck. 
 
 Under the influence of such thoughts he became suddenly 
 rejuvenated, leaned towards his wife and tried to find more 
 caressing words while giving her some instructions. 
 
 "You must be very attentive to the Princess, for she is our 
 nearest relation. She is very fond of you ; she told me so 
 several times in her letters." 
 
 "I always try to please her." 
 
 " Yes, but there was something between you and her. The 
 Princess is perfect in every respect. You are younger ; you 
 have married into a great family ; you must try to win people 
 to your side and not mind every word." 
 
 "Sometimes it is difficult," said Pani Walewska. "The 
 Princess was prejudiced against me." 
 
 " It only seemed so to you. If there was anything, it was 
 because of her sisterly love towards me." 
 
 Here the Chamberlain stopped suddenly short, having re- 
 membered his sister's efforts to break his engagement with 
 Panna Lonczynska, All the fears of the Princess came to his 
 mind. Until now he had no reason to complain, for his wife 
 was submissive, and her only fault was the crying, which so often 
 dulled her bright eyes ; her only hobbies were books and the 
 spinet. The Chamberlain took credit to himself for all his 
 wife's qualities, according to his way of looking at things ; he 
 watched her carefully, and did not give her any opportunity 
 to overstep the boundaries of his estate. Their going to the 
 ball to-day was his wife's first step on the slippery parquet of 
 the drawing-room. 
 
 The Chamberlain was seized with uneasiness. For the first 
 time he was afraid of society, without which formerly he could
 
 14 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 not live. There was a moment when he wanted to give the 
 order to return home, and then to hide his treasure and his old 
 age ; but it was too late, for the carriage stopped at the brightly 
 illuminated portico of the Princess's mansion. The Chamberlain 
 coughed, and began to alight slowly. 
 
 On their entering the drawing-room they were welcomed by 
 the Princess — a short, thin, overdressed, and too-much-painted 
 lady. 
 
 " How nice of you ! I am very much obliged for your 
 coming. I thought you would not come. Chere Marie, toujours 
 belle ! I should have been so unhappy without you. Xavier was 
 already uneasy. ..." 
 
 The Chamberlain said a few words, kissed his sister's hand 
 ceremoniously, and then entered the ballroom. They were 
 greeted by a slight whispering. Pan Walewski glided quite 
 boldly in, bowing to the right and to the left. His wife, under 
 the fire of persistent looks spying her every movement, every 
 part of her dress, grew pale, and walked beside her husband 
 not seeing anybody nor hearing complimentary whispers. The 
 Princess's drawing-room seemed to her to be a brilliant abyss, 
 filled up with bright rustling silk, and with the noise of dis- 
 orderly conversation, in which she felt a stranger and exposed 
 to malicious remarks and biting criticism. It was the same 
 world through which she was obliged to walk the day of her 
 wedding — cold, grand mondc. 
 
 The Chamberlain seated his wife on a settee between the 
 Princess Dominik Radziwil and the Countess Alexandre 
 Tyszkiewicz, and having sat in an armchair looked trium- 
 phantly round him. His wife was the most beautiful. There 
 were, however, many beautiful ladies that evening, and among 
 them those whose beauty was famous throughout the country, 
 such as Pani Sobolewska, Constance Countess Lubieńska, 
 Vicenty Countess Krasińska, and Pani Josei)h Rautenstrauch, 
 Pani Łuszczewska, and the two Countesses Michel and Stanislaus 
 Potocki, not counting young ladies who, though not able to 
 secure the opinion of connoisseurs, had their admirers. 
 
 The Chamberlain's trium])h, however, was short. His son 
 came to greet him, and then he began a conversation, making 
 all possible efforts to mark his words with cordiality.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 15 
 
 Then came his son Kazimierz^ and his grandson, who Avas 
 followed by numerous acquaintances and those who thought it 
 their duty to be introduced to the Chamberlain. Pan Walewski 
 became animated, and having sat beside the Princess Dominik 
 Radziwil, displayed all his drawing-room art of conversation. 
 
 The gathering at the Princess Jablonowska's was very 
 numerous — the whole of Warsovian society responded to her 
 invitation, for in her drawing-rooms they could get the latest 
 news, meet remarkable and famous people, such as Prince 
 Borghese and Talleyrand, who lived in the Princess's mansion 
 during their sojourn in Warsaw. 
 
 Consequently, the St. Sylvester ball was brilliant. From the 
 aged Marshal Małachowski down to youths just entering the 
 lists of life, everybody came, and formed groups round richly 
 embroidered French uniforms. And when about midnight 
 Prince Borghese and the Prince de Berg came with Talleyrand, 
 the guests surrounded them, trying to gain their favours.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 IN the meanwhile^ Pani Walewska, having fallen into the 
 hands of the Countess Alexandre Potocka, popularly called 
 by her maiden name Anetka Tyszkiewicz, stood her first attacks 
 bravely, and slowly regained her presence of mind, when Anetka 
 began questioning her wittily about her secluded life in Walewice. 
 
 Pani Walewska defended herself as best she could, but the 
 Countess Potocka was not satisfied with evasive answers, and 
 said — 
 
 " To be sure, your husband is unrivalled ! What animation, 
 what grace in his movements, what charm in his manners ; the 
 young men should look on him as a model." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked in the direction where her husband 
 was sitting with the Princess Radziwil, and blushed. 
 
 Anetka pretended not to see. 
 
 " Pray, judge for yourself — there to the right is Pan Kazimierz 
 Walewski, the grandson. Don't you think one can see that time 
 is weighing upon him? But permit me to introduce him to you.' 
 
 Pani Walewska wished to answer something, but the Countess 
 Potocka had already made a graceful movement with her fan 
 towards Pan Walewski. 
 
 ''^ Monsieur Casimir!" solemnly began the Countess Potocka. 
 "Pray forgive my calling you, but I considered it to be my 
 duty to introduce you to our dear Pani Walewska." 
 
 " I am very much obliged," gabbled Pan Kazimierz Walewski, 
 trying to adorn his withered face with a stupid smile. " I had 
 just the honour . . ." 
 
 " What a blunder ! " burst out Anetka, laughing. " C' est 
 voire grandę mere ! Excuse me, my dearest, I have introduced 
 your grandson to you. Ma foi, I did not think of it ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska's eyes filled with tears, whilst the young 
 
 i6
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 17 
 
 Walewski, trying to be amiable, paid her a stupid compliment, 
 calling her " beautiful grandmother." 
 
 Anetka could not contain herself any longer, and, excusing 
 herself, she flew towards Pani Sobolewska, that she might 
 share the amusing prank which she had played on " a country 
 lady," 
 
 Pani Sobolewska was very glad to have an opportunity of 
 wagging her sharp tongue, and in a few minutes the drawing- 
 i-oom was filled with whispers and malicious laughter. Adroitly 
 repeated and adorned, the news amused everybody. All eyes 
 were turned again toward Pani Walewska, and the Chamberlain 
 became a target for ironical smiles, while the gentlemen crowded 
 round his wife. 
 
 Pani Walewska was blushing, and frightened under the smiles 
 and mien of these men, for every one of them seemed to cry 
 victory by their forbearing smiles, ambiguous words, and in- 
 truding looks. The most persevering and insistent, however, 
 was a little fat Frenchman, Herceau, who having seated himself 
 beside Pani WalcAvska, and turning his thumbs round each 
 other, paid her compliments, sighed, and spoke about the rose 
 that blossomed in the dusk of cold December ; about the 
 longing which, after years of wandering, falls at the feet of 
 an ideal and vanishes in old age ; about his first hour of happi- 
 ness found in a foreign country after years of banishment. 
 
 For some time Pani Walewska pretended that she did not 
 understand the Frenchman, but when he became more precise 
 about his sentiments, thinking her short answers were such as to 
 give him more courage. Pani Walewska interrupted him quietly, 
 saying— 
 
 " Can I be frank with you .'' " 
 
 " I would consider it a favour ! " 
 
 " You seem only to care to talk about love." 
 
 " Yes, to-day. Are you surprised ? The flower of the heart 
 must turn towards the sun, even if it has to wither." 
 
 " I don't think you are afraid of that." 
 
 ''For even that alternative would be a paradise for me. It 
 is better to lose the chance of entering Paradise, than not to 
 see it at all." 
 
 " I think differently." 
 c
 
 18 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " You are cruel. . . . You attract and repulse. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska made no rejjly, but looked round helplessly 
 for someone to come to her rescue. Help arrived in the person 
 of her hostess, whoj having seized the thread of the gossip, 
 thought proper to interfere, and having taken the Chamberlain's 
 wife aside she said sweetly — 
 
 " Chere Marie ! You must excuse me, but you ought not to 
 give the gossipers an opportunity ! My poor brother will be 
 very upset. You are imprudent . . . and the people are mali- 
 cious. ... I was obliged to explain to the Princess Dominik." 
 
 " I do not understand what you mean," interrupted Pani 
 Walewska, almost crying. 
 
 "Well, I am not going to make any reproaches. My poor 
 brother was prepared for some indulgence, but pray, you must 
 try to win Jeannette Radziwil, for the Ossolinskis are intriguing. 
 . . . Let us go to the red boudoir. . . . Only believe me . . . 
 Prince Borghese was looking much at you, and even Murat. 
 ... It would need only some due of yesterday to fall in love 
 with you. . . . My poor brotlier would pay for that with his 
 death. . . ." 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska, not permitting Pani Walewska to 
 say a word, conducted her to a side boudoir, where a group of 
 young ladies, having escaped the solemnity of the drawing- 
 room, were chatting with animation with the young men who 
 were paying them attention. Then the Princess pointed out to 
 Pani Walewska a small, dark-haired lady, dressed in pale blue, 
 and chatting with a beardless youth. She whispered — 
 
 "Do you see how constant is the young Ossohnski to her? 
 Casimir is incorrigible ! " Then coming to the dark-haired 
 girl she said, with Avarm cordiality — 
 
 " Dear Jeannette, I am looking for you ... I have missed 
 your sweet face so much. Pani Anastazy Walewska wished to 
 meet you." 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife was ready to curtsey to the young 
 Princess, when suddenly she felt her arms round her neck. 
 
 " Mary ! Then it's you ! Is this the way you greet your 
 Jeannette ! " 
 
 Only at this moment did Pani Walewska recognise her best 
 friend from boarding-school.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 19 
 
 " Then you are old friends ! " said the Princess sneeringly. 
 " You did not tell me ! " 
 
 ''I did not know that the question was about my dear 
 Jeannette." 
 
 Princess Radziwil laughed heartily. 
 
 ''The Princess Palatine introduced you so solemnly that I was 
 afraid to kiss you." 
 
 " I am very glad/' said the Princess smilingly. " Now enjoy 
 yourselves together ; I will not interfere." 
 
 The two friends did not need to be encouraged in that 
 respect. They left the group^ and^ having seated themselves 
 on a settee in a corner^ began to question each other, jumping 
 from one subject to another, recollecting times spent over 
 Filassier's educational dictionary, stiff conversation, and French 
 notebooks. 
 
 Jeannette told her friend about all her troubles, beginning 
 with frocks which that unbearable Joubert had not yet de- 
 livered, and ending by telling her of the puzzling humour of 
 Victor Ossoliński, who was prepossessed with an opinion against 
 a Walewski, although very unjustly indeed. 
 
 Having pronounced the name Walewski, Jeannette stopped 
 and asked suddenly — 
 
 " But you are a Walewska also ! Perhaps it is your cousin .'' " 
 
 "As it seems ! " answered evasively the Chamberlain's wife. 
 
 " You must introduce me to your husband. Is he here .'' " 
 
 " Yes, he is." 
 
 " Very well, then. You have not changed at all. It is only 
 two Aveeks since we arrived. We could not get our passports ! 
 So alarming ! Interrogations at every gate ; they stopped us 
 several times ; plenty of soldiers on every road. If it had not 
 been for General Benigsen's letter, we could not have reached 
 Warsaw ! How glad I am to see you ! I felt so lonely here ! 
 Well, kiss me ! Only you are a married lady. . . . Madame . . . 
 what.''" 
 
 "Anastazy Walewska." 
 
 " Wait . . . are you not a relation of that Walewska ... a 
 while ago Victor told ? . . . Monsieur Victor ! " 
 
 A youth standing not far off came and bowed. 
 
 '• You have deigned to call me."
 
 20 NAPOLEONS LOVE STORY 
 
 "Yes, I have deigned!" affinned the Princess Kadziwil with 
 comical gravity. " You have to bow as graciously as you can. 
 . . . Voild. Chevalier Victor Ossoliński . . . most unbearable 
 . . . and this is my dearest friend, Mary Lonczynska. . . . Yes ! 
 For me always dear, sweet, good-hearted Mary." 
 
 " I am ! . . ." 
 
 " Obstinate," interrupted Jeannelte, slapping Ossolinski's hand 
 slightly. " You are called here to repeat the story about grand- 
 mother and grandson." 
 
 " It was during the Sylvester night at the Princess Palatine's. 
 Chevalier Walewski having noticed a lady of extraordinary 
 beauty, fell in love, threw himself at her feet, kissed the hem 
 of her dress . . . and offered, besides himself, all he had and 
 what he expected to inherit. The lady listened indulgently, 
 but excused herself as she was married. Chevalier Walewski 
 proposed divorce. The lady consented. But suddenly there 
 appeared on the scene a brother of Chevalier Walewski, and 
 scolded him — for the lady is their grandmother. Moral : a 
 grandson must not come into this world before his grand- 
 mother." 
 
 Jeannette was bursting with laughter. Pani Walewska grew 
 pale and nearly fainted. The Princess was frightened. 
 
 " Mary, what is the matter with you ? " 
 
 "Nothing — it will pass," she muttered with an effort. 
 "Water!" 
 
 Ossoliński rushed for water. 
 
 Pani Walewski recovered, and explained that she was tired 
 by a long journey. 
 
 The Princess, having exchanged a significant look with 
 Ossoliński, began to talk about Napoleon. 
 
 Ossolinski's eyes became brighter. 
 
 " Mary, have you seen the Prince of Berg ? " said the Princess, 
 not permitting Ossoliński to talk. 
 
 " Yes, from afar." 
 
 "And I have chatted with him for a whole hour ... he is 
 a little unnatural in his manners . . . but he is nothing com- 
 pared with the Emperor, whose look is so penetrating that our 
 most eloquent men are silent in his presence. I should like so 
 much to see him."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 21 
 
 ''There will be plenty of opportunities/' said Ossoliński, "for 
 to-morrow evening he is coming from Pułtusk. There will be 
 a reception in the Castle." 
 
 " If only mother would take me ... or rather, if we should 
 receive an invitation ! as it seems the Emperor does not like 
 ladies. The list of the invited wiU not be very long. . . . Ah! 
 I shall be so unhappy. ..." 
 
 " But there cannot be a doubt/' said Ossoliński, trying to con- 
 sole her. " You will not be forgotten." 
 
 " Who knows ? Mamma does not like to take me everywhere, 
 and I am so anxious to see everything, especially Napoleon." 
 
 " It is worse with me, and I do not complain," said Ossoliński, 
 tugging impatiently at the down on his upper lip. 
 
 " Why ? " 
 
 " A guard of honour is to be formed. I wished to enlist, and 
 they thought that I was too young yet." 
 
 "The idea ! " exclaimed Jeannette indignantly. 
 
 " Therefore I have not the slightest chance of seeing him, for, 
 even when he passes through the streets, it will be impossible 
 to have a glance at him on account of the big crowds. Well, 
 when one has such an aunt ! . . ." 
 
 " Cousin ! " 
 
 "But I shall take advantage of the first opportunity, and shall 
 enlist in the great army ; I shall go to the end of the world." 
 
 Jeannette blushed, and having dropped her bright eyes, 
 whispered — 
 
 " Would you do it ? " 
 
 " Well ... I do not know, though ! " 
 
 "And you, Mary?" asked the Princess of Pani Walewska, 
 who silently listened to the conversation of the young people. 
 " I presume you will be invited with your husband to the recep- 
 tion. Ah, how much I would like to be a married woman!" 
 
 " I do not think so," answered Pani Walewska quietly. 
 "To-morrow we return to Walewice." 
 
 "You will not wait for Napoleon's reception at the Castle ? " 
 
 " No, my husband is not well ; and then, as you know, we do 
 not go out much." 
 
 "Ah, yes," affirmed the Princess, having recollected that her 
 friend came from a not very rich, although an old family.
 
 22 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " But perhaps it will be worth your while to sacrifice some- 
 thing. The Princess Palatine says that there never will be 
 another such chance of seeing so many heroes all at once." 
 
 " I should like very much ... to see Napoleon, at least ! 
 Centuries will pass before another like him will be born. Then 
 he comes here for us. ..." 
 
 " That is uncertain, they say. The Princess Palatine calls 
 him simply a usurper and a revolutionist. Ah ! you should 
 hear what M. de Talleyrand says of him ! Simply this, that it 
 is not certain whether his family comes from the nobility or 
 not." 
 
 " It does not lessen his glory." 
 
 "Nor my curiosity." 
 
 " Yours will be satisfied." 
 
 " I will give you advice," said Ossoliński. 
 
 "We are listening." 
 
 " Let us go to-morrow to meet the Emperor ! " 
 
 " But where to.'' " 
 
 "One could ascertain about the hour of his coming. ... I 
 will order my best horses, a sledge, and I will take you for a 
 drive." 
 
 " A capital idea ! Cousin, you are charming ! Mary, do you 
 hear? We shall see him without being obliged to make the 
 three bows. Pani Sobolewska showed mamma — three forward, 
 three backwards . . . very diflicult ! . . . The Princess Pala- 
 tine never heard of such ... at our Court there were only 
 two. . . . We shall bow to the Emperor from the sledge and 
 look into his eyes. He must have dreadful eyes ! Then, to- 
 
 morrow 
 
 "You must not count on me — I shall leave with my husband 
 in the morning." 
 
 " Do not be stubborn ! I shall manage your tyrannical 
 husband. But we must arrange the plan of our expedition. 
 Cousin will come to take us for a drive, only you must not 
 betray us. Where shall we go .^ " 
 
 "We shall know that at once, only we must admit somebody 
 into our plot ; somebody discreet and well-informed. I have 
 him ! Chevalier Gorayski. I shall bring him here at once." 
 
 "Victor is charming," said the Princess confidentially, when
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 23 
 
 Ossoliński left them^ not having noticed that Pani Walewska 
 grew pale. " He is very good at keeping a secret ; I have tried 
 him. What a pity they think him too young. He is seventeen 
 years old ; exactly my age." 
 
 Pani Walewska had not time to answer her friend before 
 Ossoliński brought a tall young man, with a sad expression in 
 his big black eyeSj and introduced him solemnly — • 
 
 " Chevalier Gorayski." 
 
 " I am very glad/' said Jeannette, and having now seen Pani 
 Walewska's embarrassment^ she added, "as it seems you have 
 met before." 
 
 ''Yes, I have had the honour," answered Gorayski, bowing. 
 
 " In that case we have a sure ally. There is a plot against 
 the Emperor ! Awful ! Secret plot. . . . You must take an 
 oath that you will not betray it. Otherwise there will fall upon 
 us the thunderbolts of the wrath of my mother, my cousin's 
 aunt, and the vengeance of Pani Walewska's husband and the 
 anathemas of all the old-fashioned people." 
 
 "Will you be kind enough to tell me what the question is 
 about.'' ..." 
 
 Jeannette burst into hearty laughter at Gorayski's solemnity, 
 and then explained their plan of meeting Napoleon, begging 
 him to help them by his experience. 
 
 Gorayski listened patiently, and said that as he belonged 
 to the guard of honour he would be able to conduct them 
 over the bridge, which without him would not be easy for 
 them to pass, as there were a great quantity of stores being 
 brought in for the army. They must not, however, be too 
 late, for Napoleon's habit was always to be before the appointed 
 time. 
 
 While the Princess was discussing the details of the excursion 
 with Ossoliński, Gorayski was obliged to turn to Pani Walewska, 
 and he said with an effort — 
 
 " Have you been long in Warsaw } " 
 
 "We came to-day," answered Pani Walewska, without raising 
 his eyes. " And you .'' " 
 
 "A fortnight since, I left home." 
 
 " You have chosen a good opportunity." 
 
 *'Kov/ } I do not understand."
 
 24 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Well, formerly there was nothing to be done, there was no 
 attraction. . . ." 
 
 " Formerly ? It seems to me that there was an attraction. 
 I am an egotist when I speak in that way, but who in my place 
 would not be egotistical?" 
 
 Pani Walewska blushed. 
 
 " One must conquer the egotism and turn one's eyes towards 
 great, sublime things." 
 
 " And you, madame, you, Mary, . . . are you happy } " 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered. 
 
 " You wish me to answer ? " 
 
 " Yes, I would like to hear it from your lips." 
 
 Pani Walewska lifted her shapely head, and said firmly — 
 
 " Yes, I am." 
 
 Gorayski dropped his head, and said bitterly — 
 
 " If it is so, then 1 am very glad." 
 
 "I was certain that such an answer would suffice." 
 
 " For it must ! Mary, you tremble ! Tell me why you con- 
 tradict your own heart .^ It seemed to you that the glitter of 
 riches would quench in you the remorse aroused for a broken 
 oath .'' You have trampled light-heartedly over my happiness, 
 but have you assured your own ? Excuse me, for I have no 
 right to talk to you like this, but let me have at least the con- 
 solation of knowing that then you were sincere, that then you 
 have . . ." 
 
 ''Stop ! " she interrupted Avith an effort. 
 
 " You are afraid of remorse .'' " 
 
 " No, of memories ! " 
 
 " I live only by them." 
 
 " You are wrong ! The roads are open to you, you have 
 hundreds of means for finding consolation and oblivion." 
 
 " I do not know how to thank you, madame, for such good 
 advice," answered Gorayski ironically. 
 
 "You can sneer if you like, but were I in your place, I 
 would not hesitate a minute . . ." 
 
 " You would enlist in the army ! " finished Gorayski. 
 
 "You have guessed, Monsieur le Chevalier, for, perhaps, military 
 service was never before so noble. Look, our whole country 
 was in a lethargy ; it seemed as though it was dead ; that it
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 25 
 
 would never wake up for great deeds ; that we should listen to 
 German commands for ever ; that all our activity would be lost 
 in small deeds, small cares, small pleasures ! When there came 
 a conqueror, a hero ; he broke the Prussian chains, and re- 
 suscitated in us a new life ! Shall the Emperor's eagles go as 
 they came ? No, the Emperor Napoleon shall be followed by 
 everybody." 
 
 " Ah, chere Mane, what an ally the Emperor has in you ! " re- 
 sounded suddenly the Princess Jablonowska's voice, who, accom- 
 panied by the Chamberlain, came up to the young people. 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered, and, having noticed her husband 
 trembling from fatigue, became confused. 
 
 The Princess and Ossoliński also seemed to be embarrassed. 
 Gorayski alone kept his wits, and said — 
 
 " Pani Walewska is right ; we must follow the Emperor." 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska put her lorgnette on her nose, and, 
 having looked at Gorayski, said with a shade of intentional 
 astonishment — 
 
 " Ah ! It is Chevalier de Gorayski ! I am very pleased. . . . 
 What a political conversation ! Anastazy, permit me to introduce 
 to you . . . Chevalier de Gorayski." 
 
 Gorayski bowed respectfully to Pan Walewski. 
 
 Then the Princess introduced the Chamberlain to the young 
 Princess Radziwil, and subsequently Ossoliński to the Chamber- 
 lain. 
 
 Pan Walewski mumbled some compliment, and, not being 
 able to overcome the fatigue which was taking hold of him, said 
 to his wife — 
 
 " We must be going ; it is time ! " 
 
 Jeannette could not conceal her astonishment, only now 
 understanding that old Walewski was her friend's husband. 
 
 Pani Walewska rose silently. Princess Jabłonowska tried to 
 excuse her brother. 
 
 " Ma chere Marie, you know how much I would like you to 
 stay longer, but I do not dare to ask you to stop after such a 
 long and fatiguing journey. Then to-morrow again ! . . . Ah^ 
 if you could postpone ..." 
 
 " It is impossible ! " said Walewski, coughing. 
 
 *' I wished so much to have you for a longer time. . . ."
 
 26 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Then you are going to-morrow, Mary?" asked Jeanette 
 Radziwil. 
 
 ''We must." 
 
 " And what will become of your project of driving ? Only 
 one day for me. We had agreed to go to-morrow for a drive. 
 . . . Madayne la Princesse will be kind enough to intercede for 
 me, auprcs de Monsieur de Walewski." 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska, wishing to please the young Princess 
 Radziwil, took her side, and seeing in that circumstance a good 
 opportunity to conclude the projected marriage, she whispered 
 a few words into the Chamberlain's ear. 
 
 Walewski resisted, for he thought that he would be obliged 
 to go for a drive also ; but when Jeannette Radziwil assured 
 him that her mother promised to go with them, he said 
 pompously that it was his duty to fulfil every wish of the 
 young Princess, and promised to postpone his leaving Warsaw. 
 
 Jeannette Radziwil thanked him, and Walewski assured her 
 that he would be most happy to be able to please her oftener. 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska hinted advisedly that it was possible 
 that he might have such an opportunity. In a word, everybody 
 was satisfied, not excepting Ossoliński and Giorayski. Pani 
 Walewska alone was alarmed, seeing yellow spots coming out on 
 her husband's cheeks from under the paint and powder. 
 
 Her presentiment proved to be right, for no sooner was he 
 in the carriage, and not obliged to wear the mask of constraint, 
 than he let fly his bad humour. 
 
 He complained that he was awfully tired ; he abused the 
 Princess Palatine for having forced him to drink a glass of 
 grog, which had given him a bad headache ; he reproached 
 his wife, saying that she had forgotten him, and that it was 
 because of her that he could not stay any longer. 
 
 This was not the end of the Chamberlain's complaints ; at 
 that ball he came to the conclusion that in that grand mondc 
 he had become a zero ; a useless piece of furniture to which 
 nobody paid any attention, Avhom everybody avoided. 
 
 His ambition had permitted him to hope that as soon as he 
 appeared he would be at once asked to take part in confidential 
 debates, that his advice would be asked — but it all turned out 
 quite differently.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY rt 
 
 Some elderly ladies, remembering Walewski's brilliant past, 
 had listened politely to his commonplace conversation, but the 
 men received him coolly, indifferently. In vain the Chamberlain 
 approached the former Speaker of the Diet, Małachowski, and 
 reminded him of past times spent together. The Speaker 
 hardly troubled himself to answer him ; nor was he treated 
 any better by such noblemen as Sobolewski, Wojczynski, 
 Gutakowski, Kochanowski, and Ostrowski ; Prince Joseph 
 Poniatowski answered the Chamberlain's respectful bow by a 
 slight inclination of his head onl}^ ; as for Prince Borghese, 
 he smiled ironically, and having exchanged a few words with 
 his aide-de-camp, said — 
 
 "Ah! ... it is you who have such a young and beautiful 
 wife." 
 
 Walewski became confused. 
 
 Prince Borghese laughed, seeing Walewski's confusion, and 
 added hastily : " My sincere congratulations ! I should like 
 to be introduced to her." 
 
 The Chamberlain mumbled a few words of thanks, and then 
 having found his sister, told her that he was going home, and 
 did not try to conceal his dissatisfaction. 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska guessed the cause of her brother's 
 bitterness, and tried to console him by telling him that there 
 were many people who made an effort to disband the clique 
 whose aim was to monopolise the French Court and to influence 
 the Emperor. 
 
 That news brought some consolation to Walewski, but it was 
 not for a long time — as soon as he found himself in the carriage 
 shivering from cold and sleepy from fatigue — that he under- 
 stood the impotency of an old man. The old courtier's ideas 
 had received a severe blow, and his wounded ambition was not 
 cured either by the thought that the negotiations for his 
 grandson's marriage with Princess Radziv/il were successful, 
 nor by his sister's assurance that Walewski had some chances 
 of becoming a member of the future Government. 
 
 The Chamberlain wished to live and shine by himself and 
 not by his grandson. His anger not being satisfied with a 
 biting criticism of the new people, of revolutionary princes 
 and dukes, and of lords smelling of the guard-house, turned
 
 28 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 towards his wife^ who listened silently to his bitter reproaches, 
 not trying even to defend herself. 
 
 That submission made him still more angry ; therefore, when 
 once back in his mansion, having thrown away his evening 
 dress and wrapped himself in a soft warm dressing-gown, he 
 made up his mind to have some explanation with his wife, and 
 for this purpose he ordered a servant to ask "her ladyship" to 
 come to him. 
 
 Pani Walewska came at once, still in evening dress. 
 
 Walewski looked her up and down with his lifeless eyes, 
 coughed, and said emphatically — 
 
 " I must tell you that we are going to-morrow ! Do you 
 understand ? I did not come to feast, to go driving ! We shall 
 go. Did you hear me .'' Then there is nobody to associate 
 with . . , not for me are those receptions . . . that mixed 
 society. . . . We are going to Walewice." 
 
 " It was so arranged," answered Pani Walewska quietly. 
 
 "What was arranged.''" cried the Chamberlain. "It is 
 arranged only now ! You had a fancy for driving ; you shall 
 do so in Walewice. You shall write to the Princess Radziwil 
 and tell her that you are not well." 
 
 " I have already written ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain made a movement of impatience. The 
 desire for quarrelling took the upper hand of him. 
 
 " You have written .'' Well ... it was proper to ask my 
 advice before doing so." 
 
 " You see by yourself that I have guessed your wishes ! 
 Jeannette almost forced me to promise to go driving with 
 her. I did not wish it." 
 
 " Naturally ! How could you when there is the question of 
 my family alliance with the Radziwils } Naturally you would 
 not care for some sacrifice for us. I knew it well. You have 
 an opportunity to win Jeannette for us, but naturally you would 
 not do so. I knew it ! Instead of talking with the young 
 Princess, you preferred to listen to Gorayski's idle talk. We 
 know who he is . , . your former lover ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska grew pale. 
 
 •' Have you called me in order to accuse me of unjust ..." 
 
 '•' Unjust I " interrupted Walewski, trembling. " You suppose
 
 NAPOLEONS LOVE STORY 29 
 
 so well . . . then we shall stay in Warsaw . . . to-morrow you 
 will go with Jeannette ! Do you hear ! " 
 
 "As you wish." 
 
 "You do not like it. You will go. You must do this for 
 Ksawery^ for they already say that you do what pleases you 
 with me. We shall leave the day after to-morrow. Give me 
 that salts bottle ! Cover mC;, it is cold here. You should have 
 remembered that my health cannot stand such a journey. But 
 you do not care about it at all. I know ! You would like . . . 
 Well^ you shall see me dead. Only you must remember that 
 I have some duties, that you shall not take everything, that 
 Ksawery is my pi'incipal successor. You come last. Your 
 mother's calculations deceived her ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska became red — her sad eyes shone. 
 
 " You can give your gold to the beggars ! I do not care for 
 anything from you, except that you should not insult me." 
 
 Walewski was frightened by such energy, or perchance he 
 was moved by the sincerity of his wife's speech, for he changed 
 his tactics at once, and stretched out his hands and whispered 
 hastily — 
 
 " Mary ! Do not be angry. Sometimes one sjieaks without 
 meaning. Well, I shall not take my riches to the grave, and 
 instead of leaving them to those who neglect me, I prefer to 
 give them to you. People's talk irritates me. I have nothing 
 against you, and I shall leave everything to you." 
 
 Her husband's sudden munificence did not brighten Pani 
 Walewska's beautiful face ; on the contrary, more clouds 
 appeared upon it. 
 
 Walewski coughed, inhaled salts, and said : " Well, you do 
 not answer." 
 
 " I am tired." 
 
 "Then I will not keep you. To-morrow you must go with 
 Jeannette ! Then we shall see ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose, bent her head over the Chamberlain's, 
 who kissed her noisily, and went to her apartments.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 IN the front of the inn in Jabłonna numerous peasant carts, 
 noblemen's coaches, and military transports gathered from 
 early morning. Notwithstanding that it was a holy day, there 
 was much bustle and unusual excitement such as only happened 
 during a hunt on Prince Poniatowski's estate. 
 
 The chateau, which was covered with snow, was, however, 
 quiet and silent, whilst the overcrowded inn shook with hurry- 
 ing and noisy people. 
 
 On the road from Serock there were whole rows of trans- 
 ports, carts, waggons, and four-in-hand coaches. 
 
 All those innumerable vehicles stopped before the inn. 
 Every moment new guests entered the room ; some, jingling 
 their swords, asked for fresh horses, swore and abused the host ; 
 others talked with military commissaires, and then started on 
 their way to Warsaw. 
 
 The tintinabulation of slcvlge bells, the calls from the drivers, 
 squeaking of frozen axle-trees, and loud conversation, produced 
 a deafening noise, full of life and feverish animation. Peasants 
 in homespun rubbed shoulders with military uniforms and 
 noblemen's fur coats. 
 
 Those persons standing in the front of the inn questioned 
 the new-comers, and shared the answers with others, sometimes 
 translating from French into Polish. 
 
 About noon the road leading to Serock began to clear ; there 
 were fewer carts and transport waggons, but the number of 
 coaches increased. These coaches were escorted by cavalry, 
 and officers were sitting on the boxes beside the coachmen. 
 Such coaches sometimes passed the inn, but others stopped and 
 changed horses. The crowd sometimes caught sight through 
 the frost-covered window of a martial face, at another time 
 
 30
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 31 
 
 a hat adorned with plumes would appear, then the crowd 
 whispered "a. Marshal!" and the soldiers and officers would 
 stretch themselves, noblemen would lift their chapkas, and the 
 peasants would bow to the ground. At length there were no 
 more coaches. 
 
 The recently crowded road was now empty and shining in 
 the sun with snow crystals. Apathy took hold of the crowd. 
 Here and there some one, not being able to stand longer in the 
 cold, went to the inn ; others breathed on their hands ; others 
 stamped on the ground with their feet to warm them. 
 
 On a sudden there resounded on the road the bells of a small 
 sledge conducted by a young man in half-military dress. The 
 sledge glided between vehicles, made a circle in the snow, and 
 stopped in fi'ont of the inn. The young man turned to the 
 crowd and asked : "Where is the post-house ostler.^ Quick ! " 
 
 A thin man dressed in a sheepskin jacket rushed to the 
 sledge. 
 
 " At your service, my lord ! " 
 
 " The Emperor is coming ! have the horses ready ! Do you 
 see that coach near the forest .'' Go ! " 
 
 The thin man rushed to the stables. The young man in half- 
 military garb whipped up the horses and rushed towards Warsaw. 
 
 In the crowd voices were heard calling : '' He is coming ! he 
 is coming ! The Emperor ! L! Emperetir arrive ! Attention ! " 
 
 Several officers and commissaires rushed from the inn and 
 began to clear the way, pushing the vehicles and people aside ; 
 it was a difficult task, for the officers were followed by men and 
 women who rushed from the inn, crowding the road, and in- 
 creasing the confusion. 
 
 "He is coming ! He is coming ! " resounded voices louder 
 and louder from all sides. 
 
 The eyes of the crowd turned towards a six-horse coach 
 coming on the road from Serock. They just glanced at the 
 iong-moustachioed coachman, then at the smart dress of the 
 servants sitting beside him, then tried to penetrate the depths 
 of the dark green coach. 
 
 The coach rushed like the wind, the strong horses, with out- 
 stretched necks and wide-open nostrils, seemed hardly to touch 
 the ground with their hoofs.
 
 32 NAPOLEO.VS LOVE STORY 
 
 The crowd wavered, and bore without murmuring the blows 
 dealt by the order-making soldiers^ not frightened by the swear- 
 ing officers, but stood solid in one compact powerful body, 
 cemented by one desire, concentrated in one look. 
 
 The coach was coming ; it was already so near that heads 
 began to uncover, when on a sudden, from the direction of 
 Warsaw, bells resounded noisily, and a sledge, to which were 
 harnessed four dapple-grey horses, rushed through the snow 
 dust directly towards the Emperor's can-iage. 
 
 The officers tried by gestures to stop the rushing horses, but 
 the young driver, in a costly fur, sitting beside a liveried foot- 
 man, cracked his w'hip disregardfully, and w^ent like a storm 
 directly to the inn ; and when at last, hearing the enthusiastic 
 shouting of " Long live the Emperor ! " he wished to stop the 
 horses, it was too late. 
 
 The Emperor's coach stopped, almost touching the sledge, 
 the sledge separating it from the crowd. 
 
 "Long live the Emperor ! " shouted the crowd. 
 
 " Vive l' Emperenr ! " cried the soldiers, and Avhile some one 
 rushed to the Emperor's carriage and hastily took out the 
 horses, others abused the young driver, and tried to push the 
 sledge aside ; but the dapple-grey horses, frightened by the 
 shouting and throwing up of chapkas, jumped, then threw their 
 heads up and down, and would not permit anyone to come near 
 them. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the door of the Emperor's carriage was 
 opened, a good-looking man in a rich military uniform jumped 
 out, noticed the offence at a glance, and said in French to an 
 officer standing outstretched — 
 
 " You are on duty here ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " Come to report to me ; a month of prison ! Take away the 
 sledge ! " 
 
 The officer then began to abuse the driver, but at the same 
 time there came from the sledge the melodious voice of a 
 woman. " Will you not be kind enough to excuse us, the most 
 ardent desire to see His Majesty the Emperor brought us here!" 
 
 The Marshal politely saluted the talking lady, and said with 
 mild peremptoriness : " You arc not guilty. The carelessness
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 33 
 
 of the officer on duty might have exposed you to dangei*. The 
 driver must turn to one side." 
 
 "He will do it at once, only you must be kind enough to 
 permit me to glance at His Majesty/' said another lady with 
 the force of conviction. 
 
 " Follow me^ please." 
 
 The little lady jumped out without the slightest hesitation. 
 The Marshal offered her his arm^ not paying any attention to 
 the other young lady who followed them. 
 
 "Your name?" asked the Marshal rapidly. 
 
 " Madame Walewska/' answered the questioned lady with 
 emotion, feeling the sharp penetrating look that was coming 
 towards her from the carriage. 
 
 The Marshal stopped before the open door. 
 
 " Sire ! this lady was daring enough to stop us on our way 
 in order to see your Majesty/' 
 
 Napoleon leaned forward. 
 
 " I am very grateful. You must be as good as you are beauti- 
 ful ! You have caused me true ])leasure, a double one, for, in 
 this forlorn spot, I did not expect such a charming apparition." 
 
 Pani Walewska, trembling from emotion, lifted her dark, 
 sapphire-like eyes, full of tears, and, having knelt on the step 
 of the carriage, said with enthusiasm : " Sire ! you are great ! 
 You are our saviour ! " 
 
 Napoleon seemed to be moved by this unexpected outburst, 
 and, having noticed tears in Pani Walewska's eyes, asked good- 
 naturedly : " You are crying } " 
 
 " From happiness, because I see the Emperor." 
 
 " I thank you ! In your words there sounds such sincerity 
 that I shall remember them ! I hope to see you in Warsaw." 
 
 The Marshal conducted Pani Walewska to the sledge, and, 
 having once more asked her name, returned to the carriage. 
 
 The crowd, not understanding the meaning of all that had 
 happened, and seeing the Emperor's carriage, acclaimed him 
 constantly. 
 
 In the meantime, the horses were changed ; the Marshal said 
 something to the otiicer on duty and entered the coach, at the 
 window of which appeared Napoleon's head. 
 
 The acclamations increased; the coach rushed towards Warsaw 
 
 D
 
 34 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 followed by shouting voices. In the sledge, after a momentary 
 astonishment, there began a mirthful chat. 
 
 " Mary," said Jeannette Radziwil, " has he spoken to you .'' 
 Yes, he did ! I heard, but could not catch the words." 
 
 '^'^ Jeannette," Pani Walewska said, defending herself, "permit 
 me to gather my thoughts ; I do not know myself — I am afraid 
 I said something that I should not have said." 
 
 "The idea! He was moved! And how he looked at you! 
 But that Marshal was very polite. Cousin, do you know his 
 name ł " 
 
 " In a moment. We must first get on the road — get away ! " 
 shouted Ossoliński, sitting on the coachman's box. 
 
 "John, take the reins. Let us get out from here as soon as 
 we can. They might stop us. Look, that officer is rushing 
 towards us." 
 
 "John, turn into the field!" cried Jeannette Radziwil, having 
 noticed that actually the officer, who was on duty and who was 
 scolded by the Marshal, was making his way through the crowd 
 towards the sledge. 
 
 " Hasten ! hasten ! " cried Pani Walewska. 
 
 John took the reins from Ossoliński, Avhipped up the horses, 
 and turned across the field. The sledge rushed madly towards 
 Warsaw. 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed freely. 
 
 "Thank God, we are safe ! " 
 
 " What would they do .'' You have spoken with the Emperor 
 himself! " 
 
 '^They would not dare ! " affirmed Ossoliński. 
 
 " Tell us now how was it ? My dear, do ; I heard him say, 
 Voiis pleurez ! I had also tears in my eyes ; I do not know why. 
 Well, tell us." 
 
 Pani Walewska, with a voice full of emotion, related the 
 details of the conversation. Jeannette was beside herself Avith 
 satisfaction. 
 
 " Do you know, Mary, I did not expect such an end. Well, 
 we have succeeded with our expedition. The Princess Palatine 
 is certain that we are somewhere near Ujazdów. Wrap yourself 
 up, for it is cold — and we were talking with Napoleon ! How 
 has it happened .'' I spoke first to the Marshal ; he answered
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 35 
 
 very politely. But imagine to yourself how it confused me. 
 Then he offered you his arm. While you were talking I wanted 
 to thrust my head in and shout : ' Your Majesty^ I also deserved 
 at least one word.' What would he have said to that .^ You 
 have not any idea how that Marshal was looking at me. Ha ! 
 ha ! ha ! What an adventure ! " 
 
 " I did not fancy that Marshal/' said Ossoliński. 
 
 " For you did not look at him closely ; I saw both of them 
 well. I tell you, Mary, the Empei-or's nose was red, almost 
 blue. The cold dares to touch even an Emperor's nose. Ha ! 
 ha ! ha ! He wore a fur coat over his uniform, and such big 
 gloves ! What a pity he has no moustache ; it is the fashion 
 now to have them." 
 
 Ossoliński raised his hand and began to pull his down. 
 
 Jeannette continued to joke and laugh. 
 
 "If my mother or Madame Louise could have seen us then! 
 Mary, pull that fur. That Marshal must be one of importance; 
 he drives with the Emperor." 
 
 "I do not think so," rejoined OssoHnski. "The question is, 
 whether he is a Marshal." 
 
 " Do not contradict me ; I heard the officer distinctly giving 
 him that rank.'' 
 
 " But what is his name ? I have seen Davoust, he is much 
 older. It must be Lannes, then." 
 
 " Suffice it he is a Marshal. You must listen and remember 
 with whom you have to do. Mary spoke with Napoleon, I with 
 Lannes, and you with only a captain ! Emperor, Marshal, and 
 captain ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! We have seen the Emperor before all 
 the other ladies. I heard yesterday when Pani Sobolewska 
 proposed to the Countess Potocka to go on the bridge and wait 
 his coming there. Then it was doubtful if they would be able 
 to see him because of the crowd. Gorayski said that they 
 expected the Emperor about dusk. But I shall not mind a 
 scolding ! John, hurry up ! What a meeting ! As if we had 
 agreed with the Emperor ! And you, Mary ! Why do you not 
 say something ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska wrapped her head in the fur still closer, and 
 said, evasively, "Cold." 
 
 "Cousin," the Princess said to young Ossolinski scoldingly.
 
 36 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " you have no respect for the ladies. Do you not see that the 
 fur has sHpped fi*om her knees." 
 
 OssoHnski turned from the box and began to pull up the 
 bear's skin, but suddenly, having looked behind the sledge, 
 trembled so much that he nearly fell into the snow. 
 
 " What is the matter with you ? " 
 
 "We are pursued ! " he cried, regaining his equihbrium. 
 
 Jeannette and Pani Walewska turned back, and perceived in 
 the distance the same captain galloping at the head of a 
 detachment of dragoons. 
 
 " John, for God's sake whip up the horses ! " cried Pani 
 Walewska, awfully frightened. 
 
 "If we can only reach Warsaw," said Jeannette. 
 
 The coachman cracked the whip. The dapple-grey horses 
 went at full gallop. 
 
 The captain with the dragoons began to drop behind. Pani 
 Walewska breathed freely. Ossoliński smiled triumphantly. 
 
 "They cannot keep up with us, and even if they should, 
 what could they do to us .'' " 
 
 " I do not know why, but I am afraid of them." 
 
 "Mary, my cousin is right. That captain only wished to 
 frighten us. Look! ah, he is gaining fast on us again! It is 
 strange ; we have not done anything wrong. If anyone is guilty 
 of an}i;hing, it must be Chevalier Ossoliński." 
 
 "!> Why must it be I ? " 
 
 " Well, you wanted to drive us, and you rushed impetuously 
 at the Emperor's carriage." 
 
 " But you told me to hasten. John, whip up the horses ! " 
 
 "They fly like birds, my lord." 
 
 " Shall we escape ? " 
 
 " I don't think so — the wheelers slacken already." 
 
 The coachman was right, the tired horses began to throw up 
 their hoofs heavily, and grew indifferent to the cracking of the 
 whip ; they were steaming like engines. 
 
 In the meantime, the captain and his dragoons were approach- 
 ing to the great fright of all. 
 
 John whipped up the horses once more, and they were able 
 to trot several furlongs further, and then could only go very 
 slowly, panting and coughing.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 37 
 
 The captain reached the sledge, saluted the driving party 
 with an exquisite politeness, and, having done this, retreated 
 with his dragoons behind the sledge, and went on the same 
 pace as the dapple-grey four-in-hand. 
 
 Seeing the captain's peaceful disposition, Jeannette and Pani 
 Walewska recovered their courage. 
 
 " Do you see, Mary, he is a very courteous fellow ! He 
 saluted us ! and we were frightened ! " 
 
 " H'm ! we do not knoAv yet," said Ossoliński gloomily. 
 
 " What ! why should we not know .'' " 
 
 "He follows us." 
 
 " Then what ? The road belongs to everybody." 
 
 "And it seems to me that he only escorts us." 
 
 " Cousin ! What are you talking about ! Where to } " 
 
 " Very simple, nowhere else but to the guard-house." 
 
 " It cannot be ! It cannot be." 
 
 " We can assure ourselves immediately ! Let John go faster, 
 and then slacken." 
 
 The coachman did as he was told. 
 
 They all watched the captain, who, as soon as the dapple- 
 grey horses went faster, galloped after them. The sledge 
 slackened, the captain did not pass it, but went at the trot. 
 
 The coachman repeated the same manoeuvre a couple of 
 times, and every time the captain neither permitted himself 
 to be distanced nor did he remain behind. 
 
 Pani Walewska and Jeannette Radziwil v.'ere distressed at 
 this discovery, Ossoliński tried to put a good face on a bad 
 affair. 
 
 In the meanwhile, in the distance, over the snow-covered 
 plain, Warsaw appeared. 
 
 The driving party grew more courageous, the more so as the 
 captain permitted himself to be outdistanced by the sledge, 
 and followed it only from afar. 
 
 Jeannette began to laugh at her own fears, but suddenly 
 another fright came. 
 
 This time Ossoliński gave the alarm. 
 
 " It is very late," said he ; " my mother will be very angry 
 with me for not having paid the New Year visits." 
 
 " What time is it now ? "
 
 38 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Three o'clock." 
 
 " Ah ! I am sure the Princess Palatine has sent at least 
 three outriders after me ; they are looking for us in Ujazdów, 
 while we are coming from the audience with the Emperor ! " 
 
 " Jeannette, remember and do not betray me." 
 
 " I betray you, my dear ! " 
 
 " My husband does not know anything ; he would take it 
 amiss." 
 
 "YcSj such a husband!" burst out Jeannette. But having 
 noticed Pani Walewska's confusion, she added immediately : 
 " None of them would like it. I know it. Is it not true, 
 cousin ? " 
 
 " Why ? To talk with the Emperor .'' It is a great honour ! " 
 
 "It is true/' interrupted Pani Walewska; "at any rate, for 
 my sake, not a word to anybody. We will say " 
 
 "That a wheel broke," rejoined Jeannette. 
 
 " Yes," continued Ossoliński. " John, do you hear ? Should 
 you be questioned, say that one of the wheels broke." 
 
 " I understand, my lord ; only, we are in a sledge." 
 
 "Ah ! it is true." 
 
 " Then say that we had some accident, that is all." 
 
 "Only, Jeannette, dear," rejoined Pani Walewska, "do not 
 say a word to anybody about our excursion and meeting." 
 
 " Not to anybody ? " asked the Princess, with sadness in her 
 voice. 
 
 " They would gossip about it ; you know how it is ; you 
 remember what you told me yesterday, or rather it was your 
 Chevalier." 
 
 " I did not intend to hurt your feelings." 
 
 " Mary, I swear to you that I did not know that story about 
 grandmother and grandson . . . let me kiss you ! I shall not 
 tell a word to anybody except Madame Louise. I would say 
 a few words, but in such a way that she will not be able to 
 guess." 
 
 "Jeannette, if you love me." 
 
 " But you do not know Madame Louise ; she knows how to 
 keep a secret. My mother tells her everything. Madame 
 Louise repeats only to me sometimes, to nobody else." 
 
 "Jeannette, do this for me. What would they say.-* They
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 39 
 
 would blame me alone. Princess Jabłonowska would never 
 forgive me ! " 
 
 " But you have spoken with the Emperor ! " 
 
 " It does not matter. I should be ashamed of myself. I do 
 not know myself. Well, promise." 
 
 " If you wish it so much/' said Jeannette sadly. 
 
 "And you also, Monsieur le Chevalier." 
 
 " I ! Naturally ! Parole d'honneur ! " 
 
 "To nobody a word." 
 
 " Wellj I gave my word/' answered Ossoliński proudly, pulling 
 the down on his upjDer lip. 
 
 The sledge arrived at the bridge ; they showed their pass and 
 were allowed to enter the town. 
 
 Jeannette looked backwards to assure herself that the captain 
 did not follow them, and perceiving that he remained with his 
 dragoons far in the distance, became satisfied altogether. 
 
 The friends exchanged last words. Jeannette promised to 
 come to Walewice, and Pani Walewska said that she would visit 
 Jeannette in Warsaw at her first opportunity. 
 
 The sledge turned from Bednarska to Królewska Street, and 
 stopped before the Princess Palatine's mansion. 
 
 Jeannette kissed Pani Walewska once more, swore to keep 
 the secret, and together with Ossoliński disappeared under the 
 arch of the porte cocker e. 
 
 John turned to Dluga Street. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife was returning home sad. Even the 
 picture of the meeting with the Emperor disappeared together 
 with his kind words, and there remained only the feeling that 
 she must again return to the worry of her ordinary life ; that 
 the moment of freedom was already gone, perchance for ever ; 
 that she would be obliged to quench her vivacity and to be a 
 dignified mistress of the house to please her capricious and 
 sour husband. 
 
 Something like bitterness took hold of her, bitterness towards 
 those who did not allow her to breathe freely according to the 
 wants of youth, who robbed her early of her dreams, who had 
 forced her to marry a man so different to her in age, taste, 
 liking, ideas, and ideals. 
 
 Pani Walewska remembered the past with horror.
 
 40 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 When the Chamberlain began to covirt her and bring her 
 magnificent presents^ she did not reahse the meaning of all 
 that was going on, nor what a future awaited her. Only the 
 day of the wedding she woke up and understood the gloomy 
 reality. She did not want to be married ; she threw herself 
 at her mother's feet ; it was too late. 
 
 Notwithstanding her beseeching and tears, they forced her 
 to pronounce the oath. Then sad days followed, awfully 
 monotonous, full of the Chamberlain's recriminations, insulting 
 suspicions and accusations. Had she given any reason for 
 them.'' Gorayski alone seemed to love her. He alone. But 
 as soon as he learned about the projected marriage, he threw 
 at her bitter words and left her. Then yesterday, he seemed 
 to remember her, to be angry with her. Why ? 
 
 She was fond of him ; he was only her dear brother Paul's 
 friend ! Why did he leave her ? 
 
 If Paul had been with her, had he not entered the Polish 
 Legions under Napoleon, he Avould have defended her ! And 
 now, she must play a comedy even for him ; she must lie to 
 him, for why should she make him sad ? It was done, and could 
 not be changed. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked sadly at the street full of animation ; 
 she did not notice that several people driving in sledges and 
 carriages bowed to her ; she felt like a convict, who, having 
 escaped from prison and having tasted freedom, is caught again 
 and led to his cell ; a prisoner, who is conducted through the 
 streets, does not recognise people, does not notice carriages, 
 does not understand shouts, and sees only the large wave of 
 life rolling joyfully, a wave going away from him. 
 
 The sledge stopped in front of the mansion. A servant 
 inished out. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife shook off her gloomy thoughts, 
 pushed aside a tress of hair which, having escaped from under 
 her fur cap, was kissing her lovely face flushed by the cold, and 
 said to John, " Return the sledge to Count Ossoliński, and 
 should there be any inquiries, then you remember." 
 
 " Yes, my lady." 
 
 Pani Walewska turned towards tlie porie cochere. She was 
 going to pass the threshold, \7hen she noticed the captain, who
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 41 
 
 had followed her,, and a few steps further were his dragoons, 
 talking with the valet Baptiste. 
 
 That sight disturbed her ; she wanted to speak to the captain, 
 but he, having noticed the effect his presence made on her^ 
 hurriedly retreated. 
 
 Pani Walewska stopped, mhaled the air, and entered the 
 mansion.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE same day the Chamberlain^ after a sleepless night, 
 awoke to see the sun shining on the frost-covered 
 windows. A short but sound sleep refreshed him, and he took 
 a cup of chocolate with a sense of pleasure, glanced through 
 the Gazette Correspo7idatit, listened to the solemn New Year 
 wishes from the servants, headed by Baptiste, and then, re- 
 membering his wife, he made a grimace. 
 
 " Her ladyship has gone .-* " he asked of a lackey. 
 
 '^ Yes, my lord." 
 
 " And she has not yet returned .'' " 
 
 " The carriage came back empty, my lord." 
 
 "And Joseph.^" 
 
 "Joseph remained with her ladyship." 
 
 The Chamberlain felt angry with himself for having given in 
 to that goose yesterday. 
 
 The weather was bright, one could return to Walewice. Add 
 to all this it was New Year's day, and impossible to visit anybody. 
 For should he call on two or three people he would be obliged 
 to see everybody, and he was not at all certain how he would be 
 received. 
 
 The Chamberlain grew bitter as he remembered past times. 
 On fonner New Year's days the King would never let him go, 
 and therefore he was only able to call upon the most prominent 
 people, such as the Castelan of Cracow, and the Primate, and 
 others. How different it was now ! Poniatowski hardly nodded 
 to him last night. The day was lost to him, obliged to stay, as 
 he was, in that lonely palace, where he had not even that 
 comfortable ai-mchair which had been left in Walewice, or the 
 extensive surroundings upon which he was wont to gaze ; he 
 had not even his favourite dog to bear him company. 
 
 42
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 43 
 
 About noon the Chamberlain began to dress, listening 
 patiently to the stories with which his valet considered it his 
 duty to regale his mastei*, and which the latter knew long ago 
 by heart. In the middle of one his son was announced. 
 
 The Chamberlain put on a warm, comfortable dressing-gown, 
 and went foi-ward to meet Pan Ksawery. 
 
 " I thought you did not know I was remaining here for 
 another day. What brings you to me ? " 
 
 " The Princess told me last night ; as soon as I heard I con- 
 sidered it my duty to call." 
 
 " Take a chair. Will you lunch with me ? " 
 
 " No, I thank you." 
 
 The hardly begun conversation was stopped suddenly. Pan 
 Ksawery played with the buttons of his coat ; the Chamberlain 
 turned his snuff-box between his fingers and looked askance at 
 his son, wondering inwardly how it could be that his son 
 appeared so old. This thought was so strong that the Chamber- 
 lain could not conceal it. 
 
 " You are not looking well." 
 
 " I ? " answered Pan KsaAvery, surprised. " Well — old age." 
 
 "The idea ! " 
 
 " Soon sixty ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain grew red. 
 
 "Exactly, and for such an age you are not looking well. 
 Your son Kazimierz — what is he doing .^ and the second — 
 Joseph .'' " 
 
 " He thinks of entering the army." 
 
 " Noble calling." 
 
 "They say that nowadays a military man can rise to any 
 height, even to that of an emperor." 
 
 "Do not talk in that way. Joseph must have something 
 certain, and if he Avishes to enter the anxiy you must procure 
 him at least a colonel's rank. Pepi should help you in that." 
 
 " I did take some steps, but he sent me to General 
 Dombrowski. I did not even try him." 
 
 " I think not." 
 
 " If one could get a commission at a price, then who knows ? " 
 
 "Well, if you have money, then do it." 
 
 Pan Ksawery sighed.
 
 44 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 '' It would be very difficult for me just now." 
 
 " And you think that it would not be difficult for me ? You 
 had better stay in your country seat as I do, for it is all of no 
 use to-day. Have influence ? Any man such as Wybicki 
 succeeds. Go to your country seat as I said. But I suppose 
 your wife would prefer . . ." 
 
 " You know that we must stay here for the sake of Kazi- 
 mierz's projected marriage. There would be no obstacles if it 
 were not for the Ossolinskis, but we count laiuch on your wife, 
 who, as it seems, is a great friend of the young Princess 
 Radziwil's ; she even intended to go driving with her to-day." 
 
 " Yes, she has gone — it was for tliat reason we remained one 
 day longer." 
 
 " I am very grateful, only Ossolinski's presence would be in 
 the way." 
 
 " I do not understand." 
 
 " Our footman saw by accident Pani Walewska driving with 
 Ossoliński and the young Princess Radziwil. I wonder that the 
 Princess's mother allowed it." 
 
 The Chamberlain frowned. 
 
 " Why should there be any question about permission ? My 
 wife is there ; it suffices." 
 
 Pan Ksawery grew surprised at his father's severity, and 
 turned the conversation to the current events, but he met with 
 such angry answers that he rose, and, having repeated his own 
 and his family's good wishes, took his leave. 
 
 The Chamberlain thanked him, returned the wishes, and said 
 something that in case of an alliance with the Radziwils he 
 would take on himself the wedding expenses. 
 
 When Pan Ksawery left, the Chamberlain rang for a servant 
 and asked whether "her ladyship" had returned. Receiving 
 a negative ansv^er he became very angry. The conversation 
 with his son increased his irritation. He had made the effort to 
 mend his relations with him, but he had been unsuccessful. 
 
 According to the Chamberlain, Pan Ksawery had neither his 
 father's ambition, good taste, nor good manners. He was living 
 in Warsaw, and had not succeeded in getting a Government 
 appointment, although his road was opened to him by his social 
 position, and his large estates, and by his father's splendour,
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 45 
 
 not to speak of his grandfather and great-grandfather. For the 
 Chamberlain was one of the oldest knights of the White Eagle 
 Order^ and he was appointed a Chamberlain without even being 
 obliged to win over to his side the King's valet^ Ryx. 
 
 Then he remembered what his son said about Pani Walewska's 
 driving. The Chamberlain had rebuked it^ but he felt uneasy 
 about it all the same. 
 
 A drive with a youth without a chaperon, and that, toOj with 
 Ossoliński, who had tried to win the Princess Radziwil. 
 
 The Chamberlain looked at the clock ; it was two. 
 
 Baptiste had already announced that lunch was ready ; the 
 Chamberlain told him to wait, and every little while asked if 
 "her ladyship" had returned. He ordered the clock to be put 
 on a table in front of him ; he watched its hands going round 
 slowly, and rapped at the cover of his snuff-box. 
 
 In that state Princess Jabłonowska found him, and seeing her 
 brother's bad temper she began by sympathising with him. 
 
 ''Mon cher ami! ... I was just driving by; I was returning 
 from the Countess Stanislaus Potocka and I thought of you, cher 
 ami, that you are all alone. Where is Mary ? " 
 
 "She went with Jeannette, and has not yet come back." 
 
 " Ah ! it is true ! I had forgotten about it. EUe te neglige, 
 but she could not return yet ; I am sure she could not." 
 
 " What ! from a short drive .'' " 
 
 " Not so short ! I have just met the Count Thomas Lubieński ; 
 he belongs to the guard of honour that was to meet the 
 Emperor ; the Emperor came back about an hour ago. Well, 
 then, Thomas Lubieński told me that he met Ossolinski's sledge 
 on the bridge in the direction of Praga." 
 
 " Ossolinski's sledge } " 
 
 " Yes ; Mary and Jeannette Avere with him." 
 
 '^ It is impossible." 
 
 " There is no doubt about it. Chevalier de Gorayski accom- 
 panied them on horseback." 
 
 " You are joking." 
 
 " Mon cher, Thomas would not lie. And then there is nothing 
 veiy terrible in that, for Gorayski has already returned to 
 W^arsaw ; I saw him at the Potockis'." 
 
 "This surpasses all limits. ... I cannot allow such things.
 
 46 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 I must stop that. To-morrow— to-day even — we shall leave. . . . 
 I ought never to have come here." 
 
 " Mon pauvre, do not reproach yourself— it grieves me. It is 
 simply chance. . . . Marie is young, and without experience of 
 life. I do not suspect her of anything bad — she is unwise, that 
 is all. She cannot move without giving occasion for comment — 
 that talk about grandmother and grandson " 
 
 " What talk } " 
 
 "Do not mind it — it is only a trifle; country peo})le gossip. . . . 
 You will take her to Walewice and everything will be forgotten.' 
 
 The Princess stopped suddenly, for she was frightened at 
 seeing the Chamberlain tremble all over, as if shaken by a 
 fever. 
 
 " O Lord ! I have upset you ! But you must not mind it so 
 much. Time will cure many things. She is not guilty. Her 
 education. . . . My dear Anastazy, try to overcome your irrita- 
 tion, it might hurt you. ... I have seen Gorayski only a short 
 time ago, therefore they must have met just for a few minutes 
 . . . perhaps they did not even have a chance to talk ... I 
 will find out through Jeannette, only be calm." 
 
 " But ... I am not irritated," mumbled the Chamberlain. 
 
 " Don't tell me that. ... I know you must have been hurt. 
 . . . Do not deny it. ... I understand. But you have been 
 prepared for some anxiety. ... I have always been against 
 this marriage. ... I had no confidence in Marie. Her modesty 
 and her taciturnity shocked me. . . . Now you will have to 
 take her away, for, as you know, there will be some gossip, and 
 the Princess Dominik will break off the negotiations. . . . She 
 will be bound to do so. . . ." 
 
 "Leave that to me." 
 
 " I never meddle with your affairs. When Thomas told me 
 about it I was ashamed, but I pretended that I did not under- 
 stand. Then, when are you going back to Wale\^'ice ? " 
 
 " To-day — to-morroAv — immediately ! There is no need for 
 me to be here. The whole of Warsaw is nothing to me. I do 
 not care either for your reception or for society from the other 
 end of the world. Such society does not interest me." 
 
 The Princess nodded convincingly. 
 
 " My dear Anastazy ! And what can I say ? I am bored
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 47 
 
 myself by these people. After the Prussians were driven 
 away^ they came out from all the dark corners and fought for 
 positions. After Carnival I am going to Vienna. The Prince 
 de Ligny has written twice to me. I would go sooner, but I pity 
 Ksawery's wife — the marriage would fail without me, for I am 
 tres hien with the Princess Dominik. . . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain rapped his snuff-box and was silent. The 
 Princess was hurt by it. 
 
 '^'^ You do not take any interest in all that/' she finished, 
 bitingly. 
 
 The Chamberlain moved in his armchair. 
 
 "I do not take any interest in anything," he burst out 
 angrily. "Let Ksawery do what he likes, I do not care about it. 
 I have given him a good family name, influence at Court, 
 estates — he has squandered all. Let him suffer now — I do 
 not wish to hear of anything ! I return to Walewice im- 
 mediately. I have been bothered enough." 
 
 " Yes ; but one must think about the equipment of his son." 
 
 " He has a father, let him do it." 
 
 " Ksawery was obliged to mortgage his estate. . . . Now he 
 has not to trouble himself about the debts, for the Prussians are 
 driven away; but should the new Government put things straight, 
 then he will be ruined." 
 
 " Let him seek favour with the new Government then, so as 
 not to be pressed for payment." 
 
 " But how ? You have no idea about the situation. It is 
 difficult to make out who rules. They say that the Emperor 
 promised the Polish crown to Murat. It would be very easily 
 done with Napoleon. We may have a king taken from the 
 mob. Prince Joseph Poniatowski has lost all influence. Prince 
 Borghese promised Madame de Vauban that he would speak to 
 the Emperor about Ksawery, but as it seems he himself is not 
 in very good odour with Napoleon, at least, so says Constant, 
 valet de chavibrc de l' Empereiir, a kind of Ryx of our last king. 
 In a word, it is a muddle ; who can should wait until everything 
 becomes clear. My dear Anastazy, I do hope you will re- 
 member poor Casimir, U est tres Men. I am enjoying his marriage 
 in anticipation ! Excuse me for having bothered you." 
 
 " Not at all."
 
 48 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I know it tries you ! But it -would be worse if you were 
 obliged to move amongst these people. I hope that everything 
 will go right. I shall write to you at once to Walewice should 
 anything of importance happen. The Princess Dominik 
 Radziwil likes you very much ; she said to me that you are 
 toiijours le meme. She is right. If you only had not that 
 trouble with Marie, Kiss her for me. Then, au revoir. I shall be 
 so happy to be able to send the newly-married couple to be 
 blessed at Walewice. Do not think about that other matter; 
 it is done. The people Avill soon forget it, provided you do not 
 give them occasion to remember it." 
 
 At last the Chamberlain found himself alone ; he breathed 
 freely, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and having 
 asked his lackey if his wife had returned, ordered his dinner to 
 be sei'ved. But he had no appetite, the courses were taken 
 away untouched, notwithstanding Baptiste's recommendation. 
 
 From irritation the Chamberlain passed to apathy, which was 
 so strong that when the valet told him that Pani Walewska had 
 returned, he only shrugged his shoulders and remained motion- 
 less. 
 
 Baptiste, knowing his master well, left him alone. 
 
 Thus several hours passed away. In the room the dusk had 
 already begun to lay its shadows, the fire in the grate shining 
 more and more redly, catcliing a glint from the paling bright- 
 ness of the sceptre yielded by vanishing day, when the Cham- 
 berlain woke up, I'ubbed his eyes, and began to think what 
 steps he should take with regard to his wife's levity, whether to 
 have an explanation with her at once, or to postpone it until 
 they returned to Walewice, and for the present to assume an 
 attitude of contempt and indifference. 
 
 The first thought dominated him. 
 
 The Chamberlain stretched out his hand in order to ring for a 
 lackey and tell him to summon Pani Walewska, when suddenly 
 there rushed into his room his valet Baptiste. 
 
 " What is it } " 
 
 " His Excellency, Monsieur de Talleyrand Pćrigord, Prince of 
 Benevento." 
 
 The Chamberlain jumped from his chair. 
 
 " Who } "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 49 
 
 "The Prince of Benevento wishes to see you^ my lord." 
 
 The Chamberlain was moved as by an electric cm-rent at the 
 news. Hastily he put on his grey evening dress^ not forgetting 
 the ribbon of the Order^ and went to the blue drawing-room, 
 where Talleji-and was waiting for him. 
 
 The Prince of Benevento received with graciousness the 
 Chamberlain's welcome, in which was mingled a question as to 
 the honour done to him, and an allusion to the effect that he 
 did not doubt M. de Tallep-and's amiability ; and when Pan 
 Walewski finally was seated opposite him, the Frenchman said, 
 with exquisite pohteness : " You must forgive me my late call, 
 due to the news that you are going to leave Warsaw to-morrow." 
 
 " I have some pressing business." 
 
 "What a pity, for just now the town has great attractions. 
 The Emperor proposes to stay here for a time longer. The sun 
 rises, the stars should not leave their positions. ..." 
 
 The Chamberlain glanced at his star of the Order, and said in 
 a melancholy tone : " It should be so . . . but to-day there are 
 new people, I mean to say younger . . . they regret our most 
 gracious king less. We old servants of Stanislaus are more com- 
 fortable in the quiet of our homes." 
 
 " You seem to disdain our national ciy, ' Le Rot est mort, vive le 
 Roi ! ' Is it not true that to a new ruler those who carried the 
 burden of his predecessor's throne are dear ? How can the old 
 times return if those who were formei'ly at the head withdraw ?" 
 
 " Very kind opinion. . . ." 
 
 " Not at all. I should like, however, to persuade you to give 
 up your idea of going back to the countiy. To a man of your 
 merit there are very Avide fields open. Who should be placed at 
 the head if not people like you.'* " 
 
 The Chamberlain was beaming with satisfaction. He looked 
 more and more kindly at the Prince of Benevento, who appeai-ed 
 not to notice the impression his words made on his host. Then, 
 wishing to conquer him entirely, he said abruptly : " The 
 Emperor was to-day asking about you." 
 
 The Chamberlain shivered. He sat upright in his chair, and 
 whispered timidly : " The Emperor ? How could I have deserved 
 such a favour .'' " 
 
 " You must not forget that one of the qualities which made 
 
 E
 
 50 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 tlie Emperor what he is now was the art of knowing people, of 
 penetrating them. . . I will tell you more. The Emperor 
 deigned not only to ask about you, but he also expressed the 
 wish to see you at the reception in the Castle." 
 
 '• His Majesty's wish is a command to me." 
 
 "\ am very happy to be able to repeat to his Majesty your 
 words, and I hojDe that Madame Walewska will be kind enough 
 to accompany you." 
 
 " If only her health will permit her." 
 
 "Then she is not well t " 
 
 " Yes . . . she is not very strong." 
 
 " Only the most prominent people will have the honour to be 
 invited with their wive?. If, then, Madmne voire epoiise cannot 
 come . . . ?" 
 
 "Oh, she is only temporarily indisposed," said the Chamber- 
 lain hastily. 
 
 "I thought so," said Talleyrand, with a malicious smile. 
 " The Grand Marshal of the Court will not fail to send you an 
 invitation for all receptions and balls, and I am certain that you 
 will allow your wife to mingle with that select circle of people 
 who will have the honour to be presented to his Majesty." 
 
 "I should not try to excuse myself, though . . . truly, my 
 wife is temporarily not well." 
 
 " Is it possible } Yesterday, if I am not mistaken, she was at 
 the reception of the Princess ....''" 
 
 " Yes ; but an indisposition obliged her to leave early." 
 
 "It would be a great pity if both of you were not able to 
 take part ... for in that case, truly, I do not know who would 
 give the Emperor a good idea of the capital, famous for its 
 chivalrous nobility and the beauty of its women. Pi'ay do not 
 embarrass Duroc." 
 
 The Chamberlain could hardly keep still in his chair. 
 
 " It would be impossible to resist such arguments, pronounced 
 with such eloquence. Moreover, I am glad to see that your 
 renown was not over-estimated, for I know that from hearing 
 about your great merits. I had conceived for you the highest 
 respect, much more so from the fact that I consider the family 
 of Perigord one of the oldest among those of which France can 
 boast."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 51 
 
 Talleyrand reddened at this implied compliment. Under the 
 brilliant uniform of Napoleon's minister there ran the blood of 
 a once independent nobleman. The Prince of Benevento ex- 
 tended his gold snuff-box to the Chamberlain, who in return 
 proffered him his own, as rich and as beautifully chased. 
 
 "^ Beautiful ! " said Talleyrand. 
 
 "A present from the best of kings," answered the Chamber- 
 lain modestly ; and looking at his guest's snuff-box, asked 
 politely : " And yours .'' " 
 
 "A present from the most unfortunate of kings," answered 
 M. de Perigord sentimentally, and sighed. 
 
 The Chamberlain did the same. 
 
 Talleyrand became thoughtful, and then he said after a while, 
 returning to the interrupted conversation, but from another 
 point: "The times change, the rulers change also. It is a pleasure 
 to find among our new men such people as you, therefore you 
 must not deprive us of that pleasure. I am sure that many 
 things must shock such a man as you, but be assured that there 
 are people among us able to respect the blood of Roman 
 patricians that is in you. We are under the constellation of 
 Mars, therefore any rifle is of importance. . . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain, altogether blinded by the deference shown 
 him, permitted himself to make a few ironical remarks directed 
 against those men in Warsaw who assumed the role of leaders, 
 although they had no right either by birth or by merit ; and 
 whose arrogance drove away from the throne those who had 
 supported it, and had carried the burden of representation of 
 the state from generation to generation. 
 
 The Prince of Benevento answered in the same tone, direct- 
 ing his sting against those who at least began to understand 
 that officers and marshals can be created, but that to wear the 
 coronet of a prince one must be born a nobleman. 
 
 After a further exchange of sentiments agreeable to both, 
 Talleyrand, conducted to the ante-chamber by the Chamberlain, 
 took his leave, and departed. 
 
 The Chamberlain rushed into his wife's apartments. 
 
 Pani Walewska had been told by her maid of her husband's 
 frequent inquiries concerning her absence ; now at the sight of 
 him she grew pale^ expecting an avalanche of reproaches. But
 
 52 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 the Chamberlain was so completely taken up with the con- 
 versation he had just had that he forgot even the memory of 
 his former irritation. 
 
 The Chamberlain was dominated by one thought, the thought 
 of the Emperor who remembered hini;, who had not dared to 
 neglect him,, but who undoubtedly told Talleyrand to make the 
 first advances . . . and notwithstanding — of this he was certain 
 — the intriguing of the Poniatowskis. The Chamberlain, how- 
 ever, had such an exalted opinion of himself, that while re- 
 joicing he tried to appear indifferent. Therefore he greeted 
 his wife by a slight movement of his head, glanced at her face 
 flushed by the cold, asked whether she had had her dinner, 
 and then, tapping energetically on the lid of his snuff-box, he 
 rose on tiptoe, and said negligently : " Monsieur de Perigord 
 called on me." 
 
 Pani Walewska raised her eyebroAvs and looked at her husband 
 in astonishment. 
 
 "Talleyrand de Perigord^ the Prince of Benevento/' added 
 the Chamberlain. 
 
 " He called on you } " 
 
 " Why not ? They are tiying to win me over to their side. 
 They have come to the conclusion that they must have with 
 them some one of greater importance than Wybicki and Dom- 
 browski. . . . Talleyrand is a very clever man. ... I told them 
 what I thought they ought to know, that, notwithstanding the 
 war, they cannot afford to quarrel with the old families, or to 
 make senators of the mob." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at her husband so strangely that he 
 resented it, and said : " W^hy are you looking as if I were a 
 madman ?" 
 
 " It is not that, but I do not understand what you are talking 
 about." 
 
 " I told you that Talleyrand had called on me." 
 
 "The Emperor's minister.''" 
 
 " Therefore not too big a man to call on Colonna Walewski." 
 
 "What was the object of his visit ? " 
 
 " He learned that I was still in Warsaw, and came with New 
 Year wishes — of course, not by his own impulse. Strictly speak- 
 ing, he wished to find out whether I would accept an invitation
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 53 
 
 to a reception at the Castle. I could hardly refuse. Do you 
 understand ? The Emperor wishes to have on his side some one 
 of greater importance than Gutakowski and Wojczynski. Well, 
 I must sacrifice myself, that is all. John must go to Walewice 
 to bring a few more servants and furniture ; we must make some 
 changes here, for we shall be obliged to receive. You must 
 look to your frocks. I do not like the trouble, but I must 
 make some sacrifices for my country. No, I cannot excuse 
 myself; I should be called an egotist." 
 
 Pani Walewska at such a speech was still more surprised than 
 before. 
 
 " Then what do you propose to do .'' " 
 
 The Chamberlain coughed, and tugged at the ribbon of his 
 Order. 
 
 " Do you think that I shall join Dombrowski's regiments } 
 What shall I do .-" The Emperor calls me to his side, con- 
 sequently I must join him. Do you understand ? " 
 
 '' But the Court life . . . ? " 
 
 '''You cannot tell me anything I do not know about Court 
 life. I am familiar with every corner in the Castle, and there 
 is not a path in the pai'k surrounding the Łazienki Palace that 
 I have not walked on. Do you think that such a man as 
 Napoleon troubles about such things.'* He needs Walewski, 
 that is all. But Walewski will not be satisfied with any paltry 
 office ; he does not bring his experience into the service to be 
 subordinate to anyone but the Emperor himself." 
 
 " Will your health not suffer ł " 
 
 " What a sudden anxiety ! The only kind of life that can 
 do me any harm is the monotonous, solitary life. You seem to 
 think that I do not care for anything but Walewice. We shall 
 stay here." 
 
 " I do not wish for anything better myself." 
 
 " Aha . . . you like the idea . . . you think that you can go 
 out driving every day, then. . . . Where have you been,'' " 
 
 Pani Walewska became confused. 
 
 "We went out with Jeannette." 
 
 " What an innocent excuse ! And what about Praga and 
 Ossoliński ? " 
 
 " He joined us. . . . Jeannette's mother . . .*'
 
 54 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "And Gorayski ?" 
 
 " He conducted us over the bridge, otherwise we could not 
 have passed." 
 
 " But you did not need to pass the bridge." 
 
 "We wanted to see the Emperor." 
 
 The Chamberlain was appeased at once. 
 
 "Well, there was no need for haste. . . . And did you see 
 him ? " 
 
 " Yes, while he was passing," said Pani Walewska evasively. 
 
 " Did you like him ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " I should think so ! Such an Emperor ! Only, for the future, 
 be wise, and never give an opportunity for slander. I do not 
 wish to reproach you, only I advise you to be prudent. But 
 how was it that Ossoliński was with you ? " 
 
 "He is Jeannette's cousin and admirer." 
 
 " He beo-ins early. And did you find out how Jeannette is 
 disposed towards Kazimierz ? " 
 
 " I did not have an opportunity. . . It was impossible while 
 Ossoliński was with us." 
 
 "Well, never mind. Princess Radziwil will soon try to 
 catch my grandson for her daughter. To-morrow morning we 
 shall call on Princess Jabłonowska ; she must advise where to 
 order your frocks. I will pay all your bills. I shall send to 
 Walewice to-day, for as we shall be receiving we might be short 
 of silver. Tell John what cases he is to bring. ... I will 
 attend to the wine." 
 
 The Chamberlain strutted about the room, sat down, and 
 then rose again, opened and closed his snuff-box, and made 
 grander and grander plans, so that by the time he felt sleepy 
 he had decided to bring from Walewice the whole retinue of 
 servants, several horses and carriages, besides a great many 
 other things. 
 
 His wife tried to dissuade him from doing so, but her argu- 
 ments only induced him to give the order at once, and he Avas 
 very much irritated at her remark that she, for her part, did 
 not care for Court life. 
 
 The Chamberlain burst out: "Do you think that just for 
 your caprices I shall refuse to serve my country, that I shall
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 55 
 
 repulse M. de Perigord, that I, Colonna Walewskie I — shall live 
 in the country like any genlillatre ? " 
 
 But Pani Walewska would not allow herself to be rebuked. 
 
 "You yourself made me accustomed to such a life; you for- 
 bade me to see people ; I did not oppose you, for I was not 
 tempted by the reunions. . . . You would not allow me to 
 receive even our nearest relations. ..." 
 
 " Yes, such as Gorayski ! And such madcaps as Kozietulski, 
 Jerzmanowski, and your brother, that crowd who dragged me 
 pretty nearly into a conflict with the Prussian Government. 
 You are to do as I say ; I shall bring no disgrace upon my 
 name. Well, if you wish to know something more, let me tell 
 you that the Emperor asked about me." 
 
 "The Emperor I " repeated Pani Walewska. 
 
 "Nothing wonderful in that. Formerly, a king could not 
 have got along without me, and now the Emperor." 
 
 Pani Walewska thought that her husband was merely brag- 
 ging, so she determined to be silent, and to wait patiently. 
 At that moment a lackey appeared in the doorway canying a 
 silver tray, on which rested a large bouquet and a letter. 
 
 The Chamberlain frowned. 
 
 " From whom .'' " asked he. 
 
 " I do not know, my lord ... a footman brought it." 
 
 " Give me the letter, and bring me my glasses — quick ! " 
 
 The lackey put down the tray and the flowers on a table near 
 the door. 
 
 The Chamberlain looked angrily by turns first at the letter, 
 on which in wax was impressed some coat-of-arais, and then at 
 his wife's blushing face. 
 
 " This is the last touch ! Flov.'ers ! We shall find out the 
 truth presently ! What a success you have obtained in one day! " 
 
 The lackey entered with the spectacles. 
 
 " Bring me the light here." 
 
 The Chamberlain looked at the letter, addressed to him in 
 French. 
 
 He cleared his throat, broke the seal, and glanced at the 
 contents of the letter ; he cleared his throat again, brought the 
 letter nearer to the light, and motioned the lackey to leave. 
 Then he read the letter again, and approached the bouquet ; he
 
 56 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 took it up carefully, and, beaming with content, glided towards 
 his wife, kissed her small hand noisily^ and, presenting it to 
 her, said caressingly — 
 
 ''Accept this with compliments from me." 
 
 " But where from ? " 
 
 " The Grand Marshal of the Court sends it," said the 
 Chamberlain, making an effort to keep calm. 
 
 " You are joking. . . ." 
 
 " Read the note ! What a clever felloAv ; he knows who it is 
 that deserves respect and something more." 
 
 Pani Walewska did not pay any attention to her husband's 
 boasting ; she was reading the letter, which was indeed very 
 short, containing only a few lines concerning the impossibility 
 of visiting the W^alewskis previous to it, oAving to their tardy 
 arrival in Warsaw, and announcing that the writer would call 
 on them the next day, and meanwhile begged Pani W'alewska to 
 accept the accompanying flowers as a token of goodwill for the 
 New Year. 
 
 Pani Walewska touched the bouquet, and said hesitatingly : 
 " The Grand Marshal of the Court. . . . Such an unexpected 
 honour. ... I do not know the meaning of it. . . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain puffed out his flabby cheeks, cleared his 
 throat, and balancing himself on his tiptoes, said emphatically : 
 " It is not the Grand Marshal ; it is the Emperor." 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered. 
 
 "What makes you suppose so?" 
 
 "The Grand Marshal is only allowed to favour those whom 
 the Emperor favours. And the best proof . . . the Emperor 
 asked after us, the Marshal hastens to make himself agreeable. 
 Duroc will be followed by Murat, Murat by Borghese, Borghese 
 by Davoust, or some other ... in a word, the whole Court. 
 There is no doubt about it. Some French nobleman must have 
 told Napoleon, for during the reign of our last king we were in 
 continual relations with the principal French families. Such men 
 as Duroc carried parcels for us then ! But what is the matter 
 with you .'' Vous eles decouragee, Madame. What an idea ! He 
 is an agreeable man, nothing else. If he does this, it is not 
 without some benefit to himself, for they have to form a new 
 governing body. It is not yet known who will be at the head
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 57 
 
 of it ; the Emperor's choice has not been made pubHc. Ponia- 
 towski's adherents tremble ... it is quite uncertain. The time 
 will come. ... It will come." 
 
 The Chamberlain, in order to emphasise his words, stretched 
 himself out to his utmost, but quicker still he bent and clutched 
 at his knee. The terrible pain that shot through it cooled his 
 enthusiasm, and reminded him forcibly of gout and old age. 
 
 " It is cold here ! You have no fire ! Always something 
 contrary to my liking. We must rise early to-morrow ; there 
 are a good many orders to be given. . . . Then the Princess, and 
 Duroc . . . what a lot there will be to do ! for I must at least 
 leave my visiting card on Talleyrand. We shall spend the 
 evening at home. Pray, help me to the door ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska took her husband's arm and helped him to his 
 apartments, where she left him in Baptiste's hands, and then 
 returned to her boudoir.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 AS a result of these emotions the Chamberlain got a fever 
 _ which bothered him much more, for it reminded him of 
 the impotence of old age at the moment when the future 
 seemed to announce to him the return of the most glorious past 
 times. 
 
 He would be at the head, and have immense influence, and 
 the most eminent people would care for one of his smiles . . . 
 for one kind word. It would be enough for him to open his 
 lips for his ■wishes to be guessed immediately : his looks would 
 mean favour or disgrace ... he would be both powerful and 
 mighty. . . . 
 
 In the meanwhile. Pani Walewska's thoughts were quite 
 different. 
 
 After conducting her husband to his apartment, she returned 
 to her boudoir and seated herself in the comer of the couch. 
 She was disturbed at the news that she was going to stay in 
 Warsaw. The sohtary life in Walewice, of which she was so 
 much afraid a short time ago, now seemed to her to be a 
 paradise. She was afraid of Warsaw, of the cold drawing- 
 rooms, of the Princess-sister, and Anetka Tyszkiewicz, and 
 Mme. de Vauban, and the whole of that world of intrigues, 
 gossip, paltry cares, and hatreds. 
 
 She knew that world but little, but from all contact with it 
 she received disillusion, pain, and wounds ! And what for ? 
 Was it because she had done her mother's will and married a 
 man old enough to be her grandfather, that she was obliged to 
 give up all her dreams, that her life became a book, the first 
 pages of which were missing ? 
 
 Out of her youth, full of bright thoughts and radiant faith, 
 she was pushed into satiety. She was ordered, she who was 
 
 S8
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 59 
 
 just rising, to follow a sunset ; so she went hiding all her decep- 
 tions, and wished to believe that the day begins and ends by a 
 cloudy dusk, that the dusk gives peace of life, and that that 
 quiet was better than her fantastic dreams. 
 
 She thought then that her sojourn in Warsaw might assure 
 her more freedom, or at least break the monotony, that it would 
 stop her husband's grumbling. But that agreeable thought dis- 
 appeared as soon as she remembered Princess Jabłonowska, 
 who undoubtedly would not fail to spread over her her pro- 
 tecting wings. Even her husband's ambitious thoughts did not 
 tempt her. What would she do in the Castle, in such brilliant 
 society .'' She, a poor gentlewoman, at the Emperor's reception ! 
 Would she ever know how to move .'' Should she be questioned 
 by the Emperor, could she give him an answer, not dictated 
 by the court etiquette, but coming from the heart .'' Never ! 
 To-day, there on the road, she had seen him, and she felt proud, 
 satisfied, and happy ! She spoke to him as her most sincere 
 enthiisiasm dictated. Napoleon returning victorious from the 
 battlefield appeared to her great ; he w^as such as her brother 
 represeiated him to be ; he was that legendary hero, saviour, 
 absolute ruler of Europe, King of Kings ! But there in the 
 Castle, surrounded by flatterers, courtiers . . . let the others 
 bow to the ground to him, let them solicit his smile, let them 
 fight for his look. . . . 
 
 Her husband is a dreamer ; a small politeness he took for a 
 special favour. He will lose his illusions soon . . . although 
 one should be just, and gi'ant that the French people could not 
 be out-distanced by anybody in politeness. Those flowers, for 
 instance. . . . The Grand Marshal of the Court remembering 
 to send some flowers to Pani Walevv^ska ! How many similar 
 letters he must have wi-itten ; how many men he must have 
 sent -with flowers ; for there is no doubt that he sent out a great 
 many similar bouquets. 
 
 Pani Walewska stretched out her arm for the bouquet, and 
 began to play with the lilies of the valley, to touch the roses. 
 
 Suddenly a piece of paper rustled amongst the flowers. She 
 took it, and read the following inscription on it : " Pour la belle 
 Marie ! " 
 
 She unfolded the paper, and she found on the other side of
 
 60 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 it, \vTitten with the same even handwriting : " On s'est fait 
 repeler votrc nom jusqiid I'apprendre par cceur." Pani Walewska 
 shiveredj and read it again. 
 
 Then there, in the Castle ... by the means of a bouquet, 
 sent by the Marshal of the Court ! . . . But who would dare to 
 do this } Gorayski ? Impossible ! . . . Perchance that hateful 
 Count Herceau. Tlie handwriting was the same as on the letter 
 written to the Chamberlain — to be sure the same ! But in that 
 case . . . why Duroc? He had never seen her in his life ! But 
 perhaps it was he who was with the Emperor .'' 
 
 Darkness came before Pani Walewska's eyes, her beautiful 
 face reddened with anger. 
 
 Therefore for her goodwill, for her disinterested enthusiasm, 
 perhaps for her gay curiosity, flowing only from the purest 
 source of admiration, they pay her by a love madrigal ! . . . 
 Therefore he, that great man, that God of War, that conqueror 
 of whom she dreamed, would be as a commonplace, heedless 
 fellow ! Then it was in such a way he explained to himself her 
 exclamation, by which she greeted him kneeling on the step of 
 the carnage .'' 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed at herself; her fency must have 
 carried her too far ! The indecent importunity of that Duroc 
 she dared to attribute to the Emperor ! He would take such 
 a mean step ! he would send to a married woman ! . . . No, a 
 hundred times ! Duroc, on]y Duroc, nobody else. Her hus- 
 band must know about all that ; he must shelter her against 
 similar attacks. 
 
 She seized the bouquet, crumpled the paper, and, with 
 proudly lifted head, went to her husband's apartments, but 
 when she touched the handle of the door conducting to the 
 Chamberlain's bedroom the cold of the metal penetrated her 
 through and froze her blood. 
 
 But suppose her husband should sneer at her offended pride ; 
 suppose the Marshal's name should overawe him ; suppose he 
 should apply to her his ideas of a former courtier ; suppose 
 that out of spite to her he would not acknowledge that her 
 anger was justified .'' Pani Walewska retreated from the door 
 and returned to her apartment. 
 
 No, she would give a good lesson even to such a man as
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 61 
 
 Duroc. She would administer justice herself; she would make 
 him understand that he was wrong . . , She would do it better, 
 more simply than the Chamberlain himself. She would send 
 back the bouquet and the letter and pretend that she had never 
 read it. 
 
 She did not think long. She rang the bell for her chamber- 
 maid and told her to call John, who M^as devoted to her. 
 
 The old servant came in immediately. Pani Walewska put the 
 letter between the flowers and handed the bouquet to the man. 
 
 ^'^ Will you find your way to the Castle ? " she asked. 
 
 The man wished to answer, but Pani Walewska did not give 
 him time to gather his thoughts. 
 
 " You must ! There you will ask for the Marshal of the 
 Court, Duroc ; you must see him and give him back those flowers. 
 Should they ask you who sent you, say it is I. I count on you. 
 I know you are devoted to me. Leave the house in such a way 
 that nobody sees you, and no word to any one about your 
 message." 
 
 John bowed and stood embarrassed, looking at the bouquet. 
 
 " Please, my lady, they are waiting for me, for I have to go 
 to Walewice at once and return as soon as possible." 
 
 Pani Walewska came to the man and put her hand on his 
 shoulder. " I thought you loved me a little. ..." 
 
 John's eyes shone. " I am willing, my lady, if " 
 
 There the old servant stopped suddenly, and looked in a 
 strange way on the bouquet. 
 
 Pani Walewska guessed the meaning of that look. 
 
 "John," she said emphatically, "you have known me since I 
 was a child . . . The question is not about a simple message, but 
 about rendering me a great service. . . . Somebody else ought 
 to do it; I am not going, however, to force you. ... I can see 
 you are not willing. Leave the flowers, I shall carry them back 
 myself." 
 
 " Please, my lady, I am willing, I will go. - . I do not care 
 if I am late. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska repeated her instructions, adding that he 
 must not allow himself to be sent away without seeing the 
 Marshal himself; he must hand him the flowers without any 
 explanation whatever.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE next day, early in the morning, Baptiste rapped at 
 Pani Walewska's door, and informed her that the 
 Chamberlain was already up and waiting for her to go out. 
 
 Pani Walewska began to dress hastily, but before she was 
 ready she was told that the Princess-sister wished to see her. 
 Pani Walewska told the chambennaid to ask her to wait a 
 few moments, when Princess Jabłonowska rushed into her 
 dressing-room. 
 
 " Bla cherc Marie ! excuse my intrusion, but I could not deny 
 myself the pleasure of seeing you, toujoiirs belle ! I learned by 
 accident, through my footman, that you are going to stay ! 
 How glad I am ! Let me kiss you ! " 
 
 " I am very much obliged to you," said Pani Walewska with 
 an effort. 
 
 " Do not mention it. I am always your friend. How is 
 Anastazy .'' Yesterday he was not well. I quieted him as well 
 as I could. You understand ... at his age. . . . Evidently 
 some one told him about your promenade yesterday. Well, 
 Warsaw is a small town ; they gossip about anything. But I 
 congratulate you on yesterday's success. Everybody is talking 
 about you ! . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska grew pale. 
 
 " Success ! " she repeated, with an effort. 
 
 "Well, you were lucky to converse with the Emperor, and, 
 it seems, made a great impression on him. I assure you I am 
 telling you the truth. It will be sufficient for you when I tell 
 you that last night Duroc called on Vauban. . . . He tried to 
 find out all about you. Anetka was awfully angry. You were 
 very wise to persuade Anastazy to stay." 
 
 "Princess , . . you are mistaken." 
 
 62
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 63 
 
 " Chere Marie ! You need not prevaricate with me ; 1 am 
 your sister ; you must not. Let me kiss you again. I am your 
 best ft-iend. If you want anything from Anastazy, I will help 
 you to get it with all my heart." 
 
 "Thank you." 
 
 " Of course, nothing is certain yet. Napoleon is not constant 
 in his sentiments. But we shall see ! I am very friendly witli 
 Talleyrand ; I shall be able to find out from him, and let you 
 know beforehand. Only, my dearest, when you have an oppor- 
 tunity, remember that the Prussians have confiscated our two 
 estates ; it is only right that justice should be done to me." 
 
 Pani Walewska plucked impatiently at her handkerchief, and 
 said coolly : "I do not understand a word of what you are 
 saying." 
 
 The Princess patted her lightly on her hand, and said 
 jokingly : " Tres bien, ires hien ! You must act in that way 
 until everything is cleared up. You do not know anything ; 
 you have not promised anything. I tell you, Talleyrand knows 
 him through and through ; he is peculiar and brutal ; one must 
 be careful and dexterous with him. I will tell you another piece 
 of great news even. . . . Eleonorę Dennele de la Plaigne has 
 had a son ! A courier from Paris brought this ncAvs. In answer, 
 the Emperor sent two aides-de-camp. Who knows what will 
 come of this ? . . . Therefore you must be very careful, the more 
 so as Anetka is doing her best . . . And, added to all this, the 
 Princess Lubomirska succeeded in obtaining an audience when 
 he was coming from Pułtusk ; the Emperor found her charming. 
 . . . Therefore all depends. . . ." 
 
 Pani WalcAvska was sitting in a bent attitude, her lips tightly 
 closed. 
 
 The Princess was offended by her silence. 
 
 "Ma chere, perhaps you are angry that I meddle with your 
 affairs, but I considered it to be my duty ; it seemed to me that 
 my experience might be useful to you. Believe me, if it had 
 not been for me, Mme. Grabowska would never have been what 
 she was with our last king. I flatter myself that I know the 
 Court, that I know the people, that I have experience." 
 
 " I am much obliged, but I do not need that experience at all." 
 
 " But, Marie ! Well, I will tell you the whole truth. . , ,
 
 64 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Vauban called on me, and I promised for you that you would 
 not forget her. She can help you . . . for do you think that 
 you will be able to penetrate into the Castle should Talleyrand 
 not be willing?" 
 
 " I do not propose to go to the Castle at all." 
 
 " I do not understand you ... for . . ." 
 
 " I have a husband ! " answered Pani Walewska proudly, 
 '' who in the meanwhile is your brother. . You should re- 
 member this." 
 
 The Princess made an impatient movement. 
 
 " I see that you are too confident in yoiu- own ability. You 
 forget that, should I think it necessary, I can persuade Anastazy 
 to return to Walewice." 
 
 "That is exactly what I am wishing for." 
 
 The Princess was preparing some answer when the Chamber- 
 lain appeared in the doonvay. He was carefully dressed, 
 painted, powdered, and scented. 
 
 " Ah, sister here ! We were going to call on you ! We 
 needed your advice, your help. . . ." 
 
 " It is difficult to believe that. ..." 
 
 "The principal question is about Mary's frocks. You under- 
 stand that she does not know where to go ; therefore, dear 
 sister . . ." 
 
 " But what can I do ? . . . Joubert is open to everybody. 
 Nothing easier than to go to him and order. But I hear that 
 Marie wishes to return to Walewice, which I think very wise. 
 It is very natural with her tastes, and I do not wonder that she 
 does not wish to appear in Court, for, strictly speaking, it is not 
 a Court but a camp. ..." 
 
 The Chamberlain made a grimace. 
 
 "You are mistaken ! " he said. "There are times when one 
 is obliged to give up and sacrifice many things. We must stay 
 in Warsaw." 
 
 " Ah, yes ! " rejoined the Princess, with a strange intonation 
 in her voice. 
 
 The Chamberlain shrugged his shoulders and rose on his tip- 
 toes. 
 
 " I do not like to have to stay here myself, but I cannot find 
 any excuse. : , r They would be offended, and then they would
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 65 
 
 say that I allowed certain men to come forward . . . therefore 
 I hope you will not refuse to help Mary." 
 
 '"^If such is your wish I am ready — with pleasure. Joubert 
 has imported lovely things. . . . There is a large choice." 
 
 Here the Princess began to describe enthusiastically Pani 
 Walewska's future frocks. 
 
 The Chamberlain helped her conscientiously, discussing the 
 harmony of colours and all possible details. 
 
 Sometimes he would put on his eyeglass, and look critically at 
 his wife's figure before deciding. 
 
 Pani Walewska took no part in the discussion, and behaved as 
 if it were not she about whom they were talking, and not she 
 for whom they were planning all those splendours. 
 
 During this deliberation the Grand Marshal Duroc was 
 announced. 
 
 The Chamberlain appeared in no haste to meet his guest. 
 
 The Princess could not conceal her astonishment. 
 
 " Duroc here ? " 
 
 " Phi ! Yesterday M. de Perigord came, to-day Duroc . . . 
 they bother me," said the Chamberlain, and went out. 
 
 The Princess turned her small, penetrating eyes upon Pani 
 Walewska. 
 
 " Cheńe !" I admire you. ... I did not think that you were 
 so clever. My dear, do not contradict me, you are awfully 
 clever. Yesterday, I must tell you frankly, I was afraid for you. 
 Anastazy was in a very bad temper. You understand. . . . 
 Men are all alike. . . . When I left him I was not certain 
 whether he would be angry with you or not. ... I have no 
 words for your cleverness ... it does you lionour. ..." 
 
 " I do not understand the admiration which you are kind 
 enough to bestow upon me." 
 
 The Princess laughed and threatened her jokingly with her 
 finger. 
 
 " How cunning you are ! . . . I should be offended with you 
 for your lack of sincerity, but I prefer to forgive you. Only be 
 careful . . . and who knows ... I knew Madame Grabowska ; 
 nobody thought that she would become so great. ... I see it 
 irritates you, so I will not say anything more. Only be careful 
 
 . . be careful. . . ."
 
 66 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska's eyes filled with tears. 
 
 The Princess did not notice it. She vowed several times that 
 she had the best intentions towards her sister-in-law ; she 
 promised to go at once and order frocks for her ; and after most 
 tender demonstrations she went away. 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed freely when the Princess had gone. 
 She understood the meaning of her insinuations^ and this 
 aroused her pride. They took her to be a flirt ; they suspected 
 her of some improper plans at a jump, a supposition not justified 
 at all; they were building a whole structure of mere conjecture. 
 
 Pani Walewska recollected her bouquet^ Duroc's visit, and she 
 became frightened of the people, of the Princess's mjsterious 
 smiles, of Anetka Potocka's ironical laughter with which she 
 had greeted her at that never-to-be-forgotten ball. 
 
 A sense of darkness surrounded her ; some mysterious con- 
 sciousness of peril aroused in her a sad presentiment. 
 
 Several times she tried to persuade herself that her fears 
 v.-ere groundless, merely arising out of insignificant facts which 
 only she would have dreamed of connecting ; that she ex- 
 aggerated her OAvn importance. But all these arguments, by 
 means of which Pani Walewska tried to quiet herself, did not 
 conWnce her. An inward voice told her that she must tell her 
 husband of everything that frightened her. 
 
 She did not know what and how she should tell him, but 
 nevertheless such a confession seemed to her necessary. At the 
 moment of coming to that conclusion her husband's voice inter- 
 rupted her thoughts. 
 
 The Chamberlain for the second time repeated : " Pi'ay, come 
 for a minute ! . . . Duroc begged me earnestly to honour him 
 with an introduction to you." 
 
 "Duroc?" 
 
 '^You are absent-minded . . . the Grand Marshal of the 
 Court ... do not linger ; yoii must not keep him waiting too 
 long. He is veiy . . I never expected that he would have 
 such good manners. A ver}' })olite fellow. . . . We must appre- 
 ciate his politeness." 
 
 " Another time. . . I am not dressed to receive callers." 
 
 The Chamberlain smiled contemptuously. 
 
 " You must not be too particular ; a little nćgligć is fashion-
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 67 
 
 able. Then he must know that Madame Colonna Walewska 
 does not consider that such a visitor does her any particular 
 honour. . . . Come ! " 
 
 "I have a headache. ... I took cold!" said the Chamber- 
 lain's wife^ defending herself. 
 
 He began to get angry. 
 
 " Silly fancies ! Headache ! You must master yourself, or 
 you will not be able to make one step at Court. Good manners 
 should dominate everything. I remember well once in the 
 Łazienki Palace I h.ad a terrific toothache, and the King began 
 to tell some amusing stories ; everybody laughed, therefore I 
 was obliged to laugh also, although I had tears in my eyes from 
 pain. Well, come along ; he has already waited too long." 
 
 The Chamberlain took her by the arm and conducted her to 
 the drawing-room. 
 
 Pani Walewska was prepared with a proud answer, such as 
 would quench every smile and stop every word of refined in- 
 sinuation, and she followed, listening to the throbbing of her 
 heart as she walked. 
 
 " Duroc, Prince of Friul, Grand Marshal of the Court of His 
 Imperial Majesty ! " resounded suddenly in Pani Walewska' s 
 ears. 
 
 She raised her eyes hesitatingly, and was thunderstruck with 
 surprise, for bowing in front of her stood the same general who, 
 at Jabłonna, helped her in such a ready way to her never-to-be- 
 forgotten conversation with the Emperor. 
 
 Duroc bowed elegantly to Pani Walewska, and greeted her 
 with a graceful compliment. 
 
 Pani W^alewska nodded slightly, and, with a sense of fright, 
 looked round her as if to find a place in which she might hide. 
 
 The Grand Marshal, not receiving any answer, made a further 
 remark. 
 
 But Pani Walewska was able to make no reply this time either. 
 
 The Chamberlain could hardly conceal the irritation aroused 
 by his wife's country manners, and trying to break the em- 
 barrassing silence, said himself : " You must be indulgent . . . 
 my wife is not well." 
 
 " I am so sorry I dared to trouble you, Madame, with my 
 ardent wish to pay my respects to you."
 
 68 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Take a seat," said Pani Walewska, making an effort. 
 
 Duroc sat opposite to her, wliile the Chamberlain stood 
 behind his wife's chair, and rapped upon his snuff-box. 
 
 " I should not have dared to importune jou, Madame, if it 
 were not to perform the agreeable duty of begging you to grace 
 the presentation ball with your presence." 
 
 " I do not know ..." 
 
 " Naturally ! " said the Chamberlain with animation, not pei'- 
 mitting his wife to finish ; "we will try not to disappoint." 
 
 "His Majesty the Emperor, when I M'as fortunate enough to 
 submit the list of those who are to be invited, told me twice to 
 make sure of your presence." 
 
 The Chamberlain cleared his throat, and having touched the 
 star of his Order, said politely : " We are very much obliged 
 that he should do us the honour of remembering us." 
 
 "After so many months of war," said Duroc graciously, "we 
 are longing not only for such agreeable society as yours, but 
 also for a serious conversation. Life gives us very few pleasant 
 moments. It is true that there are times when, during the 
 uproar of war, somewhere in a forlorn halting-place there passes 
 before us some charming vision, some good-hearted enchantress 
 who brings us momentary intoxication. . . . But such appari- 
 tions disappear quickly ; then it is no wonder that in a spare 
 moment we revert to them, we follow them with all our 
 thoughts, we long for them with all our souls. . . ." 
 
 At this unexpected turn of the conversation the Chamberlain 
 cleared his throat, nodded gravely like a statesman, although 
 he was not certain if the Grand Marshal was not making an 
 allusion to the alliance with Turkey. 
 
 As for Pani Walewska, she bent still more forward, avoiding 
 the Marshal's looks. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Duroc passed to the last military and 
 political events, and, like an accomplished courtier, glided over 
 the surface of known affairs. He did not betray any secret ; 
 he did not throw any new light ; and, talking much, he did not 
 commit himself in anything. 
 
 Only when he passed to the last victory at Pułtusk and 
 mentioned the return to Warsaw, he suddenly changed his 
 tone, and said with sincere enthusiasm : " Yesterday was one of
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 69 
 
 the most beautiful days in His Majesty's life. . . . Heaven and 
 earth made an effort to show him the winter's charm in all its 
 splendour. I do not remember the Emperor so happy ! The 
 reception at Jabłonna left in his heart indelible traces." 
 
 "I did not know anything about it/' said the Chamberlain. 
 
 " You must not take my words too literally. If there had 
 been triumphal arches^ garlands^ fireworks, it would not have 
 made any impression. . . . The man under whose feet flowers 
 have been thrown so many times, for Avhom they burn torches, 
 requires something else than commonplace homage ; for such 
 a one the most splendid receptions are nothing. ... It was 
 quite different in Jabłonna ! There it was merely a spontaneous 
 movement of a heart; there he was welcomed by a look full 
 of confidence, enthusiasm, and faith. . . . And one such look 
 suffices for millions." 
 
 "Certainly, certainly," approved the Chamberlain with dignity. 
 
 Pani WalcAvska trembled from emotion. 
 
 Duroc suddenly changed the subject of conversation, and, 
 having turned to Pani Walewska, asked suddenly : " Do you 
 like flowers.''" 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered, but, feeling that the Marshal was 
 looking at her inquisitively, answered with an effort : " Yes, but 
 not in a bouquet." 
 
 ''^By this question I wish to beg your forgiveness for my 
 daring deed of yesterday. Ignorant of Polish customs, I am 
 afraid I have done something improper. But I think that the 
 flowers are only a homage." 
 
 " The flowers alone. . . . Yes." 
 
 " In our country it is sometimes allowed to make them speak." 
 
 " In our country not everybody has the right to listen to them." 
 
 " But one can accept them always. Do you like lilies of the 
 valley ? I am not very fond of them, but for the Emperor there 
 are no more beautiful flowers . . . uniting delicacy with strong 
 perfume ; they personify simplicity ; they soothe by their 
 aroma. . . ." 
 
 " And they try to intoxicate. ..." 
 
 " You consider that an offence .? . . . Is our life, or rather 
 certain moments of life, not an intoxication } " 
 
 "Not for everyone."
 
 70 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " But the lily of the valley contains so much sincerity. Is 
 it proper to push it away ? Its perfume brings all its existence, 
 with its exhalation it sacrifices a part of its life." 
 
 " If the lily of the valley symbolises so many noble senti- 
 ments,, it cannot be at the same time the sign of playing — 
 there where flov.-s its perfume, there must follow respect . . . 
 there is no room for licence. . . ." 
 
 "Such is also my opinion/' concluded Duroc, and rose. 
 
 The Grand Marshal repeated the invitation, said something 
 about the presentation at the Castle, and after a few compli- 
 ments, agreeably tickling the Chamberlain's vanity, he went 
 away. 
 
 The Chamberlain was very pleased, so much so, that he did 
 not notice his wife's confusion, and esteemed it proper to share 
 his thoughts with her. 
 
 " Do you see . . . yesterday you doubted . . . to-day you have 
 a proof . . . they cringe, they try to win us to them. . . . V^ery 
 well then. ... I have no objection, only they must not think 
 that I shall accept all their conditions. No, I sliall not be a 
 fool. I sliall not be satisfied with a paltry oflice. Duroc is 
 quite a polished man. . . . Nobody could guess that he is of 
 such low extraction. Your conversation about the lily of the 
 valley was very clever . . . very clever indeed." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at her husband hesitatingly. " Then 
 you know .'' " 
 
 " Certainly ! I had enough time to understand those half 
 words .... Through you they would like to approach me. In 
 the beginning you seemed to be embarrassed, but afterwards 
 it was capital ! The Frenchman did not know what to answer ! 
 That is the best way with thein. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed freely. 
 
 "Therefore I think the best for us would be to return to 
 Walewice." 
 
 The Chamberlain, who had just then risen on tiptoe, hearing 
 that, shuddered so that he nearly fell. 
 
 "What.'' . . .what.'' Return to Walewice ! You are joking ! " 
 
 ''Of course not, as, in face of such a situation, it is out of 
 the question that I should go to the reception. The Princess- 
 sister . ."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 71 
 
 " Why out of the question ? The Princess . . . she told you 
 idle stories, that is all. All are jealous. . . . You must do as 
 I ask you to do. . . ." 
 
 " You cannot complain . . . but if you wish to remain, permit 
 me . . ." 
 
 " I shall not ! New fancies. . . . Yes, I know, you wish to 
 contradict me. When I wished to stay in Walewice, you wished 
 to come to Warsaw ; only yesterday you did not like my idea 
 of going back. To-day you dislike town, and all that you do 
 to thwart me, to act according to your own will. . . ." 
 
 "You are unjust! I cannot interpret their kindness difterently 
 from its meaning. I wish to return ; I defend not only myself 
 but your name also." 
 
 The Chamberlain looked at his wife inquisitively, for he did 
 not understand at the first moment the meaning of her words ; 
 only after a while of thinking his face brightened up. He burst 
 out with hearty laughter. 
 
 " Then you imagine that they cringe to you. . . . Ha ! ha ! 
 ha ! You are all the same. You lack penetration, a broader 
 way of looking at things. All of you see the mirror and 
 yourself in it. . . . Ha ! ha ! ha ! Only now I understand. 
 You are all alike, for the Princess, too, drew different con- 
 clusions in regard to herself from M. de Perigord's friendliness 
 towards her. . . . And you are already frightened about your- 
 self. I admire your modesty, but Duroc is not like Gorayski. 
 I do not deny that you can be queen of every ball, but you 
 must not be afraid of homage, for you are at the side of 
 Colonna Walewski ! What an amusing joke ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain's assurance passed to Pani Walewska. To 
 be sure, from his point of view, all facts looked diff"erently. 
 
 It was possible that the unexpected conversation at the door 
 of the carriage was due to the name of '"Walewska" ; perchance 
 that meeting furnished opportunity to gain the husband through 
 the wife. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at her husband and again doubted. 
 For Avhat purpose would they need such a man, who, notwith- 
 standing his boasting, was simply a rich nobleman, but had not 
 great influence, was not popular, and had no capacity whatever 
 . . . and who, by the utmost efforts of will, defended himself
 
 72 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 from impotency. Should she not be able to appreciate her 
 husband at his worth ? And perhaps they are mistaken, 
 perhaps they were overawed by his riches and the name of 
 Walewski ? 
 
 But then^ what was the meaning of Duroc's strange allusions ? 
 
 Pani Walewska once more repeated her desire to go to 
 Walewice, and was ready to tell her husband about her secret ; 
 but being rebuked by his boasting, ridiculed at every point, 
 accused of ignorance of a great political game, became silent, 
 for she understood that from that quarter she could expect 
 neither advice nor protection. 
 
 The few following days seemed to prove that the Chamberlain 
 was right. 
 
 He paid visits to M. de Perigord and Marshal Duroc ; he 
 was present at the audience with the Emperor ; he received 
 Murat's and Prince Borghese's invitations; he was invited to two 
 military reviews held at Saski Square, and, according to his 
 ideas, was convinced that he would have a splendid career, 
 although he himself did not understand what it would be. 
 
 In the meanwhile. Pani Walewska was the prey of Joubert's 
 art and the Princess-sister's invention. In vain she wished to 
 be satisfied with one frock. The Princess insisted upon having 
 five of them, the Chamberlain added a sixth, giving as a pretext 
 the presence of a Persian ambassador, who was expected every 
 day. 
 
 It was more difficult, however, to choose from the six frocks 
 the one in which Pani Walewska was to go to the Castle. The 
 task was a difficult one, much more so that the Princess had 
 exact information about splendid dresses prepared by the two 
 Countesses Potocki ; by Mmes. Sobolewska and Gutakowska, and 
 by the Countesses Lubieńska and Krasińska. The Chamberlain 
 favoured a green frock with silver embroideries ; the Princess 
 prefen-ed pale blue with gold stars. The Princess's opinion 
 prevailed for this reason, that it seemed Pani Wojczynska was 
 going to have a green frock with silver designs on it. 
 
 Amidst all these preparations Pani Walewska spent a few 
 relatively quiet days. 
 
 The Princess smiled to her significantly, but never mentioned 
 the meeting in Jabłonna, nor made any of her suppositions.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 73 
 
 Then Pani Walewska cleverly pretended not to be well, and 
 thus she had a good excuse for not making calls. 
 
 The Chamberlain was irritated at this ; accused his wife of 
 fancies ; but being very much preoccupied with his expectations, 
 had no time to show his energy, for either he was dressing and 
 curing himself in order to be strong enough to support the 
 fatigue of the reunions, or went from one to another of the " at 
 homes." 
 
 And the reunions, calls, balls, teas were increasing from day 
 to day. The road leading to Warsaw was still crowded with 
 carriages bringing whole famihes from the most remote corners 
 of the country, for all the noblemen were anxious to look at 
 Napoleon's splendour, or perhaps they were anxious to find a 
 new field for their activity, to which all the roads were closed 
 during the Prussian government. 
 
 Therefore in Warsaw people were meeting every day who had 
 not seen each other for a long time, having been separated by 
 the same fear, by the same egotism. 
 
 The Chamberlain met a great many people. There was not 
 a day in which he would not recognise in a decrepit old man, 
 in some withered lady, in a sour old maid, in an old bachelor 
 spoilt by life, a boon companion, a famous madcap, a conqueror 
 of ladies, a famous beauty, a sweet girl . . . and they all came 
 to Warsaw to be Avarmed in Napoleon's blazing sun. 
 
 The Chamberlain was sometimes surprised, for, as under the 
 touch of an enchanted wand, there came forth the ghosts of 
 the past, talking about their orders, titles, and privileges as if 
 the Polish king, and not Napoleon, were still in the Castle. 
 
 The Chamberlain Avas astonished still more, for he found all 
 those Avhom he met were extremely old, while he was looking 
 so remarkably well, the proof of wiiich he had when he was 
 looking in a mirror. The Chamberlain understood then how 
 much he was obliged for this to Baptiste, and he showed him 
 his gratitude by frequent presents. But when at the Princess's 
 "at home" a certain nobleman in a Avell-turned compliment 
 expressed his admiration for the men of the old school, who, by 
 moderation, had preserved their strength, and therefore were 
 able to reach old age, the Chamberlain at last believed in the 
 moderation of his past life, and began to set himself as an
 
 74 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 example to the young people. In that way the Chamberlain 
 slowly gained some consideration^ for fortunately for him he did 
 not meet Avith those who knew his cuniculum vita'. 
 
 Bolesha alone, listening sometimes to the Chamberlain's 
 boasting, laughed ironically, thus raising some doubts. 
 
 The Chamberlain, however, every day grew more and more 
 assured of his desei-ts, and as he found that such an assurance 
 was becoming to him, and that the people respected him more 
 than they did before, he detei'mined to adopt this method for 
 the future. 
 
 And the Chamberlain could say to himself, that if at the 
 Princess's reception, on New Year's Eve, they paid but very 
 little attention to him, now they were all endeavouring to make 
 him forget that slight. 
 
 M. de Talleyrand, when he met the Chamberlain, very often 
 asked his advice. Duroc was exquisitely polite to him ; even 
 the proud Murat conversed with him several times. The 
 deference shown to the Chamberlain by the French dignitaries 
 had an immediate effect — Warsaw society transferred its regards 
 to his son and his grandsons. 
 
 The Chamberlain became so sure of himself noAv, that when 
 at the Princess Dominik Radziwii's they discussed eagerly who 
 would finally be invited to the Emperor's dravv'ing-rooms, the 
 Chamberlain said, with a contemptuous smile, that Duroc had 
 come three times with an invitation, that the Emperor himself 
 asked about him, but that he, the Chamberlain, could not promise 
 to go, for he was afraid that the society would be too mixed. 
 
 This made a great impression ; all were astonished at the 
 Chamberlain's daring, and they seemed to be still more assured 
 of his impoi'tance. 
 
 In the meantime the day of the fir.-,t ball came. 
 
 The Chamberlain, having remained in bed much longer tlian 
 usual in order to gather his stienglh, went to his wife's ajiart- 
 ment towards noon. But here he learned to his great fright 
 that Pani Walewska was more ill than ever. 
 
 The Chamberlain went straight to her bedroom. Pani 
 Walewska was lying on the sofa, covered carefully. 
 
 *^ What is the matter with you } " 
 
 " I have a worse cold than ever."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 75 
 
 '' I will send for a physician . . he must cure you ... we 
 have not much time." 
 
 "I do not understand you." 
 
 " Have you forgotten that to-day is the ball at the Castle } " 
 burst out the Chamberlain. 
 
 " Then what ? I am not going — you see for yourself." 
 
 " But this is only your fancy . , a cold ! The physician 
 will cure you. Court ball ! If we could only show ourselves 
 there for a few minutes ! Otherwise they will say that we were 
 not invited. Take example from me ! I remember once at a 
 dinner with our late king I had a toothache, when the king 
 began to tell some of his stories ; all laughed, therefore I was 
 obliged to laugh also — although I was near crying. And the 
 king looked at me graciously, and said : ' Walewski, do you 
 enjoy my story ? ' Do you understand ? " 
 
 " Yes, you have told me several times already." 
 
 The Chamberlain was offended. 
 
 " Then I repeat it again. I am sending for a physician. He 
 must cure you, and you must make an effort." 
 
 Pani Walewska shook her head. " No, no ; I cannot." 
 
 The Chamberlain put his eyeglass to his eye, looked for a 
 while at his wife's lovely face, and said with conviction : " I 
 find you beautiful ! You are looking veiy interesting indeed. 
 The physician will strengthen you, and we will go." 
 
 Pani Walewska made a negative movement ; the Chamberlain 
 continued : " Do this for me, otherwise they will slander us ; 
 then Duroc has invited us so many times. This is not a question 
 of an ordinary ball ; affairs of great importance might be 
 discussed." 
 
 '' But why am I needed there ? " 
 
 '' What a question ! Can you not understand that a wife is 
 the right hand in Court life. Every statesman must have a wife 
 able to be his al/er ego, his ally." 
 
 Pani Walewska seemed not to share her husband's opinion. 
 The Chamberlain became irritated. 
 
 He ordered a footman to go at once and bring the most 
 famous physician, by name Dederka, who came soon, had a long 
 consultation with Pani Walewska, then came embarrassed to 
 the Chamberlain and shook his head helplessly.
 
 76 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "What, then ? " inquired the Chamberlain, alarmed. 
 
 " Bad," decided the physician. 
 
 "But what . . ." 
 
 " Bad, my dear sir ; a woman, willingly givmg up a ball, 
 despising an opportunity to show her frock, a woman who does 
 not care to be coquettish, and who prefers a rest instead of 
 society ... it is bad." 
 
 "But it seems you do not understand. . . . Precisely the 
 question is to strengthen her for a couple of hours, that she 
 may be presented . . . then she can return." 
 
 "H'm ! H'm ! It is impossible. I am afraid it is melancholia, 
 and in that case I cannot even bleed her, for the cause of 
 melancholy might be either too much or too little blood. 
 Suppose it is too little .'' " 
 
 "Then what.'' " 
 
 "Nothing; she must take some cooling drink, some salts, and 
 we must wait until the illness becomes more accentuated ; then 
 we shall jump at it, we shall attack it from every point, and we 
 will cure the lady." 
 
 " But I wanted . . ." 
 
 " I know," interrupted the physician slowly. " Science docs 
 not permit me to act otherwise. A woman despising society, 
 such a case is helpless ; one can expect anything bad." 
 
 "You do not know my wife." 
 
 " Impressionable, delicate. . . ." 
 
 " You are singing quite a different song." 
 
 "Yes, but our aim is the same . . . impossible, she must 
 stay at home. . . ." 
 
 That positive decision shook the Chamberlain's determination. 
 He went once more to his vv^ife, explained the whole situation 
 to her, spoke much about the duties of people occupying exalted 
 positions ; finally, having met with unsliakable opposition, deter- 
 mined to save the situation by himself, and began to dress. 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed freely. At last she was doing as 
 she wished ; she had conquered all obstacles and avoided the 
 Court. 
 
 But when a few hours later the chambermaid told her that 
 the Chamberlain had gone to the Castle, she began to doubt 
 whether she was right, whether she did nut take too seriously
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 77 
 
 all those civilities, whether for an imaginery peril she had not 
 deprived herself of the opportunity of seeing a great conqueror 
 in the majesty of his power, whether her behaviour did not 
 look like cowardice. She ought to have found in herself enough 
 strength to face the danger ; it depended on her behaviour, on 
 her answer, to turn away the desire of familiarity, should such 
 a desire be manifested. 
 
 Pani Walewska's lively imagination spun out further and 
 further the thread of her thoughts. Of what was she afraid .'' 
 Should she not meet even him boldly and tell him, should it 
 come to this: "Sire, all your Majesty was kind enough to tell 
 me, I receive as the words of a hero, who is fond of joking, 
 when it pleases him." 
 
 It would have been much better than this fright, it would 
 put a stop to all the Princess's insinuations. Acting as she did, 
 she put herself in a difficult position . . . who knows if she had 
 not become ridiculous. 
 
 Perhaps all these civilities were only an innocent foolishness. 
 Had she not known many Frenchmen before.'' How many of 
 them had told her about their love for her, but having been 
 rebuked, had repeated the same words of love during the same 
 evening to some other woman ! Even that Count Herceau, he 
 was hardly introduced to her, and immediately he attempted to 
 say, like Caesar, Vici ! 
 
 Pani Walewska was not satisfied with herself — the quiet 
 surroundings irritated her. She took some French novel and 
 turned over its pages, following in her mind the same thought. 
 Sometimes she thought of pale, thoughtful Gorayski ; and then 
 she came to a strange conviction, that in case of need he would 
 defend her. 
 
 Pani Walewska's solitude was interrupted by a lackey. She 
 looked at him surprised. 
 
 " M. de Corvisart, personal physician of his Majesty the 
 Emperor of the French," he announced. 
 
 Pani Walewska could not believe her own ears. 
 
 " M. de Corvisart ? What did you say to him } " 
 
 " That her ladyship is ill ! But he begged to be received ; he 
 says that my lord knows about his visit." 
 
 Pani Walewska did not know how to answer, only after a few
 
 78 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 moments of reflection came to the conclusion that M. de 
 Corvisart's visit must be attributed to her husband's solicitude, 
 and she determined to receive such a late visitor. 
 
 The Emjieror's physician, introduced by Baptiste to the 
 adjoining boudoir, saluted Pani Walewska respectfully. 
 
 " Madame, pray excuse me ! I would not dare to trouble you 
 if not for the duty of my vocation." 
 
 Pani Walewska glanced hesitatingly at M. de Corvisart's 
 ?ichly embroidered Court dress, and said, embarrassed : "I do 
 not know to what to attribute your kindness. If I am not mis- 
 taken you come from the Castle ? " 
 
 " Yes, from the Emperor's ball." 
 
 " You should not deprive yourself of the pleasure." 
 
 "But you are suffering? " 
 
 " Ah, yes, but it is a suffering — pray excuse my frankness — 
 for which time is the best phj'sician." 
 
 " It is our duty to make that time as short as possible." 
 
 " I am very glad to have an opj.ortunity to make your 
 acquaintance, for I have heard much of your cleverness." 
 
 M. de Corvisart bowed, and looking attentively at Pani 
 Walewska, asked abruptly — 
 
 " Can I know what is your suffering t " 
 
 "But . . ." 
 
 " I am a physician, consequently like a confessor . . . one 
 must be perfectly frank with me. Have you any fever .'' In 
 such a climate ..." 
 
 " But you see of yourself that I do not give in, I do not com- 
 plain. ... I have a headache, general feebleness . . . which is 
 not so alarming as to allow me to call m^'self ill, but it is 
 sufficient to force me to give up such a brilliant ball ! Then 
 I think my husband exaggerated a little, and troubled you un- 
 necessarily." 
 
 " You are mistaken. I heard him talking about your illness 
 with the Emperor, and I came here in my character of physician 
 of the Court of his Majesty. I was ordered to take care of 
 you, and to report immediately. May I add that, although 
 it seemed to me very unpleasant to be sent from the ball, I am 
 now grateful for much more. I never had such a beautiful 
 patient."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 79 
 
 Under the influence of M. de Corvisart's words Pani Walewska 
 blushed, her hps trembled. 
 
 Corvisart came nearer to her, and said in a subdued voice — 
 
 " You must be frank with me ! Pray be frank ! I am ready 
 to use all my knowledge, and not to allow even one shiver of 
 pain to appear on your face." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at the Court physician and said with 
 detennination — 
 
 " You ask me to be frank with you. Well, I am not ill." 
 
 Corvisart looked at her astonished. 
 
 " You mean that you are better just now." 
 
 " No, I am not ill at all. I could not come to the ball for 
 reasons . . . which I could not declare. I appeal to your pro- 
 fessional honour — I told the truth to the physician." 
 
 Pani Walewska became silent and dropped her eyes ; on her 
 long silky eyelashes glistened a tear. 
 
 Corvisart said quietly : " You confirmed my supposition, al- 
 though your husband spoke so much about your illness." 
 
 " I led him into the error." 
 
 " Now I do not understand what to think. Then it was not 
 the Chamberlain wl o was the cause of your pretending . . . ?" 
 
 Pani Walewska rose from her sofa and said : " Notv/ithstanding 
 all the respect I have for you, I shall not answer any more of 
 your questions." 
 
 Corvisart rose with marked displeasure, and said drily : " I am 
 sorry ! I thought I was on the way to discover the real suffer- 
 ing, which has nothing in common with the body." 
 
 " So much the better, then, if it remains undiscovered." 
 
 " I doubt it ! I have no claim upon your confidence, and I 
 know how to be grateful for that which you were kind enough 
 to show me. I, in my capacity of Court physician of his 
 Majesty, shall have the honour to state that you feel weak, and 
 have also a slight cold and require absolute rest. In the mean- 
 while, 1 will not forget the gratitude which you expressed for 
 the Emperor's care and solicitude. . . . Am I mistaken } " 
 
 Pani Walewska put out her hand to the physician. 
 
 " I thank you heartily." 
 
 " Corvisart is not hard-hearted at all. The second ausculta- 
 tion, if it is required, will come easier."
 
 80 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I would like to show you my gratitude." 
 
 Corvisart shook his head. 
 
 " You can do it only by showing your confidence in me. You 
 must not be surprised at my sincerity. I came here without 
 any malicious thought — I go out with admiration. I know the 
 Court, I know the people. Every day I see the wounds that do 
 r.ot bleed. They told me so much about you. I did not believe 
 them ; to-day I am convinced. The most agreeable moment I 
 shall cherish of to-day's ball will be the conversation with you." 
 
 Corvisart bowed, and was going. 
 
 " One word more ! " said Pani unexpectedly. 
 
 " I am at your command." 
 
 " If you will avoid mentioning my gratitude for this care and 
 solicitude I shall be much obliged to you." 
 
 " I understand ! It will be difficult. . . . Those words must 
 be added even when they are conspicuous by their absence. 
 But I shall do my best either to drop them or to reduce them to 
 the most commonplace phrase." 
 
 When Corvisart left Pani Walewska became more hopeful. 
 This unexpected ally made her more courageous, notwithstand- 
 ing that his visit confirmed all her fears. 
 
 The Chamberlain came home long after midnight ; he took 
 off his evening dress, put on a warm, comfortable dressing-gown, 
 and having learned from the valet that his wife was not yet 
 asleep, went to her. 
 
 At sight of him she tried to look tired on account of lack of 
 sleep, but the Chamberlain had not the slightest intention of 
 bothering himself to inquire about her health. He seemed to 
 be entirely preoccupied with himself; he wished to talk of 
 himself, to find some one who would confirm his thoughts. 
 
 " Regret, regret that you did not go. You could have seen 
 by yourself, you would have been convinced. . . . Małachowski 
 o-nashed his teeth, and Wybicki hovered round me and cringed. 
 The time came ! . . . They are paid . . . but it is only the 
 beginning ! I shall make them remember me ! They thought 
 that I was a simple Chamberlain, that my ambition was satisfied 
 with that charge and the title ! They pricked me continually ! 
 We shall see. . . ." 
 
 " But how was it .'' "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 81 
 
 " Magnificent ! Crowded ! The Emperor said to different 
 people just what Poniatowski whispered to him. Only when he 
 noticed me he made a sign to Poniatowski to be silent. I bow 
 to him. He looks at my hands and says : ' Chamberlain^ have 
 you your snufF-box } ' ' Yes, Sire/ I answer, and extend my 
 arm to him. The Emperor took a pinch of snuff, and looking 
 at my snuff-box, said : ' Very beautiful ! ' ' It is a present from 
 His Majesty the late King/ I answered. 'So, permit me, then, 
 to present you with a snuff-box also.' I wanted to thank him, 
 but the Emperor made a sign to Duroc and began to question 
 me. I could hardly answer all his questions. How many sons 
 and grandsons had I, where have I been residing during the 
 Prussian invasion, whether they did not harm me. . . . Well, 
 speaking shortly, he has vast plans. He remarked that we are 
 at the threshold of a new, broad life ; that now it is time, after 
 years of inactivity, to seize the rudder with a strong hand. He 
 spoke a long time. I cannot repeat everything, for you might 
 easily betray the State secrets. I was even afraid that some one 
 might be listening ; Gutakowski kept round us and tried to 
 catch our conversation, but as soon as he drew nearer the 
 Emperor lowered his voice. At last he asked me : ' And where 
 is your vv^ife ? ' I told him that you were ill, and he at once 
 called M. de Corvisart, and said : ' Visit Mme. Colonna 
 Walewska and report how her health is.' Naturally I thanked 
 him, and he smiled and . . . slapped me on the shoulder. Do 
 you understand .''... Astonishment in the room. . . . Yes, he 
 slapped me , . . here . . . here! . . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain rose on his tiptoes, rapped his snuff-box, 
 looked sourly at his wife, who was listening indifferently, and 
 added — 
 
 " Yesterday I talked with M. de Perigord. H'm ! . . . We 
 must build solid foundations for the new Government. There 
 must be discipline in the army, discipline among the officials, 
 discipline everpvhere. Look, what happened in France ! They 
 cut off Louis' head, they murdered the nobility, there were re- 
 volutions, conventions, directorates, till Bonaparte put his hand 
 on everything, and all is well. He rules, and there is order ; 
 everything prospers. It will be the same here. No indulgence ! 
 The late King sighed and complained enough of different 
 G
 
 82 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 reformers. I remember wellj he said once to me : ' Let them 
 give me one acre of land for my kingdom, and let them take the 
 rest ! ' He was the best of men : witty, intelhgent, a good story- 
 teller — and the Thursday dinners in the Łazienki! Discipline 
 must be everywhere, and it will be ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain suddenly moaned and seized one of his 
 knees, and, the pain having passed, he looked askance at his 
 wife, and said — 
 
 " And what do you say ? " 
 
 "I? I do not know what you are talking about." 
 
 The Chamberlain tightened his lips and smiled ironically. 
 
 " It is my fault ! I have forgotten that you were born for a 
 different kind of life — le grand monde will not root out that 
 which country life planted in you." 
 
 " But allow . . . your talk was so entangled." 
 
 " And it will be still more ! I advise you to tiy to come up 
 to my standard. I am now glad you did not go to the ball ; you 
 would have said some nonsense, and Dombrowski's partisans are 
 only waiting to catch something. . . ." 
 
 ''Your way of conversation is a very particular one." 
 
 " Yes, certainly, and incomprehensible. I know it. I know 
 it. Enough ! Mme. de Vauban told me she will call on you 
 to-morrow. You will receive her with dignity, but without 
 haste. They deserve that we should be a little stiff with them. 
 They try to make an alliance with me. Very well. I shall 
 concentrate my means, conquer the common foe, and then I 
 shall settle my account. In the first place, away with Dom- 
 browski's partisans. Wybicki shall not delight himself for 
 long. . . ." 
 
 " Would the Emperor part with him .'' " 
 
 "The Emperor! ... I wish for it." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at her husband, doubting whether his 
 mind was sound. The Chamberlain, carried away by his own 
 words, closed his eyes and seemed to listen to the echo of his 
 voice, that resounded in the cut-glass standing on the toilet- 
 table. 
 
 "The day after to-morrow we shall be at Talleyrand's 'at 
 home ' — and in a week we shall give a ball." 
 
 "We , . . a ball!"
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 83 
 
 " Yes ; I said a ball. A representative ball. The Princeq<! 
 will take care of it ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska, surprised by such an unexpected resolution 
 wished to ask about details, but the Chamberlain, kissino- his 
 hand to her noisily, smiled indulgently and trotted off to his 
 apartments.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 THE Briihl Palace shone with streams of hght, throwing a 
 Winding glare on the darkness of Saski Square. For an 
 hour there passed by its portico endless rows of carriages, 
 coaches, and sledges, depositing on carpeted stairs people 
 T\Tapped up in furs, overcoats, shawls, and military mantles. 
 Sometimes from under a wrapper appeared for a moment the 
 hem of a shining rich dress ; sometimes from under an open 
 overcoat shone the star of an Order, arousing admiration among 
 the gathered crowd. Sometimes by the livery of coachmen and 
 footmen, by the horses, by the coat-of-arms on the coach, the 
 crowd woidd recognise the guests, and then the name would 
 pass from mouth to mouth, sometimes pronounced with respect, 
 sometimes Avith a sneering whisper, sometimes with ironical 
 laughter, or with an indifferent curve of the mouth. 
 
 The coming guests were more and more numerous, more and 
 more noisy ; the footmen hastened more and more to open the 
 doors of the carriages ; the Palace door opened more and more 
 widely. 
 
 In the cloak-room doAvnstairs the animation was increasing. 
 There, from under lai*ge mantles, were emerging rustling, shin- 
 ing frocks, silver and gold embroidered uniforms, and evening 
 dresses varied in colour. 
 
 From this cloak-room, after the last inspection of their dresses 
 in the mirrors of the vestibules, the guests mounted by stairs 
 covered witli scarlet cloth, at the top of which stood, smiling, 
 distributing hearty greetings, the host of the Palace, M. Talley- 
 rand de Perigord, Prince of Benevento. 
 
 Talleyrand, by means of this ball, succeeded in cutting the 
 Gordian knot — he set aside Poniatowski's hesitation and Duroc's 
 embarrassment. 
 
 84
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 85 
 
 The Emperor's wish was to make himself known to the wider 
 circles of Warsovian society, to give to his sojourn on the shores 
 of the Vistula a solemn character, and to astonish the neigh- 
 bours by his majestic splendour. After several receptions in the 
 Castle, which had the character of audiences, it was decided 
 that a ball should be given, but unexpected difficulties arose. 
 
 Napoleon was living in the Castle, but Prince Joseph Ponia- 
 towski lived near the Castle, in the palace called Blacha, and 
 therefore was considered almost as the host of the old residence 
 of Polish kings. Therefore the Emperor could not very well 
 assume the role of host, the more so that the Castle, according 
 to the diplomatic decision of the Cabinet, would give to the 
 ball a too important meaning. On his part, Prince Joseph 
 Poniatowski could not send out invitations to a ball at the place 
 Avhere the actual ruler was living. To add to that, it was diffi- 
 cult to find a neutral palace, for although Warsaw possessed a 
 great number of aristocratic residences, in which even crowned 
 heads were formerly received, when the French army entered 
 Poland those residences were occupied by generals, marshals, 
 and superior officials of the Imperial Coui-t ; and as the influx of 
 noblemen was enoniious, the existing hotels could not give 
 accommodation to everybody ; consequently those who could 
 tried to get at least a small room in the residences of their 
 friends and acquaintances. Therefore there was no place where 
 a great ball could be given. 
 
 The difficulty was settled by Talleyrand, who, with M. 
 Davoust, occupied the Briihl Palace, and who took on himself 
 the role of host ; and as he was the Emperor's prime minister, 
 the ball given by him had for some people the importance of an 
 official reception ; while it could be considered by others as a 
 simple social function, honoured by the Emperor's presence. 
 The society of Warsaw, then, did not think about the double 
 meaning of the ball, and it crowded the Briihl Palace for the 
 sake of not losing an opportunity of seeing Napoleon. 
 
 Everybody who could reach, even through a tenth person. 
 Prince Joseph Poniatowsksi, or some member of the temporary 
 Government, or a person who was in some contact with the general 
 staff, tried to obtain an invitation for that ball, emphasising his 
 social position and importance in order not to be forgotten.
 
 86 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Talleyrand was very liberal — a ball given by the minister did 
 not require such a choice selection as a Court ball ; therefore as 
 many invitations v^^ere sent as the size of the Palace would 
 allow. 
 
 Crowds of people were coming. 
 
 Talleyrand^ in red evening dress with gold embroideries^ 
 holding his lorgnon in one hand and a perfumed handkerchief 
 in the other^ bowedj smiled^ answered patronisingly all greet- 
 ings, which sometimes he could not understand, for they were 
 uttered in Polish, and almost every moment turned to a group 
 of young noblemen whom Prince Joseph Poniatowski had 
 placed in waiting to give him information and recall names to 
 his mind. 
 
 The Prince of Benevento was indefatigable. For an hour 
 he had bowed and welcomed the guests. But now higher 
 personages were arriving, and titles and historical names were 
 announced at every second. At last even that was over. 
 
 Already in the drawing-rooms were assembled the Princes 
 Borghese and Poniatowski, Murat, Davoust, Małachowski, Maret, 
 and all the families of the Potockis, Radziwils, Gutakowskis, 
 Wojczynskis, Sobolewskis, Lubienskis, Moszynskis, Krasinskis, 
 Tyszkiewiczs, and Ossolinskis. 
 
 The crowd of officers of the guard who stood at the entrance 
 of the ballroom to admire the Polish ladies, so famed for their 
 beauty, now began to grow thinner. 
 
 M. de Talleyrand looked with increasing uneasiness at the 
 entrance door, which now was very seldom opened. One of 
 the young men standing beside him dared to address him. 
 
 ^'It seems all the invites have now arrived. Will it not be 
 proper to send a courier to the Castle.-^" 
 
 Talleyrand answered : "Not yet ; we must wait." 
 
 The nobleman withdrew and began to whisper with his 
 comrades, while M. de Perigord leaned on a side rail and 
 became thoughtful, gazing unconsciously on the dark frescos of 
 the portico, on worn-away coats-of-arms and monograms, even 
 on the burning chandeliers, and inattentively caught the 
 servants' gossip. 
 
 M. de Perigord's thoughts were interrupted by the Duke of 
 Bassano.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 87 
 
 " Is the Emperor notified? " 
 
 Talleyrand shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 " But you must know that she has not yet arrived." 
 
 " And suppose she does not come at all ? " 
 
 " I have not yet a decisive answer ; one of the ladies went to 
 her." 
 
 " But it is ridiculous that we all should wait for a goose." 
 
 M. de Perigord smiled ironically. 
 
 " I cannot helj? that ; the Emperor commanded to let him 
 know only when she arrived, and should she choose to come 
 early he was to be informed at once." 
 
 " Childishness ! In that way she will be spoiled. I am sur- 
 prised that Duroc did not persuade him. It will attract atten- 
 tion. The Emperor will be hurt. Hardly is all over with 
 Eleonorę " 
 
 Talleyrand shook his fingers impatiently. 
 
 "You do not need to remind me of all that," he said im- 
 petuously, suddenly losing his phlegm. " Such affairs should 
 be treated through lackeys, and not made a show of, much less 
 should others be forced to take a part in tliem." 
 
 The Duke of Bassano looked strangely at M. de Perigord, 
 who hastened to smooth down this outburst. 
 
 " I care only about public opinion in Warsaw." 
 
 The diplomats looked at one another suspiciously and became 
 silent. 
 
 There was an embarrassing silence between them. They 
 hated each other, could not endure each other. Notwithstanding 
 that, they were obliged to communicate with each other, and 
 work together for hours and hours. 
 
 M. de Perigord, a former lordling, a nobleman, even a bishop, 
 striving after power, was able to put on the republican mask, 
 hating his power-giver and master more every day, but was not 
 able to bear the sight of new potentates growing up round him. 
 The other, until recently simple M. Maret, was now a duke, 
 giving soul and body to Napoleon, not possessing even a shadow 
 of Talleyrand's two-sidedness, following honest ways even in 
 diplomacy, putting personal merit above family traditions. He 
 could not bear those career-hunting noblemen, who were not 
 content in their proud attachment to the Bourbons, but who
 
 88 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 put on a Court di-ess in order to be present at the Emperor's 
 ball. It was the Duke of Bassano who whispered to Napoleon 
 his opinion about a certain portion of the French nobihty : " I 
 •wished to make them generals and marshals,, but they preferred 
 to be my lackeys." 
 
 Bassano numbered among such M. de Perigordj only he con- 
 sidered him to be more dangerous, and he could not bear his 
 triflmg remarks about the Emperor. Hence frequent quaiTels, 
 heard sometimes at the Emperor's door, continual fierce fights, 
 competition and hatred increasing every day. 
 
 After some time, the Duke of Bassano, thinking that it would 
 be better to say something, if only not to give the Polish noble- 
 men, who were helping Talleyrand at the ball, an opportunity 
 for gossip, said carelessly : " Is it Prince Poniatowski who will 
 accompany the Emperor while going round .'' " 
 
 " I do not know. Duroc will tell you." 
 
 " Certainly. But it would be proper to put forward Wybicki 
 here. The company is too heterogeneous — the Piince is not 
 popular with everybody." 
 
 " I do not know. What do you see in that Wybicki } I know 
 that you are friends, but such a thing should not be taken 
 into consideration if there is any question about tlie pubUe 
 good." 
 
 " You forget about the Emperor's liking for Wybicki ! " 
 
 "His Majesty is sometimes too good. Sometimes he gives 
 preference to people, following the first impulse of his heart, 
 wliich is not always justified." 
 
 "You must be talking from your oiwn experience. I cannot 
 contradict here." 
 
 Talleyrand understood the sting. 
 
 " Nor I, looking at you." 
 
 Bassano reddened, and was going to answer Talleyrand ; but 
 the latter, ha%-ing noticed a lady in the entrance door, bowed to 
 the Duke and went to meet her. 
 
 "What news do you bring? " asked he. 
 
 The lady leaned towards him, half closed her eyes, and said 
 earnestly : "She is coming." 
 
 " At last ! I do not know what to do about all this. Princess, 
 you understand."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 89 
 
 " And what I have undergone ! My brother was obhged to 
 use all his authority." 
 
 Talleyrand smiled ironically. The Princess threatened him 
 with her fan. 
 
 "You must not be malicious. I deserve gratitude ! " 
 
 Tallep'and took the Princess's hand and kissed it. 
 
 " Not thatj not that ! If I were ten years younger^ it would 
 suffice." 
 
 "So much the worse for me." 
 
 "Now I understand why they call you a Sultan." 
 
 " Do you believe ? " 
 
 " I believe^ for I feel hov>- you set a snare at once ! " Here 
 the Princess sighed so deeply that the powder fell from her 
 face ; then she added in a low voice : " Only launch her^ launch 
 her by all means." 
 
 "But " 
 
 " Do not excuse yourself Speak about her." 
 
 Talleyrand laughed heartily. 
 
 "Then you think she can be another Pompadour.'' How little 
 you know the Emperor ! " 
 
 " Yes, but . . ." 
 
 Talleyrand whispered : " You are looldng for subtlety of 
 sentiment,, for depth, for ideals ! Do you know whom he loves ? 
 Himself, and then . . . Have you seen at the porte cockere those 
 two guards? — he loves them also, but only when at his will they 
 die on the battlefield." 
 
 " How horrid ! " 
 
 "But unfortunately true." 
 
 " One would, however, expect something." 
 
 "Certainly." 
 
 "Therefore do not refuse to help her." 
 
 " H'ni — it depends. If she knows how to be clever, although 
 I must tell you that this is impossible in the wider meaning. 
 One cannot explain everything. He has fancies ; he hates re- 
 sistance. Then he does not care to preserve appearances." 
 
 M. de Perigord sighed. The Princess became sincerely 
 sorrowful. 
 
 " You frighten me ! Do not wonder that I am alarmed ; she 
 is a near relation of mine."
 
 90 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 "I understand/' answered Talleyrand. "Pray believe me, 
 that out of respect for you. Princess, I will do my best." 
 
 " I am infinitely obliged." 
 
 At this moment there was a movement among the servants in 
 the portico, and Pani Walewska, followed by her husband, 
 entered. Talleyrand put his lorgnon to his eyes and began to 
 look with the air of a connoisseur at Pani Walewska, observing 
 her eveiy movement, every fold of her trailing dress. 
 
 On her side, the Princess could hardly conceal her emotion. 
 
 " It is unpardonable ! What a caprice ! I begged, I be- 
 sought. So much the worse for her, so much the worse." 
 
 M. de Perigord did not have time to share the Princess's 
 indignation. 
 
 Pani WalcAvska and her husband greeted him. Talleyrand 
 mumbled some compliment, and offered his arm to the Chamber- 
 lain's wife, while Pan Walewski conducted the Princess. 
 
 They directed their steps to the dancing-hall. 
 
 The Princess moved her fan rapidly ; the Chamberlain 
 coughed, and with his left hand adjusted the great riband of 
 the Order. 
 
 Talleyrand exchanged with Pani Walev/ska a few short, 
 commonplace words. 
 
 All seemed to be moved, uncertain. 
 
 At the threshold of the dancing-hall the Princess v/hispered 
 with trembling voice to her brother, pointing at his wife walk- 
 ing in front of them : " How could you permit .'' " 
 
 The Chamberlain frowned so much that his wig moved, and 
 he answered with pained voice — 
 
 " In the last moment she refused. I could do nothing." 
 
 "But it is awful — in such a frock ! " 
 
 " Only to contradict. But for duty, I would have given up." 
 
 "But what Avill tlie people say .^ " burst out the Princess 
 Jabłonowska. 
 
 In answer to that exclamation, there came from the room 
 a long whisper. A strange, incomprehensible whisper, which 
 deprived even Talleyrand of his usual assurance, so much so 
 that he seemed to have the air of a victim accomplishing a most 
 painful duty, bending under the burden of righteous scorn of 
 hurt public opinion.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 91 
 
 In the crowded room the whispers increased. The uniforms 
 embroidered with gold and silver made way, variegated evening 
 dresses and frocks shining with diamonds drew aside — all eyes 
 turned on Pani Walewska. 
 
 This interest was spontaneous, for Pani Walewska appeared 
 as a contrast to everything in that shining and gorgeous ball, 
 which was constituted as a superb decoration for majesty, 
 a background for Bonaparte's might and power, an expression 
 of respect and standard of beauty. Pani Walewska dared to 
 challenge fashion. Court requirements, ideas of etiquette, the 
 advice of powerful Joubert, the Princess's hints, and her hus- 
 band's wishes. Pani Walewska went to the ball of the Prime 
 Minister, almost to the Emperor's ball, in a white tulle dress, 
 unadorned with any embroideries, lace, or precious stones ! 
 There was not one artificial flower in her luxuriant hair, nor one 
 bud on her bodice. Pani Walewska in such a frock with bent 
 head seemed to be a Cinderella, a chambermaid, dragged to 
 a drawing-room as a spectacle to the grand monde. 
 
 The whisper passed gradually into noisy talk : first shots of 
 malicious remarks fell, the ironical smiles passed even to the 
 most indulgent, when Talleyrand noticed the Prince of Berg 
 coming to him, and stopped in the centre of the room. 
 
 Murat approached them with constrained politeness. 
 
 "Ah, if I am not mistaken, it is Pani Walewska? Pray 
 introduce me." 
 
 M. de Perigord pronounced his title swiftly. 
 
 Murat bowed slightly, and began to look up and down the 
 Chamberlain's wife, speaking slowly. 
 
 "For some time I have -wished to meet you — I am very 
 glad If I am not mistaken . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska hfted her head, the blood flushed her pale 
 face. 
 
 Murat stopped in his sentence, looking with surprise at the 
 Chamberlain's wife. 
 
 His astonishment communicated itself to those around him. 
 
 As Pani Walewska now stood with lifted head, one could see 
 the depth of her dark, sapphire-hke eyes. The whiteness of 
 her bare shoulders competed with her snow-white dress ; from 
 every line of her classical features, every fold of her simple
 
 92 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 dress, came forth pride mingled -vvith simplicity ; she seemed a 
 goddess come down amongst mortals ; she looked Uke the 
 moniing star, shining brighter than the others, resembling a ray 
 of sunshine amongst the light of the lamps. 
 
 There were again whispei's — long — quiet. 
 
 A crowd of uniforms and evening dresses surrounded Pani 
 Walewska ; words of praise, admiration, rapture were heard 
 more and more. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Pani Walewska was able to answer a few 
 words to Murat, then, fired by the looks of the crowd, she 
 blushed, looking round for a place of escape from intruding 
 eyes. She seemed to say, I did not try to increase my beauty ; 
 I did not wish to attract your attention by my modest frock 
 and absence of diamonds ; I did not take even a flower. Then by 
 what are you attracted .-" why do you not pei'mit me to pass ? 
 
 M. de Perigord, who did not yet realise the change of im- 
 pression which had taken hold of his guests, and who remem- 
 bered only that he was conducting a lady dressed hke a countiy 
 girl, took advantage of Murat's silence to make his way through 
 the crowd of uniforms and evening dresses, and to lead Pani 
 Walewska to a sofa standing in a corner of the room. Then he 
 bowed and left her again under the tutelage of her husband 
 and Princess Jabłonowska. The latter, full of indignation from 
 offended fashion and wounded ambition, did not fail to tell Pani 
 Walewska how dissatisfied she was. 
 
 "Ma cftere I You did as you Avished, and look what hap- 
 pened. It is impossible to raise one's eyes ; it seems as if you 
 M'anted to show that you have not the slightest knowledge 
 about a Court reception. Excuse me, but it is painful." 
 
 Pani Walewska answered quietly : " I did not know that 
 I should be a cause of pain." 
 
 The Princess looked inquisitively at Pani Walewska's lovely 
 face, and added more kindly : "A person who has no experience 
 should listen to those who have. W^hat a pity ! A dark blue 
 dress would be so becoming to you." 
 
 Pani Walewska felt piqued involuntarily by coquettishness. 
 
 " Is it possible that my dress is so very unbecoming to me .'' " 
 
 " Undoubtedly, although you look charming to-night ; but 
 how much more lovely you could look ! As it is, it is uncertain.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 93 
 
 TallejTand was sour. I noticed it. It is doubtful if you will 
 be presented to the Emperor." 
 
 "Is that so?" exclaimed Pani Walewska, with evident con- 
 tentment in her voice. 
 
 The Princess looked severely at her sister-in-law. 
 
 " Marie ! at least remember Anastazy. Ah, Count Herceau ! 
 How do you do ? Marie, permit me " 
 
 "I have had the pleasure of meeting Madame Walewska/' 
 said the Count, bowing very elegantly, " and that is why I dare 
 to ask permission to introduce to you one of the young officers 
 of the guard, M. Bertrand." 
 
 " With pleasure," consented the Princess. 
 
 Herceau nodded to a lieutenant standing not far off. 
 
 Pani Walewska felt Bertrand's expressive look, heard the 
 clatter of spurs, answered the compliments mechanically which 
 were addi-essed to her, and she breathed freely, thinking that 
 she had got rid of a commonplace fomiality, when Bertrand was 
 followed by Montbrun, Montbrun by Duroc, Duroc by Milhaud, 
 Milhaud by Flahaut, and then unifomi after unifonn, evening 
 dress after evening dress, crowded round Pani Walewska. The 
 Chamberlain's wife could hardly conceal her confusion. With an 
 effort she listened to often exaggerated homage ; from time to 
 time she glanced at the crowd of men timidly, as if she would 
 ask them why they put her into that pillory. The Princess 
 during this homage found an opportunity to wliisper to her. 
 
 " Do you see ! And what would it be if Look at Guta- 
 
 kowska. Lubińska, and others, all have velvet dresses to-day. 
 Had you put on your diadem, you would have eclipsed even 
 Sobolewska. Poor Anastazy ! I tell you, one can see how much 
 he suffers." 
 
 At last the crowd of men became thinner round Pani 
 Walewska ; now the older and principal ones came with 
 greeting. 
 
 The Princess saved Pani Walewska the trouble of finding 
 answers which required to correspond with the rank and merits 
 of those Vv^ho were introduced. 
 
 Count Herceau and Lieutenant Bertrand alone did not give 
 up their position near Pani W^alewska, and tried by turns to 
 continue the conversation with her.
 
 94 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I was in despair/' said the Count in a puling voice. " I 
 nearly lost hope that you -would forgive me." 
 
 "\ do not understand your despair." 
 
 ''But I feel it!" rejoined Bertrand; ''and if I did not share 
 it, it is because I have the honour and pleasure of seeing you 
 for the first time." 
 
 "Better add, not only to see, but also to admire." 
 
 " You are too kind indeed." 
 
 " Rather, too avaricious in words," corrected Bertrand. 
 
 " My dear sir, do you not know that there are moments when 
 the excess of sentiment stops words .'' " 
 
 " Certainly I do know it ; and you, Madame ? " 
 
 " I think that the Count is only inclined to hasty compliments." 
 
 " Upon my honour, Madame," protested Herceau, " never 
 before was I as sincere as now." 
 
 " I must be maHcious." 
 
 "Pray listen to me : one of the most famous astrologers 
 read in the book of my life that a woman Avould bewitch me, 
 would dazzle me, would enrapture me, chain me to her chariot 
 for ever. I doubted until noAv about the trustworthiness of the 
 prediction, but to-day I am convinced." 
 
 Pani Walewska did not take the trouble to answer such an 
 exaergerated declaration. 
 
 Bertrand looked in an unfriendly manner at the Count, and 
 wishing to gain an advantage over him, said to Pani Walewska, 
 with a bow, "Can I have the honour of dancing a quadrille 
 with you ? " 
 
 " I do not know." 
 
 On Bertrand's expressive face a sincere disappointment 
 appeared. "It would be such a pleasure for me." 
 
 " My sister-in-law dances so little," the Princess suddenly 
 said, having caught the lieutenant's request, notwithstanding 
 that she was talking to someone else. 
 
 " But if . . ." insisted Bertrand. 
 
 The Princess answered, " I doubt very much." 
 
 Pani Walewska grew pale, and said to the confused Bertrand : 
 " Is it for a quadrille } I accept." 
 
 The lieutenant rang his spurs and looked triumphantly at the 
 disappointed Herceau.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 95 
 
 The Princess could hardly conceal her irritation. It was 
 evident that she wanted to scold Pani Walewska, who pretended 
 to be so much occupied in conversing with Bertrand, that the 
 Pi-incess was obliged to give up the attempt. 
 
 But it was too much for Princess Jabłonowska ; therefore, 
 having noticed her brother standing near, she nodded to him, 
 and when he came, she said with a soiTowful tone, " Mo7i cher ! 
 I am afraid for Marie ! Doctor Corvisart recommended her to 
 be very careful, and she proposes to dance a quadrille with 
 Lieutenant Bertrand." 
 
 Before the Chamberlain was able to answer, the lieutenant, 
 having heard his name, turned to him, and, putting out his 
 hand, introduced himself solemnly. 
 
 "Bertrand, aide-de-camp on the general staff of his Majesty." 
 
 " I am very pleased," mumbled the Chamberlain ; and when 
 Bertrand turned again to Pani Walewska, he understood the 
 meaning of the Princess's words, and rapped noisily on his 
 snuff-box. 
 
 The Princess whispered to him again. 
 
 " Do you understand ? A quadrille with a lieutenant ! " 
 
 "It is impossible. Prince Borghese has just asked." 
 
 "I assure you she promised." 
 
 "I shall not allow it." 
 
 " Naturally — you have the right ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain was ready to carry out his threat, when a 
 whisper ran through the room : "The Emperor ! the Emperor ! " 
 
 The hum of voices ceased ; all eyes were turned to the 
 entrance. After a moment, Talleyrand's sonorous voice re- 
 sounded — 
 
 " L'Empereur ! " 
 
 The band played a polonaise. All the assembly rose from 
 their seats. 
 
 Napoleon entered — stopped at the threshold as if to allow 
 himself to be looked at — then, preceded by Talleyrand, and 
 followed by Duroc, Wybicki, and Prince Poniatowski, walked 
 nervously towards the centre of the room. 
 
 The crowd of M. de Perigord's guests wavered, enlarged the 
 circle, and bent their heads breathless before the ruler. 
 
 Faces burned, eyes shone, hearts throbbed quicker than
 
 96 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 usual ; a shiver ran through those who had seen him ah-eady, 
 and through those who beheld hini for the first time. 
 
 Napoleon did not disappoint the highest expectations. Half- 
 opened lips, strained looks, the most stiffnecked bent before 
 iiim, appreciating that here also he was the man of whom the 
 soldiers of the Polish legions sang, the man depicted in 
 Dombrowski's and Wybicki's repoi-ts, the man characterised 
 in the news from Marengo, Austerlitz, and Jena, the man 
 Avhom they -wished him to be. The same uniform of Chasseurs 
 a cheval, green with red, the same white vest, with the tiny red 
 ribbon of the Legion cVhonneur, the same magnetically penetrat- 
 ing look, and the same gloomy fold between his eyebrows. 
 
 Napoleon stood in the centre of the dancing-hall, and turned 
 to the Grand Marshal of the Court. 
 
 Duroc understood the meaning of that movement, for he 
 bent a little before the Emperor, and whispered : " To the 
 left, under the mirror — in a white dress." 
 
 After a little. Napoleon turned his head in the direction 
 indicated by Duroc, his glance pierced the crowds of women 
 and men, passed over several faces, and stopped where Pani 
 Walewska stood leaning on Bertrand' s arm. 
 
 The presentation began. 
 
 Wybicki, Poniatowski, and TallejTand stood behind the 
 Emperor in order to help him to recognise persons and talk 
 pleasantly to them. 
 
 "Małachowski, the chaii'man of the Diet," spoke Wybicki, 
 behind the Emperor. 
 
 " He was not well," added Talleyrand, from the other side. 
 
 Napoleon hardly looked at the aged man, and said : " Ah ! 
 I am glad. How is your wife .'' " 
 
 Małachowski shivered slightly, failing to understand what 
 was the meaning of the inquii'y about his wife, who had died 
 long before ; but ere he could say a Avord, Wybicki had already 
 presented another dignitaiy. 
 
 "Thomas Ostrowski ! " 
 
 "A member of the temporary Government; he works very 
 hard," added Poniatowski hurriedly. 
 
 " I hope you are enjoying yourself, for the Carnival is very 
 brilliant," said the Emperor in conclusion, to Ostrowski.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 97 
 
 Those who stood near could hardly conceal their astonish- 
 ment. Talleyrand covered his mouth with a handkerchief, 
 Poniatowski bit his lips, Wybicki grew red. Ostrowski bent his 
 grey head and toyed slightly with his Orders. Duroc again 
 whispered something into the Emperor's ear. Napoleon frowned 
 severely, but from that moment he followed the whispered 
 indications better. 
 
 When the Empei'or passed from the men to the women his 
 distraction returned, and it bordered sometimes on imperti- 
 nence. 
 
 The old Princess Ossolińska learned from the Emperor that 
 grey was becoming to her ; young and beautiful Countess 
 Thomas Lubieńska was asked when her son entered the army ; 
 stout Pani Wojczynska had a comphment that she must dance 
 well ; fair-hau-ed Pani Sobolewska was told that only dark-haired 
 women could claim to be beautiful ; the Princess Dominik 
 Radziwil, powdered according to old fashion, had the honour of 
 hearing fi-om the imperial mouth that her complexion was very 
 fresh. 
 
 Wybicki perspired. Poniatowski Avas red, Talleyrand made 
 comical faces. In the meantime, enormities said by Napoleon 
 were abundantly distributed to the right and left. 
 
 The Emperor did not pay any attention to whispered informa- 
 tion, to pronounced names ; he walked quicker and quicker, 
 passed some ladies unceremoniously, and approached the most 
 remote corner of the room where stood the Countess Alexandre 
 Potocka and Pani Walewska. 
 
 Napoleon's eveiy movement, his every word, signified that he 
 wished to finish the tedious ceremony as soon as possible ; that 
 he did not care to enter into society requirements, that he came 
 here to conmiand, and not to follow forms and customs. 
 
 After having said some more words, which almost paralysed 
 the curtsejdng ladies, the Emperor stopped before the Countess 
 Alexandre Potocka, who, dressed in velvet and shining with 
 diamonds, was famous for her beauty under her maiden name of 
 Anetka Tyszkiewicz. 
 
 "You will dance the quadrille with me.''" said Napoleon 
 Bonaparte drily, looking constantly in the direction where Pani 
 Walewska stood.
 
 98 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Anetka raised her dark expressive eyes slowly, and said with 
 a charming smile : "Sire, I am very grateful for the honour." 
 
 At the sound of the Countess Potocka's voice. Napoleon only 
 now turned to her, glanced at her elegant figure full of un- 
 deniable charm. 
 
 "You are very interesting." 
 
 "Sire!" 
 
 "You are able to make an impression." 
 
 " Sire, where you stop . , ." 
 
 " Looking at you, one must believe that the Polish ladies are 
 beautiful. Yes ! here one can be captured ! " 
 
 "Sire," said the Countess Potocka without hesitation, "it is 
 your destiny to be victorious." 
 
 Napoleon made a slight grimace, and asked abruptly : " How 
 are your children.''" and not v/aiting for an answer, began to 
 talk with Wybicki. 
 
 During that conversation, unfortunate for the Countess 
 Potocka, Duroc left the Emperor and went to Pani Walewska. 
 
 " May I present my respects to you ?" 
 
 " Ah, it is you ! " said Pani Walewska, blushing. 
 
 " I do not know how to express my gi-atitude for your coming." 
 
 Lieutenant Bertrand, standing beside Pani Walewska, re- 
 treated respectfully. 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska and the Chamberlain drew nearer, 
 trying to catch Duroc's look in order to greet him, but he did 
 not cease talking to Pani Walewska. 
 
 "W^e considered it our duty. M. de Perigord, Prince of 
 Lenevento, was kind enough " 
 
 " He only fulfilled the command ! You cannot doubt that 
 some one else wished to see you here." 
 
 " I do not know— I do not understand." 
 
 "You shall have an opportunity to convince yourself. Can 
 I ask you for the honour of dancing a quadrille with you.-"" 
 
 " I am very much obliged, and sorry. I have promised it to 
 Lieutenant Bertrand." 
 
 Duroc turned to the officer and smiled cunningly. 
 
 " Ah ! if it is so, then permit me to be first after Lieutenant 
 Bertrand." 
 
 " Certainly ! " answered Pani Walewska, not trying to conceal
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 99 
 
 her joy that she had escaped so easily from dancing with Duroc^ 
 and, what was more important, from having to hsten to his 
 irritating insinuations. 
 
 Duroc now turned to the Princess and the Chamberlain, and 
 said a few polite words to them. 
 
 The Princess, who was moved by Duroc's conversation with 
 her sister-in-law, deemed it her duty to smooth down the 
 refusal to dance. 
 
 " We are so sorry ! But it is done. Marie, naturally, not- 
 withstanding her willingness, could not AvithdraAV the promise 
 given to M. Bertrand." 
 
 The Marshal smiled ironically. 
 
 "A tardy applicant. I was favoured too much. • . I have the 
 second place." 
 
 " Do you know Lieutenant Bertrand } " 
 
 "Yes, he is a very able officer; he has a splendid future 
 before him." 
 
 "One word," said the Chamberlain, who had attempted 
 several times to take part in the conversation. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Is the presentation finished ? " 
 
 Duroc looked in the direction where Napoleon was talking 
 with Wybicki. 
 
 "I think so. His Majesty is tired, for it is tiring." 
 
 " Certainly, but . . . my wife had not the honour to be pre- 
 sented. She was not able to go to the Castle the other day." 
 
 Duroc laughed involuntarily, but he refrained immediately, 
 and said with sincere compassion — 
 
 " What a pity ! Perhaps there will still be an opportunity. 
 I shall remember it. It is justly due to you. It seems that the 
 Emperor did not talk with you to-day." 
 
 "I kept aside." 
 
 "Notwithstanding, his Majesty remembers you well." 
 
 Duroc withdrew adroitly and disappeared amongst the uni- 
 forms. 
 
 The Chamberlain looked reproachfully at his wife, and said— 
 
 "A nice position! He is evidently hurt! At such a ball to 
 grant a dance to a lieutenant ! What a success ! " 
 
 " The Emperor is dancing with Anetka ! " said Princess
 
 100 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Jabłonowska^ who had already succeeded in catching the 
 whisper circulating the room. 
 
 "Is it possible ? " said the Chamberlain doubtfully. 
 
 "It is certain; Potocki knows how to push himself. His 
 father is already with Wybicki." 
 
 The Chamberlain impatiently rapped on his new imperial 
 snuff-box. 
 
 " Yes, yes, everybody l;ielps him ; his son Alexandre, daughter- 
 in-law, and wife." 
 
 "One may sit down," was whispered through the room. 
 
 Pani Walewska, taking advantage of the confusion produced 
 by the people looking for seats, went quickly to her place under 
 the mirror in order to avoid her husband's further complaints 
 and the Princess's reproaches. Here on the sofa, occupied by 
 several ladies, access was more difficult, and the conversation 
 was general. 
 
 The Chamberlain, seeing this manoeuvre, set his teeth ; the 
 Princess moved her fan vehemently, and was obliged to follow 
 Pani Walewska's example, and having found as her neighbour the 
 Countess Moszyńska, began to talk with her. 
 
 The centre of the ballroom became less crowded, groups of 
 uniforms and evening dresses drew aside, permitting all to look 
 at what was going on. 
 
 The sight was unusual, indeed, even for those who showed 
 sour faces to their king, looked at his Majesty with proudly 
 uplifted heads and uttered haughty words. 
 
 In the centre of the room Napoleon stood exchanging short 
 words with Wybicki. Behind the Emperor, Prince Joseph 
 Poniatowski with Murat seemed to wait for a word from the 
 Emperor. 
 
 Bonaparte appeared not to see them. . . . Suddenly Talley- 
 rand came from the other room of the palace and went straight 
 to the Emperor, carrying a glass of lemonade on a golden tray. 
 Talleyrand, feeling that everybody was looking at him, drooped 
 his head and set his lips tight. 
 
 He stopped near Napoleon and extended his arm with the 
 tray, but the Emperor did not seem to notice him. 
 
 A long, trying moment passed. At last Napoleon turned 
 negligently towards Talleyrand.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 101 
 
 " Ah ! what is it ? Lemonade ? I do not need it." 
 
 The minister bowed respectfully, and went away with the 
 tray. This scene gave material for whispers and comment. 
 
 " Prime Minister ! Such a dignitary ! " wondered the Poles. 
 
 "Service, etiquette !" explained marshals and generals. 
 
 " The part of a lackey is very becoming to him," murmured 
 the republicans, clad in imperial unifoims. 
 
 " How gene he must feel," said the \«omen compassionately. 
 
 "He could not do the same with us," whispered Pohsh 
 noblemen. 
 
 Pani Walewska was so much surprised by this scene that she 
 bent towards the Princess, and said : '' I could not imagine that 
 M. de Perigord . , ." 
 
 "A person who does not know the Court wonders!" answered 
 the Princess sourly. 
 
 The Chamberlain, who was again standing behind the sofa, 
 deemed it proper to smile indulgently. 
 
 " Court etiquette surprises ignorant people ! Pfi ! that is 
 nothing! To the late king I handed not a tray, but bumpers." 
 
 " But he is a minister ! " 
 
 "Not better than a chamberlain." 
 
 " In Vienna, the etiquette is still more severe," remarked the 
 Princess. 
 
 Pani Walewska wished to answer that such etiquette was 
 bordering on humiliation, when the first fanfare, announcing 
 the quadrille, sounded. She heard behind her the clink of 
 Lieutenant Bertrand's spurs. She looked at him, and said : " It 
 is only the first fanfare .'' " 
 
 " Yes, Madame," answered Bertrand, with a trembhng voice, 
 " I have to ask your forgiveness that I dared to trouble you." 
 
 Bertrand stopped suddenly. Pani WalcAvska made a move- 
 ment. "Excuse me, but I do not understand." 
 
 " Never before was my uniform such a burden to me as it is 
 just now." 
 
 « But " 
 
 " I dared to ask you for a quadrille, having forgotten that 
 the duties of my service might not grant me even an hour of 
 pleasure. I " 
 
 " What, then } "
 
 102 NAPOLEON"S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I have been ordered to go at once to Silesia to join Marshal 
 Mortier's amiy corps. In a quarter of an hour I shall be on 
 horseback. There remains nothing for me but to beg of you 
 to excuse me." 
 
 "I pity you heartily." 
 
 " Thank you for your kind words." 
 
 " It is cold and stormy." 
 
 " Duty, Madame, but it is a cruel one just now. I dreamed 
 about something else a while ago." 
 
 The heutenant saluted, Pani Walewska put out her little 
 hand to him s}anpathisii)gly. Bertrand kissed it respectfully, 
 clanked his spurs, and went out. 
 
 The Princess smiled with satisfaction ; the Chamberlain rapped 
 on his snuff-box joyously ; Pani Walewska became thoughtful. 
 She pitied Bertrand, such an agreeable young man ; he had 
 drawn Duroc away from her. 
 
 "Well, I hinted to you. Now you will be obliged to sit 
 during the dance, for it is too late ; also it would not be proper 
 for me to seek a partner for you," said the Chamberlain. 
 
 "Better not to dance than have such an honour," said the 
 Princess. 
 
 " I am not of your opinion ; I liked Lieutenant Bertrand." 
 
 " Chere Marie ! he would be a very proper partner in the 
 country house of a petty nobleman." 
 
 " What do you say. Princess ? " asked Countess Moszyńska. 
 
 "Well, Marie, apres une vialadie, must be very careful. She 
 cannot dance even a quadrille." 
 
 " Oh ! La pauvrc, c' est i rop cnnuyant ! " 
 
 " Parfaitetnent — et sitrtout to refuse the Grand Marshal of the 
 Court." 
 
 " The Pi-ince of Friul .> " 
 
 "Mais Old !" 
 
 Countess Moszyńska doubted. 
 
 " What a pity ! " 
 
 The second fanfare was now heard. The couples began to 
 foiTn in fours, the scats round the ballroom grew empty. 
 
 The Chamberlain was in a rage, seeing that Murat stood 
 beside Princess Lubomirska, Prince Borghese beside the 
 Countess Lubieńska, the Duke of Bassano was conducting
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 103 
 
 Krasińska^ Davoust walked aAvkwardly with Pani Gutakowska, 
 Talleyrand kept company with Pani Sobolewska, Prince Joseph 
 Poniatowski offered his arai to Princess Radziwil, even daughters 
 and wives of petty noblemen were going to dance with generals 
 and other superior officers. 
 
 The orchestra played the third fanfare ; Napoleon moved 
 slowly, and extended his arm to the Countess Alexandre 
 Potocka. 
 
 Darkness covered the Chamberlain's eyes. 
 
 "The Potockis push themselves forward/' said the Princess. 
 
 "Anetka with the Emperor!" rejoined the Countess 
 Moszyńska. 
 
 " But who is the Emperor's vis-a-vis ? " 
 
 " In such a crowd, I suppose, as it happens — for . . .'* 
 
 The Princess had no time to finish her sentence, for suddenly 
 Duroc appeared before Pani Walewska, who became confused, 
 while the Princess, the Chamberlain, and Countess Moszyńska 
 surrounded her. 
 
 "I came to claim the promise of the second chance. " 
 
 Pani Walewska I'ose ; Duroc offered her his arm, and con- 
 ducted her to the centre of the ballroom, where, round the 
 Emperor, according to Talleyrand's indication, the couples bear- 
 ing the most distinguished names were gathered. 
 
 " I can hardly express," said Duroc, conducting Pani 
 Walewska, " how happy I am to be able to take the lieutenant's 
 place." 
 
 " I pitied him heartily." 
 
 " It is his fault." 
 
 " I do not understand," said Pani Walewska, surpi-ised at the 
 Marshal's strange intonation of his words. 
 
 Duroc smiled imperceptibly. 
 
 "The duties of the ordnance officers in the Imperial general 
 staff are merciless." 
 
 Pani Walewska could not get over her uneasiness, and asked 
 Duroc : " With whom are we going to dance ? " 
 
 " Have you any doubts ? " 
 
 " I do not know." 
 
 "Do you think that you will be peraiitted to dance with 
 any one else ! Excuse me ! The Master of the Ceremonies,
 
 104 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 M. de Segur, makes a sign ! Pray be so kind — a little to the 
 left." 
 
 "But the Emperor is going to dance tlitre." 
 
 "Precisely, we are his vis-A-vis." 
 
 The music of a quadrille sounded. Napoleon, with the 
 Countess Alexandre Potocka, came slowly opposite Duroc and 
 Pani Walewska. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife could hardly hear the time of the 
 music ; she made blunders in the figures, did not hear the 
 elegant conversation with which Duroc tried to entertain her, 
 did not notice looks of astonishment directed towai'ds her by 
 other couples. 
 
 Pani Walewska, although she carried her head high, although 
 her wide-opened eyes showed their mysterious depth, seemed 
 to be a marble figure. In her delicately chiselled face there 
 was not one drop of blood ; her half-opened lips seemed to be 
 two petals of a white rose ; she could not breathe. 
 
 Sometimes there passed before her a green uniforai, the red 
 riband of the Legion of Honour ; but the sounds of the orchestra, 
 and M. de Segur's solemn announcing of figures, Duroc's words, 
 the gliding of feet, the clatter of spurs, and noise of conversa- 
 tion mingled in one horrible whirlpool. 
 
 To Pani Walewska thoughts came, the remembrance of the 
 modest rooms of her parents' residence, her father's stern face, 
 Paul's never-forgotten departure to the Polish Legion, the first 
 meeting with Gorayski, and then picture after picture till 
 Lieutenant Bertrand's departure. 
 
 Pani Walewska could not understand herself the reason for 
 the stupor which oppressed her. She tried to answer Duroc ; 
 she even moved her lips ; she saw that the Marshal bent quickly 
 towards her, but the words that were coming changed into an 
 imperceptible whisper. Suddenly Pani Walewska felt that 
 Duroc conducted her forward, and in the meanwhile she felt a 
 long, nervous, strong, merciless pressure of a hand. Pani 
 Walewska concentrated her faculties. Napoleon stood in front 
 of her. 
 
 ^' Malheureuse viciime ! " 
 
 " Sire," stammered poor Pani Walewska in a whisper. 
 
 " Je nai vit que voiis."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 105 
 
 The blood rushed to her head ; Bonaparte's look burned her, 
 consumed her. The Emperor made a mistake in the figure. 
 Duroc again seized Pani Walewska's hand. 
 
 "How do you Hke my dancing?" Napoleon asked the 
 Countess Potocka suddenly, to whom he had not said a word 
 until now. 
 
 " Sire ! for a great man you dance wonderfully well." 
 
 " But not for a partner such as you are." 
 
 "Sire, on the contrary." 
 
 " Who is that lady dancing opposite .'' " The Countess 
 Potocka smiled mahciously. 
 
 Napoleon, seeing that she guessed his thoughts, added 
 quickly : " How do you like her ? " 
 
 " Very much, were it not for her dress." 
 
 " What have you to say against it .'' " 
 
 " Ah ! Sire ! It is too simple ; but it is not her fault. She 
 came from a poor family, and her husband is not a spendthrift." 
 
 Bonaparte bit his lips. " But you have a whole jeweller's 
 shop on you." 
 
 Anetka Tyszkiewicz grew confused ; her usual boldness and 
 wit disappeared ; the dart, instead of piercing her victim, was 
 turned against herself. " These are my family jewels, Sire." 
 
 " Your ancestors would have done better to spend money for 
 keeping an army." 
 
 " In such a solemn moment ! . . ." 
 
 " You could get along without such solemnity." 
 
 Anetka wished to answer, but Napoleon did not permit her 
 to say another word ; he turned and looked imperatively at M. 
 de Segur. The Master of the Ceremonies understood that look ; 
 the orchestra played a march, and the quadrille was ended. 
 
 Napoleon nodded slightly to the Countess Potocka, and sat 
 down in an amichair standing near. A crowd of gorgeous uni- 
 forms surrounded him in the twinkling of an eye. 
 
 Talleyrand rushed again with a glass of lemonade. 
 
 The Emperor smiled to him, and said kindly : " Ah ! lemonade. 
 Yes ; with pleasure. Beautiful ball ! Where is Berthier ? " 
 
 " I am here. Sire ! " responded the Marshal. 
 
 " You quaiTclled again with Davoust } " 
 
 "Sire!"
 
 106 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Do not deny it — I saw it. You behave like schoolboys ! 
 Well, -which of the ladies present do you find the most 
 beautiful ? " 
 
 Berthier smiled. "Sire, the answer is not difficult. The 
 Princess Luboniirska." 
 
 The Emperor made a grimace. 
 
 " I suppose because she reminds you of Madame ^Valcwska .'' " 
 
 Berthier was confused. " Yes, certainly. Sire ; that is what 
 I meant ! " said Berthier, much surprised ; and having seized 
 the opportunity when the Emperor was talking to the Duke of 
 Bassano, he disappeared amongst the crowd of evening dresses 
 and uniforais, asking about Pani Walewska in order to assure 
 her of his admiration. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Napoleon's eyes wandered inquisitively 
 round the ballroom, resting on the spot where Pani Walewska, 
 surrounded by numerous uniforms, answered as best she could 
 the enthusiastic compliments of General Montbrun and the 
 Master of the Horse, Colonel Durosnel. 
 
 A vertical fold appeared between Bonaparte's eyebrows. 
 
 " Duroc ! Wliere is Duroc ? " 
 
 The Prince of Friul stood erect. The Emperor rapped the 
 arm of the chair. Duroc bent. 
 
 " Montbrun to Danzig, under Lefebvi-e's command ; Durosnel 
 shall return to Paris. At once ! " 
 
 Duroc saluted. The commander crossed the ballroom. 
 Montbrun and Durosnel disappeared from the circle of Pani 
 Walewska's admirers, to the great pleasure of Count Herceau, 
 who, notwithstanding trouble and confusion among the officers, 
 drew near Pani Walewska, and with all the freedom of a courtier 
 who had spent half his life at Versailles, began to entertain her 
 with his conversation. 
 
 " How do you like the ball ? " 
 
 "Very much ; it is very interesting." 
 
 " Undoubtedly. An interesting hal masqite — Jacobins play- 
 ing court ! You understand how much we suffer from that 
 parody. I do not say anything against the Emperor, but those 
 who surround him. One could count the true noblemen on ten 
 fingers." 
 
 " 1 understand your dislike as an emigrant, and the Bourbons'
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 107 
 
 partisan. You must^ however^ avow that France never has been 
 as mighty as she is now." 
 
 "Yes; but those " 
 
 " It is they that have made her so great. Do you not think so .'' " 
 
 "1\ At this moment I only know that I love. I am so in- 
 toxicated that^ although I know it is wrongs I do not think of 
 giving up." 
 
 Count Herceau half closed his eyesj began to turn one finger 
 round the others ; his large mouth smiled^ and he waited for an 
 answer. 
 
 At that moment there appeared before the Count Herceau 
 the tall figure of the Chamberlain d'Hedouville. 
 
 " MadamCj will you excuse me ? Count, the Prince of Bene- 
 vento begs a few minutes' conversation with you." 
 
 Herceau hastened to answer : " I am at M. de Perigord's 
 service." 
 
 M. d'Hedouville was not satisfied with this answer. He was 
 shocked by the tone of the reply, which sounded like the 
 Count's independence, for he said — 
 
 "The Prince wdshes to see you at once on a matter of im- 
 portance." 
 
 Herceau moved slowly. 
 
 "Madame, pray excuse me. M. d'Hedouville, you have not 
 any idea how much I sacrifice just now to M. de Perigord." 
 
 The Count bowed to Pani Walewska in a courtly way, and 
 followed M. d'Hedouville, wondering inwardly at the unexpected 
 invitation. 
 
 When the Count was going to leave the ballroom, it seemed 
 to him that he noticed the Prince of Benevento, and therefore 
 he stopped. 
 
 "It seems that M. de Perigord is here." 
 
 " It may be ; but he asked you to be kind enough to come to 
 his study. He ynW. come presently." 
 
 Herceau looked hesitatingly at M. d'Hedouville. 
 
 "Are you sure ?" 
 
 "Certainly. Be so kind ! " said M. d'Hedouville persistently. 
 
 Herceau sighed and followed, not a little astonished at the 
 miexpected affair which Talleyrand wished to communicate to 
 him.
 
 108 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 In the Count's mind there rose a crowd of suppositions. 
 
 Talleyrand needed him. . . . Talleja-and wished to win 
 him. . . . Talleyi'and must have heard of the Herceaus. He 
 needed men with good names, familiar with the local conditions 
 of the country. 
 
 The Count felt so exalted by the mission undoubtedly ex- 
 pected of him that he said to M. d'Hedouville indulgently — 
 
 " Ah, that de Perigord ! What a bother I have with that 
 de Perigord ! It is always thus with him." 
 
 M. d'Hedouville looked askance at Herceau. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " Well, always some affairs, always urgent business. But . . . 
 where are we going to .'' " 
 
 "To that room to the left." 
 
 "Ah, yes; it is true," affirmed Herceau, wishing M. 
 d'Hedouville to understand that it was not the first time he 
 had been there. 
 
 M. d'Hedouville did not answer, but conducted Herceau to a 
 small, square room, in which two lieutenants of the guard were 
 sitting in full uniform. They rose quickly at the sight of 
 M. d'Hedouville, who greeted them kindly, and introduced 
 them to Herceau. 
 
 " M. Rousseau. M. de la Rochefoucauld." 
 
 " Delighted ! " 
 
 " Permit me to leave you. Count. The Pi-ince of Benevonto 
 will be here presently." 
 
 Before Count Herceau could answer, M. d'Hedouville, having 
 said a few words to Lieutenant Rousseau, disappeared. 
 
 Count Herceau began to walk across the room, not paying 
 any attention to the two officers whispering aside. 
 
 The room in which they asked Count Herceau to wait 
 appeared to him rather peculiar for the waiting-room of a 
 Prime Minister, because, besides a fireplace, a table, a sofa, and 
 a couple of chairs, there was no other furniture. 
 
 Count Herceau, however, recollected that the Prime Minister 
 was only here accidentally and for a short time, and then he 
 again tried to guess the reason which caused M. de Perigord to 
 ask him so suddenly for an interview. 
 
 In the meanwhile, time was passing, and Count Herceau
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 109 
 
 »egan to look impatiently at his bomb-like watch, and to walk 
 Qore and more quickly up and down the room ; finally he 
 topped abruptly, looked at the officers, and said — 
 
 " M. Perigord does not come ! " 
 
 "^The Prince is occupied ! " answered Rousseau phlegmatically. 
 
 "Bah! . . . His Majesty has not left yet," added de la 
 Rochefoucauld. 
 
 Herceau opened his eyes wide. 
 
 " H'm ! . . . Yes, but he was coming." 
 
 "Then he will come." 
 
 " Perhaps you would like something to drink or to eat ; we 
 lave everything at your disposition." 
 
 '^No, thank you, it is too late." 
 
 " It is true." 
 
 " Perhaps M. de Perigord will not come ? " 
 
 " There is no doubt that he will." 
 
 " But I cannot wait any longer ; pray, tell him that I waited, 
 iut I shall see him in the ballroom. Good-bye." 
 
 The officers looked at each other significantly, and barred 
 ;he way. 
 
 " Count, you must excuse " 
 
 "Count, I am sure you will not refuse." 
 
 " The Prince begged of you to be kind enough to wait." 
 
 "One moment more. The Prince will be so sorry." 
 
 Herceau, after a minute's hesitation, gave in. The officers 
 ;ried to surpass each other in politeness, asking him again to 
 lave something to drink. 
 
 The Count thanked them, but could hardly master his irrita- 
 ;ion. Finally, in order to pass the time, he began to chat with 
 ;he officers. 
 
 "What are you doing here ? " 
 
 " Oh, nothing ! On duty. . . ." 
 
 " Such is our luck ! The day of the ball." 
 
 "All our comrades are there ! " 
 
 " And such an opportunity happens very seldom. ..." 
 
 " Yes, but you must ? " 
 
 " Yes, twenty-four hours in full uniform." 
 
 "Sometimes there is nothing to do, and sometimes courier 
 ifter courier comes in. You will see, as soon as the Emperor
 
 110 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 returns, at least for two liours the door will not close. . . • 
 Sometimes the Emperor works till daybreak. . . ." 
 
 " Yes, so I have heard. And this room? What is it used for?" 
 
 " This room ? It is for the orderly officers ; it communicates 
 by a corridor on the riglit with the office, and to the left are 
 stairs conducting to the guard-rooms." 
 
 This news was disagreeable to Count Herceau ; they made 
 him wait in a room destined for service. 
 
 He niade a movement. " I beg to thank you for your com- 
 pany, but I cannot wait any longer. Good-bye." 
 
 Rochefoucauld bowed elegantly. 
 
 " You will not deprive us of the pleasure . . ." 
 
 "I do not understand ..." 
 
 " You will be kind enough to stay." 
 
 " No, I must postpone the pleasure of seeing M. de Perigord." 
 
 "The Prince wished to-day . . ." 
 
 " I shall see him in the ballroom ! Good-bye ! " 
 
 Herceau turned to the door, but Lieutenant Rousseau barred 
 it, and said emphatically : " You will be kind enough to stay 
 with us." 
 
 " I would do it v/ith pleasure, but I must return to the ball." 
 
 " It will end at any moment." 
 
 " So much more reason . . ." 
 
 "It is of no consequence . . " 
 
 "That concerns me. . . Permit me ! " 
 
 Rousseau did not budge. " You will remain with us." 
 
 "What?" stammered Herceau, who only now noticed the 
 lieutenant's determined tone. 
 
 " You will stay here," said Rochefoucauld. " Pray, be seated." 
 
 " I will not stay ! " burst out Herceau. 
 
 " In that case we shall be obliged to use force." 
 
 " What ! Then it is violence ? " 
 
 " No. Only when you refuse our request." 
 
 Herceau sat on the sofa, and put his perfumed handkerchief 
 to his nose. He could not doubt but that he was caught and 
 imprisoned. 
 
 After a short space he recovered his self-possession, and said : 
 " It must be a mistake." 
 
 " Probably."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 111 
 
 " Then I do not understand the reason. ... I must be going 
 to the ball. I cannot refuse myself such a pleasure. I am a 
 Frenchman, as you are ! Upon my honour ! . . . Do not deprive 
 me of the pleasure of seeing the Emperor." 
 
 Rousseau smiled ironically. 
 
 '' Is it true that you . . . are so anxious ? " 
 
 " Upon my word ! " 
 
 " I was told that as an emigrant you were a faithful adherent 
 of the Bourbons." 
 
 ''I? I ? What an idea ! I left the country because the 
 storm was too violent . . . for the sake of peace. But as for 
 the Bourbons ! " 
 
 " But it was said so," rejoined la Rochefoucauld, winking at 
 Rousseau. 
 
 " Gossip ! Upon my honour ! gossip ! 1 1 The Emperor has 
 but few such admirers . . . for I say nothing ! I keep aside, 
 admire and say nothing ! " 
 
 "That is true ! " affirmed the officers. 
 
 Herceau looked uneasily towards the door, and tried to 
 parley. 
 
 "Evidently a mistake. ... I was talking with Prince 
 Borghese, when Chamberlain d'Hedouville said to me that 
 M. de Perigord ... I mean the Prince of Benevento. There- 
 fore, naturally . . . He was coming here ... I was waiting. 
 . . . But now, I do not understand." 
 
 " But it is so clear," said Rousseau. " You must wait still." 
 
 " But you said yourself that pi-obably the Prince of Benevento 
 is busy." 
 
 "There is no doubt about it." 
 
 "Then ..." 
 
 " You stay mth us." 
 
 " But I cannot. I will not ! " 
 
 " That does not change the situation." 
 
 " Then you wish to commit violence .'' " 
 
 " Not at all, only v/e will take the liberty to stop you." 
 
 " Even by force ? " 
 
 "You are too well-bred to force us to do that." 
 
 Herceau dropped his head, and began to turn one of his 
 fingers round the other.
 
 112 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 When this happened, Pani Walewska, left to herself, took 
 advantage of the groups of people chatting together to nod to 
 her husband, and ask him to give her his arm. 
 
 The Chamberlain gallantly did as he was asked. 
 
 "What do jou wish, my dear.^" 
 
 "I wish to go to a side drawing-room." 
 
 "But is it proper .> You were not introduced to His Majesty. 
 Pei-haps there will be a chance . . ." 
 
 ''But permit me ..." 
 
 " If you wish absolutely. . . . Pray ! . . . You have no ex- 
 perience. How lucky it was about the quadrille. Princess 
 Radziwil congratulated me a while ago. General astonishment. 
 It -vvlll be still greater ! Still greater ! " 
 
 Pani WalcAvska did not listen to her husband's words, wishing 
 to avoid as soon as possible the eyes which were persecut- 
 ing her. 
 
 In the doonvay leading to a side room. Pan and Pani 
 Walewski met the Countess Alexandre Potocka Avith M. Flahaut 
 and a young officer, Prince Ornano. 
 
 " What good luck ! " exclaimed the Countess Potocka. " We 
 were just talking about you, dear. Allow me. . , . Prince 
 Ornano." 
 
 Pani Walewska had hardly time to answer Prince Ornano's 
 bow, when Countess Potocka pulled her aside, laughing. 
 
 "Pray excuse me. . . . We women always have some secrets! 
 My dearest! I had not a moment during the quadrille. I 
 Avanted so much to see you ! You were unwell ? " 
 
 " Yes, a little." 
 
 "0, mon Dieu!" prattled on Anetka Tyszkiewicz continuously 
 " But you are looking charming. I am so glad. What a lovely 
 fi-ock you have ! I would only make one fold . . . here 
 from the shoulders. I do admire you. Classical idea ! Every- 
 body does not admire it. L'Empereitr ! Did you notice } He 
 simply emban-assed me. He is accustomed to easy victories ! I 
 made him understand. Ah ! your dress instated him ! I could 
 hardly explain to him. ... In matters of the beautiful he is 
 very simple. Let me kiss you ! Is it true that he gave you 
 a rendezvous in Jabłonna.? No! I thought so. They gossip. 
 They will say anything. Have you heard about Lubomirska?
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 113 
 
 We must return to the gentlemen. I was talking about you, 
 M. Flahaut." 
 
 The aide-de-camp of the Staff bowed. 
 
 "I can only thank you." 
 
 '' Pani Walewska thinks you are sentimental ! " 
 
 '^Anetka!" 
 
 " Do you deny it already .-' " 
 
 " Can one be different here .'' One must surrender at every 
 moment." 
 
 " M. Flahaut, you are talking about sun'ender ! Terais ? " 
 
 " I am ready to accept the most onerous ! " 
 
 " And you. Chamberlain } Always full of life and vigour ! " 
 
 " Our genei'ation," began the Chamberlain pompously, but 
 Anetka did not permit him to finish, and turned to Prince 
 Ornano. 
 
 " I did as you wished ! I am very glad to be a good fairy to 
 you." 
 
 " Madame ! " 
 
 " Yes, Marie ! The Prince burned with the desire of being 
 introduced to you ! Where are you bound to .'' " 
 
 "It is very wann in the ballroom," explained the Chamber- 
 lain. 
 
 " And Ave are going there. Prince ! Take advantage of the 
 opportunity, and offer your arm to Mme. Walewska." 
 
 Ornano rushed boldly to the Chamberlain's wife. 
 
 The Chamberlain made a grimace, but Anetka whispered in 
 his ear, smiling maliciously: "The Emperor's cousin." 
 
 The Chamberlain looked doubtfully at Countess Potocka, but 
 she nodded affirmatively, and said aloud — 
 
 " Old, Old) cest vrai ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain looked respectfully at the officer walking 
 beside his wife, and returned to the ballroom. 
 
 Pani Walewska walked, conducted by Prince Ornano, not 
 even trying to break the unpleasant silence. Countess Potocka's 
 words wounded her, and filled her with bitterness. She tried 
 in vain to explain to herself why people were so spiteful to her, 
 why Anetka was so malicious, how they could make up such 
 horrid slander as was that about her rendezvous with the 
 Emperor. 
 I
 
 114 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 In the meanwhile she reproached herself with not having 
 answered ; with not having shaken off the timidity of the 
 country girl ; with being unable to face the drawing-room con- 
 versation, ahvays apparently so sweet but in reality full of 
 wormwood ; with having no good answers at command at the 
 moment ; and being unable to hide stings in silky words and 
 sweet kisses as Anetka did. 
 
 Prince Ornano conducted Pani Walewska through a suite of 
 drawing-rooms, turning from time to time to her as if wishing to 
 catch a thread to begin a conversation. 
 
 The silence continued. Pani Walewska, absorbed by her 
 thoughts, did not feel its weight ; as for the heutenant, he 
 seemed to be doubly embarrassed. Several times he opened his 
 mouth, but his voice did not come, and only a blush testified to 
 the young Prince's timidity. 
 
 They came to the last drawing-room, and the natural limit 
 forced the Prince to interrupt the silence. 
 
 "Will you allow me . . . we must ..." 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered slightly, and having noticed a small 
 sofa in the comer, dropped the lieutenant's arm and went 
 towai'ds it. 
 
 The Prince followed her, but not being invited to sit on the 
 sofa, he stood beside it fingering his big bearskin, and looked 
 hesitatingly towards the Chamberlain's wife. 
 
 " I am afraid I importune you } " 
 
 Pani Walewska, hearing the lieutenant's voice, turned and 
 looked at him in surprise, unable to recollect where she had met 
 him, and how she came to be with him, and what was his 
 name. 
 
 "But not at all!" said Pani Walewska, thinking it was her 
 duty to protest. 
 
 "It seemed so to me!" stammered Ornano, and became 
 silent, blushing up to his eyes. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked with interest at the lieutenant and 
 blushed also. He appeared to her quite different from those 
 haughty satellites of the Emperor, the blusterers on the Staff, so 
 confident in their epaulettes and crosses. Napoleon's eaglets. 
 
 Nobleness showed itself even in the lieutenant's movements, 
 which were awkward and full of modesty, while braA^ery, manli-
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 115 
 
 ness, and strength shone from his serene forehead, suri'ounded 
 by raven black hair. 
 
 Pani Walewska felt something like remorse for her lack of 
 attention. 
 
 " It is rather I who should apologise for my company . . ." 
 
 " On the contrary^ Madame ! " interrupted the lieutenant, and, 
 having met Pani Walewska's look, dropped his eyes, and again 
 fingered his bearskin. 
 
 "But," said Pani Walewska to justify herself, "sometimes 
 one is thoughtful." 
 
 Ornano nodded affiimatively. 
 
 "If I am not mistaken, you serve in the Guards. It is so 
 difficult to remember all the uniforms," said Pani Walewska again. 
 
 "Yes, I am a lieutenant of the Chasseurs a Cheval of the 
 Guard ! " said Ornano, solemnly stretching his tall, well-shaped 
 figure, and putting his hand to his upper hp on which a dark 
 down announced the moustaches. 
 
 '^ I see that now. Chasseurs a Cheval of the Guard ! It is the 
 uniform which the Emperor likes the best ! Although . . ." 
 
 " Yes, Madame ; the Emperor wears a uniform more cut away, 
 and a white waistcoat instead of our green, then white . . . 
 and slippers ... for the rest, the same uniform." 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled, the lieutenant blushed, but the bash- 
 fulness of the officer began to amuse her. 
 
 " And Lieutenant Bertrand, is he in the same regiment with 
 you > " 
 
 " No, Madame ; he is on Marshal Berthier's general staff." 
 
 " Ah, yes ! You must excuse my ignorance ! I mention 
 M. Bertrand, for I pitied him very much. Imagine, a few 
 minutes before the quadrille, he was commanded to go to 
 Silesia ! Awful ! From a ball on horseback, and for such a 
 journey ! The service on the general staff must be very hard." 
 
 "It varies! Although with Bertrand . . ," The lieutenant 
 stopped suddenly. 
 
 " You wished to say something .'' " 
 
 " Yes. Perhaps better not." 
 
 "Is it a secret.''" 
 
 " Everybody knows it ; but you must excuse me, I prefer to 
 be silent than tell a lie."
 
 116 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " And if I ask you to tell me the truth ? " 
 
 " Then I do not know^ but , . . And then_, for what do you 
 need that news ? Ours . . . service afiairs." 
 
 " Undoubtedly^ but you aroused my curiosity by telling me 
 that everybody knows." 
 
 " Because, Madame, I said too much unnecessarily ! " said 
 Ornano frankly, and became silent. 
 
 Pani Walewska was still more puzzled by a peculiar intona- 
 tion which she noticed in his voice, and said — 
 
 " It is too late now to go back on your word." 
 
 " No, no, Madame ! " The lieutenant defended himself, look- 
 ing round. " You must excuse me ! Let somebody else tell 
 you." 
 
 *^' Suppose I beg you veiy earnestly.''" 
 
 " Then I do not know. You will be angry with me. ... I 
 would not like to hurt your feelings. They said . . . perhaps 
 there is not a word of truth in it, although . . ." Ornano grew 
 more and more confused. Pani Walewska insisted ; he hesitated 
 still a while. Finally, being unable to resist any longer, said 
 abruptly : "Bertrand was sent away because of you ! " 
 
 " Because of me ? " repeated Pani Walewska, Avith astonish- 
 ment. 
 
 Ornano grew crimson. 
 
 ''Yes ... it is ... I do not know myself. Perhaps it is 
 only gossip. It must be ! " 
 
 " I must insist on your explaining youi'self." 
 
 " I did not express myself well. It is not exactly you, but 
 the quadrille was the cause." 
 
 " I do not understand." 
 
 The lieutenant breathed heavily, and began to talk quickly. 
 
 " It is Bertrand's fault ! He dared to ask you for a quadrille 
 without having asked M. de Segur whether he might do so ! 
 It is Bertrand's fault ! It was in the programme that you were 
 going to dance vis-^-vis with the Emperor ! Marshal Duroc 
 could not do otherwise. Bertrand Avas not on the service list, 
 but as he was guilty they changed the order, and sent him 
 away." 
 
 Pani Walewska did not know what to answer. Ornano tried 
 to lessen the weight of his words : " Bertrand acted carelessly.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 117 
 
 He should remember that there was a programme; he was in 
 Duroc's way ! " 
 
 "I pity M. Bertrand." 
 
 " He was well rewarded." 
 
 ''In what way ? " 
 
 " He had the honour of talking with you . . , he was one of 
 the first. ... Is it not enough ? After that^ let come the worst 
 of orders, even to the end of the world." 
 
 Ornano said the last words with such enthusiasm that Pani 
 Walewska shivered. 
 
 "\ thank you for such a compliment." 
 
 "It is not a compliment, it is the truth, upon the word of 
 an officer! " 
 
 The lieutenant stopped suddenly, and still more than before 
 fingered his bearskin. 
 
 Pani Walewska wished to be severe for his daring, but having 
 looked at his sincere face, stopped in the first syllable of her 
 phrase, and having dropped her eyes, she played with her fan. 
 
 "Perhaps . . . I . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska raised her eyes. The lieutenant put his chin 
 in the large red collar of his unifoiTn, and again said with 
 determination : " Madame, pray forgive me. , . . I did not wish 
 to hurt your feelings. ... I would not dare. . . ." 
 
 *' I am not angry, only if my request carries any weight . ." 
 
 '' Command me ! " 
 
 '' Give up those Court ways." 
 
 "\ swear to you that it is the honest truth." 
 
 " So much the more I could not listen to it." 
 
 The lieutenant grew sad suddenly. 
 
 " Yes, it is true." 
 
 " But I do not wonder . . . you are searching for impressions ; 
 the more camp life takes you away from society, the more you 
 take advantage of every opportunity. Perhaps you do not know 
 yourself, that unwittingly you fall into the same tones, common- 
 place gallantry, half words, tender looks, sighings. You address 
 youx'self to every side ; it seems to you that the admiration which 
 they have here for your uniforms allows you to trample . . ." 
 
 "Madame ! " whispered the lieutenant, with sincere terror. 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed.
 
 118 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 "You must not take all that to yourself. I do not under- 
 stand myself where all that came to me from. I do believe 
 that you think differently. How long is it since you joined the 
 army ? " 
 
 " More than one year ; when I left school." 
 
 " And always with the Emperor ? It must be a great happi- 
 ness to remain at the side of such a great man." 
 
 The lieutenant's eyes shone. 
 
 "There is a sergeant in our regiment who speaks to the 
 Emperor as ' thou ! ' And the Emperor knows every one of his 
 soldiers by name. When he is in a good humour we call him 
 simply 'Little Corporal.' " 
 
 " I can imagine how the regiment must love him ! " 
 
 "Our regiment of Chasseurs a ChcvalP But we are always 
 \vith him and round him ! In his headquarters^ at the reviews, 
 on the roadSj on the battlefield, day and night ! Nothing can 
 happen without the Chasseurs a Cheval of the Guard. Grenadiers, 
 dragoons, would like to be in our place — in vain. We are 
 always at the head, we are always first ! And there is not one 
 amongst us who would not permit himself to be cut in pieces 
 for him, Avho, at his sign, would not jump over a precipice, who 
 would not sacrifice everything for him." 
 
 Ornano here met Pani Walewska's eyes looking at him with 
 interest, and grew pale. 
 
 "Who would not sacrifice for him everything," he repeated, 
 with less assurance. 
 
 " With such an army to conquer . . ." 
 
 " He must ! " ended the lieutenant, with conviction. 
 
 " Permit me, Marie, the Prince of Neufchatel ! " resounded 
 suddenly in the Chamberlain's hoarse voice. 
 
 Berthier stood before her. The lieutenant stretched himself 
 like a cord, and withdrew respectfully. 
 
 " Madame, for an hour I have been searching for the oppor- 
 tunity of presenting my homage. . , ." 
 
 "Monsieur! . . ." 
 
 "I am happy beyond words." 
 
 "To meet a man of such merits is an honour to me." 
 
 " Have I deserved such a compliment } " answered Berthier, 
 and turning to the Chamberlain he shook hii» by the hand.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 119 
 
 and added : " To be at the ball, and not to be presented to 
 you." 
 
 " Do I not disturb ? " Duroc's voice was heard in the doorway. 
 
 " Pray, come in ! " invited the Chamberlain. The Marshal 
 of the Court looked sharply round. 
 
 "Now I do not wonder at your desertion. Marshal. . . . 
 His Majesty asked after you." 
 
 " His Majesty .'' " repeated Berthier with emotion. "Excuse 
 me, pray ... I must " 
 
 Duroc looked after the disappearing Berthier. 
 
 " It must cost him much ! I am very sorry that I deprived 
 him of such charming company." 
 
 "You are mistaken," said Pani Walewska quickly. "The 
 Prince of Neufchatel was introduced to me by my husband only 
 a few moments ago." 
 
 " But it is a century since you left the ballroom. Have we 
 deserved such a long absence — such an egotism } " 
 
 "The egotism was very agreeable to me." 
 
 "Did you not tell me that you admired our uniforms so much ?" 
 
 "I do not forget them. The best witness is the officer 
 present here, with whom I was talking about the army." 
 
 Duroc turned round, put his lorgnon to his eyes, and said 
 through his teeth — 
 
 " Ah ! . . . Lieutenant Ornano .'' Is it so } " 
 
 " Yes, sir," affirmed the officer, growing crimson. 
 
 " Ah ! , . . I thought that you were on duty to-day ? " 
 
 " No, sir, the seventh company." 
 
 " Are you in the first ? " 
 
 " In the second, sir." 
 
 " So-o-o ! Madame, will you be kind enough to pass to the ball- 
 room ? The menuet is on the programme." 
 
 " I do not dance." 
 
 " But it is M. de Perigord's speciality. We must not deprive 
 him of applause. Then," added Duroc in a low voice, "there 
 in the ballroom ; the sun disappeared, and there is a fearful 
 storm raging — darkness covers everything and everybody." 
 
 "Permit me, my dearest," said the Chamberlain; "the Princess 
 Dominik Radziwil asked after you several times. You cannot 
 neglect her."
 
 120 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska rose and put her arm unwillingly under her 
 husband's. 
 
 Duroc made believe that he had not seen that manoeuvre, 
 andj having let the Chamberlain and his wife pass in front of 
 him, nodded to the lieutenant, and said negligently — 
 
 " Which Prince commands to-day at headquarters ? " 
 
 "General-Colonel of the Guard, Marshal Davoust, Prince 
 d'Auerstaedt," reported Ornano. 
 
 " Prince d'Auerstaedt ! Very well ! Find him, and give him 
 this note." 
 
 " According to ox'der." 
 
 Duroc followed Pani Walewska. The Chamberlain, who 
 noticed Duroc's conversation with Ornano, whispered to his 
 wife — 
 
 " It is certain they will send him to Danzig." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at him astonished. 
 
 "Whom? Where to .>" 
 
 The Chamberlain laughed quietly. 
 
 " Well . . . that . . . that Prince." 
 
 " I do not understand ! " 
 
 " I tell you he will go ! Notice, Bertrand, Montbx-un, then 
 Durosnel, and now that . . . what's his name .'' He deserves 
 it ... he imagined that Pani Colonna Walewska . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska could not yet understand her husband. 
 
 "But what can all this have in common with me ? " 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! ha ! You do not understand yet. Then talk 
 with one of those madcaps of the general staff, and you shall 
 see the effect. Very well ! They deserved it ! In the begin- 
 ning I did not know myself what it meant, only Talleyrand told 
 me ! They must be at a respectful distance ! They must know 
 , . . even . . ." 
 
 The noise of the music drowned his words. 
 
 Pani Walewska found herself in her former place, between 
 Princess Jabłonowska and Countess Moszyńska. 
 
 "Ah, chćrie!" began the Princess in a reproachful tone. 
 " Where have you been hiding } How could you deprive your- 
 self of such a magnificent spectacle ? Have you heard } ■ ^ , 
 They say that for certain Murat will be our king." 
 
 "Murat.? . . ."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 121 
 
 '^Yes^ or Davoust! They Scay that the Emperor's brother, 
 Jerome, would Hke also, but that the Emperor does not wish it. 
 Well, Murat will represent well, only, as it seems, he is very 
 impetuous and passionate." 
 
 "That does not matter!" said Countess Moszyńska. 
 
 " Of course, but it is very unpleasant for our Pepi, for Murat 
 is from the peasants" — there the Princess bent towards Pani 
 Walewska — " Marie, the Emperor is looking at you through his 
 lorgnon." 
 
 Pani Walewska raised her head and noticed that the Emperor 
 was directing his lorgnon towards her; she blushed, and turned 
 to Countess Moszyńska, not paying any attention to the 
 Princess's significantly clearing her throat. But the Princess 
 would not give up, and did not spare her admonitions. 
 
 " Marie ! Believe my experience ! You cannot act in that 
 way. You evidently avoid his looks ; you know I wish you well. 
 Look at Anastazy ; do you see he has grown pale ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose suddenly and said — 
 
 "Is it not the Princess Dominik Radziwil with Jeannette, 
 there to the left ? " 
 
 "Yes, yes! . . . but, Marie ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska, Vvuth determination marked by the contraction 
 of her eyebrows, passed between uniforms, and, with a feeling 
 of relief, took a seat beside Jeannette on the side of the ball- 
 room, behind the wall of numerous gentlemen. 
 
 Jeannette, seeing Pani Walewska, interrupted her animated 
 conversation with a captain of the Dragoon Guards, and greeted 
 the Chamberlain's wife heartily. 
 
 " I would like to kiss you, my dearest ! I thought you had 
 already forgotten about your Jeannette! Maman! Void 
 Marie ! " 
 
 " How glad I am," said the Princess Radziwil coolly. 
 
 Jeannette began to shout joyfully. 
 
 " I am so glad to see you ! For an hour I have been looking 
 for an opportunity of talking with you ! What trouble I had 
 about that excursion to Jabłonna ! Victor could not hold his 
 tongue. I did not say a word to anybody, only to madame, and 
 she knows how to keep a secret. . . . You are looking charm- 
 ingly. They are all talking about you ! I am so proud of you !
 
 122 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 I have quarrelled on your account with a general. Look ! with 
 that one to the left^ with a bald head. I pity poor Victor ! 
 Imagine to yourself — he did not receive an invitation ! I was 
 so angiy that I intended not to come to the ball. But I am 
 rewarded^ for I see you. L'Empereiir was so absent. Did you 
 notice it ? He made three mistakes during the quadrille. I 
 did not think that such a great man did not know how to 
 dance. ... It is awful what he said to my mother ! She is 
 offended. She cannot forget^ and she is rightj too. Marie^ kiss 
 me — here, here — bend over me ! Thank you. How much I 
 would like to kiss you ! And all through that horrid Emperor ! 
 Mafoi, he bores me already ! " 
 
 " But, Jeannette/' said Pani Walewska joyfully, when she 
 found an opportunity to say a word ; but at this moment the 
 wall of uniforms and evening dresses hiding her began to 
 move aside. Pani Walewska became confused. Jeannette was 
 pleased. 
 
 "At last they have understood. Do you see the Emperor 
 standing with Duroc } Did he say anything about the meeting 
 in Jabłonna ? Did he ask about me ? " 
 
 "He did not speak at all." 
 
 " And he did not ask about me ? " 
 
 " I do not remember," 
 
 " I did not expect that from him. They say he is so galant 
 Well, no matter ! Look ! I would swear he is looking at us. 
 Let us turn away just to spite him. But why does everybody 
 look at us .'' " 
 
 "You only fancy so," said Pani Walewska in a whisper, 
 having noticed that she was again persecuted by intruding 
 looks. 
 
 Jeannette guessed the truth. 
 
 "Mary, they are looking at you. . . ." 
 
 " You imagine it. . . ." 
 
 " Before you came here nobody looked. Do not deny ! Ah, 
 how lovely it must be ! I envy you ! " 
 
 " But, Jeannette . " 
 
 " Let me speak ! You are recognised as the most beautiful . 
 Thomas Lubieński told me so, and you know he never lies. 
 I am so proud ! If only Victor . . The day after to-morrow
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 123 
 
 there will be a dinner given by Prince Borghese. Have you 
 already received an invitation ? Will you go ? Of course you 
 must go ! As for me, I do not knovr. I doubt it. My mother 
 will not be willing to take me. You have not any idea what 
 Victor suffers through her ! He intended to run away to Paris, 
 but I persuaded him not to do so. I am very hungry. . , ." 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled. Jeannette thought proper to em- 
 phasise. 
 
 " I promise you it is true ! Some sweets were served ; but 
 what is that ! and then one cannot eat much at a ball, and I am 
 awfully hungry. Joubert sent me my frock so late that I could 
 not eat. Duroc is coming to us. There to the left, with Prince 
 Borghese." 
 
 Pani Walewska had hardly time to look in the direction 
 pointed out by Jeannette when she heard behind her Prince 
 Borghese's voice. 
 
 " Chamberlain, I count on you for the day after to-morrow." 
 
 *' It will be my duty, mon Pńnce." 
 
 "\ hope — Madame also." 
 
 Pani Walewska, to whom those words were directed, bent her 
 head, not knowing what to answer. The Prince took her silence 
 for consent. 
 
 " I am very much obliged ! There will be but a very liniited 
 number of guests. The Emperor does not like crowded 
 gatherings." 
 
 In the meanwhile, Duroc took hold of the Chamberlain's arm. 
 
 "The Emperor asked after you a while ago. . . . You must 
 draw nearer. There is no doubt that he wishes to talk to you." 
 
 The Chamberlain stretched himself, bowed slightly, and went 
 with Duroc in the direction where Napoleon was sitting. 
 
 The Emperor, leaning in an armchair, looked thoughtfully 
 round the ballroom, hardly listening as the Duke of Bassano 
 bent over him. 
 
 From time to time Talleyrand handed him his lorgnon, which 
 Napoleon would put for a while to his eyes, look at Pani 
 Walewska, and then return it to M. de Perigord with marks 
 of impatience. 
 
 Sometimes the Emperor's look would fall on the crowd of 
 uniforms and evening dresses and draw out from the stupor
 
 124 NAPOLEONS LOVE STORY 
 
 some of the dignitaries ; and then from Bonaparte's mouth 
 would come out impetuous words, embracing the fate of whole 
 provinces, words which resounded loudly throughout Europe, 
 which were seized assiduously by courtiers trying to find in 
 them indications of new promotions, words noted carefully by 
 history. 
 
 The Chamberlain, guided by Duroc, stood in the half-circle sur- 
 rounding the Emperor, and waited, waited for his look. A long 
 moment passed. Bonaparte did not see the Chamberlain, not- 
 withstanding that the latter stood on tiptoes, and craned his 
 neck over M. de Corvisart, who was standing before him. 
 Moreover, as though to mortify the Chamberlain, the Emperor 
 was talking with Wybicki. The Chamberlain distinctly heard 
 some sentences ; he saw not only the quiet and assurance with 
 which Wybicki answered, but also he distinguished in Napoleon's 
 voice a shade of peculiar favour and kindness. 
 
 The Chamberlain was devoured by jealousy. 
 
 "Write me a list — we shall see," said Napoleon to Wybicki. 
 
 The half-circle of uniforms and evening dresses moved. 
 
 "Sire!" said Wybicki precipitately, "I am afraid they will 
 accuse me . . ." 
 
 " You will write the list," repeated Napoleon with emphasis. 
 
 Wybicki bowed. Bonaparte rose from his chair, made a 
 step forward, and having noticed the Chamberlain, frowned. 
 Duroc nodded slightly to Walewski. 
 
 The Chamberlain bent respectfully. 
 
 "A . . . M. Walewski," said Napoleon between his lips. 
 " Pray, come nearer." 
 
 The Chamberlain advanced. 
 
 " I did not have the opportunity of making the acquaintance 
 of your wife. You will present her to me at Prince Borghese's 
 dinner-party." 
 
 " Sire, I shall be most happy." 
 
 "You were Chamberlain.''" 
 
 " Yes, Sire ! " 
 
 " H'm ! We shall see. It is your third wife." 
 
 "Yes, Sire." 
 
 " She was not well ? " 
 
 "Slightly indisposed. Sire."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 125 
 
 " Very well. I beg of you to be present with her at all balls 
 and receptions. You have grown-up grandsons ; they should 
 enter the army." 
 
 " It will be my duty." 
 
 *' How old are you ? " 
 
 The Chamberlain grew confused, red spots appeared on his 
 face through powder and paint. 
 
 " I . . . I . . . Sire, I am . . . about . . , about sixty . , . that is 
 to say . . . precisely . . ." 
 
 "They told me you were eighty," interrupted Bonaparte 
 drily. 
 
 "Yes, Sire, about that . . . about . ." stammered the 
 Chamberlain, losing ground under his feet. 
 
 " A fine age — fine ! " said the Emperor, and turned to Duroc. 
 
 The Marshal of the Court bowed solemnly, nodded to Talley- 
 rand, and turned towards the door, preceding Napoleon. 
 
 When the Emperor left, there arose again a free uproar in 
 the ballroom. 
 
 The Marshals began to move more boldly. M. de Perigord, 
 surrounded by ladies, rested after the fatigue of Court etiquette, 
 distributing calemhours and witty words. The gentlemen sur- 
 rounded Joseph Wybicki, in order to make him talk about what 
 Napoleon had said to him, and to gain the favours of the man 
 who was charged with making a list of the members of the 
 future Government. 
 
 Murat, to M. de Flahaut's great disappointment, seated 
 himself by the side of Countess Alexandre Potocka. Prince 
 Borghese was bolder with Countess Thomas Lubieńska ; even 
 the cautious Berthier permitted himself to chat with Mme. 
 Sobolewska. 
 
 Davoust alone did not change his nonchalant attitude, and 
 was talking with the Governor, Gouvion, about the advantages 
 of three-edged bayonets over flat ones, addressing himself from 
 time to time to Prince Joseph Poniatowski. 
 
 The orchestra, which played a solemn polonaise at the 
 Emperor's departure, . changed now to a mazurka. Groups of 
 young men came forth from the corner of the ballroom. The 
 Frenchmen formed a circle to look at the dance unknown to 
 them — the elder gentlemen began to look towards the door.
 
 126 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Stanislaus Gorayski^ standing near, took advantage of the 
 confusion^ and having noticed Pani Walewska talking with 
 Jeannette, came to her. 
 
 " Ah, Chevalier Gorayski ! " exclaimed Jeannette joyfully. 
 "I thought you were not here." 
 
 "Could you think that . . .?" 
 
 "You do not guess what I mean. I only wonder that you 
 appear so late." 
 
 Gorayski smiled sadly, and having looked at Pani Walewska, 
 said with emphasis : 
 
 " I could not very well dare to approach." 
 
 "I do not approve of your reserve," said Pani Waleswka in an 
 undertone. 
 
 Gorayski's eyes shone ; his pale face reddened. 
 
 " If one could guess sometimes . . ." 
 
 " How sentimental you are ! " retorted Jeannette, whom 
 Gorayski's sad face amused. "Mary, excuse me, I must go to 
 Kocia Lubieńska." 
 
 Pani Walewska wished to stop her, but she had already gone. 
 
 "What a lovely disposition ! " remarked Gorayski, looking at 
 Jeannette. 
 
 " You had better say fate— predestination ! " 
 
 " I do not believe in Ananke." 
 
 "Because it never touched you." 
 
 " Yes, it did ; only my Ananke is not an imaginary being, 
 not a mythical goddess, not a secret wrapped up in mist, but 
 living. . . ." 
 
 "Have you heard of Mme. de Stael's new novel?" interrupted 
 Pani Walewska. "The Grand Marshal Duroc told me that it is 
 beautiful ! I understand the Emperor is reading it. ... I 
 would like to get it. . . ." 
 
 Gorayski smiled ironically. " I am certain that you will." 
 
 " I shall be obliged, for I am already Mme. de Stael's great 
 admirer, because of her Corinne." 
 
 " I would like to win your gratitude, but I have not got the 
 book, and I do not know where I could get it." 
 
 " But you said .'' " 
 
 " I dared only to suppose that if the Emperor has it, then 
 you also will get it. ..."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 127 
 
 Pani Walewska grew pale ; she raised her shapely head 
 proudly, and said in subdued tones : " I thought until now that 
 at least from you I might expect to be respected." 
 
 Gorayski dropped his head. 
 
 " My words are only a faint echo of that of which the whole 
 town is talking." 
 
 Pani Walewska shuddered. 
 
 " And you . . . believe in this slander ? " 
 
 " I listen, I look, and unfortunately I do not find a denial." 
 
 "Explain yourself better." 
 
 " Is it not better to be silent } I have not the right either to 
 be a judge . . . or . . ." 
 
 " You are mistaken ! I wish to know with what they 
 reproach me." 
 
 " But these are not reproaches ! Upon my word, there is not 
 one woman in this room who does not envy you, who is not 
 ready to sacińfice everything in order to be in your place. . . . 
 I beg of you not to think that I am not speaking the truth ! It 
 is a success ! " 
 
 Gorayski, having noticed that Pani Walewska trembled as 
 if shaken by cold, stopped suddenly, and added ceremoniously : 
 "But I am unjustly . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska interrupted him abruptly, making an effort to 
 speak quietly. 
 
 " Pan Gorayski, I thought you were a chivalrous man, who, 
 if he ventures to set a woman in a pillory of maliciousness, 
 would make sure that he is right in doing so, or, at least, would 
 not take advantage when there is nobody to defend her ! " 
 
 " I have spoken without the intention of offending. I thought 
 that it would not be indifferent to you to know . . ." 
 
 " I am listening then ! What do they say } . . " 
 
 " Nothing precise, besides the details about the meeting pre- 
 arranged on the road from Pułtusk." 
 
 " And in which you played an important part ! " 
 
 "How . . . how is that.''" 
 
 " Then you have forgotten that you conducted us across the 
 bridge to Praga — you do not remember our excursion with 
 Jeannette and Ossoliński to Jabłonna ! " 
 
 "Then this was the cause.''"
 
 128 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 ''Of such strange behaviour towai'ds me as yours." 
 
 " Honestly I did not imagine ! I remember well — and now 
 I do not know how I should beg your forgiveness." 
 
 " Do not trouble yourself." 
 
 " I did not imagine that human malice could go as far as that ! " 
 
 " Rather your credulity ! " 
 
 " I am guilty ! " 
 
 " This avowal speaks in favour of your conscience." 
 
 "Madame . . . Mary!" 
 
 "Excuse me^ sir," said Pani Walewska coolly, and having 
 noticed her husband, rose and went to him. 
 
 The Chamberlain was still very irritated after the convei'sa- 
 tion with the Emperor. 
 
 "Are we going home.''" his wife asked him. 
 
 " Certainly, certainly. Have you noticed — the Emperor was 
 kind — very kind ; he inquired — he inquired about many things ! 
 Although Dombrowski's partisans are intriguing — and even, 
 who knows, perhaps Małachowski." 
 
 Pani Walewska did not answer her husband's suppositions. 
 
 The Chamberlain rapped angrily on his snuff-box. 
 
 "You do not care about it.'' " 
 
 " On the contrary, but it is late." 
 
 " I must see Murat." 
 
 " Then you wish to go out last. Look, the Princess Dominik 
 Radziwil is leaving." 
 
 The Chamberlain made a movement of impatience. 
 
 " You are right ! Let us be going ! Where there is no 
 Emperor, there is no Walewski."
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 THE Chamberlain was very much surprised when, the day 
 after the ball, Baptiste brought him in the morning a 
 letter, telling him that a grenadier was waiting for an answer. 
 The Chamberlain opened the letter with imeasiness, and put 
 on his spectacles. The last night's conversation with the 
 Emperor aroused in him doubts which he was afraid to avow 
 to himself, lest he should pull down the artificial building of 
 hopes, with such a solid foundation, according to him. The 
 Chamberlain tried to persuade himself that the Emperor's 
 emphasis about his age was undoubtedly a proof that the men 
 of his age should have precedence ; but this logical deduction 
 spoiled the Chamberlain's humour when he returned home, and 
 was the cause of his quarrelling with his wife. 
 
 To the Chamberlain's great surprise the letter was from the 
 Governor of Warsaw, General Gauvion, and contained a short 
 but hearty in\dtation to a confidential council concerning 
 several public matters, and referred to M. de Perigord's 
 opinions, who said that in such an important question nobody 
 could give better advice than the Chamberlain. 
 
 That letter excited the Chamberlain to the highest degree. 
 All doubts tormenting him disappeared. The conference was 
 going to be held at twelve o'clock. Therefore, the Chamberlain, 
 not losing time, answered a few words, and ordered that he 
 should be dressed as quickly as possible. 
 
 In an hour and a half the Chamberlain was ready. Baptiste, 
 perspiring and tired, looked at his master with pride, justly 
 considering the Chamberlain's exterior as his masterpiece. The 
 Chamberlain, however, was so excited that he hardly looked 
 into the mirror, swallowed at a draught a cup of bouillon, and 
 having given an order to tell his wife that she need not wait 
 K 129
 
 130 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 for him for dinner, entered the carriage and was driven to the 
 Governor. 
 
 Hardly had the Chamberlain's coujie turned into Senatorska 
 Street, when, from the opposite direction, came a green and 
 gold imperial carriage, and stopped before the Walewskis' 
 mansion. Duroc alighted from it. The Walewskis' servants 
 rushed out to tell the Marshal that the Chamberlain was not at 
 home, but the Prince of Friul, not disturbed by this news, told 
 them to announce him to Pani Walewska. 
 
 Pani Walewska listened with fright to Baptiste's solemn 
 announcement of the Marshal's visit, not knowing for a moment 
 what to do. Her first impulse was to receive Duroc, and by a 
 few daring answers to break the net of half words and insinua- 
 tions in which he wanted to involve her, but when she re- 
 membered that steel-like pressure of the hand, that burning 
 look of the Emperor's eyes at the ball, a cold shiver ran 
 through her. She felt that any contact with Duroc, any con- 
 versation, any explanation might be for her what any movement 
 is to a man being swallowed by quicksands, who sinks deeper 
 the more efforts he makes to save himself. 
 
 "Shall I show the Prince to the blue or the grey drawing- 
 room ? " asked the valet, unable to understand Pani Walewska's 
 silence. 
 
 Pani Walewska gathered strength, and ordered quietly: "Tell 
 the Prince that I am not well, and that I cannot receive him." 
 
 Baptiste looked astonished at Pani Walewska, and knowing 
 his master well, he felt that he had a right to make a con- 
 fidential remark. 
 
 " But he is the Grand Marshal of the Court." 
 
 "I have given my order." 
 
 " If his lordship was at home ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska showed him the door. 
 
 " Your ladyship will excuse me , but my lord . . ." 
 
 " Go ! " 
 
 The valet bowed indifferently and disappeared. 
 
 Pani Walewska covered her burning face with her hands, 
 and became thoughtful. 
 
 Baptiste's loud clearing of the throat woke her up. Pani 
 Walewska turned to the valet.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 131 
 
 " Your ladyship ... a letter ! " said the valet loudly. 
 
 Pant Walewska put out her hand for the letter lying on a 
 tray, and not even noticing Baptiste's smile, made him a sign 
 to go away. On the envelope of the letter the address was 
 written in a hand difficult to read — 
 
 " Madame Marie de Walewska." 
 
 Pani Walewska held the letter in her hand for a moment, 
 looked at the seal representing a kind of Gordian knot, and at 
 last decided to open it. From its inside fell out a small piece 
 of paper, on which were a few lines in the same handwriting as 
 the address. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at it a long while before she could 
 read the short contents : — 
 
 " I am thinking continuously of you. It seems to me that 
 since yesterday centuries have already passed. A word of 
 answer will tranquillise a man devoured by longing. — N." 
 
 Darkness covered Pani Walewska's eyes. Was it possible 
 that those wanton words were written by the man who decided 
 the fate of millions, who, by one stroke of his pen, changed 
 boundaries of countries, built new kingdoms .'' Then he, that 
 mighty one — he upon whom she looked as ujDon a god, as the 
 incarnation of unearthly strength, that legendary hero, incom- 
 parable genius, commander, who by his Jupiter-like words made 
 Europe tremble, had descended where her sad, quiet life 
 crawled ! And why ? As for herself, she had long been willing 
 to become his humblest servant, provided she could look at his 
 majesty, to be intoxicated with his grandeur ! Humbly and 
 submissively she would have fulfilled his commands, provided he 
 did not make any attempt on her womanhood, provided he spoke 
 to her and looked at her always as a ruler, as an Emperor, as 
 the man chosen from a hundred generations during centuries. 
 
 And Pani Walewska was seized by shame for that vulgar 
 avowal. He, great, apjieared to her so small, so vnilgar, so 
 much like that crowd of hare-brained drawing-room fellows, 
 who tired her with their stupid courtships. 
 
 "Your ladyship ! " resounded Baptiste's voice near her, "the 
 Grand Marshal of the Court is waiting in his carriage for an 
 answer."
 
 132 NAPOLEOxN'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered ; the offended pride of the Avoman 
 made her lovely face crimson ; she crumpled the letter violently 
 in her hand, and said threateningly : " There is no answer ! " 
 
 When the valet, frightened by Pani Walewska's irritation, 
 had disappeared, the Chamberlain's wife felt that her strength 
 almost gave way. She leaned back in the armchair ; tears 
 appeared in her eyes ; sadness oppressed her heart. The feel- 
 ing of emptiness and desertion that had followed her ever since 
 the day of her wedding filled her with bitterness. She had 
 nobody to Avhom she could tell everything, who could give her 
 advice, who could encourage her, who could defend her. She 
 asked so little of life ; almost every day she narrowed her re- 
 quirements more and more. For years her only joy had been 
 her brother. With him she had learned to admire Bonaparte ; 
 in his company she was joyful, with him alone she could share 
 her thoughts. Him alone she made the confidant of her long- 
 ings. But Paul was not there ; the continuous wind of war had 
 driven him Avith the rest of the Polish legions to Lefebvre's 
 army storming Danzig, and Gorayski remained here. But 
 he ! he had known her since she was a child, carried her in his 
 arms, sworn himself her lover, and to-day he persecuted her with 
 insinuations, and accused her even of having ruined her own 
 happiness. 
 
 Pani Walewska began to cry. 
 
 " You are crying? " said a sonorous man's voice. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked through her tears and jumped up from 
 her seat. 
 
 Duroc was standing before her. 
 
 " Monsieur ! " 
 
 Under Pani Walewska's magnetising look Duroc dropped his 
 head. 
 
 " Pray excuse me." 
 
 " Monsieur ! " repeated Pani Walewska, breathing with diffi- 
 culty. "Here!" 
 
 "I admit it." 
 
 " How did you dare to cross the threshold of my room ? " 
 
 Duroc became confused. 
 
 " Madame, I beg of you to be quieted. I wanted an answer to 
 the letter."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 133 
 
 Pani Walewska pointed to the crumpled letter lying on the 
 carpet. " There is your answer ! I hope now that you will 
 free me from the visit forced upon me." 
 
 Duroc became gloomy ; clouds gathered upon his forehead. 
 
 " Think over what you are doing ; it is not wise ! The 
 Emperor has the best intentions ! " 
 
 Pani WaleAvska laughed bitterly. 
 
 " I do not understand such intentions^ and I do not wish to 
 know about them. I am a married woman^ which you seem to 
 forget." 
 
 " Say rather that you are an unhappy victim." 
 
 " I have been taught to respect chains." 
 
 " If you say only one word, these chains will be broken ! " 
 interrupted Duroc warmly. " Rome will grant you a divorce ! " 
 
 "\ swore to God ! " 
 
 Duroc tugged impatiently at the plumes of his hat. 
 
 "Then let us not go so far — for the present give me one 
 word as an answer." 
 
 "You have it." 
 
 " You are cruel ! or rather you try to be so. And suppose I 
 should beg for it as the greatest favour } " 
 
 " I did not know that your high office at Court obliged you to 
 do so many kinds of work." 
 
 Duroc grew pale, and said admonishingly — 
 
 " I put that to the account of your irritation. The sentiments 
 you aroused in the Empei'or are more stable than you think. 
 An answer, be it only a friendly one, will be received with 
 a grateful heart, and it will oblige you to nothing." 
 
 Pani Walewska shook her head, and, mastering the trembling 
 that was taking hold of her, she said with force : " I have no 
 answer to give you ; I have said it." 
 
 Duroc bit his lips. 
 
 "Suppose, instead of answering the letter, you would express 
 some wish, some request. His Majesty Avould be happy if he 
 could do anything for you." 
 
 " No, thank you, I have not. . . ." 
 
 Duroc laughed sarcastically. 
 
 "Then you are a bad wife, bad sister, even a bad Polish 
 patriot."
 
 134 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska leaned on the armchair. 
 
 "I receive that accusation^ and I do not discuss the motives 
 that dictated it to you." 
 
 " But you forgetj you do not realise who speaks through my 
 mouth ; you do not think that thousands of women in your 
 position would see the realisation of the boldest dreams ; that 
 the man who turns towards you commands nations^ that at his 
 sign millions bend their knees." 
 
 Duroc stopped suddenly, and looked inquiringly at Pani 
 Walewska standing motionless, and he lowered his voice. 
 
 "As it seems that you interpret my Avords badly, you take 
 them too lightheartedly. The interest which the Emperor 
 takes in you is extraordinary, without precedent. Pray believe 
 my experience. Who knows what lot might be in store for you 
 in the immediate future ? I repeat — ask, demand ; do not have 
 an}^ scruples. Are you still hesitating .'' " 
 
 Pani Walewska dropped her head. 
 
 "Cease hesitation, then," again urged Duroc; "and if you do 
 not wish to write, authorise me to give an answer in your 
 name ; and then, having thought it over, you can write and 
 send the letter to me." 
 
 Pani Walewska suddenly shook off the terror caused by 
 Duroc's words. 
 
 "Then be so kind as to ask his Majesty one favour. . , ." 
 
 "I am listening. Be so kind as to express it." 
 
 " I beg of him, then, in the name of all his good intentions, 
 to relieve me of attentions like to-day's." 
 
 Duroc stretched himself proudly. 
 
 " You are, Madame, a naughty, capricious child ! You may 
 be assured that I shall not give you any more trouble. There 
 will come a time when you will regret to-day's anger, for 
 evidently you have forgotten that the Emperor commands even 
 when he begs ! " 
 
 Duroc saluted coolly and went out. 
 
 Pani Walewska fell into an armchair. She was moved by 
 Duroc's last words, showing her an abyss opening at her feet. 
 Suddenly a thought about escaping from the net which was 
 entangling her aroused her energy. She rang for the servant, 
 and ordered her boxes to be packed at once.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 135 
 
 The servants, wondering, began to fulfil her orders, trying by 
 timid remarks to find out from her what that sudden change 
 meant, in face of Baptiste's assurance that they would not go to 
 Walewice before the Emperor's departure. But Pani Walewska 
 did not give any elucidation, did not let any of the servants 
 idle, helping them herself, gaining courage and energy every 
 time a box or a valise was ready. Nothing could frighten her 
 now — neither a meeting with her husband, nor his vmdoubted 
 opposition, nor his anger at her arbitrariness. Pani Walewska 
 understood one thing — that she must run away ; that she must 
 hide from the peril threatening her; that this flight was the 
 only remedy that would save her. 
 
 Amid this disorder, this feverish packing of heaps of things, 
 this opening of wardrobes and emptying of drawers. Princess 
 Jabłonowska found her sister-in-law. 
 
 The Princess's astonishment had no limits. 
 
 " Marie, what means this disorder .'' Boxes ! What for ! I 
 met Anastazy an hour ago. He was driving to Gauvion. He 
 did not say anything of your going away." 
 
 "I return to Walewice." 
 
 "To Walewice!" repeated the Princess, astonished in the 
 highest degree. 
 
 " To-day ; without fail, to-day ! " 
 
 The Princess looked inquisitively at her sister's feverish face. 
 
 " Such a sudden decision ! But you are invited by Prince 
 Borghese for to-morrow." 
 
 " Anastazy can remain." 
 
 The Princess took Pani Walewska by the hand, and con- 
 ducted her to another room. 
 
 " You are hiding something from me. You do not have 
 confidence in me, and you do not imagine how much you 
 interest me." 
 
 " I believe you ! I believe you ! " answered Pani Walewska ; 
 " but I must go immediately ! There is no power that could 
 stop me. Anastazy can . , but I do not want the Court or 
 your society. Leave me ! forget me ' cease to take any interest 
 in me ! I wish to be alone — absolutely alone ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska wished to speak further, but the words stuck 
 in her throat.
 
 136 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Princess became sincerely sorroAvful. 
 
 " Ma chere ! You know I am ready to do anything for you ! 
 But what has hapjDened ? I cannot find a reason ! Is it 
 Anastazy ? You must forgive him many tilings. I understand 
 your position. He must be insupportable .' - . . It is old age, 
 between ourselves. One must have philosophy, and not care 
 about everything ... it is unwise. To leave ! But what will 
 the people say } Anetka is only waiting to spread some slander 
 about you, especially after last night's incident with Gorayski ! 
 I tell you, I was obliged to use all my persuasive powers to 
 prove to Princess Radziwil that this horrible fight between 
 him and Herceau was not caused by you." 
 
 " Fight with Herceau .'' " 
 
 "Well, yes," affirmed the Princess sadly. "They fought a 
 duel, and Gorayski is wounded. . . . Herceau, notwithstanding 
 everything, has some influence with the Prince of Berg, and 
 even with Marshal Berthier. It is impossible to guess what 
 will come of all this. I tremble at the thought that Anastazy 
 might learn about it — he is so sensitive. ..." 
 
 " Gorayski is wounded .'' " asked Pani Walev.'ska hesitatingly. 
 
 " Ma foi ! They called in Dr. Wójcicki. They sent word to 
 Gorayski's mother. Herceau was too hard upon him. He 
 ought to have forgiven the young man. I shall tell him so. 
 Therefore you see that this sudden departure would confirm the 
 suppositions." 
 
 " I do not knov/ anything about it. I did not give any reasons." 
 
 " My dear child, you do not need to tell me. . . . But at the 
 first glance, seeing you among your boxes, unAvillingly I 
 thought of Gorayski." 
 
 Pani Walewska was rubbing her smooth forehead uneasily, in 
 vain searching for a connection between the ncvs of the duel 
 and Duroc's visit. 
 
 The Princess, on her side, did not cease either her questioning 
 or her remonstrances ; she spoke indulgently, cautiously trying 
 to find the reason why her sister-in-law wished so suddenly to 
 go away. 
 
 Pani Walewska was unmoved. The Princess used her last 
 cartridge. 
 
 "If you trifle with the opinion of society, if you are in-
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 137 
 
 different to your husband's plans^ then at least remember your 
 family. Why should poor Ksawery suffer from your bad 
 humour or unjustified bitterness ? In what way is the Imperial 
 Court guilty, for which the Walewskis . , . ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska jumped from her seat. 
 
 " Imperial Court ! If you loved me, if you cared for the 
 family, and were really so penetrating as you say, then you 
 should have been the first to bid me go away." 
 
 "Mais, Marie!" 
 
 " Yes, you, first." 
 
 " Permit me to explain to you. Ksawery's plans in regard to 
 the Princess Radziwil may be ruined, for the Princess is very 
 particular. Already to-day she was sour, and should you go 
 away . . ." 
 
 " Princess, you are mistaken ! " 
 
 " Cherie, do not give me my title. I cannot guess of what 
 mistake you are talking." 
 
 Pani Walewska, in answer, rushed to her dressing-room and 
 returned with the crumpled letter. 
 
 "Here is my answer! Read and learn what I should fear 
 before all things." 
 
 The Princess took the letter with an indulgent smile, glanced 
 at it, and became confused. 
 
 " Permit me, my dear child. 'N!' Who is ' N ' .> Is it M. de 
 Noailles .'' Undoubtedly it is he. I recognise his style. Un- 
 bearable ! He does not leave any lady in peace ! I shall tell 
 him. Then it is this letter that excited you so much } " 
 
 Pani Walewska nodded affirmatively ; the Princess laughed 
 heartily. 
 
 " This letter ! Ha ! ha ! But, my dear child, you do not 
 know our world ! A proof of frolicsome homage, innocent 
 levity — an occasion for joking. You are beautiful enough to 
 receive a score of similar declarations every day. Then M. de 
 Noailles has already found you ! He has good taste, but only 
 yesterday he was courting Anetka." 
 
 "If the question were about M. de Noailles, I should know 
 myself how to give him a good lesson." 
 
 The Princess looked attentively at Pani Walewska with her 
 dark, uneasy eyes.
 
 138 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Then you say that the 'N ' does not mean . . ." 
 
 "The letter was brought to me by the Grand Marshal of the 
 Court." 
 
 "Duroc?" cried the Princess with emotion. "Is it possible.'' 
 Then you suppose that the letter 'N' . . .}" 
 
 " Duroc's words put an end to all my doubts." 
 
 The Princess was so moved by this news that she could not 
 speak. Only after a long silence she sighed ; then she took 
 Pani Walewska delicately by the hand and clasped her to her 
 bosom. 
 
 Pani Walewska replied to this evident proof of sympathy by 
 tears. 
 
 " Ckere Marie ! Excuse me, forgive me — it must hurt ! Ah ! 
 how could I suppose ? It is true that there was some ground 
 for supposition, but I never thought it would come so soon ! 
 Permit me to kiss you." 
 
 Pani Walewska responded heartily to the Princess's loud 
 kisses, feeling, in the meanwhile, how unjust she had been to 
 her husband's sister, how unfounded was her prejudice against 
 her. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the Princess rubbed her eyes with a hand- 
 kerchief, cleared her throat solemnly, and said, looking at the 
 letter — 
 
 " It is a formal declaration ! You should keep it — it may be 
 very valuable." 
 
 Pani Walewska opened her eyes, which were full of tears, 
 wide. 
 
 The Princess hastened to explain. 
 
 " You must keep this letter; believe my experience ! I knew 
 Pani Grabowska as I know you ; my aunt was Aurora Konigs- 
 mark's friend." 
 
 "But permit me . . ." 
 
 " My dear ! allow me to explain everything to you. Be 
 frank ; I think you should trust me. Not only because of 
 Anastazy I wish you Avell. I always loved your family, and I 
 well remember your late father. Speak, speak, my dear! tell 
 me how it was — from the beginning! At the ball yesterday 
 I noticed , . but even M. de Pćrigord doubted. . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska, in a trembling voice, began to relate all the
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 139 
 
 details of the first meeting with the Emperor, and then the 
 conversation with Duroc, the incident of the bouquet, and at 
 last the Marshal's violent invasion of her room. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife spoke with feeling, and did not 
 notice either the Princess's smiles nor the incredulous move- 
 ment of her head nor the expression of indulgent surprise 
 around her mouth. 
 
 Pani Walewska stopped from time to time ; then again tor- 
 mented by the sentiments whirling in her, spoke with bitter- 
 ness, complaining of her fate, of her spoiled youth, of human 
 malice persecuting her, of the world of which she was always 
 afraid, and from which she wished to run away. 
 
 The Princess did not interrupt Pani WalcAvska ; she allowed 
 her to say everything, to shake off the burden of thoughts 
 crowding in her head, and only when Pani Walewska became 
 silent, searching in the Princess's face for sympathy, the latter 
 smiled still more sweetly, kissed her sister-in-law still more 
 loudly, and said in a tone of motherly remark — 
 
 " How simple you are ! how noble ! I admire you, my dear 
 child ! I love you a hundred times more, seeing you so pure ! 
 Permit me to kiss you ; only, to-day, you were too impetuous. 
 You might have answered, especially when the Marshal asked 
 you to express your wish. What a pity you did not ask for 
 time to think things over. You might have asked my advice. 
 You know how much Anastazy needs the Court for his plans." 
 
 Pani Walewska grew pale. 
 
 " But he cannot use this means ! " 
 
 " Child, child, and once more child ! you do not know life ! 
 Vraiment, tu est ires difficile ! I do not know how to explain to 
 you ! H'm ! Have you confidence in me .'' Do you believe 
 that I should like to see Anastazy happy } Then give up the 
 plan of your departure ! Remain ! " 
 
 "Then am I going to expose myself to insults such as to- 
 day's ?" 
 
 " Can homage paid to a woman by a most powerful Emperor 
 be called an insult ? " 
 
 " I cannot call such a letter as this homage." 
 
 The Princess became sorrowful. 
 
 " Chcre, do not look on things from the point of view of your
 
 140 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 chambermaids in Walewice. There are superior reasons, in the 
 presence of which you should give up your subhme intentions 
 even towards Anastazy. I will tell you more : he himself would 
 not permit that you should guide yourself by such small con- 
 siderations. You must apply another measure. Chere Marie, 
 I cannot explain to you all that at once. Have confidence in 
 me. Do not be irritated at Duroc. The Emperor wished to 
 express to you his benevolence — there is nothing in that. 
 Everything depends on your tact. Then^ I will take care ol 
 you — be sure that I shall know how to protect you in case ol 
 need. Only give up the absurd idea of going away." 
 
 "But first of all I will tell everything to Anastazy — he shall 
 decide ! " 
 
 The Princess shook her hands in despair. 
 
 " What nonsense ! Without any reason you wish to disturb 
 his peace; and what for .J* If you arouse apprehensions in him, 
 you will in the meanwhile fill him with bitterness and aversion 
 tOAvards the Com-t. Anastazy is impetuous ; he might say some 
 hard words and offend his Majesty. Do you understand his 
 Majesty.'' Marie, I very Avell understand your noble sci-uples, 
 but at the same time I am afraid for Anastazy, for the whole 
 family, especially after that incident Avith Herceau." 
 
 "I did not give any cause for it." 
 
 "I am persuaded, but you were careless. Herceau was 
 courting you. Gorayski evidently has some old illusions, and 
 the thing was done. . . . The only advice — do not change any- 
 thing; be indifferent, and do not attract attention. It will, it 
 must pass if you do not go away." 
 
 " Anastazy will decide about that ! " 
 
 " But he does not wish to return to Walewice." 
 
 " Because he does not know anything. I shall tell him at once." 
 
 The Princess was frightened. 
 
 " Marie, think it over ! Although he is my brother, but . . . 
 but ... I am not blind. He is ill, irritable ; you will expose 
 youi'self to his reproaches ; you will arouse in him . . ." 
 
 '^'^It may be, but I have no otlier way." 
 
 " Then permit me ! Yes, I will have a talk with him ; I will 
 explain to him. He trusts me ! You cannot do it 1 He will 
 listen to me i "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 141 
 
 Pani Walewska hesitated to accept this unexpected help. 
 
 The Princess insisted more and more energetically^ depicting 
 to Pani Walewska all the perils of a dispute with an oldj ill, 
 and impetuous husband. 
 
 "Anastazy may suspect you ; he may not only take you 
 away^ but shut you up in some convent. At his age the man 
 is unmanageable ! He would not let you speak ; he would 
 condemn you before you would be able to explain everything 
 to him ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska dropped her head. 
 
 The Princess spoke the truth. The Chamberlain's custom 
 was to refuse to listen to his wife ; from her one word he would 
 often spin out very improbable deductions ; he judged her 
 before listening to her ; he sentenced her, not allowing her to 
 defend herself. 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska understood her power over the Cham- 
 berlain's wife, and when the latter still was not willing to 
 consent to the Prmcess's speaking on her behalf, she rang 
 for the servant, and having learned that the Chamberlain had 
 just returned home, she rose quickly and went to her brother's 
 apartment. 
 
 Pani Walewska had not even the courage to ask the Princess 
 where she was going, nor strength to stop her. The thought 
 of a conversation with her husband frightened her. In her 
 ears resounded the Chamberlain's sarcastic laughter, his hoarse 
 voice and drawling snuffling. She felt the maHcious look of 
 his small glassy eyes ; she saw red spots coming out on his 
 cheeks and forehead from beneath a layer of powder, and she 
 heard streams of insulting, humiliating reproaches, in which 
 he would speak of every piece of bread eaten by her family 
 in his house, every penny given to keep the rest of the 
 Kiernosia estates, and would insist that he, a decrepit old 
 man, exhausted by fast living, ill, half dead, had conferred on 
 her a favour by stooping down to her beauty, youth, pure 
 thoughts, and immaculate sentiments, and would reproach 
 her with being unable to appreciate the happiness to be found 
 in the sickly ardour of a drawing-room dandy of forty years 
 ago ; would complain because where the Chamberlain felt a 
 dangerous draught she enjoyed the breath of the fresh wind ;
 
 142 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 because what tired him^ did not have the same effect on his 
 young wife ; because she was not as apathetic as he was ; because 
 her heart throbbed with pure sympathy for every noble or great 
 deed; because she was healthy, and could not even comprehend 
 that awfully persistent headache which so often visited her 
 husband. 
 
 Therefore, when after a long Avhile Pani Walewska heard the 
 rustling of a silk frock, and then the sound of her husband's 
 cough, she was so frightened that she could not raise her eyes, 
 she was afraid to look at the Princess lest she might read in 
 her face the announcement of that storm which she expected 
 for certain. 
 
 The Princess, in the meanwhile, having guessed her sister-in- 
 law's uneasiness, adroitly left the Chamberlain behind, and 
 coming swiftly to Pani Walewska, kissed her effusively, and 
 whispered — 
 
 " All over, and very satisfactorily ! Do not say anything, do 
 not explain anything ! Anastazy was moved . . . very much 
 moved. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska could not dominate her surprise. 
 
 "Then he consented to go away.''" 
 
 " Child ! he is coming ; leave that to him and to me." 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife had not time to answer ; her husband 
 was already before her, smiling at her as he only did when he 
 was very satisfied. 
 
 "Well, there was some unnecessary disorder in the house? 
 What? ..." 
 
 " Elle est si nerveiise !" said the Princess. 
 
 The Chamberlain moved his head kindly. 
 
 " Nothing has come of that ; I have given orders to unpack 
 the boxes. It was very well, very well that you sent the 
 Princess to me. I am awfully pleased. I find in that a proof 
 of commonsense and affection ! Very well ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at her husband with gratitude. Almost 
 never before had he spoken so kindly to her. 
 
 The Princess smiled imperceptibly, and winked at Pani 
 Walewska. 
 
 "I appreciate that," concluded the Chamberlain solemnly. 
 "I am very agreeably frappć."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 143 
 
 " I did not expect anything else from Marie ! " said the 
 Princess triumphantly. 
 
 " Certainly, certainly ! one cannot wish for anything better." 
 
 "\ have always been telling you so." 
 
 The Chamberlain did not understand what the Princess had 
 been telling him, but, as he was in good humour, he nodded 
 affirmatively, and, wishing to attribute to himself some merit 
 in the matter, said pompously : "If I had not seen that she 
 would be worthy of Colonna Walewski, I should never have 
 married her ! " 
 
 " Then we must think about the dress for to-morrow's dinner 
 party." 
 
 "The blue dress with gold stars ! " decided the Chamberlain. 
 
 Pani Walewska could not conceal her terror. " What, then, 
 after all that happened, we are going to Prince Borghese's .> " 
 
 "Undoubtedly! we are invited; we are among the few 
 selected guests. It is impossible to refuse ; and then, nothing 
 extraordinaiy has happened. The partisans of the Potockis and 
 the Dombrowskis will gnash their teeth. Gauvion asked me 
 a great many questions to-day! The temporary Government 
 will be dismissed any day ! To-morrow, indeed, some important 
 steps will be taken." 
 
 "Anastazy is right," rejoined the Princess precipitately. 
 "You must be present." 
 
 " But suppose Duroc again } . . ." stammered Pani Walewska. 
 
 "Be calm ... do not take things so seriously. . . ." 
 
 "Neither take to yourself that which is addressed to somebody 
 else!" added the Chamberlain gravely. "With time you will 
 learn the Court's subterfuges. And now . ." 
 
 " Remember that we also remember you ! " ended the Princess 
 solemnly. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked hesitatingly at her sister-in-law, and 
 asked : " Does Anastazy know everything 'i " 
 
 " Naturally." 
 
 "About the letter, too?" 
 
 The Princess laughed heartily. 
 
 "What a child she is still! I repeated word for word. , , . 
 Pray, Anastazy, look how becoming that uncertainty is to her. 
 Tres hien ! . , ."
 
 144 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Chamberlain rapped his snufF-box and half closed his eyes. 
 
 ''^ Countess de Vaiiban !" declared Baptiste's voice suddenly. 
 
 The Chamberlain turned to his sister. 
 
 "I said that the Poniatowskis are cringing. What .'' H'm . . •" 
 
 " We must receive . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska made an impatient movement. 
 
 "I would prefer to avoid this visit." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "I am not well. . . ." 
 
 " Marie ! You do not know Vauban." 
 
 "H'm . . . perhaps it would be better not to receive!" re- 
 joined the Chamberlain suddenly. " Let them know . . ." 
 
 The Princess shrugged her shoulders. 
 
 "Then you do not know that betv/een her and Pepi every- 
 thing 3is over ? Entii'ely. . . . They preserve appearances, and 
 both are ł^nly seeking how to break altogether ! She was always 
 well disposed towards us. ..." 
 
 "That may be, but as Marie is not disposed . . ." interfered 
 the Chamberlain, 
 
 '^'Then permit me to receive her instead of Marie. One 
 cannot act otherwise with Vauban. You do not know her, you 
 do not appreciate her merits. . . . One cannot slight her. . . . 
 Therefore I am going. . . . Show the Countess into the blue 
 drawing-room." 
 
 Baptiste bowed and went out. The Princess folloAved him. 
 
 The Chamberlain having remained with his wife, made a 
 grimace, and, balancing himself on his heels, said : " I do not 
 know what she sees in that withered Vauban ! Apparently all 
 is over ! We know that Poniatowski has broken with her 
 several times ! And now — well, it is clear, he is afraid of the 
 shadow of the Bourbons ! . . ." 
 
 " Bourbons ? " repeated Pani Walewska, trying to understand 
 her husband. 
 
 "Yes . . . French emigration! Vauban is and was the 
 Prince de Ligny's tale-bearer. If he were to act ... in a 
 word, an interrupted chain reaching Louis ! Ho ! ho ! Well, 
 and Pepi ! Ha ! ha ! Machiavelli ! and a good one too ! " 
 
 " Pi-ince Jose})h .'' " 
 
 The Chamberlain pufl'ed up his lips.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 145 
 
 " Prince Joseph ! Simply Poniatowski ! Do you think that 
 the late King had not enough bother with him? He was 
 intriguing continually ! I know something about it ! Well, he 
 wished to be powerful, but there were some people Avho did not 
 allow it. Count Szczensny Potocki warned the King. And not 
 he alone, there was some one else ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain cleared his throat significantly. 
 
 "Pepi was always intriguing," continued the Chamberlain, 
 "and he wishes to do the same now, but he will not succeed. 
 The Emperor knows whom he should trust, and if he does not 
 know then there is some one who will warn him. They think 
 that their time has come, but they are mistaken ! Colonna 
 Walewski is still living ; Colonna Walewski will dwarf their 
 intrigues ! " 
 
 " But thei*e is nothing of importance going on." 
 
 The Chamberlain trembled with indignation at that modest 
 remark. 
 
 " Yes, for you, for you, there is only a reception in the Castle, 
 a ball at Talleyrand's, a dinner at Prince Borghese's, and 
 then a bouquet from Duroc, and a quadrille with the Emperor. 
 . . . What does not fall on your head, you do not see. 
 Poniatowski wishes to push himself to the front. He sends 
 the Countess to spy . . . and you ..." 
 
 "I did not wish to receive her." Pani Walewska tried to 
 justify herself. 
 
 " You did not wish ! . . , Fine policy ! Country statesman- 
 ship ! Another woman would catch the advei'saries' plans, dis- 
 cover plots, penetrate into their most secret thoughts, and you 
 . . . nothing ! You are only afraid that the Emperor may not 
 fall in love with you. You have dreamed about the fairy tale, 
 about Cinderella ! Nonsense ! No judgment ! no co-operation ! 
 Useless . . . useless trouble ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain made a contemptuous movement with his 
 hand, and went out mumbling. 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed freely. The reproaches made by 
 her husband were not new ones. She had become accustomed 
 to them, but never before had she felt so hurt as to-day. 
 
 Her husband's views never seemed so shallow to her as to- 
 day, and the boldness of his accusations, made of other people, 
 L
 
 146 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 so impudent. For what meant his continual threatening and 
 boasting ? Why did he trifle with her fears ? Why did he^ her 
 husband, try to refer that pursuit begun by the Marshal of the 
 Court, and perhaps not by him alone, to the desire of winning 
 him to the Emperor ? 
 
 Was it possible that she did not understand Duroc's inten- 
 tions and the looks addressed to her at the ball ? Could it be 
 that she owed everything, from the never-to-be-forgotten words 
 pronounced at the meeting at Jabłonna to the Grand Marshal's 
 last appeal, to her husband's name, to the illustriousness of his 
 family ? Was she really mistaken ? Was her husband right ? 
 But suppose he wished to use her influence ? 
 
 Pani W^alewska wanted to shake off that insulting suspicion, 
 but the thought returned obstinately, and was strengthened by 
 the recollection of his ideas of Court life, and the stories re- 
 lating to the romantic life of Cosel, Orzelska, Koenigsmark, 
 and Grabowska. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife looked into the mirror and became 
 ashamed of her own imagination. She became ashamed of the 
 pride which taught her to despise the title of favourite, of 
 the honesty which could not bear duplicity, of her faith in the 
 sanctity of marriage, of the sincere modesty which did not 
 permit her to see either her own beauty nor the charm of her 
 eyes, nor the fascination of her smile. 
 
 Notwithstanding all that, the crumpled letter and the 
 Marshal's assurance did not cease tormenting her, arousing her 
 resentment against her husband, her sister-in-law, and all 
 around her, who, notwithstanding her readiness to escape the 
 net thrown over her, notwithstanding her desire to escape even 
 the suspicion of the Emperor's favours, notwithstanding her 
 wish to hide from the insulting way of gaining the husband 
 through his wife, weakened her vigilance and forced her to 
 remain and face the peril. 
 
 Pani Walewska' s grievance grew into an unpleasant amaze- 
 /nent, and hurt her self-esteem. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife did not like her husband, but she 
 had grown accustomed to him, and received all his caprices 
 with submission. And although the Chamberlain's despotism 
 was not easy to bear, it nevertheless showed an old man's love.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 147 
 
 the continual care, the cupidity of an avaricious man who 
 trembled for his treasure and was awfully jealous over it. 
 
 Up to a short time before. Pani Walewska was obliged to be 
 very careful, for any word, any question, caused an avalanche of 
 suspicion and reproaches. 
 
 And now, when she almost asked her husband for protection, 
 when she herself warned him about the peril, when she wished 
 to escape that world in which every word, every look, every 
 bow of the men, were snares for the woman, he trifles with her 
 warnings ; he does not show even that egotistical love ; he even 
 considers her as not worthy of jealousy. 
 
 The Princess's entrance interrupted those thoughts. The 
 Chamberlain's wife looked at the Chamberlain's sister with 
 displeasure. The Princess seemed to be very sorry. 
 
 " Marie ! I importune you ! I interrupt your moment of 
 quiet ! And you need it so much ! so much I " 
 
 " It is true," answered Pani Walewska drily. 
 
 " Do you see how I understand you ? . . . but Vauban , - . 
 begs that you will not refuse her the pleasure of seeing you ! 
 She is very devoted to you ! " 
 
 The Princess half closed her eyes as if thereby to emphasise 
 Mme. de Vauban's devotion. 
 
 " But, if I remember well, I have only seen her twice in my 
 life, and I do not know if we have exchanged half a dozen 
 words." 
 
 The Princess sighed. 
 
 " My dear child, how superficially you take everything ! 
 You should hear with what enthusiasm Vauban spoke of you ! 
 She did not have an opportunity, but she always felt with you. 
 Then you do not believe in the sympathy of hearts ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska did not know what to answer to that. 
 
 "It may be, although ..." 
 
 " You must receive her ; you ought to. In spite of every- 
 thing she has a splendid past on her side ! They gossip about 
 her, but nobody can deny that she is a woman of the world, 
 that she has the best and the most refined manners, that she 
 comes of an excellent family. She comes first to you ; she 
 disregai'ds etiquette, she who only sends cards to ladies of the 
 best families in retui-n to their visits. Even if , . . then you
 
 148 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 should not show yourself to be ungrateful. I told her that j'ou 
 are not well. She was very sorry ; she almost had tears in her 
 eyes." 
 
 "I do not know how I deserved . . ." 
 
 " Chere Mane, do this for me ! You have not the right to 
 reply to such hearty spnpathy by a commonplace phrase. 
 Receive her ; it is your duty to receive her ! " 
 
 "But even Anastazy . . ." 
 
 "He is momentarily prejudiced, and undoubtedly he will 
 change his opinion. Vauban did not like him — ah ! it is very 
 unpleasant to admit — but she was right. We may be frank 
 with each other. One cannot consider your marriage as well 
 matched. Up to now Vauban was angry Avith Anastazy because 
 of that. And, if I do not share her opinion, it is because 
 egotism does not permit me to think that you are a stranger, 
 that you do not belong to our family. It seemed to me that 
 even if those bonds did not exist, even then our relationship 
 would not be changed, would not be less hearty, less sympathetic." 
 
 Here the Princess kissed Pani Walewska noisily on the fore- 
 head, and before the latter could answer she rang for the 
 servant. 
 
 "Princess . . ." 
 
 " Nothing, nothing ; leave that to me," answered the Princess, 
 precipitately, and, perceiving the chambermaid at the door, 
 she ordered : " Show the Countess in here." 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife became sorrowful. 
 
 " Is it proper .'' If it is absolutely necessary I will go to the 
 drawing-room." 
 
 " No, no ! On the contrary ! You will please the Countess ; 
 it Avill be a proof that you welcome her heartily by setting aside 
 etiquette. . . . Permit me . . . here is the Countess. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska turned her head towards the door, at which 
 stood Mme. de Vauban, and made a few steps forward, wishing 
 to greet the new-comer ; but the latter prevented her, and, 
 rushing with long steps, stretched her arms to Pani Walewska. 
 The Chamberlain's Avife had not time even to say a word before 
 Mme. de Vauban's hands began to press hers, and the Countess's 
 lips began to kiss Pani Wale^^^ska's face. 
 
 " I am awfully thankful ! Pray, believe me ! I have long
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 149 
 
 looked for an opportunity ! " whispered Mme. de Vauban^ con- 
 tinuing her kisses and huggings. 
 
 " I also ! " answered Pani Walewska mechanically, dazed 
 both by the perfume emanating from Mme. de Vauban and by 
 the outburst of unexpected cordiality. 
 
 Here the Princess deemed it proper to take out her fine 
 handkerchief^ and to move it from her nose to her eyes, and 
 then to sigh with relief. 
 
 " How happy I am ! " 
 
 "Be seated ! " said Pani Walewska, ridding herself at last of 
 Mme. de Vauban's embrace. 
 
 The Countess took Pani Walewska by the hand, and con- 
 ducted her to a sofa near the window. 
 
 " Here we shall be comfortable." 
 
 The Princess was moved. 
 
 " How glad I am ! I am going to leave you, for I do not 
 wish to be in your way ! I am sure you have many things to 
 tell each other." 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife looked at her sister-in-law with 
 despair, trying to make her understand that her presence would 
 facilitate the conversation with Mme. de Vauban, but Princess 
 Jabłonowska sent a kiss, winked significantly at the Countess, 
 and went out. 
 
 Pani Walewska, being left with Mme. de Vauban alone, was 
 sincerely embarrassed, not knowing how to begin the conversa- 
 tion, or what to talk to her about. All the stories she had 
 heard about Mme. de Vauban's unbridled life came to the 
 Chamberlain's wife's mind, and the thought that she was in 
 the presence of a woman who had long been an oracle of 
 elegance, fashion, and refinement, intimidated her. Moreover, 
 Pani Walewska felt Mme. de Vauban's inquisitive, intruding, 
 assured look, which magnetised and made her powerless. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban, however, hastened to break the silence. 
 She drew nearer to Pani Walewska, put her arm delicately 
 round the waist of the Chamberlain's wife, and said gently : 
 "Pray raise your little head." 
 
 Pani Walewska hesitatingly fulfilled the Countess's wish. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban fell into admiration mingled with a shade 
 of commiseration.
 
 150 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " What beautiful eyes ! What a complexion ! Permit me to 
 kiss you ! You have no idea how much I care about your fate, 
 how well I understand every one of your thoughts. Perhaps it 
 seems to you strange that I should fall suddenly into such 
 a familiarity . . . but I always guide myself by presentiments. 
 Permit me to express m3self in French. I love your language, 
 but I do not know it as I should like to. ..." 
 
 " Oh^ pray ..." 
 
 " What a charm ! What simplicity in every word ! One 
 must not only love you, but also admire you ! Then one must 
 look into your heart. O Lord ' Do I not see what is going 
 on in your noble heart.'' Do I not guess how deserted it is, 
 how longing for sympathy ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska dropped her head ; the Countess's words 
 entered directly into her heart, and the shade of sympathy 
 trembling in Mme. de Vauban's voice sounded attractive ; only 
 the perfumes dazed her, only the Countess's hand, holding her 
 hand, seemed very cold. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban, after a short pause, leaned to Pani Walew- 
 ska's ear and whispered — 
 
 " I have a greeting for you from some one ! Chevalier de 
 Gorayski." 
 
 ''Thank you ! " 
 
 " He is better, although the wound is a dangerous one." 
 
 "Then it is true what they said, that yesterday . . ." 
 
 " Quite true. He spent a very bad night. A sword-thrust 
 ... he suffers very much . . . one does not know how all that 
 will end. . . ." 
 
 " Is the wound so dangerous } " 
 
 " In the first place the wound, and then mixing in the affair 
 of the field gendarmery ; and besides, the Emperor's name was 
 mentioned several times during the fray. . , . One may fear 
 serious responsibilities. Gorayski was not prudent. Herceau 
 passionate as usual." 
 
 " Poor Gorayski ! " 
 
 Mme. de Vauban pressed Pani Walewska's hand. 
 
 " How painful ! " 
 
 " Undoubtedly . if he had to suffer. . . ." 
 
 " No, one cannot allow tliat ! To-day I am going to beg the
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 151 
 
 Prince . . . Pepi must find out the truth ; the Prince of Berg 
 is fond of him, or, if necessary, he will go to the Emperor him- 
 self. , . . We shall do everything. One must protect him . , 
 it is our duty." 
 
 Pani Walewska made a movement of uneasiness. 
 
 ''Excuse me, but I do not understand." 
 
 "So much the better," answered Mme. de Vauban, with 
 animation. " You must not expose yourself . . . you ought 
 not ! Leave Gorayski to me ; I shall do everything in my 
 power. . . . One must act quickly ! He loves you very much." 
 
 Pani Walewska blushed. 
 
 " Excuse me for having touched such a delicate point." 
 
 " You are mistaken — I am Gorayski's friend." 
 
 "But I understand all that. You knew each other from 
 childhood ; you found out when it was too late. , . . You have 
 been very strong ; he is crushed by pain ; jealousy devours him ; 
 he suffers because you are not happy, because at the price of 
 such great sacrifices you have not purchased even quiet for 
 yourself. He suffers doubly." 
 
 " I did not give him any reason." 
 
 " I am sure of it ; it is difficult, however, not to appreciate 
 such an attachment, especially in surroundings which understand 
 us so little, so little ; it comprehends not our desires, thoughts, 
 longings. ... I often thought of you, I often wondered. The 
 emptiness into which you were pushed would break the strongest 
 woman. What a strength of mind you must have ! " 
 
 "But what threatens Gorayski?" asked Pani Walewska, 
 whom Mme. de Vauban's veiled words began to irritate. 
 
 The Countess moved her head sadly. 
 
 "Truly, I do not know what to say. There was a quarrel. 
 Herceau saw a rival in Gorayski, and he did not see the third 
 person. Some words offensive to his Majesty were spoken. It 
 is true that the w^orth of such a majesty may be questioned. 
 . . . Herceau has disappeared. Gorayski, wounded, could not 
 run away ; the whole responsibility will fall on him ! Bonaparte 
 does not forgive easily ! " 
 
 "Then if that is the case, there is a great mistake. I can 
 assure you that the Emperor has not a greater admirer than 
 Gorayski. He is devoted to him body and soul ; he was the
 
 152 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 first to join the guard of honour ; he persuaded the young men 
 to follow his example." 
 
 Mme. de Vauban smiled indulgently. 
 
 " It is true^ it was so yesterday ! It w^as so undoubtedly. 
 For could he imagine that that admired conqueror^ great com- 
 mander, powerful iisurper, could think of taking away his only 
 treasure, the heart of the Avoman for whom he had sacrificed 
 so much ? . . ." 
 
 " Madame, I do not understand all that." 
 
 " Natui'ally. Is a beautiful and pure flower conscious of its 
 charm ? Does a star know the strength of its light ? All admire 
 it, all bend their knees ; the troubadours sing their songs, the 
 poets tune their lutes, the knights put on their armour and 
 fight, and she shines majestically, quiet for ever, unconscious of 
 it all ! " 
 
 "A very beautiful comparison, but I cannot guess . , ." 
 
 Mme. de Vauban bent over Pani Walewska, pressed her hand 
 more closely, and said with emphasis : " Then you do not even 
 guess the sentiment you have aroused in Napoleon?" 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife grew pale, but not losing her self- 
 control, made a negative movement with her head. The 
 Countess looked at her coolly. 
 
 " I was sure of it ! Well, then, the Emperor loves you madly ! 
 He loves you as a man does who has not much time for love. 
 He thinks of you constantly; he repeats your name continually! 
 He torments Duroc ; he leaves Corvisart no peace. He, who 
 until now trampled on everything, who was accustomed to 
 break every obstacle, to overthrow every State, he is humble ; 
 perhaps . . . he would not hesitate to give you half of his life, 
 to sacrifice his power, if he alone could kneel at your feet and 
 look into your eyes ! . . ." 
 
 "Why do you speak in that way to me?" asked Pani 
 Walewska in a whisper. 
 
 " Because I wish to show you the terrible peril hanging 
 over Gorayski's head. I wish to help you in this difficult 
 moment of your life ! Ah ! you do not need either to justify 
 yourself or explain anything to me. I guess your painful 
 surprise, your hurt ambition, and the loveliness which you feel 
 now more keenly than ever ! Do not deny it. I know how the
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 153 
 
 Prince of Friul treated you ! It was shameful of him ! The 
 only thing that justified him is infatuation ! To people like 
 him, the name of Napoleon is sufficient to make them forget 
 all considerations, all divine and human laws, to make them 
 wonder that anyone dares to oppose any scruples, any ideas, 
 any principles to Bonaparte. Yes, he acted in good faith, and 
 he did not suppose that he would be justly defeated ; he did 
 not foresee that he would be an unsuccessful messenger. Dear 
 Mary ! — permit me to call you by your name — I learned all this 
 by accident ! I will tell you that the whole Court is stirred up ; 
 they are trying to find some means to persuade you how unwise 
 you are. They are searching for a way ; they would like to 
 win you ; they tremble that their master may frown, that he 
 may scold them, because they cannot be useful to him in this 
 matter. Just imagine, they came to me ! Why should I con- 
 ceal it ? A while since Duroc called on me ; he begged me, he 
 besought me to use my influence with you ! Blind man ! Would 
 I undertake such a humiliating role ! I could hardly get rid of 
 the bore ! But what is the most amusing is that the Marshal 
 almost by force persuaded me to take a letter for you ! Here 
 it is ! You guess from whom it is .'' " 
 
 " Pray, return it to the Marshal." 
 
 Mme. de Vauban laughed. 
 
 " Ah ! what for } You can easily make believe . . . that you 
 do not understand its contents ! It is true that I never supposed 
 that the cifoi/en Bonaparte was so sentimental ! Only listen: 
 'Madame, — Perchance this third letter may produce more 
 effect. Have I deserved to be treated thus } It is not I, but 
 you that came to me, and having taken my heart, you run 
 away, you hide yourself, you avoid me ! Have you a right to 
 refuse me that morsel of happiness which would be given to me 
 if you answered but one word ? ' Very well written, is it not .''" 
 
 Pani Walewska was tearing her handkerchief nervously. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban became grave. 
 
 " Pray, do not be angry with me for an involuntary joke ! I 
 perfectly understand that this latter has a very serious side ! 
 It is an aggression ! It is true that the Emperor is justified, 
 for you stood first in his way. But has he any right to ask you 
 to sacrifice yourself even because of that ? "
 
 154 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife trembled. 
 
 " Did you come here to torment me ? — to disturb the rest of 
 my peace ? " 
 
 Mme. de Vauban closed Pani Walewska's mouth with a noisy 
 kiss. 
 
 "Noble^ worthy, good, and beautiful! "she said enthusiasti- 
 cally. " I wanted to have you always so. I imagined you so ! 
 My presentiments did not deceive me ! You alone are able 
 to think and to act in this way ! I am so proud and happy at 
 it ! In our times it is an unusual phenomenon, known only 
 from tales and novels ! Excuse my boldness ! I permitted 
 myself to be carried away by a malicious suspicion ; I dared to 
 test you ! That letter was really written by the Emperor, but 
 your principles are stronger, higher than his crown, than his 
 victorious eagles ! Command — I can do much ; I will strain all 
 my forces to help you ! " 
 
 In Mme. de Vauban's words there was such warmth and such 
 sincerity that Pani Walewska was moved ; the tears shone in 
 her eyes. It was long since anybody had spoken to her with 
 so much heart. 
 
 " You are so good ! I would like to justify myself. . . ." 
 
 " You have done so already. Yes, dear Mary, it is not only 
 to-day that you have begun to fight — your heart and your duty 
 have long struggled ; any woman in your place would have 
 found many excuses to surrender. Even should you weaken 
 now, it would not lessen your great qualities. The situation is a 
 very difficult one, but we shall succeed, provided we act quietly 
 and with prudence ; we shall find the means. . , ." 
 
 " I would like to leave, to escape, but they will not allow 
 it ! " complained Pani Walewska, who could not control herself 
 any longer. 
 
 "And it is well that you should remain. Remember that 
 for him distance does not exist. . . ." 
 
 "Then you suppose . . . ?" asked Pani Walewska, who re- 
 membered Duroc's words. 
 
 " Everything ! From him one may expect the worst. . . . 
 However, here in Warsaw, in case of need, you will undoubtedly 
 find support, help ; here he must count with public opinion. 
 Only you must not lose courage."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 155 
 
 " Give me advice ; what shall I do in order to avoid his 
 attacks? I have been trying in vain for several days to find 
 some means. . . . You should have heard the Marshal to-day. . . . 
 How sorry I am for that stupid curiosity which made me go to 
 Jabłonna; but could I think . . . The Emperor aroused enthu- 
 siasm in me — nothing else ! I had a talk with the Princess ; 
 she told my husband all about it. I thought that they would 
 allow me to withdraw^ but they do not ; they simply try to 
 persuade me that I am mistaken. You are the first person who 
 tells me that my apprehensions are not groundless. . . . Yes, 
 I am not mistaken. ... I wish I were. . . . Because I would 
 not . . . for the greatest favours, for any riches, for anj-thing 
 in this world. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed nervously. 
 
 "What am I talking about? But I am not accustomed to 
 your world. ... I am afraid of all of you. ..." 
 
 "But, dear child — that world is not so frightful — you will 
 see. . . ." 
 
 Mme. de Vauban kissed Pani Walewska again. 
 
 " What ideas, what sad thoughts ! . . . A little courage, and 
 your life will be strewn with roses, which are due to your 
 beauty. ..." 
 
 " What are you aiming at ? " 
 
 " Ah, at nothing ! simply a presentiment that fate cannot be 
 so cruel for you always. . . ." 
 
 " I do not expect anything from it. If only it had such 
 surprises in store for me. ..." 
 
 "Do you wish to avoid them? Then listen to me."
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE conversation with Madame de Vanban gave courage 
 to Pani Walewska. She told the Countess about all her 
 apprehensions^ and she found indulgence and appreciation ; she 
 threw away the burden of thoughts that were crowding upon 
 her, and now she looked quietly into the future. 
 
 Madame de Vauban kept her promises ; she protected Pani 
 Walewska so well, that, thanks to the Countess's influence, the 
 Chamberlain's wife was at once freed from her husband's tire- 
 some control and the Princess's intruding remarks. The 
 Chamberlain, who until now had disliked Madame de Vauban 
 very much, and accused her of intriguing for the Poniatowskis, 
 suspecting her, not without reason, of sympathy with the 
 Bourbons, did not even try to resist the Countess's absolute 
 rule, and her rule was so sudden that Pani WalcAVska herself, 
 the same day, could not imagine how she could live without 
 the good-hearted and indulgent Countess. 
 
 Madame de Vauban would not leave the Chamberlain's wife 
 even for a moment, and guessed every one of her wishes. One 
 word was sufficient ; therefore, Madame de Vauban gave her 
 servants the strictest oi'ders that the Chamberlain's wife would 
 not receive anybody ; the slightest creak of the Chamberlain's 
 boots announcing his coming to his wife's apartment, made 
 Madame de Vauban rush to him and stop him at the door. 
 
 It was sufficient for Pani Walewska to doubt whether her 
 blue dress was becoming to her to make Mme. de Vauban 
 declare in a most solemn manner, although the Princess insisted 
 upon its being worn, that the frock was too loud, and that the 
 black dress was the only one that would suit Pani Walewska's 
 beauty, and also represent the seriousness with which she was 
 preparing to arm herself. 
 
 156
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 157 
 
 From hour to hour Pani Walewska's confidence in the 
 Countess increased so much, that when towards evening Madame 
 de Vauban was going to leave, the Chamberlain's wife regretted 
 her departure sincerely, and besought her to keep her promise 
 and come the next day to accompany her to Prince Borghese's 
 dinner-party. 
 
 When the Countess was gone, when Pani Walewska reviewed 
 in her mind the whole day, when she remembered that until 
 very recently she had been prejudiced against Mme. de 
 Vauban, and that she could not refrain from a malicious smile 
 at the sound of her name, she felt a kind of regret, a kind 
 of pricking of her conscience. 
 
 She was so unjust, she had judged her so superficially, so 
 lightly, she had spoken of her so injuriously ! It was true 
 that she could not deny certain facts. . . . 
 
 Monsieur de A^auban's strange position towards Prince Joseph 
 Poniatowski, and then those strange stories. . . . Who knows 
 who was guilty ? Sometimes life is so strange ! A slander 
 sticks so easily to a woman ! The best proof of it was herself. 
 She had not sinned even in her thoughts, and, notwithstandmg 
 that, what an amount of persuasion she was obliged to use in 
 order to convince that noble-hearted Countess that she felt 
 nothing for Gorayski but pure friendship, that she grieved over 
 his unshared sentiment for her, that perhaps she had been 
 guilty of a Httle bit of coquetry, but that she had never loved 
 him, and that even her badly-assorted marriage had not aroused 
 in her either a desire of emotions or a longing after love. 
 
 Madame de Vauban' s incredulity in that respect, her in- 
 quisitiveness about Gorayski, seemed to Pani W^aleAvska to be 
 intrusive. As to the rest, she saw in the Countess reflections of 
 her own thoughts, ideas, views and opinions ; and that reflection 
 was so strong, so many-sided, so complete, that it seemed to 
 Pani Walewska that she had lived with the Countess years and 
 years, and that at last she had found in her a dear and sincere 
 friend ; that now her isolation was ended, and that at every 
 moment she would have advice, help, and hearty sympathy. 
 
 Pani Walewska had long wished for such a friend. 
 
 For a long time she was very fond of Jeannette Radziwil, 
 whom she had met at boarding-school : but Jeannette^ notwith-
 
 158 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 standing her affection for Pani Walewska, hurt her very much 
 by her aristocratic ideas ; and then Jeannette dishked deeper 
 thought and wider horizons. 
 
 When, after several years of separation, she again met 
 Jeannette, she con\dnced herself that, notwithstanding an 
 apparent cordiality, she could now less than ever understand 
 the young Princess ; that she was disappointed with her, and 
 therefore she did not try to enter into her friend's soul, and to 
 make their friendship lasting. 
 
 Amid this isolation and uncertainty, when she so much 
 wished for a hearty word, Mme. de Vauban appeared. 
 
 Pani Walewska thought that the Countess must have some 
 secret aim ; that she came to her prompted by something 
 different from that sympathy which was so difficult to describe. 
 She almost read insincerity in Mme. de Vauban's face ; she 
 could distinguish false tones in her voice ; she felt that her 
 hands were cold, but, notwithstanding all that, she did not 
 hesitate to accept the Countess's friendship. 
 
 Pani Walewska's face burned with the desire of confession, of 
 finding an echo to her thoughts and apprehensions. She did 
 not ask whether the person who was offering the refreshing 
 drink had some secret aim in doing so. She di*ank the cup and 
 felt better. She was alone, forsaken, bound by her husband's 
 pettishness, who looked in every box, every drawer ; and at 
 last, thanks to the help of the Countess, she could breathe 
 freely. 
 
 Only yesterday she was afraid of her husband's valet, who 
 had an influence over his master, and who knew how to use 
 it in order to annoy her. Now she was mistress, and it was 
 thanks to Mme. de Vauban. 
 
 Pani Walewska did not try to find what means Mme. de 
 Vauban used in order to assure her entire independence. She 
 knew only that Mme. de Vauban had had three long talks with 
 the Chamberlain, that the Princess was present during the 
 conversation, and that the result was of great importance to 
 herself. 
 
 After that day, so full of impressions and changes. Pani 
 Walewska rose earlier than ever, put on a warm dressing-gown, 
 and began to dress, joking and teasing her chambermaid, and
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 159 
 
 trying to find out whether her independence was still lasting. 
 There were many opportunities for this. 
 
 In the first place she asked Baptiste, in the Chamberlain's 
 name, whether he was going to serve breakfast ; said that 
 she would not go to the dining-room, and that she would have 
 it served in her apartment. She sent away Joubert, who came 
 by her husband's desire. She did not receive Pan Ksavery's 
 wife, who called on her. She ordered the portraits of her 
 husband's first two wives to be taken from her boudoir and 
 hung in the dining-room. Only on one occasion her joyfulness 
 was stopped. A big bouquet of violets was handed to her, with 
 an explanation that it was brought by a grenadier of the 
 Guards, and that the Chamberlain sent it to his wife. 
 
 Pani Walewska, without hesitation, ordered the bouquet to 
 be returned to the grenadier, with an explanation that she was 
 not well, and that she could not bear the perfume of the violets. 
 
 When the chambermaid had gone with the bouquet. Pani 
 Walewska regretted her impulsiveness, for she was persuaded 
 that her husband would be very angry, aud would not permit 
 such an excuse. 
 
 But the maid returned and told her that " his lordship made 
 a grimace, but ordered her to carry out her ladyship's wish." 
 
 Pani Walewska could hardly believe it, and she told the 
 servant to repeat the answer again, and to relate to her all the 
 details that accompanied it. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife felt something like gratitude towards 
 her husband for respecting her wish, and not even attempting 
 to change the form of her answer, as formerly he would have 
 done. 
 
 After that small cloud. Pani Walewska's beautiful face 
 brightened up with peace and confidence. She did not bother 
 herself about Prince Borghese's dinner-party. She would 
 not be there alone. Mme. de Vauban would accompany her, 
 and with her she could look boldly into the eyes even of a 
 whole regiment of such Durocs. Then she would be able to 
 find means to get rid of his confidences, for now she had her 
 own will. And if the Emperor — then she would tell him what 
 she thought ; with one word she would cut off all his hopes ; 
 and he — he is too chivalrous, he must carry his head too high, he
 
 160 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 must be too proud not to be magnanimous^ noble ! Who knows 
 . , . suppose there should be an opportunity — she would tell 
 him about Paul. He had long deserved a captain's epaulettes, 
 for he had served in the Polish legions for two years. He was 
 already a lieutenant ; he had twice been reported for advance- 
 ment. . . . Ah ! if she could ! What a joy it would be ! . . . 
 She would say to the Emperor: "Your Majesty/' or simply, 
 "Sire ... I am not begging for a favoui*, but I ask you for 
 justice ! " 01-, "Sire . . . permit me to sjieak in favour of one of 
 your officers." 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed heartily at that thought. If only 
 she could have an opportunity, she would tell him — she must 
 tell him ! Paul \rould be so happy ! — so happy ! 
 
 She was happy too. She sat at a spinet, played a few 
 chords, and began to sing a gay French song. Her voice, at 
 first low and timid, came forth from her throat fuller and fuller, 
 bolder and bolder, till finally it resounded with its natural 
 metallic sonority. 
 
 An innocent song, playful, flitting like a butterfly, vibrating 
 with longer and longer, deeper and deeper sounds. Pani 
 Walewska's lips repeated the words of the song, and its melody 
 seemed to be an unconscious, thoughtless confession of her soul. 
 In her singing there was something of rustic simplicit}^, full of 
 unconscious longing, and something of the song of a bird hidden 
 in a bush. The sun beams with golden rays, the earth breathes 
 with balmy verdure, and the bird sings affectingly, confiding to 
 the echo its secret sorrows that vibrate in every trill. 
 
 Pani Walewska sang without knowing why Prince Ornano's 
 expressive face appeared L-efore her mind, why his voice was 
 coming to her in a mysterious whisper ; why she saw Gorayski, 
 and why she connected Duroc's voice with him; Avhy the modest 
 country house in which she was born was shining Avith lordly 
 magnificence ; why she heard the rustling of Imden trees at 
 Wale wice. 
 
 The subdued laughter of Mme. de Vauban startled Pani 
 Walewslca, v/ho rushed from the spinet almost ashamed, and 
 greeted the Countess. 
 
 " You sing like a shepherdess ! What a lovely gift ! " 
 
 ''Ah, to pass the time. . . ."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 161 
 
 "On the contrary ... I listened to the whole song . . . very 
 romantic indeed." 
 
 ^'Let us not talk about that. I am so glad you came, for 
 I must tell you frankly that I feared your kindness, which I have 
 not deserved, was only a dream." 
 
 Mme. de Vanban was moved by such affection. 
 
 " You have no idea what a pleasure it is to me. I dreamed of 
 having some one like you to myself. . . . Well, we have time. 
 I ordered my frock to be brought here— it would be awful to be 
 separated again." 
 
 " I do not know how to thank you." 
 
 " Dear child, it is rather I who should thank you. Tell me 
 about yourself. I wish to know everything — what 3'ou were 
 thinking of, what you were doing. About everything. When I 
 got back home I was afraid that, after having thought things 
 over, you would think me eccentric ; that my sincere desire to 
 become friendly with you at once would make you think that I 
 am intruding ! I do not recognise myself! Imagine to yourself, 
 I did not believe in a friendship between two women, and I did 
 not try to prove that my belief was wrong. There is such in- 
 sincerity and falsehood in our world — but you have attracted me 
 at once, you are so sincerely childlike. Do you remember v/hen 
 we met at the Potockis or Gutakowskis after j^our wedding?" 
 
 ^'At the Wojczynskis ! " corrected Pani Walewska, who at once 
 recollected the moment when, at their first meeting, Mme. de 
 Vauban deigned hardly to nod to her, and having looked at her 
 from head to foot, turned av/ay. 
 
 "^ Ah, yes, at the Wojczynskis. I could not forget that moment ; 
 I felt towards you sometliing that cannot be defined ! " 
 
 The Countess ended these reminiscences by a warm kiss, and 
 began to riddle Pani Walewska with questions. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife told her all that had happened that 
 morning, leaving the story of the bouquet to the end. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban listened very attentively to Pani Walewska's 
 confidences, approving indulgently of everything, and only Avhen 
 she heard how the Guard Avas sent away she became suddenly 
 sad, and sighed. Pani Walewska was confused, and hastened to 
 justify herself. 
 
 " Could I act differently .'' I did not even ask who sent the 
 
 M
 
 162 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 bouquet. I do not wish for such homages, neither have I the 
 right to receive them." 
 
 " Yes . . . but one never refuses flowers." 
 
 " Never } " 
 
 " YeSj my dearest, for flowers not only personify remembrance, 
 but also respect and worship. I do not know where I have read 
 that the most cruel gods consider flowers to be the most agree- 
 able sacrifice ! As it seems, the cruel and merciless eyes of the 
 Gorgon grew kinder at the sight of a flower. A flower pays 
 homage by its touch ; a flower cannot harm — it is pure even when 
 people tiy to express their thoughts by it ! From a flower there 
 always breathes nobleness of nature, it always brings beauty to 
 mind." 
 
 " But sometimes it hides poison ; it makes one dizzy." 
 
 Mme. de Vauban half closed her glassy eyes. 
 
 '^ If one does not know how to handle it ; if one leaves it in 
 a closed bedroom ; if one searches in it for that which it does 
 not contain." 
 
 "Yes, but I was afraid I should find in the bouquet another 
 letter." 
 
 "Why should you look for it.''" answered Mme. de Vauban 
 drily. 
 
 "But . . . involuntarily. . . ." Pani Walewska said in defence. 
 
 "Then one could pretend that one did not find the letter." 
 
 "Yes ... it is true! although it is difficult to dissemble." 
 
 '•But one must, one must, my dear child ! I admire you just 
 the same . . . then you are not even anxious to learn who sent 
 the bouquet?" 
 
 "Yes, very much!" Pani Walewska returned. "Only I did 
 not dare to ask, I trembled from fear to hear the name." 
 
 " Whose .^" 
 
 "The Emperor's." 
 
 Madame de Vauban made a movement of impatience. 
 
 " Then you were afraid that such an honour might happen to 
 you ! Excuse me, but I do not understand you ! You know 
 that your Emperor will always be for me General Bonaparte, 
 but I must say that it is very noble on his part. Notwithstand- 
 ing everything, he is to-day the personification of might. And 
 this ruler, whom your own country proclaimed a demigod.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 163 
 
 humiliates himself, he uses a flower, which alone can be his 
 interpreter, which alone can explain his thoughts, which means 
 more than a thousand servants, than millions ready to die when 
 he frowns, than a forest of bayonets, than that might which 
 made the foundations of the world tremble ! How poetic ! . . . 
 Tell me, is it possible that such homage, such honour, such 
 respect paid to you, could be unpleasant to you, could not 
 attract you, could insult you ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska rubbed her forehead as if wishing to chase 
 away the thoughts crowding into it. 
 
 " You see that already you have some doubts ! Yes, yes ; one 
 accepts a flower always and from anybody — but it is done. For 
 the future we shall be kinder. Although pei-haps it is well 
 that you did not accept the bouquet ! I imagine that, if it was 
 sent by the Emperor . . . the Marshal reports ..." 
 
 "You must not speak in that way to me." 
 
 "Why not .'' On the contrary, the thing is worthy of thought. 
 Do you know that I am persuaded that your refusal will pro- 
 duce a contrary effect." 
 
 " How is that ? " 
 
 " It would be very natural ! a little knowledge of human 
 nature ! The Emperor conceived a sympathy for you — do not 
 deny it — and tries to express it. Until now he has been 
 accustomed to everybody submitting to his will, but he finds 
 resistance in you. A small circumstance, but sufficient to irri- 
 tate him and to ai'ouse in him a desire to conquer the 
 opposition." 
 
 Pani Walewska grew confused at that logical deduction. 
 
 " Then you suppose . , ." 
 
 "That if a woman, knowing the art of coquetry, would like 
 to arouse in somebody a more durable sentiment, she would 
 undoubtedly act as you do ! " 
 
 " But my intentions could not be doubted ! " 
 
 " By me ; but people — and then the question is not about 
 them, but about the result ! " 
 
 " No, you are mistaken ; you must be mistaken ! Otherwise 
 it would be dreadful for me ! The Marshal cannot doubt ! " 
 
 " Yes, but I repeat that there is no question of doubts, but of 
 the spirit of contradiction, of that which makes everything that
 
 164 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 one gets with more difficulty, become dearer, more attractive, 
 more agreeable." 
 
 Tears appeared in Pani Walewska's eyes. Madame de Vauban 
 hastened to attenuate her predictions. 
 
 " My dear child, you must not take the matter so seriously, 
 and grow sorrowful before the time. I only want to prove to 
 you that your inaccessibility is a bad Aveapon, that your sending 
 back the bouquet was too rash ! " 
 
 " I do not know myself ... I do not give any reason ... I 
 avoid ! Perhaps I am mistaken. Then give me good advice." 
 
 Madame de Vauban kissed Pani Walewska. 
 
 " I thank you heartily for such confidence ! Do not lose your 
 self-possession. The Court laws, customs, and ways, are 
 different. Listen to me. You have not any idea how much I 
 feel obliged for your confidence ! Be certain that I shall not 
 permit you to be wronged. Only you must promise me absolute 
 obedience. To your noble nature many things may seem strange 
 and in contradiction to your ideas, but the Court is quite differ- 
 ent from the life in which you were brought up. Life flows 
 swiftly and turbulently in it, and only those come out safe who 
 swim with its stream. Yes, only those who swim Avith the 
 current come out safe ; the most daring person who wishes to 
 step across the waves is drowned. Do not be frightened, you 
 have every chance of winning. ..." 
 
 " Would it not be better to explain to my husband ? He has 
 some ambitious plans, which I cannot understand. Till now he 
 has not occupied any prominent position, and now he is talking 
 in such a way that sometimes I think he has lost his mind. As 
 it seems, the Emperor has a particular regard for him, but it 
 must be only a temporary favour, on which he builds very ambi- 
 tious plans. I ought not to talk like this to you, but I wish you 
 to know everything. My husband is not well. After every 
 long reception he is ill, and his going much into society ruins 
 his already bad health. Some one should talk to him. You 
 could do it. . . . You would know how. . . . He has no confi- 
 dence in me. . . ." 
 
 The Countess moved her head negatively, and having looked 
 attentively at Pani Walewska's beautiful face, said emphatically : 
 " You ask me impossible things ! "
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 165 
 
 "If you were willing . . I have proofs that you can do 
 much. . . ." 
 
 " Not in this case. . . " 
 
 '' Open his eyes. . . ." 
 
 " You are mistaken^ my dear child ; your husband sees per- 
 fectly well, and, if he perseveres, who knows, he may go very 
 high. . . ." 
 
 " You think it is possible ? " 
 
 " Entirely ; only, I repeat, if he perseveres. H'm ! It is not 
 easy . . . but he has chances, especially with Napoleon. Look 
 at those who surround him : he has made princes and dukes of 
 farm-boys and grooms ! Why should he, then, not give a httle 
 to the old family of Colonna Walewski } " 
 
 Pani Walewska tried to find out something more about her 
 husband's chances, but Madame de Vauban got rid of her ques- 
 tioning by a few evasive words, and having glanced at the clock, 
 she concluded : " One could spend years in chatting with you. 
 TAvelve o'clock ! We have only one hour for dressing ! We 
 must call our servants ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose. " I Avould give much if I could not go." 
 
 "And your promised obedience.''" 
 
 " Suppose the Marshal again .'' . . ." 
 
 " Ah, what does it matter ? Let him talk. Do not take his 
 clumsy compliments seriously. Adopt a half-joking and half- 
 consenting tone, and soon his apparent elegance will be ex- 
 hausted. And then I shall watch over you and help you." - 
 
 Pani Walewska rang for the servants, and ordered Madame 
 de Vauban's things to be brought in. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife's dressing-room was now swarming 
 with servants, among whom ruled two tailors from Joubert, and 
 Gaston, Madame de Vauban's coiffeur. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked v/ith astonishment at the numerous 
 servants moving with feverish haste and bringing more and 
 more boxes, and when, at last, she perceived two lackeys cai-ry- 
 ing in a big mirror, she could not refrain from saying : " Had I 
 known I should cause you so much trouble . . 
 
 Madame de Vauban smiled complacently. 
 
 " Ah, it is a trifle ! At least, they have something to do .' 
 Only I have taken your whole dressing-room."
 
 166 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "1 can dress myself in the boudoir." 
 
 '' Very well, then ! Do you see, my dear child, it is 
 habit. ... I could not get along without those things. . . . 
 Suzanne, how much time have we .'' " 
 
 " Not a full hour, Madame la Comtesse." 
 
 "Will you be in time .'' " asked Madame de Vauban, alarmed. 
 
 Suzanne moved her head doubtfully. 
 
 Madame de Vauban fell with determination in an armchair 
 before the mirror. 
 
 " Marie, hasten. Lucie will help you ! Gaston, dćpćchez voiis!" 
 
 Pani Walewska looked for a while at Madame de Vauban 
 making her toilet. She had heard often of its secrets ; her 
 husband was a proof that making a toilette was an art and 
 a very important problem ; but what she saw surprised her to 
 the highest degree. 
 
 Madame de Vauban was almost carried in her servants' arms ; 
 with astonishing adroitness they changed dressing-gowns, 
 putting on her a new one almost every minute. From a 
 downy cloak covering Madame de Vauban when her face and 
 her hands were sprinkled with rose-water, to a pale hlwe peignoir, 
 which was a sign that Gaston was to proceed to his masterpiece 
 on Madame de Vauban' s head, everything had not only its box 
 and its destination, but also its perfume. 
 
 The Countess had already changed her peignoira three times, 
 and Suzanne had not yet finished displaying different little 
 boxes, small bottles and strange hooks, pincers, knives, brushes, 
 and cosmetics. The concentration with which Pani Walewska 
 looked on at those mysterious preparatives and doings, attracted 
 Madame de Vauban's attention. 
 
 " Marie, it is time ! " remonstrated the Countess, looking 
 hesitatingly at the box of paint handed to her by Suzanne. 
 
 '• I shall be in time." 
 
 Madame de Vauban made an impatient movement. 
 
 " Yes . . . but then, excuse me, my dear, I cannot talk with 
 you now." 
 
 Pani Walewska understood the delicate allusion and entered 
 her boudoir. When she passed Lucie, she noticed in her hand 
 large locks of hair similar in colour to that of Madame de 
 Vauban.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 167 
 
 Pani Walewska felt uneasy, almost guilty towards Madame de 
 Vauban at the discovery of such a secret. 
 
 In the boudoir. Pani Walewska's chambermaid was waiting 
 for her with a box containing jcAvels of the family of Walewski. 
 
 "His lordship sends this, and begs her ladyship to choose 
 according to her taste." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked indifferently on the glittering contents 
 of the box, and having ordered it to be returned to her husband 
 with thanks, began to dress. 
 
 The maid, however, returned again with the box. 
 
 "His lordship begs that her ladyship will take at least the 
 diamond necklace." 
 
 Pani Walewska refused ; the maid left with the answer. 
 Pani Walewska had hardly time to put on a gown, when to her 
 great alarm she heard at the door her husband coughing, 
 followed by a gentle knocking. 
 
 " Marie, one word only. Impossible without the necklace ! " 
 
 " Thank you, I do not need it ! " 
 
 " How will you look .^ You must dress like the others ! All 
 the ladies will have their jewels — undoubtedly ! Pray, do not 
 be obstinate ! Ask Madame de Vauban." 
 
 "Very well, I will ask her." 
 
 " We shall wait with the Princess in the drawing-room down- 
 stairs." 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed. Those family diamonds aroused in 
 her some invincible aversion. She had worn them only a few 
 times, and every time it seemed to her that the inimical looks 
 of her husband's first two wives followed her, that those 
 diamonds had some sepulchral, cold, and cadaverous smell. 
 
 Pani Walewska had determined to oppose her husband's wish, 
 and wishing to gain at once an ally in the Countess, she was 
 going to the door of her dressing-room, when, at the same 
 moment, the door opened and Madame de Vauban appeared 
 in it. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife looked at her and was astonished, so 
 beautiful did the Countess seem. 
 
 The enthusiasm was so visibly depicted in Pani Walewska's 
 face, that Madame de Vauban smiled, guessing her impression. 
 
 " How do you like me now ? "
 
 168 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " You are beautiful ! What refinement, what a dress ! " 
 
 " And imagine to yourself, in less than a whole hour ! Suzanne 
 has accomplished an impossibility. What a talent ! . . ." 
 
 The Countess advanced^ Pani Walewska looked at her with 
 increasing attention, and she could not explain to herself some- 
 thing which made her admire Madame de Vauban at the first 
 glance, but which now made her look like an old portrait of 
 a withered lady that hung in her husband's room, and hardly 
 had she become accustomed to that impression when that double 
 of the portrait changed into a mask, set over a dressed lay 
 figure. 
 
 Madame de Vauban did not notice that change of impression 
 in Pani Walewska, and began, in her turn, to look at her 
 attentively. 
 
 " H'rn ! Pray, turn to the light. Black velvet ! Too serious ! 
 It needs something . . . round the neck. . . . Perhaps you 
 have amethysts ? They would be becoming to you. I am sure 
 you have amethysts. ..." 
 
 ^'No, not for anything in the world. You must not ask 
 me. . . ." 
 
 " But I cannot ! The neck is bare ; it is lost ! Do you under- 
 stand, my dear child, it is lost, and it must not be." 
 
 Pani WalcAvska took a thin gold chain. 
 
 " I will take this chain. . . ." 
 
 "You are stubborn. Well ... I have an idea . . , per- 
 haps it will make an impression. . . . Suzanne ! Powder ! 
 You will look more interesting . . . black dress , , . paleness 
 . . . only the eyes ... I will put Venetian drops , . . they 
 v.ill make your eyes fiery." 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered with avei'sion at the sight of the 
 powder. 
 
 « No, thank you ! " 
 
 " My dear child, you v/ill make an impression." 
 
 "\ do not wish to please anybody." 
 
 " Very well, but you ought to have an expression of sadness 
 vi ith melancholy ; the Venetian drops will undoubtedly produce 
 the effect. . . ." 
 
 " If you have the slightest sympathy for me, permit me to 
 remain as I am."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 169 
 
 Madame de Vauban tried still to persuade Pani Walevt'ska ; 
 but having met with decided opposition, she gave in, and even 
 promised to defend her in case her husband should insist on 
 her wearing the diamonds. 
 
 In the meanwhile, in the drawing-room downstairs, the 
 Chamberlain and the Princess waited, sending servants every 
 little while and urging the ladies to hasten. The Chamber- 
 lain's impatience increased with every moment of waiting. 
 
 "We shall be too late!" he said anxiously to his sister. 
 "And it is the fault of that . . . that . . ." 
 
 " But Vauban has the best intentions. ..." 
 
 " I have seen that since yesterday ! She spoils her ! I am 
 patient, but only for a time. She acts as if she were in her own 
 house, and should it last longer ..." 
 
 The Princess answered with indifference — 
 
 "Just as you please." 
 
 The Chamberlain looked hesitatingly at his sister, 
 
 " You yourself have persuaded me , . ." 
 
 " Not of this, that Vauban will be able to win the confidence 
 of that treasure of yours, or to prepare her for such an impor- 
 tant role. . . ." 
 
 " I do not ask for that. I see, however, that her teaching 
 begins by trifling with me, by opposition. . . ." 
 
 "Vauban has her plans! If she wishes to realise them, she 
 must make some concessions." 
 
 " Well, I had make a mistake ! You have assailed me v/ith 
 your persuasions ; I have given in, and nov/ I regret ! I did not 
 need that help." 
 
 "^You can get rid of it very easily." 
 
 "You say so, but you hold on to your ideas. As it is, it is not 
 we who need her, but she who needs us." 
 
 " Yes, if your wife had moi'e experience, who knows . 
 It is your fault ; you kept her closeted ; you would not show 
 her. . . ." 
 
 " It was your advice. . . ." 
 
 " I did not suppose that you would go as far as that.'' 
 
 " So ! . . . Then, perhaps, I should have taken her to the 
 Poniatowskis ? " 
 
 " I would not say that ! If you intended to withdraw for
 
 170 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 ever from public life, then your wife's seclusion would have 
 had some common sense. To-day, you see, she may have 
 influence ! " 
 
 " I do not wish for too much ! " 
 
 " Ah, one must not go far in surmising. Favour of thć 
 Emperor, who is exceedingly severe on love intrigues ! Why 
 not take advantage, when I assure you Talleyrand himself, 
 when I wanted to find out what you could expect, told me 
 precisely : ' I cannot tell you everything, for Madame 
 Walewska's own word can change even the Emperor's de- 
 cision'.'' Those are M. de Perigord's words. Fancy! Innocent 
 feebleness ! Marie is simply lucky ! Therefore if she knew, 
 she could do much ! Anetka, although she is not friendly, 
 assured me that Marie is at the head of the ladies invited to 
 the Court ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain lifted himself on his tiptoes and puffed 
 out his cheeks — his face brightened up. He, however, con- 
 cealed the imjDression made on him by such an honour, and 
 was already going to answer indifferently that he did not 
 see anything extraordinary for the family of Walewski when 
 Madame de Vauban and Pani Walewska entered the drawing- 
 room. 
 
 "At last ! " cried the Princess joyfully. 
 
 " My fault ! Joubert was too late ! We may be going ! 
 Marie will come with me." 
 
 "But who will conduct her to the drawing-room ? " asked the 
 Chamberlain. 
 
 " Prince Borghese receives, and then you can follow us 
 closely. We have so much to tell each other." 
 
 "Yes, yes!" interceded the Princess. "We must not lose 
 time. Marie, let me kiss you ! Dear child ! I am yours with 
 all my heart ! Countess I admire your taste." 
 
 Madame de ^'^auban being persuaded about her exquisite 
 taste, stretched herself and turned round, giving a chance to 
 the Princess to admire Joubert's masterpiece. 
 
 "Charming!" said the Princess, and having bent a little 
 forward to Madame de Vauban whispered to her : 
 
 " What a horrid mourning frock she has put on." 
 
 "One must be heroic to put up with it all," answered the
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 171 
 
 Countess, also in a whisper ; and looking towards Pani Walewska, 
 she said aloud — 
 
 " Do you not find that our dear Marie looks very interesting ? " 
 
 " Beautiful ! What refinement in that simplicity ! " 
 
 "And how becoming is the black velvet to her pale face. 
 Chamberlain, you ought to congratulate ..." 
 
 The Chamberlain came to his wife with far-fetched gallantry, 
 kissed her hand and said in a whisper : " You know my opinion 
 about Dombrowski's partisans ; therefore, should you have 
 an opportunity, say something. One must make an end 
 of them. Say that the temporary Government is very 
 much disliked, that the members of it do not deserve such 
 honour. . . ." 
 
 " I — I have to speak, with whom .'' " 
 
 " Only with the Emperor himself. . . . Not a word to any- 
 body else. . . . One does not know where there may be 
 treachery. . . . Do not trust even that. . . . You must be 
 careful. . . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain cleared his throat, satisfied with himself 
 that he had succeeded in reminding his wife about his political 
 opinions, and in the meanAvhile in pointing out to her the 
 principal aim to which she should direct her efforts. 
 
 Pani Walewska could hardly understand her husband's sudden 
 exhortations ; but there was no time for elucidation, for the 
 Princess and Madame de Vauban urged them to hasten. 
 
 The servants put fur cloaks on the ladies. 
 
 Baptiste wrapped up the Chamberlain in shawls and furs. 
 
 "Then, we are going first, Marie. Follow us!" concluded 
 Madame de Vauban, and went out, followed closely by Pani 
 Walewska, her husband and the Princess. 
 
 Madame de Vauban's carriage rolled on swiftly. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife had hai-dly any time to exchange a 
 few words when she found herself in the presence of smiling, 
 elegant, and pretentiously solemn Prince Borghese. 
 
 Pani Walewska was so taken aback by the impetuous and 
 clumsy compliments of the Prince, that she could not find an 
 answer to them. Madame de Vauban, however, came to her 
 help, and not only found an excuse for their coming late, but 
 also learned that the Emperor was expected only in about an
 
 172 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 hour's time, because of the arrival of the courier from Sebas- 
 tianie the Empei-or's ambassador at Constantinople. 
 
 That news permitted Pani Walewska to recover her self- 
 possession, for the mere idea that at any moment she might 
 meet the Emperor's piercing look had taken her courage 
 away. 
 
 In the meanvv'hile, in the drawing-room another surprise was 
 in store for her, which irritated her very much. 
 
 Hardly had she appeared, leaning on Prince Borghese's 
 arm, when all his guests rushed to meet her, and, rustling with 
 silks, clanking with spurs, and bowing, surrounded Pani 
 Walewska, and there was no end of greeting, bows, hand- 
 shaking, compliments, v>ords full of enthusiasm and submission. 
 
 Grey heads, haughty toiipets and smooth v/igs, all bowed to 
 Pani Walev/ska. 
 
 Martial faces tried to be serene ; grimaces which expressed 
 friendship and cordiality twisted even such cold and unexpres- 
 sive faces as that of Marshal Davoust, or such proudly quiet 
 ones as that of Małachowski. 
 
 Pani Walewska did not even try to answer all those homages. 
 
 She became purple, the breath stopped in her spasmodically 
 heaving breast, fear whirled in her head, awful, merciless, 
 irresistible conjectures overcame her, exclamations, greetings, 
 and particularly emphasised words poured towards her. 
 
 " Toiijonrs exqtdse !" whispered Countess Potocka, half closing 
 her eyes. 
 
 " You appear to us like the morning star before the sun ! " 
 muttered Count Lubieński. 
 
 " Dear Mary, you do not imagine what joy it is for me ! " 
 exclaimed Countess Moszyńska. 
 
 " To look at you means to be hajijjy ! " said Murat pom])ously, 
 shaking the plumes of his swaggering hat. 
 
 " Do you rememl)er me .'' I am Breza," spoke a tall man, 
 bending his thick neck with difficulty. 
 
 " Do you not recognise Gutakowska ? I remember you since 
 you were a child." 
 
 " I have greeting for you from Jeannette." 
 
 " I am very glad." 
 
 " Your humble servant ! "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 173 
 
 " We have intended foi* a week past to call on you." 
 
 " Let me kiss you ; improper^ but I cannot forbid my heart." 
 
 Madame de Vauban^ watching over Pani Walewska^ deemed it 
 necessary to free her from those homages^ and whispered a few 
 words to Prince Boi'ghese, who nodded affirmatively, and con- 
 ducted the Chamberlain's wife to a place where a few armchairs 
 stood under a column. 
 
 Pani Walewska sat in one of them. Madame de Vauban 
 occupied another, and the crov.-d of guests moved and scattered 
 for a moment, and then surrounded her again. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife could not refrain from a remai-k, and 
 whispered to Madame de Vauban. 
 
 " I do not understand the reason of all this ? " 
 
 "You do not?" repeated the Countess, with such a voice 
 that Pani Walewska shivered, for it seemed to her that she 
 heard the same voice now in herself, and that Madame de 
 Vauban's cold and sneering voice was the echo of that other 
 voice. 
 
 "No!" whispered Pani Walewska mechanically. 
 
 The Countess covered herself with her fan in order to conceal 
 her smile. 
 
 " My dear friend, you are surprised ! Well, these people are 
 playing at a court, and they try to follow the thoughts and looks 
 of their master. ... If you prefer, they perhaps expect power 
 in your influence ! " 
 
 " Then these people . . ." 
 
 "Are very clumsy, are they not? For, speaking between 
 ourselves, it is impossible to revive the splendour of the Louis 
 with sansculottes. Ah, those Frenchmen who are here ... It 
 is simply painful. But, pay attention. Prince Borghese is 
 conducting the Austrian ambassador to us ! You can see in 
 him a man who frequents a true court. . . ." 
 
 " General Vincent ! " introduced Prince Borghese. 
 
 The General bent in a respectful bow. 
 
 " Madame, I consider it an honour. ..." 
 
 " We are glad ! " graciously answered Madame de Vauban, 
 showing to the ambassador the armchair beside Pani Walewska. 
 " If I am not mistaken, you arrived only yesterday. Directly 
 from Vienna ? Our small world must seem strange to you ? "
 
 174 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Is it small ? " quietly answered the ambassador, weighing 
 every word as was his custom. "As it seems, the bigger is 
 here." 
 
 " For those who wish to have it so." 
 
 "Or who must!" added the ambassador with a double 
 meaning, and, as if wishing to lessen too strong an expression, 
 he said sententiously : " We are living in feverish times, in 
 which history chooses small places, and proves unexpectedly 
 that there, where she walks ..." 
 
 The Countess laughed. 
 
 " You are thinking of Ajaccio ! I have only learnt that it is 
 possible be born there. How is Count Stadion.?" 
 
 The Austrian General looked inquisitively at Madame de 
 Vauban, for he did not understand what the name of the Prime 
 Minister meant in her mouth, and said abruptly: "Thank you, 
 the Count, as usual, is very busy." 
 
 "Should you have an opportunity, pray assure him that I 
 count the time spent in his house among the most pleasant 
 moments of my life. And how is the Countess ? I heard she 
 was very ill." 
 
 " She is better." 
 
 "The Prince de Ligny told me so in his last letter, but he 
 was afraid of a relapse." 
 
 " I am very grateful. Count Stadion will be pleased at your 
 solicitude." 
 
 " It is not solicitude, it is something that remains in my 
 soul. ..." 
 
 The General nodded, and, caressing the green plumes of his 
 hat, looked discreetly towards Pani Walewska, who so far had 
 not taken any part in the conversation ; and when Madame de 
 Vauban ended another still more pompous sentence concerning 
 her memories of Vienna, the General turned suddenly to the 
 Chamberlain's wife. 
 
 " It seems the Emperor will be late ? " 
 
 " A courier from Constantinople from General Sebastian! 
 kept his Majesty," answered Pani Walewska quietly, glad that 
 she could answer without any effort. 
 
 Vincent made a movement. 
 
 " Are you certain .'' "
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 175 
 
 " Prince Borghese told me so. Am I mistaken ? " 
 
 Madame de Vauban made a grimace. The ambassador looked 
 round uneasily. 
 
 " I see, General, that you take advantage of an introduction^" 
 resounded Prince Borghese's voice from one side. 
 
 Vincent rose slowly. 
 
 " I could not find Avords to express my gratitude ! " 
 
 " Then you surrender ! You understand that even diplomacy 
 must be defeated here." 
 
 " Entirely. To the splendour of the gathering, nothing but 
 Majesty is lacking.' 
 
 "Soon!" said the Prince. 
 
 "General Sebastiani has chosen a bad moment/' said the 
 General, negligently adjusting the riband on his white uniform. 
 
 Prince Borghese smiled, trying to understand what Vincent 
 knew about Sebastiani. 
 
 "A . . . Sebastiani.^" 
 
 " Well, yes, for he sent a courier on the day and hour of your 
 reception. 
 
 Prince Borghese wanted to laugh, when the severe voice of 
 the Secretary of State, Maret, sounded beside them. 
 
 "General, you are mistaken." 
 
 Prince Borghese grew confused, looking with uneasiness at 
 Maret. 
 
 " I do not think so," answered Vincent coolly, " for a short 
 time since a courier from Constantinople arrived. Prince, am I 
 not right.'' " 
 
 "Courier.^ I do not know anything — I have not heard," 
 stammered the Prince, feeling upon him the inquisitive look of 
 one of the most faithful satellites of Napoleon. 
 
 "Such being the case, I must justify myself and say that I am 
 repeating what you. Prince, told Madame Walewska." 
 
 The Emperor's brother-in-law reddened, and looked angrily at 
 the ambassador. 
 
 "The Prince thought that such an explanation was plausible," 
 said Maret coolly. " A courier goes directly to the Emperor's 
 study ; nobody knows or can know anything about him ; just as 
 nobody has anything to do with the instructions received by you 
 to-day from Count Stadion — the said instructions being the
 
 176 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 result of the endeavour of the well-known adventurer Pozzo di 
 Borgo." 
 
 The ambassador tried to conceal the perpendicular wrinkle 
 that appeared against his will on his forehead. Prince Borg- 
 hese dropped his head like a boy caught in some mischief 
 
 ISIaretj however, did not take advantage of the ascendency he 
 had gained, but turned the conversation on the brilliancy of the 
 impending review of the troops, and having attracted to the 
 group Count Stanislaus Potocki, who was just passing by, he 
 withdrew towards Pani Walewska. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife was just listening to Anetka Tysz- 
 kiewicz's friendly effusions, v.ho, with her usual fluency, spoke 
 at once about the bother caused by Murat, who had his quarters 
 in her palace, and about the expected arrival of the Turkish 
 ambassador, and about Pani Gutakowska's old-fashioned frock, 
 and about Herceau's violence, and about her love for art, and 
 about the late king's cook. Tremo, who refused to superintend 
 the dinner for Prince Borghese. 
 
 Maret bowed to Pani Walewska, greeted Madame de Vauban 
 and Anetka Tyszkiewicz with a few kind words, and stood 
 behind the Chamberlain's wife's armchair. 
 
 At the sight of Prince Bassano, Anetka whispered to Pani 
 Walewska — - 
 
 " My most hearty congratulations ; there is no doubt what- 
 ever ! Maret is behind you. ..." 
 
 "May I ask about what you are talking — although if it is a 
 secret . . . ?" asked Prince Bassano. 
 
 Anetka smiled cunningly. 
 
 " No, it is not a secret, and even if we had a secret you would 
 know it by the right of your office. Ah, I pity you ! To pos- 
 sess so many secrets, so much State news, and not to be able to 
 tell them, it must be dreadful !" 
 
 "Not at all ; capacity of silence suffices." 
 
 Anetka laughed. 
 
 " Is it enough ? No, no ; if I were a man I would never 
 accept the portfolio of the Secretary of State. Every time I 
 look at you, I pity you. How much mysterious news you could 
 tell ! " 
 
 " You are mistaken. The secrets I possess are usually such
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 177 
 
 that everybody who knows how to look, how to Hsten and be 
 silentj may knoAv them." 
 
 " Your modesty does not lessen your merits ! For us you are 
 the source of news." 
 
 '^'^And the shadow of his Majesty!" added Madame de 
 Vauban. "Your appearance either precedes or follows the 
 Emperor." 
 
 "Very well said^" rejoined Anetka. "Even to-day, your 
 presence here testifies undoubtedly that that horrid courier 
 from Constantinople has been sent away ! Is it not so .^ " 
 
 "You are interested in politics ? " 
 
 " I cannot deny it ! Would you refuse the diplomatic 
 functions to us women?" 
 
 "Not at all ; only not in Paris, and not with our Emperor ! " 
 answered Maret emphatically, and looked significantly at Pani 
 Walewska. 
 
 Anetka made a grimace. 
 
 "Who knows, who knows ! Your opinion does not decide." 
 
 "But at present it will not fail." 
 
 "Naturally," said Anetka precipitately. "Political abilities 
 do not go together with appearances, which are lucky if they 
 attract attention or are successful for a moment ! Marie, is it 
 not true ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska blushed, not knowing why, 
 
 "Your opinion is worthy to be remembered," said Madame 
 de Vauban suddenly. 
 
 Anetka looked at her provokingly. 
 
 " Do you think differently ? " 
 
 " It is difficult to answer in a few words. There are plenty 
 of intrigues at every Court, but often those are \dctorious which 
 were meant for quite different purposes." 
 
 Anetka turned again to Pani Walewska. 
 
 " And you, Marie ? " 
 
 "My dear, she has not your experience," said Madame de 
 Vauban coolly. 
 
 " So much the worse for her if she has not ! " answered Anetka 
 
 sharply ; and having noticed M. de Flahaut beside her, she said 
 
 with intentional exaggeration : " You wished to be introduced 
 
 to Countess de Vauban ! Chevalier de Flahaut ! I tell you he 
 
 N
 
 178 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 simply did not leave me a minute of rest. Imagine^ M. de 
 Flahaut's mother writes to him from Paris about you — you were 
 her vis-a-vis in a minuet at a ball. ..." 
 
 Madame de Vauban bit her lips. Flahaut could hardly refrain 
 from laughing. 
 
 As for Anetkaj not losing her assurance for a momenta she 
 related some details of that ball thirty years ago. 
 
 In the meanwhile^ Prince Bassano^ taking advantage of the 
 momenta bent towards Pani Walewska and asked her suddenly : 
 " Do you believe in sympathy conceived for people of whom we 
 know either but very little or nothing?" 
 
 " I have had no opportunity ..." 
 
 "Wellj I beg to assure you that at the first glance I con- 
 ceived for you a great respect. ... If you would accept a 
 friendship . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska played nervously with her fan, not knowing 
 what she could do with the minister's sudden declaration. 
 
 Prince Bassano stopped for a while as if wishing to underline 
 his intimation, and finished in a still lower voice — 
 
 "And that friendship urges me to make a remark — a very 
 friendly one : do not mingle in politics, do not permit yourself 
 to be used as a tool. . . ." 
 
 " But, Prince, you must excuse. ... I have not the slightest 
 inclination, and I understand so little, that truly . . ." 
 
 " I believe you ! " interrupted Maret precipitately. " But 
 to-day — here — in conversation with General Vincent, you told 
 him about the arrival of a courier from Constantinople. . . ." 
 
 "But Prince Borghese . . " 
 
 " I understand he committed an indiscretion, but you should 
 not have repeated that news to the Austrian ambassador." 
 
 "I must be excused. I did not think that Prince Borghese 
 would say anj'thing that might not be repeated. I am so sorry." 
 
 "Pray do not take my words so earnestly. ... I do not 
 doubt your good intentions. My friendly remark is not to be 
 despised. The Emperor hates Avomen mingling in politics." 
 
 "The Emperor!" asked Pani Walewska with astonishment, 
 looking at the minister with her big, sapjihire-like blue ej^es. 
 
 " L' Empereur ! " announced the voice of M. de St'gur, Master 
 of the Ceremonies, at the entrance of the drawing-room.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 179 
 
 Maret^ bowing, withdrew from Pani Walewska's chair and 
 went to Davoust. 
 
 There was a general movement in the room, followed by deep 
 silence, in which one could hear Napoleon's nervous steps ; he 
 was followed by Duroc, Berthier, and Talleyrand. 
 
 Having made a few steps, the Empei'or, by a slight movement 
 of his head, answered the bows greeting him from all sides, and 
 having exchanged a few words with his brother-in-law, passed 
 between the gathered people, distributing kind v/ords from time 
 to time. 
 
 Pani Walewska, surprised at the warning given to her by 
 Prince Bassano, as well as by the Emperor's sudden entrance, 
 drew nearer to Madame de Vauban, who guessed her thoughts, 
 for she answered her movement by pressing her hand. 
 
 " Courage, my dear child ! I am near you ! Anetka is bilious. 
 So much the worse for her ! I have heard what Bassano told 
 you. He is a horrid man ! Let Borghese suffer. Only you 
 must not take it to heart. Courage will do everything. Duroc 
 is coming to us ! You must not show that you remember the 
 last conversation with him ! Do not take it seriously. ..." 
 
 Pani Walewska had hardly time to tell herself that she oughl 
 not now to lose her presence of mind, and ought to turn the 
 Grand Marshal's words into a joke, when Duroc already stood 
 before her, beaming in his crimson uniform and gold em- 
 broideries. 
 
 '' Humility opens the gates of heaven ! You must attribute 
 to it my daring in presenting you my homages." 
 
 "The honour is on my side ! " 
 
 "I am so happy to see you here." 
 
 " Therefore I admire your being satisfied with so little." 
 
 "To answer your modesty by a compliment would seem to 
 offend you. Where the starlight falls, there human words are but 
 earthly noise. Countess, permit me to greet you." 
 
 " Monsieur le Marechal ! " said Madame de Vauban through her 
 teeth, in answer to Duroc's bow. " I permitted myself to listen 
 to you, and I wonder at your eloquence. You unite the polish 
 of the courtiers of Versailles to the sentiment of the trou- 
 badours." 
 
 " You are very kind ! "
 
 180 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 ''And you embarrassed Madame Walewska. For it is difficult 
 to speak as fast as you do. Moreover, our language possesses so 
 many inflections, so much subtlety and softness, that my friend 
 is afraid to compete with you." 
 
 "Very unjustly indeed, if one compares my array of words 
 with that of the eyes of Madame Walewska ; further, that 
 cleverness of words, which you are kind enough to atti-ibute to 
 me, is so feeble, so slight, that only fear can be my privilege." 
 
 " You do not look intimidated at all ! " rejoined Pani 
 Walewska boldly, Duroc's serene face having inspired her with 
 confidence. 
 
 " But it cannot be otherwise ! " 
 
 "How so .'' " inquired Madame de Vauban. 
 
 "Yes, Madame, for to lose in a fight with a Avoman means 
 sometimes more than to win. It is to die amid flowers — delight- 
 ful. Epicurean death ! And would you believe that I am 
 threatened with that sort of death ? " 
 
 " Impossible to believe it ! " 
 
 " And it is here ! In a country in which every bough, every 
 leaf, requires so much care, in order to make it appear in this 
 cold world — to die like Nero's guests, like a Roman intoxicated 
 with Falernian wine ; to die crushed by flowers, and to have a 
 ceiling overhead instead of the Italian sky ; instead of the 
 golden sun of Rome — mist, and wood burning in a fireplace is 
 worthy of commiseration ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at Duroc with curiosity, and said — 
 
 "Pray explain that entangled allusion, which undoubtedly 
 hides some witticism." 
 
 " There is no allusion, Madame ! I have not said too much ! 
 My rooms are filled up with flowers. There are more of them 
 every hour . . . from modest violets to stately camellias, from 
 delicate lilies of the valley to intruding narcissus. . . ." 
 
 "And every species, every colour, every perfume, signifies 
 another victim ! Is it not so ? " 
 
 Duroc made a grimace Avith comical seriousness. 
 
 " Countess, you are too far from the truth ! " 
 
 " Then those flowers ? " 
 
 "The brave soldiers of the Guard bring them to me, raking all 
 the greenhouses within a radius of twenty miles. And I wish
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 181 
 
 to get rid of those dizzying neighbours by sending them where 
 they are destined, to the feet before which they should be 
 strewn; but there the flowers are despised, and are not accepted." 
 
 "You have the explanation in your own words!" said Pani 
 Walewska jokingly. 
 
 " One is afraid to be dazed. . . ." 
 
 Madame de V^auban touched Pani Walewska with her fan. 
 Attentive to everything, Duroc, instead of answering, retreated. 
 
 The crowd of Prince Borghese's guests stepped aside, and 
 against the background of velvet, silk dresses, and rich military 
 uniforms, Pani Walewska beheld Napoleon following M. de Segur. 
 
 "You will be presented," whispered Madame de Vauban. 
 
 Pani Walewska grew pale, preparing herself to execute the 
 prescribed curtsey. 
 
 A moment of waiting, which seemed to Pani Walewska a 
 century, followed. She heard the voice of the Master of the 
 Ceremonies, she heard a conversation, words pronounced by the 
 Emperor to one of the ladies standing by ; she saw Talleyi-and's 
 lorgnon directed at her from behind Napoleon's shoulder, and 
 she felt how every moment attracted more looks toward her ; 
 how those looks magnetised her. Amidst the whispers she 
 distinguished Napoleon's footsteps, and in the meanwhile it 
 seemed to her that she was surrounded by a mist, that she was 
 standing in an empty space over a precipice ; and from that 
 precipice, covered with clouds, a face cast in steel, with a mouth 
 of bronze, with eyes burning like fire, was looking at her. 
 
 That face emerged from the clouds and approached Pani 
 Walewska — it advanced during hours, years, centuries, and on 
 its forehead there was written with flame-like letters : " Yield, 
 or I crush you." 
 
 Suddenly M. de Segur's purple uniform rubbed the Chamber- 
 lain's wife lightly, and in the meanwhile his sonorous voice 
 vibrated : " Madame Marie Colonna — Walewska ! " 
 
 She stood as if riveted to the ground, seeing before her the 
 abyss and the face covered with clouds. 
 
 Someone touched Pani Walewska' s shoulder ; she bent her 
 head, and entangled in the train of her dress, she retreated. 
 
 " Ah, your husband was a chamberlain of the Court ! I am 
 glad to see you ! "
 
 182 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska lifted her head and beheld the Emperor 
 before her^ looking at her serenely and smiling ceremoniously. 
 
 That smile brought her to her senses — restored her strength 
 and dissipated the vision. 
 
 "Sire!" answered Pani Walewska with her sonorous voice, 
 according to the most noble modulation of court etiquette, 
 which prescribed that to that one word should be put the fullest 
 enthusiasm for the imperial words. 
 
 Then she curtseyed to Napoleon in the most elegant way. 
 
 The Emperor turned away slowly, not paying any attention 
 to the significant movement of M. de Segur, who, according to 
 the programme, wms to present Madame de Vauban ; he came 
 to the Austrian ambassador, and said aloud : " What news from 
 Vienna, General ? " 
 
 " Your Majesty, the roads are so bad, that I do not expect the 
 courier before I receive a reply to my last note." 
 
 " But that does not hinder you from receiving news from your 
 Prime Minister." 
 
 " Sire, deign to believe that to-day it is more easy for a courier 
 to pass to Turkey thi'ough the Russian frontier." 
 
 "I do not think so," answered Napoleon abruptly. ''The 
 Prime Minister Stadion would find hindrance to communication 
 if he had avoided Austerlitz ! " 
 
 The ambassador stretched himself and lifted his head. 
 
 " I shall communicate the hint given to me to the minister 
 Stadion without any commentaries." 
 
 Napoleon made a movement of impatience. 
 
 " I do not understand, myself, v/hat is his aim ! He wishes 
 to try my patience ! The example of Prussia is not sufficient 
 for you ? " 
 
 " Sire, I am unable to understand the connection which you 
 are so kind as to see." 
 
 "I have proofs of how much your assm'ance means. You 
 received Goetz, the envoy of defeated Prussia ; you maintain 
 friendly relations with St. Petersburg through Merveldt. Is not 
 that enough ? And the army going to Galicia ? " 
 
 General Vincent drew nearer Napoleon. " I permit myself. 
 Sire, to draw your attention to my credentials, which I had the 
 honour to present. . . . My presence alone ..."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 183 
 
 "Proves everything but sincerity. You permit yourself to 
 be humbugged with the idea that you will gain an alliance Avith 
 exhausted states. You forget that on the shores of the Rhine 
 I have an army ready to back my words ! " 
 
 " I can assure yoUj Sire^ that the Austrian Court never had 
 moi*e peaceful intentions than it has to-day, and that it not only 
 intends to keep friendly relations, but also would like to stop 
 the tempest. But the Austrian Court must also remember the in- 
 tegrity of its frontiers, and must keep order within them. In the 
 meanwhile, a flame is beginning to rage here which so naturally 
 connected with the combustible materials in Galicia that. Sire, 
 my Emperor is obliged to remember the danger, especially when 
 he does not know. Sire, either your plans or the limits of your 
 declared movements ! " 
 
 Napoleon frowned, and said nervously : " It is time for you to 
 know that I keep treaties ; I have given proofs of it." 
 
 " But thei'e is no question about the treaty, but about events 
 standing beyond it." 
 
 " You have placed troops to preserve order on the frontier of 
 Galicia." 
 
 "^To what does it amount, when thousands of proclamations 
 signed by Dombrowski and Wybicki, and in your name. Sire, 
 penetrate and excite peaceful minds, encourage desertion, 
 arouse confidence in your Majesty's protection." 
 
 " It is impossible ! " 
 
 " My Emperor would like not to believe it, but Governor 
 Wurmser sends proclamations every day that he has seized, and 
 the commandant of the cordon. Count Neupperg ..." 
 
 " Enough, General ! If anything of the kind happens, it is 
 an abuse, which I shall order to be stopped. Then you can 
 assure your Emperor that if I have some plans in regard to this 
 Prussian province, I do not propose to resuscitate dead men ! 
 I think that such an answer should suffice." 
 
 ''Entirely, Sire, especially in conjunction with the preventive 
 orders which you assure me are carried out." 
 
 Napoleon nodded, and looked sharply at the group of his 
 satellites. 
 
 Prince Bassano was the lucky one Avho guessed the Emperor's 
 wish, and he came near.
 
 184 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Sire?" 
 
 " Wybicki ! " commanded Bonaparte. Wybicki came at once. 
 General Vincent discreetly withdrew towards Murata not losing 
 sight of the face of the hated agitator, the evil spirit of the 
 Viennese diplomacy of those days. 
 
 The Emperor was silent, as if pondering over something. 
 
 Wybicki stood for a while in an attitude full of respect, and 
 then said with his customary simplicity — 
 
 "You were kind enough to call me, Sire ?" 
 
 Bonaparte put his hand deeper under the uniform on his 
 breast, and asked severely : " What is the meaning of those 
 proclamations distributed in GaHcia .'' Who dares to abuse my 
 name in such a way .'' Do you wish to begin disorders again ? 
 You do not respect frontiers ? Speak ! Why do you not 
 speak ?" 
 
 W^ybicki bent under the burden of those words ; he passed 
 his hand mechanically over his forehead, and dropped his head. 
 
 "You are unable even to deny it!" scolded the Emperor 
 severely. " Perhaps you yourself favoured that madness .'' Why 
 do you not speak ? " 
 
 This time Wybicki lifted his head. There was not a drop of 
 blood in his face ; it was not pale, but yellow, like a coi-pse. 
 
 "Sire!" said Wybicki at last, dominating with an effort the 
 rattling of his throat. "Sire, when you spoke to us in BerUn 
 you said nothing about frontiers." 
 
 " For they should be respected of themselves." 
 
 "Therefore, if we were carried away by hope, then say one 
 word. Sire, and the songs of the Polish legions shall become 
 silent, and with them shall cease faith in the sacrifice of our 
 blood shed in Italy. And although because of that I shall be 
 covered with ignominy for my blind confidence and faith in 
 your power and your might, that will be easier for me than to 
 deny my brothers, or to resuscitate some of them while others 
 are plunged into hopeless darkness." 
 
 Wybicki wiped cold perspiration from his forehead. 
 
 The Emperor looked at him more quietly and more kindly. 
 
 " Then you imagine that for your sake I shall provoke a third 
 state against my army ? That I shall begin a war with Austria 
 when two armies are ready to march against me ! And do you
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 185 
 
 know what the victory at Pułtusk meant for Lannes' division? 
 One more such victory and I may be obliged to retreat. 
 Do you understand ? And then^ where are the soldiers ? 
 Where are the armies ? Where are the thousands of volunteers 
 you promised ?" 
 
 "They are coming in every day." 
 
 "But they are not sufficient to fill the gaps of my ranks. 
 Come to your common sense^ and tell the others to do the 
 same ! You must strike out Galicia from your plans, otherwise 
 you will be obliged to give up all hopes ! With Austria I am 
 bound by a treaty by which you are bound also. I admire your 
 self-sacrifice. I have good intentions towards your country^ but 
 I demand obedience ! You were overthroAvn by centuries ; 
 years might make you stand up — years, but not one day ! And 
 then, where is your strength .'' Where are proofs that the rotten 
 tree could become green again ? W^ords ! You are strong in 
 words, but you are lacking in deeds. Remember that which is 
 not in you could not be given to you by any interventions, by 
 any treaty ! " 
 
 "Sire!" whispered Wybicki, bending under Bonaparte's 
 weight of words, "then command, what shall we do.^" 
 
 " Remain within the boundaries of the Prussian provinces, 
 and then learn how to judge things quietly. Bassano ! " 
 
 Maret came to the Emperor. 
 
 " Look at Monsieur Wybicki ! Hot-headed man ! If he were 
 in your place, in one week we would have the whole of Europe 
 against us. Well, well. Monsieur Wybicki, I respect you even 
 when you are as gloomy as you are now." 
 
 Wybicki bowed. Napoleon turned to Prince Poniatowski. 
 
 The Emperor's conversation with Wybicki, and the latter's 
 emotion, did not escape the inquisitive looks of Prince Borghese's 
 guests. 
 
 Wybicki, wishing to avoid the intrusive questions that were 
 addressed to him, came to Murat, and began a conversation 
 about expected provisions for the army, but the cautious Prince 
 of Berg got rid of him with a few words. 
 
 Wybicki turned to Talleyrand, but he also cut short the 
 conversation. He was not better treated by M. de Segur, nor 
 even by Prince Borghese.
 
 186 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 The suspicion that Wybicki had lost the Emperor's favour 
 made the courtiers' necks stiff, and cooled down at once their 
 former affection for him. 
 
 Wybicki bit his lips. He was looking among French digni- 
 taries, not for a favour, not help, not friendship, but simply for 
 a moment of indifferent conversation, which would permit him 
 to cool down and to postpone a chat with Małachowski, whose 
 looks he felt, and he was certain that he would have to undergo 
 another discussion, perhaps still more important in its conse- 
 quences. 
 
 Wybicki's fears were soon justified, for before Prince Borghese 
 succeeded in withdrawing from him, Małachowski came. Wybicki 
 wished to avoid him, but Małachowski took hold of his arm. 
 
 " Have you something to say ? " 
 
 " Nothing ! Nothing now." 
 
 " I thought you had an important conversation with the 
 Emperor! Should you like to keep it secret.''" 
 
 " You know very well that I have no secrets from you. 
 Permit me, however, to think a little, that I may not say some 
 absurdity." 
 
 Małachowski conducted W^ybicki to a window, and said, with 
 trembling voice — 
 
 " I beseech you to tell me tlie truth ! You are moved ! I 
 know that you would not be so impressed with a trifle. We 
 are standing in a crossway ; one imprudent step, and we are 
 in peril ! Speak ! You doubt yourself. As for me, I fear 
 Napoleon ! He Avants soldiers, sacrifices ; he wants more than 
 Ave can give, and in exchange for that he does not even promise 
 anything." 
 
 " The game is begun ; there cannot be a question about 
 withdrawing." 
 
 " So you think ! If we have no guarantees to-day, we turn 
 elsewhere." 
 
 " Who }" 
 
 " All of us ! The whole temporary Government Avill abandon 
 Napoleon; and with us . . ." 
 
 "Nobody!" interrupted Wybicki passionately. "Nobody 
 will follow us ! Perhaps twenty, a hundred — two hundred, that 
 will be all ; the whole nation is for Napoleon."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 187 
 
 "Then you congratulate yourself on the great success! . . ." 
 
 " I did Mish him well ; and notwithstanding all^ I believe . . . 
 in the Emperor ! He must count with politics. . . ." 
 
 " With everybody but us ! " 
 
 " Our task is to show him that we also constitute a force ! " 
 
 Małachowski smiled bitterly. 
 
 " It is difficult to prove that to a man who does not wish even 
 to listen. How does he speak to us .'' How does he answer } 
 He commands^ not taking into consideration our plans. Does he 
 treat you differently — although you deserved to be trusted." 
 
 " It is true ! If we could have some one at the Court w-ho 
 could enhghten him^ who could help us^ who could frustrate 
 intrigues ! Who would be of the Court.'' ..." 
 
 " Do you think of Murat ? " 
 
 "No, no! Murat could do nothing. The Emperor appreci- 
 ates hini as a soldier, but he does not conceal his distrust of his 
 ability ! " 
 
 " And for this reason he wishes to adorn him with our 
 crown ? " 
 
 " Gossip, that is all ! I asked Maret ; he flatly denied it, and 
 he does not lie ! We must think things over. We must find 
 some one near the Emperor. I do not know, though, whom. 
 I think the best would be Prince Joseph. . . . We could come 
 to some understanding. We must not despise that means." 
 
 " Then we have come to that ! We must find such roads ! " 
 
 "Politics has its means — not always worthy, but often in- 
 fallible. We were never politicians, and to the political 
 intrigues surrounding us we opposed sentimental excuses and 
 reproaches, instead of answering with the same weapons." 
 
 Wybicki, having recovered his self-possession and feeling his 
 superiority over Małachowski, induced him to approach Ponia- 
 toAvski, who stood at the other end of the room listening 
 indifferently to Rautenstrauch's talk. 
 
 Seeing Małachowski and Wybicki coming to him, the Prince 
 stretched himself negligently ; as to Rautenstrauch, he wished 
 to emphasise his familiarity Avith the Prince, and said confi- 
 dentially to Wybicki : " I hope you will not refuse us the news, 
 for the Prince and I are both in conjectures, and do not know 
 whether it is only gossip."
 
 188 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Wybicki made a grimace, but answered, trying to be civil to 
 one of the Prince's assistants. 
 
 " I must first know the gossip, although I must tell you that 
 I am not a news-hunter." 
 
 " But the question is about the Emperor. They say that he 
 is in love." 
 
 Wybicki frowned. 
 
 " I do not wonder to hear such news from you." 
 
 Rautenstrauch reddened. 
 
 Prince Joseph hastened to defend his favourite. 
 
 "You are too impulsive," he said quietl)^ "That about 
 which Rautenstrauch is talking has all the marks of truth ! 
 You came only to-day to Warsaw, therefore you may not know. 
 Even Talleyrand does not make any secret . . ." 
 
 "One cannot trust Talleyrand. He is known for his jests." 
 
 " Madame Walewska, however^ enjoys Duroc's special atten- 
 tion." 
 
 " And undoubtedly has influence," said Małachowski, un- 
 expectedly. 
 
 " It may be ; I have heard of it, but I doubt it being 
 anything durable." 
 
 " One cannot guarantee that ! Even concluding from the 
 past, one must not be certain that that sympathy will pass 
 quickly ! " said the Prince sarcastically. 
 
 " With all that, Samson has found Dalilah at Jabłonna. Pray 
 look to the left. Duroc is constantly with her. She has 
 influence — it is certain." 
 
 "They say that she is not very clever ! Short success ! . , ." 
 
 " Although with a good guide ! Madame de Vauban is very 
 much interested in Madame Walewska." 
 
 Poniatowski looked angrily at Rautenstrauch. 
 
 "She must always have a finger in things ! " 
 
 " She wishes to live by other people's lives ! " defended 
 Rautenstrauch. 
 
 The Prince bit his lips. 
 
 "Gentlemen, be so kind as to stand near the ladies!" was 
 heard M. Philippe de Segur's voice. " M. Wybicki, his Majesty 
 wishes to have you near him." 
 
 There was a general upioar in the I'oom. Uniforms and
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 189 
 
 Court dresses moved towards frocks^ bowed and complimented, 
 spying in the meanwhile M. de Segm*'s indications as to the 
 place they should occupy. 
 
 The Master of the Ceremonies was very much embarrassed, 
 for he could not count on Prince Borghese's help ; and in the 
 meanwhile the old descent was opposed by existing rank, the 
 Emperor's likings by ambitions, mutual aversion by competition. 
 
 In order to avoid all difficulties he used a trick — that is to say, 
 that on both sides of the Emperor's chair he put people who, 
 according to etiquette, had undoubted rights, leaving the 
 remaining places to individual industry. 
 
 Therefore the Emperor was seated between Madame Guta- 
 kowska and Anetka Potocka ; further on sat General Vincent, 
 Wybicki, Małachowski, Murat and Berthier. 
 
 Opposite the Emperor were seated Prince Joseph Poniatowski, 
 the Princess Radziwil, Talleyrand, Bassano, Davoust ; at last, as 
 if by an accident, Duroc and Pani Walewska. 
 
 It was done so quickly, that before any one could grumble, he 
 heard the Master of the Ceremonies' words full of compassion — 
 
 " You are here .'' How sorry I am ! But it is Prince Borghese's 
 fault ; everybody sat where he pleased. I am so sorry ! What 
 a disagreeable situation ! . . ." 
 
 These words acted admirably. 
 
 Even the guests sitting at the further ends of the table were 
 looking towards the centre of the table with a feeling of 
 superiority. 
 
 In the meanwhile. Pani Walewska, having found herself, 
 thanks to Duroc, almost opposite the Emperor, experienced the 
 same feeling of numbness as during her presentation, but it 
 passed away quickly. Duroc, carefully watching his neighbour, 
 knew how, by a clever conversation, to help her to regain her 
 self-possession, in which he succeeded much the more easily 
 because the Emperor seemed not to look at all at Pani 
 Walewska. 
 
 This last circumstance was the principal cause of her self- 
 possession returning to her, and even of arousing in her a 
 certain amount of curiosity with which she looked at the 
 Emperor. 
 
 Duroc was entertaining her, while Talleyrand, sitting on Pani
 
 190 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Walewska's other side, not only took part in the Emperor's 
 conversation with General Vincent, but also made from time to 
 time some malicious remark to the Chamberlain's wife. 
 
 Consequently, from the Grand Marshal, Pani Walewska 
 learned that the official standing behind the Emperor's chair, 
 dressed in a uniform of purple v,ith silver braid, was the Prefect 
 of the Court, who superintended the Emperor's table ; that a 
 gentleman, wearing as a senator a green swallow-tail dress with 
 silver braid and a white vest, was the famous Dunau, the son of 
 the Prince de Conde's chef, formerly in the same capacity with 
 the Bourbons. Further, that the Emperor had his special 
 dishes, that he ate very quickly, and often was absent-minded. 
 
 " For instance, after jam, salad ! " whispered Talleyrand. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at Napoleon, and could not help 
 smiling. The Emperor was helping himself to the salad with a 
 spoon covered Avith marmalade. 
 
 Duroc further spoke about the Emperor's habits, and laid 
 stress on the fact that it was to be considered as a special 
 favour to dine at the same table with the Emperor. Pani 
 Walewska was very much interested, and when Duroc finished, 
 she said with conviction : " Very unusual likings and customs. 
 They do not seem, however, very strange to me, rather it would 
 be difficult to believe that such a great man should have the 
 same likings as we ! " 
 
 "Naturally," put in Talleyrand. "After salad, cheese ; and 
 after cheese, partridges. Very original, and still more in- 
 digestible." 
 
 Duroc made a grimace. 
 
 " The Emperor considers food as a necessity — he cannot bear 
 les gourmets; and I can assure you that M. de Perigord came 
 here after having eaten abundantly at home." 
 
 Talleyrand had not time to answer, for the Emperor spoke to 
 him, and Duroc added : " Pray, look ! The Emperor reaches 
 almost mechanically the dishes i)ut before him. He puts his 
 hand . . ." 
 
 " Into a sauce," interi'upted Talleyrand. 
 
 " His Majesty is soiling his uniform," said Pani Walewska in 
 a whisper to Duroc. 
 
 " No, Madame, he puts his hand on his heart ! "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 191 
 
 "The Prefect sliould call his Majesty's attention . . ." 
 
 "He cannot speak if he is not asked. Although the Emperor 
 is unusually indisposed to-day. I assure you he suffers . . ." 
 
 " The Emperor ? " 
 
 " He suffers^ for he must be silent ! You do not realise that 
 amongst us he is the most bound by responsibility for every 
 word, look, movement. He cannot forget for one moment that 
 the whole world is looking at him. Believe me, I look at him 
 constantly, and the more I read his thoughts the more surprised 
 I am. Do you hear, Vincent is making an allusion to Silesia, 
 and I am sure that the Emperor would rather give them the 
 whole of Prussia, if instead of that official conversation he could 
 exchange a few words with you — if he could express how 
 much . . ." 
 
 " Then neither my prayers nor opinions cai'ry any weight at 
 all ? " answered Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Yes, a great weight ; for they wound, for they cause pain 
 . . . but are they able to stop the throbbing of the heart ? 
 You seem to doubt ! I promise, upon my honour, that I am but 
 a very poor translator." 
 
 Here Duroc raised his voice. The Emperor turned and 
 looked at Pani Walewska, who became crimson. 
 
 "You have the proof how his Majesty remembers you. Do 
 you know what that look meant ? Gi'atitude ! Gratitude that 
 you are kind enough to listen ! " 
 
 " I am powerless to decline ! " 
 
 " What cruel words ! Then you think that that mighty ruler 
 has no right to a moment of happiness ? " 
 
 "Not at all ! I think that his Majesty is much loved by the 
 Empress." 
 
 " I do not doubt that you are sincere about it, although certain 
 details ought to be known to you. It would be out of place to 
 enter into those details. You must, however, remember this, 
 that the Italian campaign, covering his Majesty with wreaths 
 of laurel, has ruined his former happiness. . . . Then, does it 
 seem to you improper that he M'ishes to conquer it now and to 
 be happy ? Do you not see that when you had that thought to 
 go to Jabłonna to meet his Majesty, that you were directed 
 there by destiny ? . . . Would you oppose it .^^ If you could see
 
 192 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 yourself, when kneeling on the step of the carriage^ you pro- 
 nounced your greeting that came from your heart ! And 
 now you refuse him even a kind look. . . ." 
 
 " My admiration is not lessened for one moment." 
 
 " I thank you from my whole heart for such words ! They 
 will be a cause of great joy to the Emperor." 
 
 " I am afraid they will be wrongly understood." 
 
 " Have confidence in me. I respect you too much to dare to 
 change even one syllable." 
 
 "NotAvithstanding that, I am afraid." 
 
 "Your fear here is out of place." 
 
 "Excellency!" whispered M. de Segur behind Duroc's back. 
 
 The Marshal glanced at the Emperor, who rose from his 
 chair. 
 
 The Emperor's example was followed by everybody, inter- 
 rupting the eating of ices that had just begun. 
 
 Talleyrand, taking advantage of the opportunity, said a few 
 malicious witticisms to Princess Jabłonowska, who was in 
 raptures over his wit. 
 
 " How just ! Incomparable ! " 
 
 " But painful, for the ices did honour not only to the confiseur, 
 but also to our palates. Vincent hastened so much, that I am 
 afraid his mouth is frozen. I advised him to ask for ices before 
 soup ! And do you know why the Emperor cannot suffer an 
 underdone roast } Well, because the red colour reminds him of 
 his own slaughtering. . . ." 
 
 " Excellent ! I would be afraid to have you for a foe ! And 
 what do you think of Walewska ? " 
 
 " I begin to be afraid." 
 
 " Then you suppose .'' . . ." 
 
 " Nothing at all, only it begins to be tedious. . , . The Em- 
 peror really has neither time to write love letters nor to remind 
 liimself of the lieutenant's love intrigues." 
 
 "Although to-day everything promised." 
 
 " I do not know, I do not think so ! Exaggerated ! You un- 
 derstand me, I would already have given up . , If she were 
 intelligent . . . but with women it is sometimes difficult. I 
 have no reason to make obstacles, but I lack motives for co- 
 operation."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 193 
 
 "You calculate too much ! Ah, it seems to me that r.I. Maret 
 conducted her to the drawing-room." 
 
 ''I congratulate, but do not envy ! " 
 
 "The Prince of Bassano, however, enjoys great favours." 
 
 Talleyrand shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. 
 
 "Sometimes even such, parvemis as he are necessary." 
 
 The Princess, not knowing Talleyrand's hatred towards Bas- 
 sano, said evasively ; " Excuse me, but it is so difficult to know 
 what is ti'ue in the gossip — they said . . ." 
 
 " And rightly ! The Emperor honours not only the Mameluke 
 Rouston with his regard, but also caresses a horse. Although M. 
 Maret has now at Court an implacable competitor, who is abso- 
 lutely superior to him by his stupidity . . . Do you know who 
 it is ? Prince Bassano . . ." 
 
 " Implacable and incomparably mechant ! " 
 
 " But sometimes truthful. Can I offer you my arm ? We will 
 go to persuade ourselves what M. Maret's protection will do for 
 your sister-in-laAv. I am sure she will gain nothing, and even I 
 would leave all to M. Maret." 
 
 " But all our hope is in you ! " 
 
 Talleyrand nodded kindly, flattered by such a confidence in 
 his cleverness, and having changed the subject of the conver- 
 sation, introduced the Princess to the large di'awing-room, in 
 which the guests, imitating the Emperor, circulated in different 
 directions, simulating quite awkwardly a freedom of move- 
 ment and conversation, but in fact never losing sight, even for a 
 moment, of Napoleon's green uniform. 
 
 If, however, the guests were not at their ease because they 
 were anxious to be up to the tune of solemn questions and 
 answers, or to catch every quiver of his Majesty's face, those 
 who knew the Emperor noticed that he himself was still more 
 uncertain, Aveary, and unnatural. He passed from one end of the 
 room to another, began conversation suddenly and equally quickly 
 stopped it, very often not having listened to the answer given 
 to his question. Several times he seemed to go in the direction 
 where Pani Walewska was standing with Prince Bassano, and 
 when half-way retreated. 
 
 Those movements did not escape the notice of Prince Bor- 
 ghese's guests, and were the cause of whispers and unfavourable 
 o
 
 194 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 conclusions, the rather that M. de Segur was ah*eady waiting 
 near the door, ready to accompany the Emperor to his carriage. 
 The prevaiHng opinion began to be that the rumour of Napo- 
 leon's fancy for Pani Walewska was false, and most persons 
 were pleased, but the members of the Walewski family sincerely 
 soriy. 
 
 This impression was increased at the moment when M. 
 d'Hedouville handed to the Emperor his hat and gloves. 
 Thei'e was no doubt that Napoleon was going to leave presently. 
 
 In the meantime, the Emperor crumpled his hat nervously 
 while he was talking with Małachowski and Prince Joseph, or, 
 rather, was throwing them short sentences. 
 
 " It is war now ! Your first care should be to remember about 
 provisions for my army. Recruiting goes on slowly, very slowly! 
 General Gauvion, notwithstanding all his sympathy Avith you, 
 complains. I have spoken of this already, and I repeat it. I 
 shall constitute a temporary Government." 
 
 "Sire!" answered Małachowski, hesitatingly. 
 
 " It is your duty to listen ! I did not come here intending to 
 be obliged to confess to you whether and where my cannons are 
 in position. Pray, do not mix in politics." 
 
 Poniatowski bit his lips; Małachowski rubbed his high fore- 
 head; while Napoleon turned suddenly, and with firm steps 
 went to Pani Walewska. 
 
 His movement was so sudden, so little justified, that even 
 Duroc was confused. 
 
 The Emperor looked significantly at Maret, who withdrew, and 
 Pani Walewska remained alone. 
 
 Napoleon was silent for a moment, as if searching for words ; 
 the Chamberlain's wife bent to make a curtsey. 
 
 Blood rushed to Bonaparte's face. 
 
 "Why do you torment me ? " he asked violently. 
 
 " Sire ! " stammered Pani Walewska with difficulty 
 
 " Yes, you torment me ! You have taken peace from me, and 
 now you avoid me. Why do you avoid me .'' " 
 
 " Your Majesty, how could I dare .'' " 
 
 " It cannot be thus any longer ! I must have a talk with you." 
 
 "Sire!" 
 
 "Do not shelter yourself behind a wall of titles, you have
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 195 
 
 destroyed tliem yourself, you cannot retreat now ! I am con- 
 stantly thinking of you. To prove to you that I would like to 
 satisfy every one of your wishes^ I have to tell you that your 
 brother has been promoted to the rank of colonel ! " 
 
 "Colonel ! " repeated Pani Walewska with hearty joy. 
 
 "You will see him in a few days," added Napoleon kindly, 
 
 " I thank you. Sire, and I assure you that you have dis- 
 tinguished one of your most devoted officers." 
 
 Napoleon smiled benevolently. 
 
 " I accept your thanks as a token of your future kindness. . . . 
 I should be very pleased if I could see you so happy every day." 
 
 Here Napoleon lifted his head slightly, and having per- 
 ceived, behind Pani Walewska, Duroc's beseeching look, shivered 
 slightly, and, without answering Prince Borghese's bows, went 
 forward to the door. When he was going to pass the threshold 
 he stopped suddenly, waved his hand to the crowd of guests, 
 and disappeared in the vestibule. 
 
 After the Emperor's departure there was silence in the room, 
 followed by the uproar checked till now. 
 
 Pani Walewska was surrounded by a compact crowd of ladies 
 and gentlemen. Compliments, embraces, assurances of friend- 
 ship were showered not only on the Chamberlain's wife, but also 
 on her husband, and even on Princess Jabłonowska. 
 
 In the meanwhile, amid these marks of tender solicitude re- 
 sounded the question : " What did the Emperor say to you } " 
 
 The question, so contagious, so intrusive, so unconsciously 
 common to all those present, began at Anetka Potocka and 
 Pani Moszyńska, and ended with Talleyrand, Prince Borghese, 
 Wybicki, and Małachowski ; all were burning with the desire of 
 knowing the conversation. 
 
 To all this Pani Walewska was so confused and enervated that 
 she could not answer, and thereby excited further curiosity. 
 
 Pani Walewska's eyes were already filling with tears, her lips 
 began to shiver and grow pale, when at last Madame de Vauban 
 came to her help. 
 
 The Countess displayed such ability and presence of mind, that 
 Pani Walewska did not notice when she was conducted out of 
 the room, covered with her furs, and driven to the Blacha Palace, 
 to Madame de Vauban's apartment.
 
 196 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Only here Pani Walewska burst into tears. 
 
 The Countess was moved. 
 
 " Dear child ! We are alone here. Cry — it will do you good ! 
 I know by myself ! Such a grave moment of life ! And what 
 did he tell you ? Tell me, my dear child ! Tell me ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska, sobbing, repeated as exactly as she could the 
 conversation with Napoleon. 
 
 Madame de Vauban listened attentively, and then she con- 
 cluded : "There is destiny in all this ! Have you not consulted 
 a fortune-teller } " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " H'm ! Pity ; I am sure she would have foretold it to you." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked astonished. 
 
 " Certainly, my dear child. Especially Heliodora ! I cannot 
 forgive myself for not having taken you to her. She is astonish- 
 ing. You must, you must see her ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska shook her head negatively. 
 
 "1 do not believe in sorcery ! " 
 
 " Child ! It is not sorcery, but power of reading the pages of 
 human life ! I do not believe in sorcery myself, but I was con- 
 vinced. It was hard foT me, for fate did not spare me bitterness. 
 It is true that, knowing what I had to expect, I suffered awfully, 
 but it passed soon ! I became quieter ; I accepted my destiny, 
 and my life was bearable again. But not everyone is destined 
 to suffer. I, perhaps, in spite of all, walked too long on roses — 
 fate avenges itself now ! But one who has suffered early in 
 life is rewarded. You are the best proof of it. I doubted it 
 yesterday, but I am sure of it to-day. One step more, and you 
 will reach unattainable heights ! One word will suffice to place 
 at your feet the man who commands the nations ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska trembled, her eyes became fiery. 
 
 " Never ! Do you hear me ! I prefer solitude, isolation, 
 desertion, I shall not allow myself to be entangled in any 
 intrigue ! I know now you are plotting against me — you also ! 
 You wish to humbug me — you wish to push me into an abyss. 
 But I shall not permit it — I shall use all my strength — I shall 
 not surrender ! I thought you were my friend ; but now, when 
 you speak to me like a foe, I know what drew you to me ! You 
 and the Marshal and the Princess, you all have one aim, to make
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 197 
 
 of me a sacrifice for your plans. But I shall know how to defend 
 myself. You are pushing me to extremes, but you must be 
 careful, else you will regret it ! If my husband will not protect 
 me, I know what I shall do. During the first reception, first 
 revieAV of the troops, I will fall at his feet, and aloud, in presence 
 of all, I Avill tell him all the truth, and then, notwithstanding 
 all his intentions, he will be obliged to respect his own majesty." 
 
 "^But this is madness ! " 
 
 " You are driving me to it ! ' 
 
 "Then you do not know Bonaparte." 
 
 " He is too great to be villainous ! It will be as I said ! And 
 if this fails . , . there is another means. ..." 
 
 Pani Walewska' s voice broke down and changed into spas- 
 modical weeping. 
 
 Madame de Vauban was moving her fan nervously. At last 
 she made an effort to recover her calm, and said coolly : " I 
 thought you were already a Avoman, but I see that you are only 
 a capricious child, who does not understand its own good." 
 
 " I was taught to have only one name for shame." 
 
 The Countess laughed nervously. 
 
 "You go too far — your imagination can-ies you away." 
 
 " I see things better than ever." 
 
 " So you thmk. You have not the slightest idea of the Court, 
 its ways and customs." 
 
 "These few days have been enough. . . ." 
 
 "I cannot believe." 
 
 " For you do not knoAv what the Emperor asked me for 1 '* 
 
 " Probably a rendezvous." 
 
 " And you find this natural, right ? " 
 
 " It depends how one understands a rendezvous." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked astonished. 
 
 "It depends how one understands a rendezvous" repeated 
 Madame de Vauban emphatically. "As for me, for instance, 
 I do not see anything bad in it. A woman is ahvays mistress of 
 a situation — a woman knows hoAV to keep an adversary in the 
 limits of decency ; on a Avoman depends everything. Can you 
 deny it.-^ You are puzzled by the Emperor's request. Then 
 you do not understand that at the reception he cannot either 
 distmguish you too much, or satisfy his own desire of talking
 
 198 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 with you. Then you do not know that he is not allowed to be 
 a man^ who wishes to find an innocent pleasure in a conversation 
 with a woman for whom he feels some liking ? Only a rendezvous 
 frees him from curious looks and ears^ spying every one of his 
 movements, every one of his words ! But it is so simple ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska did not answer. 
 
 Madame de ^^auban felt her ascendency. 
 
 " You are surprised at my co-operation, at my joy on account 
 of your success .'' Am I not right in it, thinking that you may 
 have influence with the Emperor, that you can do lots of good, 
 obtain many favours without any bad consequences to yourself.'' 
 Look, the most prominent people care for one of his words, 
 while you, from unreasonable scruples, push away his hand put 
 out to you. Have you a right to do so .'' You think your husband 
 will dare to tell you anything else ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose from the chair and picked up her shawl. 
 
 " Why do you not answer .'' " 
 
 " I am going home ! " 
 
 " I dare not detain you. Permit me to conduct you." 
 
 " No, thank you." 
 
 " I cannot let you go alone. If my company is not agreeable, 
 I will ask Czosnowska." 
 
 " Very well, provided it be at once ! " 
 
 Madame de Vauban bit her lips and rang for a servant. 
 
 "Ask Madame Czosnowska." 
 
 " Madame Czosnowska is entertaining guests ; just now 
 M. Talleyrand and M. Philippe de Segur. . . ." 
 
 Madame de Vauban made a sign to the servant to leave them. 
 She turned to Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Marie, these gentlemen came for you. You should show 
 yourself kind . . . they can do very much with the Emperor. . . ." 
 
 "I asked you for a carriage." 
 
 Madame de Vauban stretched herself proudly. 
 
 "You shall have it," said she haughtily, and went away. 
 
 A long, tiring moment passed. 
 
 Pani Walewska came to a window, put her burning head on 
 the frost-covered pane, and listened to the noise coming from 
 the street ; she was invaded by a kind of toi*por of thought, a 
 sudden insensitiveness. Her whole attention was concentrated
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 199 
 
 on the tintinabulation of bells and the squeaking of frozen 
 axle-trees^ on the tramping of horses and shouts of coachmen. 
 
 Under Pani Walewska's warm breath the ice covering the 
 window-pane thawed, and she could now see the square of the 
 Blacha Palace. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife looked out with childish curiosity at 
 the carriages, the Prince's footmen rushing from and to the 
 carriages, the uniform of French gentlemen, the gaping crowd, 
 ladies almost carried in footmen's arms, testifying to the 
 numerous guests that crowded Madame de Vauban's drawing- 
 room in Prince Joseph Poniatowski's palace. 
 
 It was already dark. 
 
 Pani Walewska turned away from the window in order to ring 
 for a servant and to demand a carriage, when she found herself 
 clasped by two soft, delicate arms. 
 
 Pani Walewska trembled. A quiet, agreeable laugh was heard. 
 
 " It is I— Fryne ! " 
 
 ''Czosnowska ! " 
 
 " Yes, yes, my dear, dearest Madame ! Excuse me, but I was 
 standing behind you, and all at once something caught me by 
 the heart. . . . Permit me to remain with you like this. . . . 
 You are so good, so noble. What I would give if I could get the 
 same strength ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska, taken unawares by that outburst of tender- 
 ness, could not resist it. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Czosnowska cringed, nestled her shapely 
 head on Pani Walewska's bosom, and made confidences of her 
 weakness. 
 
 " If I were like you, the Prince would love me better? 
 Undoubtedly ! But I cannot, I do not know how ! Sometimes 
 I promise to myself to be proud, hard. And what happens .'' One 
 of his looks, and my wish is gone. I am perishing for him. I 
 suppose they have spoken to you about me — and, I am sure, 
 badly too ! Did I not wish to be a good girl .'' But it is so hard, 
 so very hard ! " 
 
 Czosnowska sighed, 
 
 " They call me Fryne ! In the beginning it made me angry, 
 but now it amuses me. For him everything ! Have you loved 
 already in your life ? No .'' Is it possible to live without love .''
 
 200 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 As for me, I loved, and I do not love for the first time, but the 
 Prince the best ! Light ? What for ? Put the candelabra on 
 the mantelpiece. I adore dusk ! " 
 
 " The Countess promised me a carriage," said Pani Walewska, 
 wishing to stop Fryne's volubility. 
 
 " It will soon be ready ; they will let us know. You will 
 permit me to accompany you ? But why do you hasten ? I 
 could spend years and years with you ! Are you not comfortable 
 and quiet here .'' " 
 
 Czosnowska pulled Pani Walewska gently to a sofa, and when 
 she was seated she bent her head, and with her delicate and soft 
 hands began to caress Pani Walewska's hand. 
 
 " What a lovely hand you have, and what superb hair ! What 
 would I give if I had the same ? My hair used to be quite 
 abundant. I spoiled it by papillotes. What can I do .-^ I must 
 please. . . ." 
 
 Czosnowska laughed, showing two roAvs of white pointed 
 teeth, and adorning her fresh face with a couple of coquettish 
 dimples. 
 
 Pani Walewska made a movement of impatience. Fryne's 
 caresses, her laughter, long and lazy looks, neglectfulness in her 
 heavy movements, and finally the dizzying scent of musk with 
 which Czosnowska was saturated, irritated the Chamberlain's 
 wife, shocked her by some repelling sensuality. 
 
 "You spoke about a carriage." 
 
 "Then really we must be going } " 
 
 "I do not know about you. As for me, after the last 
 conversation with the Countess, I have nothing more to do in 
 this house." 
 
 "You are angry with the Countess?" 
 
 " It may be." 
 
 " Is it possible ? She is so good, so noble ! You would never 
 believe. Well, formerly Pepi was in love with her, then with 
 Krysia. ... I was awfully afraid of Vauban ; and imagine to 
 yourself who made our acquaintance, who facilitated our first 
 rendezvous ? She ! She became my friend, my confidante, my 
 good spirit ! Tell me, is it not beautiful, is it not romantic and 
 noble on her part ? She loved, but noticed that her lover grew 
 cool, and through love for him has forgotten her own pain, her
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 201 
 
 own desertion, and wished only for his happiness. She breathes 
 with his happiness, she Hves by his happiness ! Such is Vauban ! 
 And if you knew how she talks of you, how she loves you. ..." 
 
 " It may be. . . ." 
 
 Czosnowska moved her head sadly 
 
 " They must have told you awful things of the Countess ! 
 I am sure of it ; but it is all gossip ! And they are angry, the 
 most on account of her husband, M. de Vauban. Very elegant 
 and decent man ; one cannot wonder at what he has done. 
 Pepi met Vauban at Bruxelles ; then they expected that he 
 would inherit from his uncle, and in presence of such a future 
 M. de Vauban deemed it his duty not to stand in the way. 
 And he acted very wisely, with dignity. He did not want to 
 hinder his wife's future." 
 
 "And you call that duty ? " 
 
 Czosnowska lifted her big convex eyes. 
 
 "Naturally. You understand, Pepi had some future. The 
 late king thought seriously about inheritance ! M. de Vauban 
 was obliged ! " 
 
 " There are different ideas ! I shall not try to persuade you 
 of those others. ..." 
 
 "Truly, you seem to be hurt. . . And I had no intention. 
 As for you, it is quite different ! I love you, admire and envy ! 
 Ah, how much I would give only for the feeling that the one 
 for whose kind word the whole world is searching, bows to me, 
 bends to me, is humble before me ! It makes my skin creep ! 
 To tame such a lion, to subdue such a conqueror, to bind him 
 with a ribbon of love, this is a most glorious victory ! I would 
 give half of my life for it ! " 
 
 " But you love the Prince .'' " 
 
 "Very much indeed," acknowledged Fryne with simple 
 frankness; " but the other is Napoleon ! . . ." 
 
 " I had forgotten that reason ! Good-bye ! If the carriage 
 is not ready I am going on foot ! " 
 
 " Then you will not go to the drawing-room. There every- 
 body wishes to see you ! . ." 
 
 "Good-bye !" 
 
 Czosnowska sighed submissively at such determination, and 
 ordered the carriage, in which Pani Walewska returned home.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 PANI WALEWSKA was very much surprised when next 
 morning her chambermaid announced to her Chevalier de 
 Bolesha's visit. The Chamberlain's wife could not recollect 
 where she had seen the man, and supposing that his visit was 
 prompted simply by politeness, ordered herself to be excused 
 on account of indisposition. The servant, however, returned 
 after a while with a note, and told her mistress that Chevalier 
 de Bolesha must see her. 
 
 Pani Walewska, in the first moment, suspected that the Grand 
 Marshal had chosen this man as his new ambassador, and was 
 ready to send the bore away, when her look fell on the note 
 handed to her. She grew confused. The note contained the 
 laconic words, *' In Gorayski's name, and at his urgent request." 
 
 Pani Walewska ordered the guest to be shown into the 
 drawing-room next her boudoir, and having dressed hastily, 
 came to him, trying to be calm. 
 
 Bolesha greeted her with a respectful bow. 
 
 ''Your humble servant, Madame. I am Bolesha. I knew 
 you when you Mere a baby. Parole cVhoniicur ! years of friend- 
 ship with your father ..." 
 
 " I am very glad ; pray be seated ! " answered Pani Walewska 
 hesitatingly. 
 
 " I beg of you to excuse my boldness, but, parole d'honncur ! it 
 seems to me that it was yesterday when I carried you in my 
 arms ! Good times, old times ! " 
 
 " You came in the name . . .}" asked Pani Walewska, who 
 very much disliked Bolesha's crimson face as well as his swollen, 
 piercing eyes. 
 
 Bolesha breathed, drew the chair nearer Pani Walewska, and 
 said quietly : " Precisely . . . Pan Stanislaus ... in trouble, 
 
 202
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 203 
 
 MadamCj on account of his good intentions ! He is very, very 
 dangerously Avounded. Well, such a wound is not painful ! 
 Parole d'honneur, such a wound sometimes brings relief! My- 
 self — how many times ..." 
 
 " Then Pan Gorayski . . . ? " 
 
 " Very bad, Madame ! " 
 
 "Is he in danger?" 
 
 " In very, very great danger," 
 
 " Is he being well looked after ? " 
 
 " Pan Kozietulski is constantly with him ; the wound is very 
 bad, but the question is not about the wound, Madame, you 
 understand — the Emperor . . . Napoleon ! " 
 
 " I do not know what you have in your mind. . . ." 
 
 Bolesha winked significantly, and began to pronounce slowly : 
 " The Emperor is personally concerned in the affair ! Governor 
 Gauvion has been commanded to arrest Chevalier de Gorayski. 
 It is so unfortunate ! Parole d'honneur, any man who acted 
 diffei'ently would have been a knave ! Herceau avenged him- 
 self twice, for he not only stabbed him unexpectedly, but also 
 accused him afterwards. The insult to his Majesty appeared 
 at once ! It is a serious insult to the Emperor. . . . The Court 
 must enforce due respect, and our temporary Government is 
 obliged to help in order to testify its loyalty. To speak shortly, 
 Madame, the situation is awfully sad, and the only help lies in 
 
 you!" 
 
 " In me ! If I only could ! I hope Pan Gorayski does not 
 doubt, that remembering ..." 
 
 "That's it, that's it!" interrupted Bolesha. "Here my 
 boldness is justified ! We went here and there seeking for ways 
 to end the affair, but when everything was in vain. Pan 
 Stanislaus took me by the hand and said : ' Go to her ! ' — he 
 meant to you, Madame — 'she will not abandon me — she will 
 help me ! ' So he spoke, jjarole d'honneur ! It made my heart 
 bleed. . . ." 
 
 " If my intervention could do anything ... I hope that 
 Marshal Duroc will not refuse. . . ." 
 
 " Ah ! not the Marshal, Madame, it must be directly to the 
 Emperor ! " 
 
 " But you know access to him is difficult."
 
 204 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 ^'Wellj I do not think it is for you, Madame," answered 
 Bolesha with a stupid smile. 
 
 Pani Walewska dropped her head. 
 
 " You are mistaken." 
 
 " I think, however, that the Emperor will not refuse you an 
 audience." 
 
 " It is out of the question to think of that." 
 
 " Ergo, Pan Gorayski's hope in you was useless." 
 
 " Not at all. I will do all in my power. I will speak to the 
 Grand Marshal and to M. de Perigord. . . ." 
 
 " H'm . . . yes, certainly ! But those roads are too long. 
 Parole d'ho7ineiir, if you would permit me, Madame, I could 
 arrange an audience for you." 
 
 " I thank you very much, but I will not take advantage of 
 your intervention." 
 
 Bolesha rose heavily. 
 
 "Then what shall I say to Gorayski ? " 
 
 "What you have heard." 
 
 " You will excuse me, Madame, but, knowing his inner senti- 
 ments, I do not think that I shall have the courage to disappoint 
 him so painfully ! It seems that you do not realise in what peril 
 he is. He might be shot . , . he might become the victim of 
 vengeance." 
 
 Pani Walewska grew irritated by Bolesha's voice. 
 
 " I shall be very sorry ! " 
 
 " Madame ! parole d'honneur, this is not sufficient ! He must 
 be protected ; it is almost your duty. There will be inquiries 
 . . . what was the origin . , and the result will not be plea- 
 sant for the Chamberlain. Poor Gorayski counted on a different 
 sort of protection, but as his feeling does not find sympathy, 
 then, parole d'honneur, he must consider his peril." 
 
 Pani Waleswka shivered. 
 
 " You are too bold in your conjectures. I respect Pan 
 Gorayski as my brother's friend." 
 
 " Evidently, evidently ! I do not venture to doubt that brother- 
 hood, provided it produces some result." 
 
 "We shall see. And now you must excuse me. . ." 
 
 Bolesha smiled ironically, bowed to the floor, and began to 
 withdraw to the door.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 205 
 
 " I am your servant ! We expected . . , but things have turned 
 out quite differently. My respects to you^ Madame ! I hope that 
 the Chamberlain will be kind. Your most humble servant ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska^ hearing her husband's name, stopped Bolesha, 
 
 " What do you propose to do ? " 
 
 " Nothing, Madame ! To knock ! to rescue the youth from 
 peril." 
 
 ^•^But what can the Chamberlain do.'" 
 
 Bolesha lifted his eyebrows. 
 
 " Ah, very much indeed ! We must try him. Oho ! Pan 
 Anastazy, parole d'honneur, has influence. His word carries 
 weight, and he will say that word ; for although he may be 
 angry with Gorayski . . . but he must be careful of people's 
 tongues ! . . ." 
 
 " In a few words, you wish to persuade my husband that his 
 dignity requires him to consider Gorayski's affair as his own ? " 
 
 Bolesha protested with well-played sincerity. 
 
 " The idea, Madame ! How could I dare } Never ! I shall 
 only try to find help, and for that I shall use means. , ." 
 
 " And if I consent to speak to the Emperor ? " 
 
 " Madame, eternal gratitude ! And not mine alone : Kozie- 
 tulski, Krasiński, and twenty others ! Not to speak of 
 Gorayski. . . ." 
 
 "I must, however, consider." 
 
 " I have the honour to say that this is impossible." 
 
 " In that case ..." 
 
 "Perhaps till evening. It is impossible any longer." 
 
 " You are too urgent. Even if I decided to see the Emperor, 
 I could not do it as soon as that." 
 
 " It is true, Madame, although I imagined otherwise. . ." 
 
 "Let us not speak about that anymore," interrupted Pani 
 Walewska. "This evening you shall receive my answer. In 
 the meanwhile assure Pan Gorayski that his friendship with 
 my brother will prompt me to do anything that is in my power." 
 
 " I am greatly obliged. If only an audience, Madame. 
 Parole d'honneur, the Emperor will give in, and for your sake 
 even grant a riband to Pan Stanislaus. Most humble ! Pray 
 forgive my quick words, but from good heart, from honest 
 thought — I would not hke to hurt the honoured Pan Anastazy!"
 
 206 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Bolesha saluted several times and sneaked out of the room, 
 leaving Pani Walewska alone. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife had hardly time to think over the 
 demand and to appreciate properly the behaviour of Gorayski, 
 who from a hopeless and melancholy admirer had suddenly 
 changed into a refined intrigant, ready even to commit a baseness 
 if only he could disentangle himself from a difficulty with the 
 authorities^ when unexpectedly her husband appeared at the 
 same door through which Gorayski's messenger had passed. 
 
 Pani Walewska became confused^ in spite of herself, feeling 
 that she had almost been entrapped by her kind thoughts, 
 almost been determined that for the sake of assuring for herself 
 peace she would be forced to beg for Gorayski's pardon. 
 
 The Chamberlain, however, did not notice his wife's con- 
 fusion ; he approached her respectfully, deposited a kiss on her 
 forehead, and asked solicitously : " How do you feel, my dear, 
 after yesterday } " 
 
 ''Thank you, very well ! " 
 
 "I am so glad, so glad. We wxre all afraid of emotion. 
 I wished to see you earlier, but I did not wish to fatigue you ; 
 then they told me that Bolesha was here. I preferred not to 
 interfere. . . . You are looking marvellously well. Yesterday's 
 dinner made an impression, decisive — enormous. Permit me to 
 kiss you ! We are placed, you understand, placed ! I must 
 excuse myself for my previous doubts ! You have shown such 
 political tact that I have no words. , . . They all speak of you. 
 Even Gutakowski has lost his eloquence, and being surprised 
 said : ' Spiritus fat, itbt vult ! ' Well, they were obhged to 
 acknowledge that you have surpassed all expectations. Yester- 
 day's dinner has fixed us ; it has strengthened the foundations 
 put by me, and the partisans of Dombrowski are moved ; even 
 Małachowski has forgotten about his Limited Diet, and asked 
 permission to pay us a visit ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska listened to her husband's joyful confidences, 
 unable either to share them or to answer. 
 
 The Chamberlain rapped his snuff-box noisily, winked 
 significantly at his wife, and passing his hand from his right 
 shoulder across his chest to his left hip, he said emphatically — 
 
 " Before all here ! Do you understand ? "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 207 
 
 " No ! What do you mean ? " 
 
 '^Here!" repeated the Chamberlain^ repeating the move- 
 ments of the hand. " Here it must be ! " 
 
 ''But I do not understand ! " 
 
 " The grand riband of the Legion!" explained the Chamberlain 
 with a slight reproach in his voice. 
 
 " Grand riband } " 
 
 " Unquestionably ! and then we will think about other 
 honours." 
 
 "Yes, yes, certainly." 
 
 "They will wish to have you as a lady-in-waiting on the 
 Empress, although I do not know if we should accept. They 
 say it is a great honour, and that privileges . . . well, we shall 
 consider ; but you must mention Ksawery ! He is not very 
 clever, but we must take care of our family and name in him." 
 
 "Yes, yes," repeated Pani Walewska mechanically, making 
 up her mind to tell her husband about her difficult position, and 
 about the snares set for her. 
 
 The Chamberlain was not satisfied with his wife's mono- 
 syllables, but tried to preserve good humour. 
 
 " I admired you yesterday ! I agreed that Vauban is changed 
 in our favour. She was obliged to yield like the others ! 
 Poniatowski pretends to be stiff even yet, only very awkwardly! 
 He is now sitting downstairs and waiting. Let him wait ! " 
 
 " Prince Joseph is in our house ? " 
 
 The Chamberlain laughed good-humouredly. 
 
 " Better ask, my dearest, who is not and was not here ! Look 
 through the window ! A procession since morning ! I ordered 
 that you should not be troubled ! Bolesha was allowed, for he 
 said that he had some errand from Vauban for you." 
 
 "Bolesha from the Countess?" 
 
 " So he told me, and I let him in. For, my dearest, you have 
 your own will ! I did not want to interfere in your feminine 
 affairs, but I did not see any reason why you should receive 
 everybody. The rooms are full. Who is not and who was not 
 here ? Poniatowski, the Potockis, Maret, the Lubienskis, 
 Sobolewski, Talleyrand, Corvisart, de Segur, General Vincent, 
 Radziwil, Duroc, Mcneval, Prince Ornano ..." 
 
 " Prince Ornano } " repeated Pani Walewska.
 
 208 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Bah ! Crowds. Sometimes I do not know who is greeting 
 me. Jabłonowska consoles herself with them." 
 
 " I am grateful to you — I do not Avish to see anybody. Excuse 
 me ; tell them anything you like^ provided they leave me alone 
 and cease to care about me." 
 
 "You mean that they should keep at a respectful distance! 
 Naturally ! I thought the same. By-the-by, Małachowski came 
 and begged me to let him see you^ and he is waiting. You 
 must receive him." 
 
 "But I am not disposed to such an honour." 
 
 "There is no honour in that — only politics. I must be careful 
 with Małachowski — he has means — he can influence different 
 people ! You must receive him. Moderation ! Let him know 
 that although we do not need him we do not repulse him, we 
 do not draw him away. We are glad of a rapprochnent, but 
 without haste ! I am sm-e you will know how. I will send him, 
 then. . . ." 
 
 " But I — with the Speaker of the Diet .'' " 
 
 " The honour is not on your side ! Let me kiss you ! Should 
 he bother you too much, I will interrupt him." 
 
 Pani Walewska could not excuse herself from receiving 
 Małachowski, for her husband, notwithstanding his apparent 
 submissiveness, did not accept her excuses, did not permit her 
 any explanation, and went out to introduce the venerable and 
 aged speaker. 
 
 Pani Walewska could not even say a word of welcome, so 
 perplexed was she. 
 
 Małachowski, however, did not seem to pay attention to the 
 Chamberlain's wife's evident distraction, and said first : " I took 
 the liberty of troubling you, Madame, but I daresay you will 
 excuse exceptional circumstances — very exceptional indeed. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska pointed at an armchair. 
 
 Małachowski looked imperceptibly at the retreating Cham- 
 berlain, then sat down heavily, and dropped his head. 
 
 A long silence unbearable to Pani Walewska followed. She 
 realised that it Avas her part to speak, but could not find any 
 words. Her whole attention was concentrated on the Speaker's 
 thin withered figure, on his wrinkled forehead, his tightly 
 closed lips, on the expression of solemnity emanating from
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 209 
 
 every movement^ on the brightness shining not only from 
 Malachowski's white hair, but also from his forehead, from 
 every fold of his grey swallow-tail coat, from the large tie 
 round his neck, from every vein looking through the skin on 
 his long, bony hands, 
 
 Małachowski did not in that close contact lose any of Pani 
 Walewska's high respect. On the contrary, he commanded a still 
 greater esteem, for he brought with him the awe of his merits — 
 he seemed to bear some immense sorrow. 
 
 A long, painful moment passed. Małachowski raised his 
 eyes, and looked at Pani Walewska kindly but sadly. She 
 blushed slightly. Małachowski smiled benevolently. 
 
 '' Madame, you must be surprised at my visit." 
 
 " I am honoured." 
 
 " Exceptional circumstances, exceptional. Your father was a 
 worthy citizen, worthy. ... I came hoping that you had in- 
 herited your father's virtues. I came convinced that you will 
 not deceive the expectations we have founded on you." 
 
 " I — I — I do not understand ! " 
 
 Małachowski made a movement of impatience. 
 
 " Very delicate matter. But consider my age ; permit me to 
 be frank ! " 
 
 " Pray, be so ! " 
 
 Małachowski cleared his throat, and began slowly. 
 
 '^Destiny chose that the man in whose hands is the fate of 
 Europe has conceived for you a sentiment. . . Therefore, 
 although it may seem to you somewhat discreditable, we must 
 count with that sentiment, we must have recourse to it, and 
 find advantages in it for our future." 
 
 Pani Walewska was seized by a nervous shiver. Małachowski 
 did not notice it, and continued with a bitter smile : " Yes, 
 Madame, we have come to that ! You see what is going on ! 
 Napoleon fired the minds of men ; Napoleon came liei*e like a 
 thunderbolt, ruined the building of our calculations ; he accom- 
 plished unforeseen deeds, he made a plaything of us — of 
 politics ; turned our country into army stores, into recruiting 
 barracks. We cannot resist liim ; we are not strong enough to 
 do it, and the majority of us do not understand that he is the 
 bitterest foe of our poor existence. We cannot follow him, for 
 P
 
 210 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 he has given us no guarantee that his intentions towards us are 
 honest. He asks^ he demands, he commands, but in exchange 
 he does not promise anything, he does not even try to give us 
 any illusion. Not one positive word, not one! . . . Therefore it 
 is your duty to make him say, to force him to pronovmce that 
 word. ..." 
 
 "I — 1}" whispered Pani Walewska, astonished. 
 
 " Yes, you, Madame ! You have influence ; you have better 
 means than all our prayers, our complaints, our requests. ... It 
 is a painful and humiliating way for us — pray notice that I do 
 not say this with a purpose of hurting you — but we must use 
 even such a one. Your common sense is a sufficient guarantee 
 to me that you will use your influence quietly, that you will 
 save appearances. For only appearances are left to us. Do 
 ever}i;hing by your own impulse, by all the feeling which for- 
 bids you to look indifferently at the bottom of the abyss towards 
 which Napoleon is leading us. He is strong enough to turn us 
 from it, and you are sti'ong enough to make him do so." 
 
 Małachowski stopped suddenly, and looked sadly towards Pani 
 Walewska. 
 
 "You are silent !" 
 
 Pani Walewska tightened her hand around the arm of her 
 chair. 
 
 " You do not like that beautiful mission ; you prefer not to put 
 such hard conditions on your ruler ; you prefer the more modest 
 but also safer position of an imperial favourite to that perilous 
 rule of a Judith .''... You are not either prepared to be 
 Esther, nor able to rule like Dalilah .'' I understand you are 
 satisfied with such affection as La Valliere's, without Pompa- 
 dour's ambition. But this being the case, if you do not wish to 
 act, at least do not hinder, do not spare a kind word — remember 
 the soil on which you were born — remember your father's 
 ashes. . . ." 
 
 Małachowski breathed heavily. 
 
 " You do not answer ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska lifted her head with an effort, and murmured 
 quietly : " At least do not mention my father's name." 
 
 " I did not wish to hurt you." ' 
 
 Pani Walewska sprang from her seat, her eyes flaming.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 211 
 
 "You repeat that again^ but you do not hesitate, never- 
 theless, to make the most insulting insinuations to me, to 
 slander my good name Avith abominable suppositions ! For 
 whom do you take me, sir ? Have I given you any reason to 
 suppose me the mistress of any man whatever ? " 
 
 Małachowski was disconcerted. 
 
 ''You will excuse me, but the sympathy you were able to 
 win ..." 
 
 " Is evidently a curse of my peace, of my life, for it exposes 
 me to such an insult as yours, sir. What do you want of me ? 
 Where do you wish to lead me ? " 
 
 " But the Emperor ? " 
 
 " I told him I have a husband, and I repeat the same thing 
 to you. His pursuit made me indignant, filled me with fear. 
 But till now I believed that . . . that . . . those whom I have 
 been taught to respect, would not help him ; but I see that I was 
 mistaken, that I was blind. There are no means of protecting 
 a woman who, unfortunately for her, falls into the net of Court 
 calculations. You tried to guess what lot J preferred. Then I 
 tell you, sir: the one which would permit me to be as far as 
 possible from your plans, your splendour, your influences and 
 your world ! May God forgive you the wrong you did me ! " 
 
 A spasmodic weeping seized Pani Walewska by the throat. 
 
 Małachowski rose quickly and took her by the hand. 
 
 "Forgive me! Do not accuse me!" he said respectfully. 
 "Have consideration for my poor, sorrowful grey head. I 
 believe entirely in the purity of your thoughts and deeds, in 
 the nobleness of your soul. I see that you are pure. I have 
 the fullest respect for you. I might be your grandfather. Do 
 not think evil of me. They said— and people are merciless ! Do 
 you forgive me ł You are not angry with me } "' 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled through her tears. 
 
 " It was so much more painful because it was you. . . ." 
 
 " I withdraw every one of my words. There is such an en- 
 tanglement of facts. And they said much about you. Well — 
 and looking on you there, it would be no wonder if even such a 
 great man should bend his head before you ! Do not be gloomy. 
 I offer you my friendship. I am proud of your honest 
 answer, and although you rebuked me very hardly, yet I am
 
 212 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 joyful. What a shameful slander ! I wonder whence it came, 
 and if you knew what subtle intrigues have been made. I must 
 be frank and tell you that, having seen you conversing with the 
 Emperor, I thought it was a certainty." 
 
 Pani Walewska, moved by Malachowski's fatherly sincerity, 
 told him about her first meeting with the Emperor. 
 
 Małachowski listened attentively, and when she had finished, 
 began to ask her many questions, and thus learned all the details 
 concerning her meeting with the Emperor, conversations with 
 Duroc, and the whole snare set for her reputation. 
 
 With the progress of the narrative, Malachowski's face grew 
 more and more serious. 
 
 " Therefore the suppositions of the Emperor's affection were 
 not exaggerated } " 
 
 " Unfortunately not; therefore I appeal to 5'our influence, and 
 I hope you will not refuse me your help. . . ." 
 
 " Help ? But I see quite another route for me." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at him frightened. 
 
 Małachowski said persuasively : " Listen to me. When I 
 came here, I feared only one thing, and this was that the news 
 about the Emperor's attentions to you was exaggerated. I 
 doubted whether he thought as much of you as they said. After 
 your noble rebuke, I conceived a respect for you, and I under- 
 stand also that I was mistaken in regard to the attentions ; but 
 now I come to the conclusion that my request would have more 
 importance, and would be followed by surer results than I 
 su})posed, for they have a guarantee in the purity of your 
 character." 
 
 "Then you also . . " 
 
 "Yes," answered Małachowski hastily. "I see that calcula- 
 tions founded on you may bring much good to our country; you 
 will be able to obtain that for which we were begging in vain : 
 Napoleon's word ! the Emperor's word ! You will obtain it — ■ 
 you must obtain it ! Do not interrupt me. There are no ties 
 strong enough, there ax*e no oaths sacred enough, not to be 
 broken in such a case. Your aim is great ! sublime ! By 
 breaking your ties, by deliberately accepting the title of a 
 favourite, you will deserve the gratitude and respect of your 
 countrymen! Your downfall will be your exaltation — all the
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY S13 
 
 purer because until now you had neither paltry ambition nor a 
 vile thought ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska glanced at Małachowski with a burning look. 
 
 "And my good name, husband^ family?" 
 
 " It will be an honour to your husband ; you will become 
 dearer to your family; you will yourself be conscious of your 
 sacrifice ; you will give yourself unextinguishable satisfac- 
 tion. . . ," 
 
 Pani Walewska pressed her burning temples with her hands. 
 
 " Why do you speak like that to me .'' Why do you ruin 
 the rest of my peace ? I am afraid of that ! You are all 
 mistaken ! I have no idea of diplomacy and politics ! I am 
 afraid of him ! Do you hear me } I am afraid of him ! Let 
 me live in my solitude ! You have other, more worthy women. 
 I cannot do anything with him. . . . He crushes me with his 
 look. . . ." 
 
 Małachowski took her by the hand. 
 
 " Do you believe that I would like to see my own child happy, 
 that I would like to save her from every shadow of sorrow.^ " 
 
 Pani Walewska nodded affirmatively. 
 
 "Then remember that had you been my own daughtei', I 
 would not hesitate to speak in the same manner." 
 
 The tears burst from Pani Walewska's eyes. Małachowski 
 bent to her respectfully. 
 
 " Noble tears ! But they are rather due to the situation in 
 which our country is, which forces us to walk on such roads. I 
 admire your pride, and it costs me much to persuade you. What 
 horrible times we live in ! It would be better if Napoleon had 
 not come here ; we should have had fewer illusions, but also 
 fewer disappointments. Circuhis viciosns of words, and only 
 one certainty — that we have to follow him, to perish for him ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska wiped her tears and asked nervously : " Then 
 what have I to do .f" " 
 
 Małachowski' s face brightened ; his big grey eyes turned to 
 Pani Walewska witli an expression of admiration. 
 
 " May God reward your sacrifice ; let Him inspire you, tliat 
 you may become our good spirit ! " 
 
 "What then ? I must know !" 
 
 " Before all things, secrecy ! No one must even suspect that
 
 S14 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 your yielding does not come from your own feeling. Do you 
 understand ? — nobody ! I and Wybicki will watch and protect 
 you as much as is in our power — but you must be silent ! The 
 Courtj your husband^ your family^ must not guess anything. ..." 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed bitterly. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! Consequently^ I have to throw myself into the 
 Emperor's arms. I have to become . . ." 
 
 " Slowly, dear Madame ! Let us talk more quietly. If you 
 succeed in getting one word only from Napoleon, you will 
 accomplish more than Wybicki in ten years' efforts — than all 
 the blood poured c ut by the Polish legions in Italy ! We want 
 only one word ! " 
 
 " But in order to get that word one must have an opportunity." 
 
 " But you shall have it sooner than you expect ! Wybicki 
 told me that the intrigues of the Court have delivered you into 
 Mme. de Vauban's hands. . . . Therefore she will facilitate 
 your access ; you have only to yield. The Countess sees great 
 advantages for herself in all this, and she will not spare you 
 her instructions. Bear with her for a time ; she has experience. 
 About the rest Wybicki will tell you." 
 
 Małachowski breathed with difficulty. " That is all ! " 
 
 " Yes, that is all," repeated Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Pray remember, at every moment of your life you have in 
 me a most devoted friend." 
 
 "I wish to be alone," stammered Pani Walewska with 
 difficulty. 
 
 Małachowski shook her by the hand and went out. 
 
 Pani Walewska stood for a while motionless, as if petrified. 
 Suddenly she shivered, a cramp seized her throat and stopped 
 her breath. She felt that she was choking, and makizig a 
 desperate effort, she rushed to the window, opened it, and 
 began to cool her heaving bosom with a stream of icy air. 
 
 Little by little she was relieved ; but in the meanwhile she 
 felt that a wild, incomprehensible mood was taking hold of her. 
 She laughed to herself, and her laughter became more and 
 more excited by the remembrance of Malachowski's every 
 word. She laughed at his reasons as well as at her own fears. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked on the courtyard of her palace, where 
 numerous servants wearing liveries were coming and going, and
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 215 
 
 she laughed at the thought that those servants perhaps would 
 put on green uniforms with gold lace ; she laughed at the frost 
 shining on the window panes, at the steely clouds with silvery- 
 edges produced by the sun, and at the sparrows bathing in the 
 snow. 
 
 The Chamberlain's hoarse voice interrupted her. 
 
 Pani Walewska listened with surprise as he preached about 
 precautions against catching cold. She was surprised that her 
 husband ordered a servant to close the window and make a fire 
 at once. 
 
 "You are very imprudent!" scolded the Chamberlain, rub- 
 bing his hands. "There is a frost, and you are at the open 
 window. B-r-r-r ! How cold ! " 
 
 " Here } " 
 
 " I shiver all over ! Pray come to the other room. What 
 thoughtlessness ! You do not care for your health ! H'm ! and 
 what about Małachowski ? What did he say ? He cringes, eh ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled. 
 
 " He bent ! I was sure of it ! It was hard for the Speaker 
 to bend his neck ! Ha ! ha ! And how effusive he was to me ! 
 Friend ! But we have old accounts. Walewski has a good 
 memory. He knows Iioav to explain the thing to the Emperor. 
 Why do you laugh ? It is no laughing matter ! I shall not 
 share my power with any one ! At every hour I expect serious 
 propositions from Talleyrand. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed louder. The Chamberlain lifted 
 himself on his tiptoes and made a grimace. 
 
 " Pray stop that laughter. It looks as if you did not care for 
 the position which is awaiting us." 
 
 " Us ? " 
 
 " H'm ! naturally, us. Well, I hope you have also noticed 
 that his Majesty likes you ? I cannot blame him for that. We 
 can obtain very, very much — if you are intelligent." 
 
 Pani Walewska became suddenly serious, and asked : " Then 
 you give your consent .''" 
 
 " Consent ? There is no question about consent ! The 
 Emperor would like to win rne, tliat is evident. He wishes to 
 have Walewski, he wishes to have the husband's confidence ; 
 tandem, he considers Pani Walev/ska also. He thinks that as a
 
 216 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 wife she has influence. Ergo, our diplomacy should be com- 
 pleted by our mutual efforts. We both listen, and we both 
 remember not to be put off with trifles. Before all, here . . . 
 you understand .'' The grand riband ! Without the riband I 
 am not going to give my name ! Why are you looking at me 
 so strangely .'' Riband, I said ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska shrugged her shoulders. 
 
 " I am going to Mme. de Vauban ! " 
 
 That sudden turn astonished the Chamberlain. 
 
 "Now.?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well . . . but the dinner? We have the Princess and 
 Ksawery with his wife. Probably one of the generals will 
 stay. . . ." 
 
 " I must go ! " 
 
 "Why must you.?" protested the Chamberlain, mincing after 
 his wife, who went to a mirror and began hastily to put her hair 
 in order. 
 
 "Then I said that you were not well . . . and should they 
 see your carriage ! Although we do not need to count with 
 everybody. ..." 
 
 " It is indiff'erent to me ; I must go to Mme. de Vauban ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain looked askance at his wife, but being struck 
 by the decision in her voice, he smiled as if he had guessed. 
 
 " A . . . a ! that is different. Go, dearest. Should you meet 
 any one there, perhaps Prince Bassano, trust him more than 
 anybody else. Say a word to him ! It Avill come easily to 
 you ... a woman's ambition, that her husband should not be 
 neglected ! You know. Legion ! Wybicki will be in a rage ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska got rid of her husband with a few words, and 
 rushed to the vestibule. 
 
 At first the Chamberlain was displeased at his wife's indepen- 
 dent will, but, after a little thinking, he smiled mysteriously to 
 himself, and went to the drawing-room to do the honours of his 
 house. 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska attacked him at once. 
 
 " How is Marie } . . What ? Małachowski ! What has he 
 said ? . . ." 
 
 " Nothing ! "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY Sll 
 
 " Nothing ? I think you could have confidence in me. 
 Davoust came. It is significant ! Marie should come to see 
 him. Davoust is going to command the new army corps. 
 Davoust is an important man. He has been made a Prince ! 
 Even Murat is afraid of him. Imagine, Mui-at ! I have heard 
 that from M. d'Hcdouville ! Persuade her to show herself." 
 
 " Impossible. She is not at home." 
 
 "What.? Is it possible .? " 
 
 "She was obliged to go to Vauban. , . ." 
 
 " Obliged .'' " repeated the Princess in a strange voice, and, not 
 listening to her brother's further explanations, she hastened to 
 the sofa on which Pani Moszyńska was displaying her yellow 
 dress. 
 
 " Is she still suffering .'' How sorry I am ! " 
 
 The Princess leaned towards her friend and said mysteri- 
 ously : " Ma chere ! you know, everything for you ! Were it 
 possible, I would conduct you to our dear Marie ! but , , , it is 
 useless ! " 
 
 "You said useless, dear Princess.''" 
 
 The Princess covered her mouth with a fan. 
 
 " She is not there ! . . . She was obliged . . ." 
 
 " O . , . bliged .'' " stammered out Pani Moszyńska. 
 
 "... To Vauban ! Probably to consult her about dresses. 
 Vauban has taste ! And should she go to Paris ..." 
 
 Pani Moszyńska grew crimson ; her lips began to tremble 
 nervously ; her eyes threw uneasy glances around the room. 
 
 " Now you know, my dearest ! " 
 
 " Naturally ! Naturally ! It cannot be otherwise ! I must be 
 going home ! It is late . , . very late . . . permit, dear Prin- 
 cess . . . Marie will regret." 
 
 " Yes, I understand. Permit me to kiss you." 
 
 The ladies kissed each other and separated. 
 
 The Princess sat down beside Pani Sobolewska, Pani Mos- 
 zyńska stopped to exchange a few words with Rautenstrauch. 
 . . . The drawing-room became suddenly animated ; it was 
 filled up with whispers ; and then the guests began suddenly to 
 leave the Chamberlain's hospitable mansion, in front of which 
 then resounded orders given to the coachmen : "To Blacha 
 Palace ! " Pani Moszyńska gave it first ; it was repeated by Pani
 
 S18 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Sobolewska, Lubieńska, and Gutakowska, and rendered with 
 the same precision by Marshal Davoust, by M. de Segur and 
 M. Flahaut, the Prince de Berg's favourite aide-de-camp. 
 
 The Chamberlain could not understand why all his guests 
 went away so quickly, leaving him alone with Princess Jabłon- 
 owska, but as he was tired he was glad he could rest. 
 
 Therefore, having taken leave of his last guest, he threw 
 himself into the armchair, took snuff, and smiled significantly at 
 his sister. 
 
 " Well . . . you have seen ? Imagine ! They reckon on us ! 
 Hey! You say? Nothing? Now we must think over and talk 
 over ... I am glad you are staying ; we will consult each 
 other. Pray be seated. . . ." 
 
 The Princess looked round uneasily. 
 
 " Thank you, it is too late ! I promised to call on Princess 
 Radzivvil." 
 
 " H'm ! but just now w^e have a moment to ourselves — there is 
 the question about the decisive step. We have everything in 
 our favour ; we must make a proposition." 
 
 " Yes, yes ! " said the Princess negligently, gathering into 
 a bag her things scattered on a table. 
 
 " Only the first words must not be pronounced by me ! They 
 ought to begin ! The most decent thing for me will be a 
 riband . . . here ! A snuff-box — very well, I say nothing against 
 it — but fii'st of all, a riband. They give, I thank them ; there 
 is some exchange of words and congratulations, declaration, 
 conference. . . . Do you say anything ? Nothing ! By-the-by, 
 the treaty must remain secret for a certain time. I give a ball. 
 The Emperor comes ; we invite the most noble people. The 
 Emperor has a long talk with me — general movement, whispers, 
 conjectui'ec t and the next day a document, publication, instal- 
 lation stante .pedc ! Did you speak ? " 
 
 "No, only ..." 
 
 " It cannot be otherwise. It must be done decently and with 
 form. That was formerly the way in Paris and Vienna. Colonna 
 Walewski agrees, acce})ts plans ; but Colonna Walewski is not 
 a paltry aide-de-camp, a soldier v/ho dreams about epaulettes, 
 about the feathered hat of a general. If Colonna Walewski 
 needs Napoleon, then Napoleon needs Colonna Walewski. And
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 219 
 
 they will supplement each other — they will help each other. 
 For Colonna Walewski is for himself^ and Napoleon for him- 
 self!" 
 
 '' Excuse me, Anastazy. . . ." 
 
 " What ! what ! Do you think otherwise .'' " 
 
 "Not at all, only the Radziwils are waiting." 
 
 " Let them wait ! Soon all of them must wait. . . ." 
 
 " Naturally ! But I must be going . . . you will rest ; you 
 deserve it. You are tired, and I must be going." 
 
 " But you cannot go ; you must receive in Mary's absence- 
 Should any one come . . ." 
 
 " I assure you nobody will come. . . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain made a grimace. 
 
 "What, nobody? Why not? I am sure that Prince Bor- 
 ghese, the Emperor's brother-in-law . . . only it is not an 
 honour at all for Colonna Walewski ! You remember how the 
 late king called me ? 'Wales/ simply 'Wales.' " 
 
 " I remember very well ; but I must be going. I will send 
 a footman for news. I am sure there will be some ! " 
 
 Before the Chamberlain could protest again, his sister rushed 
 to the vestibule, put on her fur cloak hastily, and hurried to the 
 carriage waiting for her. The Chamberlain remained alone in 
 his armchair, stunned by his sister's sudden departure, excited 
 by his own thoughts. He saw himself on the threshold of his 
 dreams ; the power which he had desired for so many years was 
 at last coming to him — he almost felt it in his hands. He was 
 very ambitious ; to such a degree that, on account of the ambition, 
 he hid his plans for years — did not let anybody know them. He 
 was hurt that, notwithstanding his right, he got nothing except 
 the office of Chamberlain ; that at the former Court they con- 
 sidered him only as an elegant courtier, and did not ask him to 
 stand with others at the head of the Government. 
 
 The Chamberlain half closed his eyes. These bitter reminis- 
 cences were smothered by the brilliancy of to-morrow, 
 
 Baptiste's voice interrupted his ambitious dreams of rule. 
 The Chamberlain made a movement of impatience. 
 
 " What ? Dinner ? I do not want any ! Cover my legs ; 
 a cup of bouillon ! " 
 
 " But it is dark here 1 "
 
 2S0 NAP0I.E0N'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Then why do they not light up ? Do it at once ! All the 
 lights ! " 
 
 " All the lights ? . . ." 
 
 " Yes, I said all the lights ! Do you hear me? Immediately!" 
 
 Baptiste shnigged his shoulders, and said negligently : " Very 
 well, sir, although there is nobody here." 
 
 "They are all to be lighted ! Understand ? Cover my legs!" 
 
 The Chamberlain grumbled for some time longer, then he fell 
 into the torpor of an old, used-up man. The only thing that 
 seemed to occupy him now was the monotonous tick-tack of 
 a clock, and he would ask every little while about the time, and 
 then he would say in a feeble voice : " Has her ladyship come 
 back .'' " 
 
 Baptiste would then go out to the vestibule and report 
 indifferently : " No, sir, she has not ! " 
 
 After such an answer the Chamberlain sighed and listened 
 again to the tick-tack. 
 
 About midnight he grew more uneasy. 
 
 "Baptiste, has her ladyship come back ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; they are waiting with supper." 
 
 "Very well, but . . . she must have come back." 
 
 " I inquired a little while ago. I oi'dered them to let me 
 know at once." 
 
 " You should have sent to the Blacha Palace." 
 
 "I did send, and Px-incess Jabłonowska told me to make 
 you easy. , . ." 
 
 " Very well, then ! If the Princess , , . Something must 
 have happened ! For, you see, some important changes 
 are prepared. . . . Her ladyship is surrounded ; they wish 
 to win me through her. Rub me well Avith whisky ! I am 
 weak, and to-morrow I may need much strength, very much 
 strength. . . ."
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 MADAME DE VAUBAN was very much surprised when 
 Pani Walewska was announced to her, but guessing 
 instinctively some important change, she tried to forget the 
 unpleasant separation on the previous day, and received her 
 with all heartiness. 
 
 Pani Walewska was surprised and abashed by her cordiality. 
 On her way she had planned how to ask the Countess's forgive- 
 ness for her unfriendliness, and to justify herself by an unusual 
 nervousness, while Madame de Vauban purposely avoided all 
 explanations, and conducted the conversation in such a manner 
 as if between herself and Pani Walewska there were no cross 
 words whatever. 
 
 " I am infinitely glad you came ! I am so lonely. You are 
 looking beautiful ! Did you make many calls to-day ? " 
 
 "No, I was not disposed to." 
 
 " I believe you, for it is tedious." 
 
 " Yes, and then, after yesterday ..." 
 
 " You felt tired. Chere Marie ! How nice of you to remember 
 me ! " 
 
 " I deemed it necessary. . . ." 
 
 " Let me kiss you ! Good-hearted, noble, worthy, always — 
 always ! " 
 
 " You abash me. On the contrary, yesterday . . ." 
 
 "You were, as always, my dear friend, for whom I would 
 sacrifice everything." 
 
 " Permit me ! " interrupted Pani Walewska, feeling that she 
 must justify herself. "Yesterday I was childish and thought- 
 less, and I do not know myself whether I can atone for the 
 fault I committed." 
 
 To that unexpected turn Madame de Vauban did not know 
 
 22J
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 what to answer. She was afraid of Pani Walewska's excuses^ 
 for she thought that they would lead up to her countrified and 
 antiquated ideas that had nothing in common with the great 
 world in which the Countess moved, when suddenly she heard 
 something about fault — almost regret. 
 
 ^'Whatj what, my dearest .''" inquired Madame de Vauban 
 hesitatingly. 
 
 Pani Walewska blushed, dropped her head, and said quietly : 
 "It was a childishness on my part — momentary irritation." 
 
 Madame de Vauban beamed. She drew Pani Walewska to 
 her, and began to kiss her. 
 
 " cMrie ! What an emotion you caused me ! One must 
 love and admire you ! I am wholly yours. I did not wish to 
 let you know, although I suffered. To wish happiness for the 
 beloved person and to see that she pushes it away wilfully, is, 
 you will agree, dreadful. For if you would listen to me, if you 
 would trust me ..." 
 
 " Pray speak. ..." 
 
 Madame de Vauban grew confused. That simple answer, 
 declining all discussion, for which Madame de Vauban was so 
 well prepared, disturbed all her devices. 
 
 " Well . . . that is to say . . . you know . . . the 
 Emperor ..." 
 
 " What about the Emperor ? " 
 
 " He fancies you very much." 
 
 " Then what more ? " 
 
 " More ? . . . more ? He will be very happy if you would 
 grant him ..." 
 
 "A rendezvous ?" interrupted Pani Walewska quickly. 
 
 "Well, there is nothing bad , . ." 
 
 "Naturally." 
 
 "Then . . . then . . . you would consent ? " 
 
 "You say yourself that there is nothing bad." 
 
 The Countess turned her brown eyes inquisitively on Pani 
 Walewska. 
 
 " Marie ! There is something the matter with you." 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed. 
 
 " Ah ! Why such a supposition ? " 
 
 " I could not tell you, but hearing you talk like that . . t"
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 223 
 
 " Is it not according to your ideas ? " 
 
 " Entirely ; but if one compares it with your former . . ." 
 
 "I was childish." 
 
 "Then/' said Madame de Vauban after a reflection, trying in 
 vain to guess the cause of the change in Pani Walewska, " one 
 might make Duroc understand that in case . . ." 
 
 ''Yes, one may," said Pani Walewska shortly. The Countess 
 did not know what to say. The mood of the Chamberlain's 
 wife, although it corresponded with her most earnest wishes, 
 although it rejoiced her, troubled her and also aroused a 
 suspicion. 
 
 Pani Walewska was pulling at her handkerchief. 
 
 " Did you send me that . . . that . . . Bolesha.''" asked she 
 suddenly. 
 
 The Countess rushed from her seat. 
 
 Now she guessed, now she understood the cause of the 
 change in Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Yes, I did, my dearest ! I know how much you care for him. 
 I knew you would help him out of his difficulties, that you would 
 not lose an opportunity ! He deserves it ! Everybody speaks 
 well of Chevalier de Gorayski. I suppose that you were 
 struggling with yourself, but he deserves that struggle. Your 
 word will undoubtedly carry weight with the Emperor." 
 
 And Madame de Vauban, having got rid of all doubts, dis- 
 played all her eloquence in order to strengthen Pani Walewska's 
 determination. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife listened to her argvmients, trying not 
 either to contradict her or to acknowledge that she was right. 
 Those arguments, however, were short, because of guests who 
 began to arrive. The Countess, guessing that she must im- 
 mediately take advantage of Pani Walewska's disposition, 
 decided to act at once. 
 
 "Marie," said she tenderly, "I must go to the drawing- 
 room. I suppose you would prefer to stay here ? " 
 
 " On the conti'ary, 1 will go with you." 
 
 "You are right. I admire you — I am proud of you. As you 
 have already decided, better not torment yourself with gloomy 
 thoughts — better to advance than retreat." 
 
 " Certainly ! "
 
 224 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Then^ should there be an opportunity to-day ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska paled slightly. 
 
 " You say an opportunity ? " 
 
 " Permit me, dear child ! The Emperor is a very whimsical 
 fellow. As it seems, he is extremely busy. Yesterday he 
 wanted to give up the dinner. Duroc persuaded him with 
 much difficulty. Therefore one does not know whether he will 
 have time to receive you. At any rate, do not bother yourself 
 — leave that to me ; I will arrange everything. I tell you he 
 is an odd fellow. You must be very careful with him. He has 
 not chivalrous manners, but he will undoubtedly acquire them 
 through your influence." 
 
 In the drawing-room a swarm of guests closely surrounded 
 Pani Walewska, complimenting her and trying to win her 
 attention. 
 
 Pani Walewska received everything coolly, answering the 
 most ardent effusions with indifferent smiles, wondering to her- 
 self whence she got her irony, coolness, and composure. 
 
 Her indifferent answers not only did not cool down the 
 curiosity of Madame de Vauban's guests, but excited it to a 
 higher degree, for that assurance and that indifference were 
 considered as the best proof that Pani Walewska had reached 
 those heights on which it was permitted to her to play with 
 M. de Segur's bows. Marshal Davoust's compliments, and all the 
 influence of Warsovian society, and even of the members of the 
 temporary Government. 
 
 The Princess Jabłonowska was beaming with joy, and having 
 caught Madame de Vauban in a corner of the room, she said : 
 " Dear Countess, I know what gratitude we owe you ! You are 
 a magician ! I do not recognise our Marie ! What a splendid 
 pose she has already ! " 
 
 Madame de Vauban turned her eyes gravely. 
 
 " Dear Princess, I do what I can — it is almost too much for 
 me." 
 
 " We see that and appreciate it. And how are things .'' " 
 
 "We act!" 
 
 "The Prince of Friul? ..." 
 
 " I have written to him a while ago. ..." 
 
 The Princess moved her fan energetically.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 225 
 
 " Extreme gratitude ! Lord ! what an important and decisive 
 moment ! Have you salts near at hand ? I am fainting ! " 
 
 *' Dear Princess ! . . , " 
 
 " And she, our dear Marie, what strength of character ! " 
 
 "And it is thanks to the sentiment for Gorayski." 
 
 "How poetical! Truly, I admire her so much, I did not 
 think she was equal to such a sacrifice. But perhaps it would 
 be wise to see Talleyrand ? . . . He can facilitate things ; and 
 then it is necessary to let him know that it was not done with- 
 out him. ..." 
 
 " As you like, although the question is about the Emperor's 
 answer." 
 
 " Emperor's ? Dear Countess ! Empei-or's ? '* 
 
 " For the audience might take place to-day." 
 
 " To-day — to-day } Is it possible ? " 
 
 "There . . . if . . . who knows . . . perhaps it would be 
 well to tranquillise the Chamberlain. It is late, the audience 
 may be long. ... If you would help me . . ." 
 
 " I will do everything, dear Countess ! There is no sacrifice 
 for which I am not ready for Marie, for Anastazy, for our family. 
 I assure you that Anastazy will be reasonable. Dear Marie ! 
 How interesting she looks to-day ! A . . . a . . . Pan Wybicki 
 addresses her ! Wybicki in your drawing-room ! " 
 
 The Countess made a movement of impatience, and put her 
 lorgnon to her eyes. 
 
 " Yes, it is he ! I neither expected nor care for the honour. 
 I do not understand, and I am even afraid ! . . . " 
 
 " So am I. I am sure he is intriguing ! He already cares for 
 her influence." 
 
 Madame de Vauban smiled contemptuously. 
 
 " He shall not get it here ! Permit me, my dear Princess, 
 I must inquire if there is an answer." 
 
 The Countess went out to a further apartment, while the 
 Princess, not satisfied with Madame de Vauban's assurances, 
 turned to the spot where Pan Joseph Wybicki was conversing 
 with Pani Walewska. 
 
 "A . . Pan Wybicki! I am very glad! Do I disturb you.''" 
 
 Wybicki saluted in silence, and looked beseechingly on Pani 
 Walewska, who understood the look, and said quietly : " Px'incess, 
 Q
 
 226 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 you must excuse me, but Pan Wybicki was my late father's 
 friend ; we have so many things to say to each otherj and I am 
 afraid it would not interest you. . . ." 
 
 The Princess shivered, but smiled. 
 
 " Ah, it is very interesting ! You do not doubt, my dear, that 
 every detail concerning you interests me ? " 
 
 "But those details are not interesting at all." 
 
 "Wicked girl !" answered the Princess, quietly seating her- 
 self beside Pani Walewska. " You have no idea how I feel with 
 you." 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife did not answer, and having turned to 
 Wybicki, said Avith emphasis : " And then, we have nothing else 
 to say to each other. Your words are too dear to me for me to 
 forget them." 
 
 Wybicki rose. 
 
 " Not only my gratitude for those words ..." 
 
 The Princess smiled. 
 
 " Pan Wybicki, if I did not know you I should think that you 
 were very sentimental." 
 
 " And perhaps you would be not far from the truth, Princess. 
 I have the honour . . ." 
 
 He bowed, and went to another part of the room, 
 
 "What an odd, unbearable fellow !" said the Princess, when 
 Wybicki left them. " What manners, what a pose of a Secretary 
 of State ! Truly, I cannot understand the Emperor." 
 
 Pani Walewska was silent. The Princess looked at her 
 askance, and said intentionally : " An intriguer in the first place. 
 A cunning and clever intriguer, who knows how to play on 
 most tender chords ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska did not answer this time either. The 
 Princess grew impatient. 
 
 " Enjin, my dearest, I am sure that Wybicki tried to persuade 
 you to take part in some great schemes which would promote 
 his own interest." 
 
 "What gives you such an opinion?" 
 
 " Ah, chcre, for I know the people ! Could you deny it .'' Such 
 men you should avoid, they will only entangle 3'ou in an 
 intrigue." 
 
 " You are very severe on Wybicki."
 
 NAPOLEONS LOVE STORY 227 
 
 " Not at all, but I care for you ! You should think of yourself, 
 of your family ; you know how we are all devoted to you — we 
 all^ -srithout exception, love you. . . ." 
 
 " I never doubted that. I have had so many pi-oofs of their 
 kindness." 
 
 ''Marie, I take your words literally. Let us talk frankly. 
 You must not mind the first difficulties. You entered our family 
 unexpectedly. Of course, it is Anastazy's fault. He did not 
 prepare the ground, and introduced you all at once. Therefore 
 we were cool, and avoided you ; but it was enough for you to 
 appear. You spoke, and our prejudices disappeared and changed 
 into most hearty sentiments. Take Anthony, for instance. He 
 is very promising, not because he is my son, mais vraiment he is 
 a yovmg man with manners and style ! He only saw you once, 
 and he asks continually about cette chere tante I He simply 
 makes me jealous. He wishes very much to join the Imperial 
 general staff. He is only seventeen, but on the staff he could 
 ... it is an honoui'able position, he could make a career. . . . 
 Therefore, should you have an opportimity, push him a little. 
 He deserves it — he is a good boy." 
 
 The Princess stopped, expecting a solemn assurance. 
 
 Pani Walewska played indifferently with her fan. 
 
 " But perhaps I bore you ? " 
 
 "Ah, not at all — I was thinking of something else." 
 
 Princess Jablonowska's face grew blue. 
 
 '•' Excuse me for having troubled you ... I did not imagine . . . 
 I am very much obliged for your sincerity. I will not venture to 
 interrupt your thoughts. You are verj- fashionable . : . I 
 admire you, although I do not predict a success. ..." 
 
 Here the Princess rose, and, with the consciousness of offended 
 dignity, rushed to Madame de Vauban, who noticed the 
 Princess's irritation. 
 
 '•'You have something to tell me, dear friend?" 
 
 "Yes . . . but not here. . . ." 
 
 Madame de Vauban conducted the Princess to a side boudoir. 
 
 " You are excited." 
 
 " Have you salts ? I can hardly breathe. It is awful — it is 
 unbearable I One cannot allow that ! " 
 
 '• But what is it .' "
 
 228 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Well, I tell you. All our efforts, trouble, sacrifices, are lost 
 She is simply breaking loose ! A little while ago she answered 
 me in such a manner that all hopes to find her at least ... a 
 well-wishing person, are gone. She is cold, selfish ! " 
 
 ^'But, Princess ..." 
 
 " Yes, yes, my dear ! A word from her was enough for me ! 
 I am convinced that there is no hope! She is my sister-in-law, 
 but a ttiesa'licDwe remains a mćsallimwe ! Anastazy made an un- 
 pardonable blunder. I explained to her — I used my best 
 endeavours ; every one of my words breathed attachment to her, 
 and she answered me : ' I was thinking of something else.' 
 C' est inexplicable, incroi/oble !" 
 
 "What then?" asked Madame de Vauban coolly. 
 
 " I do not agree — I oppose ! Either let her humiliate herself 
 before me, or let her return where she came from ! I wash my 
 hands — even I am going at once to M. de Perigord ! One must 
 find something else ! " 
 
 " I do not believe it is such an easy matter. The Emperor is 
 very busy." 
 
 " One can act upon him." 
 
 "I doubt it! " 
 
 " Even if so, I withdraw — I do not give my permission." 
 
 Madame de Vauban smiled indulgently. 
 
 " Dear Princess, I am afraid it is too late for retreat." 
 
 " Do you wish to say that j'ou alone will persevere ? . . ." 
 
 "I do not see any other alternative." 
 
 " I am very much surprised, for if you expect any gratitude 
 you will be disappointed. I have only come to know her to-day ! 
 She played a pai-t till she felt sti'ong enough. . . . Unfortunately, 
 she betrayed herself too early. ..." 
 
 " I do not defend her at all ! " answered Madame de Vauban 
 quietly. " I was neither attracted by gratitude, nor am I dis- 
 couraged by lack of it. I amuse myself. . 
 
 " And if I begged of you ? " 
 
 " Truly, I could not answer. Excuse me ! A letter I " 
 
 The Princess tightened her lips. 
 
 Madame de Vauban was slowly tearing the envelope of a 
 letter lianded to her by a lackey. 
 
 " Waiting for an answer."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 229 
 
 The Countess glanced at the note. 
 
 "No answer. Say it is w^ell." 
 
 The lackey disappeared behind a curtain. 
 
 "Then, coming back to our subject," said the Princess 
 gravely, " can I count on you ? " 
 
 Madame de Vauban smiled enigmatically, and handed to the 
 Princess the note just received, which contained the following 
 laconic words : "To-night at ten o'clock; C. is informed." 
 
 The Princess looked puzzled at the Countess. 
 
 "I do not understand . . . some secret." 
 
 "Ah, there is no more secret now . . . the matter is 
 decided ! It is the answer for which I was waiting." 
 
 "For her.!* For that.^" asked the Princess nervously. 
 
 "From Duroc." 
 
 " From Duroc ? ' To-night at ten o'clock. C. is informed.' 
 Who is informed ? " 
 
 " You are not quick ! Constant ! The Emperor's faithful 
 valet." 
 
 " Constant ! Constant informed ! It is too much for me ! 
 Permit me to rest ! Have you the salts .'' Rub my temples ! 
 Constant ! Oh ! how moved I am ! I am fainting ! Yes, yes, 
 that way, rub well ! I shall soon be familiar with the thought." 
 
 The Countess hastened to her friend's help, and evidently 
 not believing in the efficacy of the salts, she had recourse to 
 persuasion. 
 
 " It is done ! Fate disposed it so ! I did not expect, myself, 
 such rapid progress ! But I do not think it will last ! I doubt 
 if she will be able to keep up the sentiment.' 
 
 " Speak, speak ! " whisjiered the Princess. "It relieves ^it 
 gives strength." 
 
 " Marie lacks instinct. Then she is too much a country gii-1. 
 I am ready to lay any wager that in a month's time the idyll 
 will be over. It is not Napoleon's habit to be sentimental." 
 
 " Speak, speak, my dear ! " 
 
 "What should I say.-* In the meanwhile, she is at the top. 
 You are too late. Princess, you cannot stop that which is 
 done. . . ." 
 
 The Countess could not finish, for the Princess's two arms 
 encircled her.
 
 230 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " My dear, my only friend ! You are speaking the truth ! 
 It is my duty to sacrifice myself. I must be with her, and 
 watch over her, for if I . , ." 
 
 "But a little while ago . . ." rejoined the Countess. 
 
 "I did not think . . . 'To-night at ten o'clock. C. is in- 
 formed ' — it is incredible ! Excuse me, my dear, I must . . ." 
 
 "Where to.>" 
 
 "I must ..." 
 
 The Princess, having taken hold of the train of her long 
 dress, went into the drawing-room. 
 
 Pani Walewska was just listening to Rautenstrauch's com- 
 monplace witticisms, when she was suddenly covered with the 
 Princess's kisses. 
 
 " Dear child ! You could not believe ! Look at my emotion ! 
 I cannot dominate it ! All that concerns you ..." 
 
 "But, Princess . . . ! " 
 
 " Nothing, nothing, my dearest ! I needed to kiss you — at 
 such a moment ! " 
 
 Rautenstrauch smiled. 
 
 " It seems strange to you } But the most elegant drawing- 
 room ceases to be formal where the family hearth begins. . . ." 
 
 "I did not dare to doubt it." 
 
 " Do not defend yourself ! I know your ways ! I have tears 
 in my eyes, I have. . . . For . . . for at sight of Marie I forget 
 even about convenances. Excuse me . . . ! " 
 
 Rautenstrauch withdrew discreetly. 
 
 The Princess had a new outburst of tenderness. 
 
 " Do you see, my dear ! I am always Avith you . . . always ! 
 You do not imagine how much trouble, how many obstacles I 
 have conquered, and all in the name of my love for 3'ou ! I have 
 no daughter ! I love you as if you were my child ! Dear 
 child ! " 
 
 "The Countess has the honour of asking Madame la Cham- 
 hellane for a moment of conversation," resounded the monotonous 
 voice of Madame de Vaiiban's valet. 
 
 The Princess grew pale, and said to the man — 
 
 " Very well — in a minute. . . ." 
 
 " But, Madame la Comtesse . ." 
 
 " You can go. ..."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 231 
 
 "But, Princess, permit me," said Pani Walewska. 
 
 " I know what she wishes to tell you." 
 
 " But even if that is the case . . ." 
 
 " Well, then, the answer has come ! All is settled ! To-night 
 at ten o'clock. ' Constant is informed ! ' Understand .'' Beware 
 of her ! She wishes to entangle you for her plans. Slie has 
 been inti'iguing all her life. I first brought you the final news. 
 I — I cannot speak ! Let me kiss you once more. Do not 
 mind my constant warnings, but it is my duty to protect you. 
 Constant is informed, and when he is informed, then . . . the 
 Emperor ! If you wish, I will go to Constant. I will talk 
 about you. " 
 
 *'To . . . a valet.?" 
 
 " Dear child ! And Ryx ! Our late king's valet— he was a 
 Knight of the Order ; everybody was obliged to reckon with 
 him. I answer for Constant." 
 
 Pani Walewska has only now understood the whole truth. 
 Her eyes filled with tears. 
 
 " Then you say, that to-day . . .?" 
 
 " Yes, yes, Marie ! To day, for certain. Constant is informed. 
 Then, if you have an opportunity to mention — although it would 
 be the best to think what you are going to ask for. ..." 
 
 " What ? " 
 
 The Princess dropped her eyes. 
 
 " For ... do you see ... I do not know if I shall be able 
 to explain it to you. . . , All men are alike. At the first 
 moment they are ready to do anything . . . and then they 
 cool down. Therefore, if you do not gain at once, perhaps you 
 will never get it." 
 
 " It is true," answered Pani Walewska pensively. 
 
 " You must think it over ! For Anastazy a seat in the senate 
 and the grand riband. , , ." 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered. 
 
 " Then, one could get some office for Ksawery . , . provided 
 it is well paid . . . for you know . . . many children. . . . The 
 elder ones wish to enter the army — there will be no difficulty 
 about that — two colonels more or less . . ." 
 
 " And you. Princess ? " 
 
 ''I.''" answered the Princess modestly, hearing the irony in
 
 232 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 the question — " I ? Nothing ! I cai-e for my son. ... I tliink I 
 mentioned to you that two of our estates were confiscated by 
 tlie Prussians ! It would be only right that they should be re- 
 turned to us ! Nothing else ! Provided I am with you, except 
 that in case of an opportunity, I should like to become a lady- 
 in-waiting. . . ." 
 
 " What more ? " 
 
 " Marie, you are talking as if you doubted my disinterested- 
 ness. ..." 
 
 " On the contrary — I am sure of it ! " 
 
 After this conversation, interrupted again by Madame de 
 Vauban's valet, Pani Walewska was obliged to listen to the 
 Countess's confidences, which, although different in form, were 
 not different in substance from those of the Princess. 
 
 Here also Pani Walewska was obliged to listen to exclama- 
 tions, promises, beseechings, sighings, preachings about gratitude, 
 till she so,tired out the Countess by her passiveness, that Madame 
 de Vauban changed the subject and passed to advice. 
 
 " You must arm yourself, dear child, with presence of mind ! 
 Answer him quickly — have ten words for each of his. Re- 
 member about sentiment. I am sure he will like it ' Naturally 
 you will emphasise the fact that you respect the purple, that 
 you are dazzled by the hei'o's fame ; but your sentiment begins 
 at the point where he is without a crown ! Permit me to give 
 you a little speech. When, as is very probable, he reproaches you 
 for your coolness, you will half close your eyes, you will give to 
 your voice a slight timid vibration, and you will say : ' Your 
 Majesty, Sire, stops my heart throbbing ! ' and then you will 
 add, in order to accentuate it : ' For it is frightened, it is dazzled, 
 for it wishes to see you in the uniform of a soldier, for it is 
 afraid of the summit rising above the clouds, for it throbbed 
 not for the Emperor . . .' Here you will sigh slightly, and 
 will cover your face with your hands." 
 
 The lesson, thus conducted, lasted till evening. Pani Waelw- 
 ska sat silently, not protesting, not uiterrupting, not asking for 
 anything. 
 
 From time to time Pani Walewska's eyes grew animated ; 
 they burned with some mysterious fire, and seemed to penetrate 
 the Countess, who, notwithstanding her naturally cool blood.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 233 
 
 grew confused under that magnetic glance. Sometimes Pani 
 Walewska' s passiveness aroused in the Countess doubts and sus- 
 picions ; then she was bolder^ she would go to the extreme of 
 conjectures and insinuations^ hoping to arouse a protest, an 
 opposition — but all in vain. 
 
 Pani Walewska remained cool, immovable. 
 
 Night came — a cold, damp, penetrating night. The drawing- 
 rooms in the Blacha Palace became empty. Madame de 
 Vauban's guests, not being able to see Pani Walewska, who re- 
 mained apart, went out, carrying throughout the town quantities 
 of rumours, spun out from the Countess's few words and the 
 Princess's insinuations. 
 
 In one of Madame de Vauban's boudoirs Princess Jabłon- 
 owska and Fryne Czosnowska were waiting for the ending 
 of the Countess's conversation with Pani Walewska. Fryne 
 tried to entertain the Princess and to lessen her impatience, 
 but it increased in geometrical proportion to the progress of 
 the hands of the clock. 
 
 The clock struck nine. The Princess rushed from the sofa. 
 
 " It is impossible ! The Countess does not think of conse- 
 quences. It is time. ..." 
 
 " I assure you, Princess, that Vauban is never too late." 
 
 '^It may be . . ; but I also have to say something to 
 Marie. . . ." 
 
 "What I would not give if I were in her place ! . ." 
 
 " No, I cannot wait any longer ! She must have forgotten 
 the time." 
 
 "Oh, Vauban! Vauban will not forget it," said Fryne with 
 conviction. 
 
 As if to prove that she was right, the Countess appeared at 
 a side door. 
 
 The Princess rushed to her. 
 
 " My dearest ! Nine o'clock ! It is time ! . . , " 
 
 " But it is only a few steps from here." 
 
 " And what of Marie } " 
 
 The Countess sighed slightly. 
 
 "I did all I could!" 
 
 "And? . . ." 
 
 "It seems that all is right — only ! . . ."
 
 234 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Only what ? " inquired the Princess impetuously. 
 
 " She is so apathetic that I feel uneasy." 
 
 " Permit me^ my dearest^ I must know. . . ." 
 
 " Her quick decision, her determination, confirms my suspicion 
 that the sentiment for Gorayski reaches a point where it may 
 be dangerous. . . ." 
 
 " Dangerous ! " 
 
 " Very ! To-day she decided for his sake, and I do not doubt 
 that she will talk only about him." 
 
 " But in that case our little plot may come out. . . ." 
 
 "Well, not at once ; I was so careful, that the Emperor 
 knows about some debauch ; therefore he will not be surprised 
 at a request." 
 
 " Then what do you think ? " 
 
 " The game is begun ; we shall see afterwards." 
 
 " My dearest, dearest Henriettę ! There is no sacrifice which 
 I would not be ready to make for you ! " 
 
 The ladies sealed this with hearty kisses, and busied them- 
 selves with last preparations ; Avhile the Princess took on her- 
 self the trouble of final advices which might be useful to Pani 
 Walewska, the Countess pushed forward energetically the last 
 attacks on the Castle. 
 
 About twenty minutes before ten o'clock a carriage stopped 
 at the portico of the Blacha Palace. From its box a footman, 
 wearing Madame de Vauban's livery, jumped down and rushed 
 directly to the vestibule, where he asked to be announced to 
 the Countess. 
 
 The servants of the palace were astonished at the daring of 
 their fellow-servant. The hesitation, however, was interrupted 
 by Madame de Vauban's valet. 
 
 The arrival of the carriage was echoed in the Countess's 
 boudoir, made Princess Jabłonowska nervous, and reddened 
 Fryne Czosnowska's cheeks still more. 
 
 Madame de Vauban came to Pani Walewska, who was sitting 
 in a deep armchair, touched her shoulder lightly, and said, 
 " Marie, it is time ! " 
 
 "Time.^" 
 
 " Yes, dearest ; the carriage is waiting ! W^e must be 
 going ' "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 235 
 
 Pani Walewska moved her head in sign of consent. 
 
 The Countess made a sign to Fryne, who began to wrap up 
 Pani Walewska in a large, costly fur. 
 
 Pani Walewska abandoned herself passively to Czosnowska ; 
 did not try to find out why Fryne hugged her so passionately, 
 whispering from time to time, "Ah ! how happy you must be!" 
 The Chamberlain's wife was not surprised either at the Princess's 
 effusion, nor at the tenderness showered on her by Madame 
 de Vauban. She heard and understood well the admonition 
 about prudence and about the necessity of concentrating her 
 presence of mind, and the pious aspirations for success, and 
 various scales of sentiments played ostentatiously by all three 
 ladies. 
 
 Pani Walewska, although seeming to share with her tutors 
 their fears and hopes, was quiet and cold Avithin. All that was 
 happening to her and round her seemed to her perfectly 
 natural, right, and logical. Had she not almost agreed to 
 intercede for Gorayski ? Had she not promised Małachowski? 
 Had she not engaged her word to Wybicki ? Had they not 
 asked her to keep the secret, to bear the sole burden in 
 public opinion, not to protest if she were accused of petty cal- 
 culations and paltry plans, so that nobody should even suspect 
 how weighty was her mission on their first interview with the 
 Emperor ? 
 
 With that consciousness of her important mission her bosom 
 heaved, her heart throbbed noisily and made her stretch herself 
 proudly ; it blossomed into a contemptuous smile on her lips ; 
 it covered every one of her words with assurance. 
 
 In the name of the most sacred sentiments, in the name 
 of the most solemn adjuration, they asked her to sacrifice her- 
 self, to become to her country another Judith ! And so she 
 Mould be. She desired to meet him as soon as possible — to 
 throw at his feet those weighty words, to dictate conditions 
 to him, and then . . . then to dehght in the joy of others, 
 to live by the memory of the accomplished deed, and to carry 
 her own sorrow and pain beyond the woi'ld. . . . 
 
 Pani Walewska was seized by a nervous trembling. She was 
 irritated at Madame de Vauban being slow. 
 
 " Let us be going ! "
 
 236 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " In a minute, my dearest ! Only one tuniqiie. . . ." 
 
 " You are dressing as if for a Court reception/' said Pani 
 Walewska angrily. 
 
 " I must — at all events." 
 
 Once in the carriage. Pani Walewska became quieter. 
 
 The Countess, who with entire self-denial was fulfilling the 
 duties of a chaperon, wished to utilise even those last moments 
 in giving her pupil some illuminating advice; but Pani Walewska 
 interrupted her : " Permit me to collect my thoughts ! " 
 
 " I thought I could help you . . . before all . . ." 
 
 " I know what I have to do ! " 
 
 " My dearest ! What ? We are in the Castle ! " 
 
 The carriage produced a hollow sound — rolled several yards 
 further in the courtyard of the Castle, and stopped at the 
 second gate. 
 
 The door opened noisily. . Pani Walewska found herself 
 before a dimly-lighted hall, iii front of which stood a broad- 
 shouldered grenadier. 
 
 Pani Walewska went mechanically towards the hall, but the 
 grenadier looked at her, and said sharply: "Who? Where.''" 
 
 Pani Walewska became confused, not knowing what to 
 answer ; but at the same time the footman began to talk in 
 a low voice with the grenadier, Avhile Madame de Vauban, who 
 alighted after Pani Walewska, deemed it proper to explain 
 to her that unexpected obstacle. 
 
 " They do not know yet ! Cover your face with a veil ! 
 Naturally, it will be changed later on. . . Court rigour, and 
 Duroc's inexperience too. At the Court of the Louis, a Marshal 
 would be dismissed for such impropriety. And then, they 
 are only camping here ; they have not had time. . . . One 
 must be lenient ! " 
 
 "I do not know about anything!" sounded the grenadier's 
 voice, talking with the footman. " It is past ten ; I have no 
 order ! You must see the captain on duty, there to the left, 
 in the corner, in thai window, wlierc the light is." 
 
 The footman rushed in the said direction, while the grenadier 
 muttered : " Constant ! Constant has no right to give me any 
 orders ! Sacrebleu ! Nine o'clock, lights out, and even a battalion 
 of Constants cannot pass ! . . . Ladies to M. Constant ! "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 237 
 
 " My friend," said Madame de Vauban, with a conciliatory 
 accent, ''you do not need to be in a bad temper. . . ." 
 
 The grenadier rapped the ground impatiently with his rifle. 
 
 " In the first place, not a friend, but a sergeant of the second 
 company of grenadiers. Then, the i"oad to M. Constant is open 
 during the day. I advise you to get into the coach and go 
 back." 
 
 "It is not your concern." 
 
 " Mine or not, you cannot see Constant. The Little Corporal 
 does not think of going to bed yet ; Constant cannot leave him 
 for one moment ! You have no idea ! " 
 
 "What an amusing man!" said the Countess, with well- 
 acted ease. 
 
 " Better not make any remarks ! The captain is coming. 
 . . . You will have an answer." 
 
 At the further end of the courtyard measured sounds of spurs 
 were heard. Pani Walewska was seized by nervous trembling. 
 
 "Let us return," she whispered. 
 
 " Child ! What an idea ! " 
 
 "Let us return," insisted Pani Walevvska. "I cannot stay 
 here one minute longer." 
 
 The Countess took hold of her arm. 
 
 " Marie, think ! Impossible ! " 
 
 " Let me go home." 
 
 " What nonsense ! Only think — he is waiting ! Courage ! 
 The officer ! Cover your face ! " 
 
 Pani Walew^ska pushed ajic/iu over her eyes. 
 
 " You will be so kind as to follow me," said the officer 
 brought by the footman, and went to the further end of the 
 courtyard. 
 
 The Countess pressed Pani Walewska's arm and pulled her 
 along. 
 
 The officer walked swiftly, exchanging short woi'ds v/ith 
 sentries, and directed his steps towards a dark corridor. From 
 this he conducted them to the first floor, and showed them into 
 a large vaulted room, in which two other officers were shorten- 
 ing their time on duty by plajdng cards. 
 
 The officers, seeing their comrade and two ladies, rushed 
 from behind the table.
 
 238 NAPOT.EON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 ''Captain to the deuce!" began joyfully the young officer. 
 " You are a magician, that you . . ." 
 
 The captain interrupted him by an energetic gesture of the 
 hand, and said : " Lieutenant Rousseau, you will conduct these 
 two ladies to the commissary on duty, and will tell him that 
 they wish to see Constant on business." 
 
 The lieutenant stretched himself up, tightened his shoulder- 
 belt, and having bowed to the ladies, went to the door, while 
 the captain said to Madame de Vauban : " Pi'ay, follow the 
 lieutenant." 
 
 "We thank you very much," answered she with dignity. 
 
 The captain smiled ironically. 
 
 " Oh, not at all ! The lieutenant is waiting." 
 
 Madame de Vauban 2:)ressed Pani Walewska's arm significantly, 
 and they followed the officer through a labyrinth of dimly- 
 lighted corridors and half-empty rooms. 
 
 Rousseau conducted them swiftly, and then stopped at the 
 door guarded by two grenadiers of the Guard. The lieutenant 
 pressed the handle and introduced the ladies to a large room, 
 in which a broad-shouldered man, wearing a green swallow-tail 
 coat with gold lace, was sitting at the door. 
 
 Rousseau whispered a few words to the commissary, who rose 
 quickly from the armchair, glanced sharply at the ladies, and 
 said to the lieutenant : " Excuse me, sir, I know about one, and 
 here are two ! " 
 
 Rousseau smiled ironically. The commissary frowned. 
 
 "M. Rousseau . . . good-bye." 
 
 The lieutenant, recalled by this farewell to his duty, left the 
 room. The commissary pointed out the chairs to the ladies. 
 
 " Pray be seated ; we will see ! " 
 
 Then he rang the bell, and having given some order to 
 a lackey who came, sat doAvn in the armchair. The lackey 
 returned with an answer ; the official having read it, came to the 
 ladies, bowed to them, and said solemnly : " M. Constant is 
 waiting." 
 
 " At last ! " said Madame de Vauban, sighing. 
 
 " Pi'ay follow me ! " said the commissary ; turned to a curtain 
 covering a door leading to a corridor, and, after having passed 
 several small rooms, he stopped before a door.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 239 
 
 " Here is M. Constant." 
 
 The Countess was ready to turn the handle when the door 
 opened, and in the doorway appeared the bony head of a man, 
 with small piercing eyes and jovially smiling face. 
 
 " Your humble servant ! Pray come in ! Be so kind. . 
 Here on the sofa. You will be more comfortable." 
 
 The Countess tugged Pani Walewska slightly towai'ds the 
 sofa. The man saluted, smiled, and spoke further : " I was 
 beginning to doubt . . . for it is near ten o'clock ! It is true 
 that Duroc assured me, but with ladies it is always very 
 difficult. . . . But, pray, take off your cloaks ! It is warm 
 here. . . ." 
 
 Constant helped the ladies to get rid of their furs and 
 shawls, looking attentively at Pani Walewska, and when she, 
 by a last nervous movement, threw off the luce. Jichu from her 
 face, he half closed his eyes and became silent. 
 
 Pani Walewska, feeling the looks of the Emperor's valet, 
 angrily tightened her lips. That look irritated, almost offended 
 her. 
 
 " How long yet.? " asked the Countess. 
 
 Constant pulled out a watch. 
 
 "Five minutes ! " 
 
 " How exact you are ! " 
 
 " I cannot be otherwise with that whimsical man ! I can 
 announce you at ten o'clock . . . and I shall do it with plea- 
 sure. . . . All my respect and readiness at your disposal. . . . 
 By the way ! I was very embarrassed a while ago, for the com- 
 missary sent me word asking if the other lady should be 
 admitted. Naturally I guessed, but for a moment I was em- 
 barrassed . . . naturally. - ." 
 
 Constant laughed. 
 
 Pani Walewska pressed her temples. 
 
 " I could not permit . . my friend alone," said Madame de 
 Vauban. 
 
 " Undoubtedly ! " said the valet, winking with his little eyes. 
 "Ten o'clock ! Excuse me . . I must be going to inquire." 
 
 Constant left the room. 
 
 "Very nice man." 
 
 "A lackey ! "
 
 240 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Countess sighed. 
 
 " The Emperor's ! , . . But I understand your noble aversion. 
 And what can I say ? Do you think, that in me, the blood of 
 the Barbatanes does not ask for due regards ? Gammon sense 
 demands self-sacrifice, and friendship makes the sacrifice sweet. 
 Constant has access to the Emperor. At the Court of Louis, 
 barbers threatened ministers. Napoleon shaves himself; hence 
 Constant's influence ! An influence much greater, because the 
 Mameluke Roustan does not know how to use his. . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled ironically. 
 
 "You wonder ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska had no time to answer, for Constant returned ; 
 he was solemn and embarrassed. 
 
 "What now .^" 
 
 " Nothing. I told Roustan. The answer will come soon. . . 
 He is still writing. Three couriers are waiting." 
 
 "Then, perhaps . . ." 
 
 " Impossible to know anything. . . . With him every second, 
 something new. Sometimes it is too hard. A little while ago 
 Roustan brought with him ice-cream, and then Corvisart will 
 suffer for that . . . Sebastiani is the cause . . ; I think his 
 career in Constantinople is ended. . 
 
 Constant put his hand pompously under his swallow-tailed 
 uniform. 
 
 " Is it possible ? Prince Borghese told me quite differently." 
 
 Constant smiled contemptuously. 
 
 "He does not know anything ! He will have a lesson. We will 
 send him to Paris, to his wife ! But can I bring you anything ? 
 A glass of Burgundy? For it is . 
 
 Pani Walewska looked sharply at the valet. 
 
 " First of all, do your duty, M. Constant, and announce me to 
 his Majesty ! " 
 
 At that sharp speech. Constant's head sank between his 
 shoulders, and he stammered hesitatingly : " Yes . , . certainly 
 , . . Roustan is informed. . . ." 
 
 That answer irritated Pani Walewska, and aroused a desperate 
 energy in her. 
 
 " You should not announce me to Roustan ! 1 did not come 
 hei'e to pay a visit in ante-rooms. I am going ! "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 241 
 
 She rose and went to the door. 
 
 The Countess rushed after her and stopped her. 
 
 Constant, frightened at such determination, tried to justify 
 himself. " I did not mean to offend. . . ." 
 
 "But, naturally, Marie . . . M. Constant is . . ." 
 
 '^'With the greatest respect . . . The Emperor's waiting- 
 room is full of officers on service. Could I dare to show you 
 there } " 
 
 " Undoubtedly, dear child ; M. Constant, only through . . ." 
 
 "I am going. ..." 
 
 At that moment a rap on the door interrupted further argu- 
 ment. 
 
 Constant opened the door, exchanged a few words with the 
 person standing behind it, and returned to Pani Walewska 
 triumphantly. 
 
 "His Majesty commands me to beg you to wait in the green 
 room ! " 
 
 "Do you see, do you see ! . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska dropped her head. 
 
 ^'Pray, follow me . . . only I would advise you to put on 
 a Jichv. . . . We shall pass rooms with soldiers." 
 
 " Ah, how kind you are, M. Constant ! Permit me, my 
 dearest ! So now you can . . . you are covered." 
 
 " Be so kind . . ." insisted the valet. 
 
 Pani Walewska made a few steps, and having noticed that 
 Madame de Vauban did not follow her, she stopped. 
 
 " And you ? " asked she with uneasiness. 
 
 " I — I, my dearest, here . . . remain ! I wait . . . you 
 understand? . . ." 
 
 "Yes, yes ! " assented Pani Walewska feverishly. " You are 
 right. I must go alone ! Then it will not be long ... I 
 know what I have to say. . . . Pray, wait a minute, I shall be 
 back soon. . . ." 
 
 " Only more courage ! Listen, but do not bind yourself to 
 anything . . . understand ! Remember what I told you ! " 
 whispered Madame de Vauban. 
 
 Pani Walewska tried to smile. 
 
 "Oh, be at rest. ..." 
 
 " M. Constant ! " 
 R
 
 242 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The valet saluted the Countess respectfully, and said : " I 
 know ... I know. . . . My whole attention . . . my whole 
 experience. . . . Pray, this way. . . ." 
 
 As soon as Pani Walewska crossed the threshold of the room, 
 the Castle, which had seemed solitary and deserted, appeared to 
 her full of light and animation. At every step Pani Walewska 
 passed officers of the staff, aides-de-camp, fantastically dressed 
 Mamelukes, and the Court servants in green and gold liveries. 
 
 Constant walked ahead, sometimes exchanging salutes, some- 
 times answering by a smile, and sometimes winking cunningly, 
 and significantly putting a finger on his lips. 
 
 Several times amongst the groups of whispeińng officers there 
 was an irritating murmuring and suppressed laughter at the 
 sight of Pani Walewska, but Constant's one look silenced 
 them. 
 
 Pani Walewska guessed the meaning of those whispers ; she 
 understood the ironical smiles, she felt through the Jichti cover- 
 ing her face the impudence of the looks ; but notwithstanding 
 all, she did not lose her presence of mind and self-assurance. 
 On the contrary, she seemed to gain strength. She went on 
 proudly, and every beat of her pulse, every drop of her blood 
 rushing to her temples, echoed Malachowski's word — resounded 
 with consciousness of her self-sacrifice. 
 
 That sullen crowd, crushed by one of Bonaparte's looks, 
 crawling at his feet, did not know whom they beheld. They 
 did not even suspect that their master, that mighty man 
 before whom they bent, would be at her feet, and what he 
 would be obliged to promise before he could touch even one of 
 her hands ! 
 
 " Here is the green room," whispered Constant. 
 
 Pani Walewska nodded quietly. 
 
 "Very well." 
 
 Constant cleared his throat, and lifted a curtain covering the 
 door. 
 
 Pani Walewska noticed a Mameluke's turban and his brown, 
 apathetic flat face. 
 
 The door opened quietly, and she found herself in a large 
 room with green hangings, dimly lighted by candelabra. She 
 looked round. The room was empty ; only at its further end,
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 24-3 
 
 on the background of a white door, an officer was standing on 
 guard. 
 
 Constant stopped and pointed out to Pani Walewska an arm- 
 chair standing near the wall. 
 
 Pani Walewska was surprised. 
 
 " Is it here ? " she asked in a whisper. 
 
 "Yes. There where the orderly officer is . . . the Emperor 
 is there." 
 
 "A . . . a . . . Then?" 
 
 "Well," explained the valet, "he is busy just now, but soon 
 he will ask you in. ... He knows that you are waiting. Here 
 you can take off your veil. Warm ? And he still complains of 
 the cold. I shall be in the next room." 
 
 " You leave us.'' " 
 
 " Such is the order. None is allowed here but the orderly 
 and persons admitted to a special audience. But it will not be 
 long . . . two couriers have been sent off already. . . ." 
 
 Constant saluted, and left the room on tiptoe. 
 
 This new time of waiting made a very unpleasant impression 
 on Pani Walewska ; it at once stopped the circulation of her 
 bright, simple, and sober thoughts, and again aroused in her a 
 feeling of uneasiness and fear. 
 
 This was stimulated by the quiet and dusk. Little by little 
 Pani Walewska grew accustomed to that dusk and quiet. The 
 quiet was broken by continual sounds coming from the 
 Emperor's room ; strange and incomprehensible sounds, that 
 sometimes seemed to be a short, lively conversation, then a 
 noise of turned-over papers. That noise was interrupted from 
 time to time by the clinking of spurs, marking the movement 
 of the orderly, or by the noise of the street coming into the 
 room. 
 
 The dusk presently lifted its veils for Pani Walewska's eyes, 
 who could now distinguish the marble lines of the fireplace, the 
 design of the hangings, the faces of the portraits, the gilt 
 edges of chairs and tables ; she even noticed a plate shining on 
 the bearskin of the officer standing motionless at the door, the 
 trimmings of his uniform, and the big hilt of his sword. 
 
 The waiting began to tire Pani Walewska. Several times it 
 seemed to her that she heard the noise of the door handle,
 
 244 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 that at every moment she would heai' her name, but each of 
 the illusions was followed by deeper silence, by greater quiet. 
 
 At once the spurs clanked longer. 
 
 Pani Walewska turned mechanically towards the officer, but 
 she could not see his face because of the bearskin projecting a 
 shadow on it. Pani Walewska thought then that the time 
 seemed long not to her alone — that this officer must be puzzled 
 by her presence, and that he shortened his time by making 
 conjectures. 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled to herself. What did she care about 
 the opinion of such a dummy, when she determined to challenge 
 Napoleon in the face of the whole world ? 
 
 All at once the door through which Constant introduced 
 Pani Walewska opened wide. Into the room entered an officer 
 wearing a uniform difficult to be distinguished, saluted the orderly 
 silently in the military fashion, and said, breathing heavily, "A 
 courier from Paris ! " 
 
 The orderly knocked at the door of the Emperor's room and 
 then opened it. 
 
 A stream of light rushed from the Emperor's room, and in 
 that light Pani Walewska saw the brown martial face of the 
 courier, and she heard every word. 
 
 "Where from ? " 
 
 " From Paris, Sire ! " 
 
 " At last ! Give it me ! " 
 
 There was a moment of silence, broken by the noise of a torn 
 envelope, then the laconic conclusion : " Very well ! Report to- 
 morrow to the staff! " 
 
 The courier retreated backwards. The orderly advanced to 
 close the door, but being pushed slightly by the courier, turned 
 in order to let him pass. At that moment the light coming 
 from the room fell on his face. 
 
 Pani Walewska trembled. That officer was Lieutenant 
 Ornano. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the door closed and the dusk filled the 
 room again. The courier exchanged a salute with the orderly 
 and left. Then the orderly once more became motionless at 
 the Emperor's door. 
 
 Pani Walewska shook off the first impression.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 245 
 
 That meeting was unpleasant to her. She did herself not 
 know why, but she would have given much that he had not 
 been here. 
 
 Was she not mistaken ? No^ she was not ! It was he ! He 
 without any doubt, only vei'y much changed. 
 
 Pani Walewska strained her eyes. The orderly seemed to be 
 changed into stone, for now even his spurs did not betray the 
 slightest movement. 
 
 Pani Walewska sighed. 
 
 The lieutenant evidently had not recognised her, and he 
 could not recognise her, for he never could think that it was she ! 
 They had only spoken together a short time. 
 
 This assurance that she was unrecognised tranquillised Pani 
 Walewska, but meanwhile aroused in her a sti'ange thought, that 
 although as it was better so, yet notwithstanding eveiything, it 
 was bad . . . very bad ! Pani Walewska tried to render to her- 
 self an account of that bad situation, to chase away the inex- 
 plicable conviction about it, but all was in vain. 
 
 Ornano might have recognised her ! 
 
 And suppose he was only simulating discretion .''... 
 
 Cold perspiration covered Pani Waleswka's forehead. 
 
 " It would be awful ! " thought she. 
 
 "I imagine your impatience," said some one at her side. 
 
 Pani Walewska trembled. 
 
 "A . . . it is you, M. Constant!" 
 
 " At your service ! We have another courier ! Cambaceres 
 has chosen a good moment ! But it is the last ! If I could 
 have foreseen that, I would have sent you word that it would 
 be useless before eleven o'clock." 
 
 " Yes . . . certainly ! " 
 
 " Madame, you must be patient a little longer. .1 will go 
 and remind him. . . . He must be in a good humour, for every- 
 thing is well in Paris. ..." 
 
 " M. Constant ! " said Panl Walewska suddenly, tormented by 
 her thoughts. " Who is that officer . , . there .-^ " 
 
 The valet bent to her ear. 
 
 " Ornano ! Cousin ! Favourite ! Lieutenant of the Chasseurs. 
 But if by any chance he is in your way^ then we will find some 
 means of dealing with him, loi*, Madame, we have always some
 
 246 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 means at hand. One word to the Commandant suffices^ and 
 such an officer will never see the Emperor's threshold ! Ho ! ho ! 
 Otherwise we could do nothing here. . , ." 
 
 "The idea ... I asked only . . ." 
 
 "Ornano . . . Ornano ! Prince ! And not of yesterday. . . ." 
 
 "Thank you. ..." 
 
 " I will go to remind him. For^ Madame^ pray believe me 
 that I am very sorry." 
 
 Constant bowed respectfully, drew his head between his 
 shoulders and went to the imperial threshold. 
 
 A stream of light again fell into the room. 
 
 " What do you want ? " resounded a sharp voice. 
 
 "Sire . . . the lady ! " 
 
 "Let her wait ... I have said so once ! " 
 
 Constant withdrew quickly. 
 
 " Madame, you heard ! He is still busy, but he will soon 
 finish. He will excuse himself aftei'wards. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska answered the valet by some gesture. She did 
 not understand what he was sajdng to her, and for the moment 
 had not even any idea with whom Constant was talking, when 
 a stream of light rushed from the Emperor's room ; she saw 
 Ornano's face for the second time, but so much changed that he 
 seemed to her to be a ghost. 
 
 " He has recognised you ! He knows at last what you are 
 worth ! " hissed some voice within Pani Walewska. 
 
 She gathered all her energy to dominate the emotion. 
 
 Suppose he recognised her, what of that ? . . . He thinks ! 
 He may think what he pleases. . . . She has before her such a 
 sublime task, that all other considerations are nothing. . . . 
 
 "He knows what you are worth ! He knows ! " hissed the 
 same voice. 
 
 Pani Walewska covered her face with her hands. 
 
 At any moment the Emperor might call her, and she would 
 be obliged to pass him. She would turn her head away. No ! 
 She must not do that. Let their looks meet. If he is not 
 guided by vulgar curiosity, then he will guess her intention. 
 He must guess ! Fancies , . . ridiculous fancies ! Ornano ! She 
 saw him once in her life. It is true he was different from all 
 others . , . quite different !
 
 JNAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 247 
 
 Suddenly Pani Walewska trembled. Right beside her re- 
 sounded a subdued voice. Yes — he was speaking to her — 
 speaking a long while, quickly. . . . 
 
 Pani Walewska did not understand the words. 
 
 Ornano laughed drily. 
 
 " You do not even answer ! You do not even deny ! " 
 
 "Forgive me ... I was not paying attention/' she stam- 
 mered at last. 
 
 "Excuse me, then. I have been mad, I believed ! When they 
 wanted to convince me ... I resisted ! I defended a dream ! 
 Forgive my daring. . . ." 
 
 " I have nothing to forgive ! " 
 
 "Why should you be different?" continued the lieutenant in 
 a whisper. "Whj'^ should you be better than the others, or 
 different } I do not know where such illusion came to me from ! 
 In the beginning I did not believe my own eyes ! I was afraid 
 to believe ; but now that impression is gone. . . ." 
 
 Ornano was silent. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at him with an effort. 
 
 " I do not understand what you mean." 
 
 " You are . . . here . . at this time ? " 
 
 "What then?" asked Pani Walewska, feeling that she said 
 something quite different from her thoughts. 
 
 " Do you know where that door leads ? " 
 
 " Yes ... to the Emperor's study." 
 
 " To shame ! Do you hear me ? — to shame ! Do you wish to 
 meet the fate of Lacoite, de Vandeg, or Charlotte Garrans?" 
 
 Ornano took Pani Walewska by the hand. 
 
 " Go away from here. There is still time ! Go away !...'' 
 
 " I cannot ! " moaned Pani WalcM'ska. 
 
 " You dream of influence . . . power ? You are wrong ! 
 To-morrow or the day after you will be thrown away ! Do you 
 understand ? Your levity will be valued and you will be paid 
 for it ! Do you hear me ? Nothing more ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska tightened her lips. 
 
 Ornano breathed heavily, and continued in a whisper — 
 
 " Retreat while there is time ! Run away ! I beseech you ! 
 Do you think that I am considering myself? I shall be gone 
 to-morrow — you will never see me again. My only desire is to
 
 248 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 preserve a pure memory of you^ not to witness your madness. 
 You are silent? " 
 
 Pani Walewska tui'ned her head with an effort towards the 
 Emperor's room, and said feverishly : " I must go there ... I 
 must tell him — I must get from him a promise ! Nobody else but 
 I ! You do not know, you do not guess . . . but it must be so ! 
 Duty ! . . . I undertook it voluntarily." 
 
 Ornano laughed. 
 
 " Perhaps you think you will be able to rule ? Never ! The 
 Emperor alone knows how to appreciate women. He tramples 
 on them — and he is right to act so ! What did you come for ? 
 What for .'' Could you swear that you wish to see the Emperor, 
 and that you do not wish to grasp at his power and riches } 
 The Emperor pays well ; he knows what the regard of the ladies 
 who wait in his ante-chambers for an audience is worth. . . ." 
 
 " Be silent ! " 
 
 Ornano tugged at his shoulder-belt. 
 
 " You are right. ... I went too far. I said too much. Pray 
 forget my behaviour. It seemed to me that it was my duty. 
 Now I have nothing to reproach myself with." 
 
 " I am convinced. I was not mistaken when I thought that 
 you know no more than the appearance." 
 
 "What.?" 
 
 "Then, remember that the reasons which brought me here 
 are beyond your conjectures. Neither have you the right to 
 ask me, nor I the right to answer you." 
 
 Ornano stretched himself up. 
 
 "Yes, it is true ... I have no right. Childishness! . . . 
 Dream . . . ridiculous dream ! . . . But I beseech you just the 
 same, leave this place, return. There is yet time if you only 
 have the will. I will call Constant ! " 
 
 " I asked for an audience." 
 
 Ornano laughed. 
 
 "Audience ! You call that an audience .'' " 
 
 Pani Walewska lifted her head proudly. 
 
 " I do not understand your irony. I am waiting for an 
 audience with the Emperor of the French ! " 
 
 " It is ini})Ossible ! No, a hundred times no ! They deceived 
 you, they lied to you. You would not have come here wilfully."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 249 
 
 "I cannot explain to myself your words. You are talking as 
 if you doubted some one's honour," whispered Pani Walewska, 
 whom the lieutenant's voice began to frighten. 
 
 " Yes, it is true. I do not know myself what I am talking 
 about. But why did you come here ? I understand they are 
 deceiving your vigilance. Why are you silent?" 
 
 Pani Walewska covered her face with her hands. 
 
 Ornano bent to her. 
 
 " You do not try to justify yourself. Then can it be true 
 that you willingly ? . . ." 
 
 " You wish to know ? Then, yes, I came here willir gly ! " 
 
 "Without reckoning to yourself how this audience will be 
 understood .'' " 
 
 "It is indifferent to me." 
 
 Ornano laughed spasmodically. 
 
 " You try to reach so high ! Ha ! ha ! What do you care 
 about the woi'ld, about people ? . . . Ha ! ha ! You think that 
 others have not said the same .'' Ha ! ha ! And how did you 
 know that you would even be received .'' Have you heard the 
 command : ' Let her wait ! ' which often is followed by : ' She 
 can go ! ' Tell me, is he not right ? Do any of you deserve to 
 be treated differently .^ For why do you come to him ? And 
 I did not believe — do you hear me } . . . even to-day I stood up 
 for you ! It seemed to me that you were different, that if God 
 has given you so much beauty, then He must have given you 
 also a pure soul and immaculate heart. I curse the moment in 
 which I saw you for the first time ; for a moment of bliss you 
 charge the horrid usury of disenchantment ! . . ." 
 
 " You are not justified in reproaching me. I have not given 
 any reason," stammered Pani Walewska. 
 
 " I am not justified ! Had I to ask the lily's permission to 
 admire it ? Then, it is not permitted to adore a star .''... 
 Should I have another reason to love you than one meeting of 
 your eyes. . . . Justification ! . . . Listen, then : there in my 
 breast is beating a heart for you — it beats with all my life. There 
 is no selfish thought in me. I wish to preserve you immaculate 
 — I wish to die with your image. It surprises you that I defend 
 you, that I am afraid about your purity. . . . Mary ! I bend to 
 your feet ! I do not ask for anything for myself — nothing ! I
 
 250 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 do not dare to suppose that you could be able to leave the road 
 of duty, that you should turn your eyes on me ! I swear to you 
 that my only wish is to go away with a memory of you ... go 
 alone ! And if I am talking to you, I am doing it not for a 
 paltry motive, for the sake of intrigue, for jealousy ! Behind 
 this door is the Emperor ! The Emperor whom I worship — I 
 am ready to give my life for him ! And you come here to make 
 me hate him ! I know you are thinking of power, and certainly 
 I do not know a woman more worthy than you to wear a crown. 
 Were I strong enough I would offer it to you first. I would like 
 to have you for the Empress, to watch at your door, to serve 
 you. Unfortunately, I must see not only that I am powerless, 
 but also that you are blinded. It seems to you that behind 
 that door power is waiting for you ; you stretch your arms, and 
 you do not notice the precipice that divides you from it ! You 
 will be ruined ! Do you hear ? The Court will suck out all the 
 best of you and throw you away, taking another victim ! And 
 what then ? Tell me ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska trembled ! Ornano's words moved her, 
 opened her eyes by their force, fired her imagination. 
 
 "Yes — yes, you are right!" she said nervously. "I cannot 
 stay here ! Not one moment longer ! Małachowski deceived 
 himself. I am not strong enough for such a difficult task. I am 
 weak ! I shall perish ! Not one moment longer ! I was mad to 
 come here. Lead me away from here. I shall return home to 
 Walewice, to my quiet. I return. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed heavily. Ornano bent to her hand. 
 
 " You are good, noble, worthy!" he said with joy. "" I thought 
 you so, I guessed you to be so ! You could not be different ! 
 Excuse my bold words ! Forgive me ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska sprang from her seat. 
 
 " Let us come away from here ! Lead me . . . lead me ! " 
 
 Ornano came to his senses. 
 
 " I will call Constant. I cannot accompany you. I am on 
 duty!" 
 
 "Then you abandon me.''" 
 
 "Abandon you ! ... If I only could ! . . . " 
 
 " Constant may not obey me ! " interrupted Pani Walewska 
 feverishly.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY S5l 
 
 " I undertake that he will. Then there is only this door to 
 the Emperor's room^ and I am guarding it ! . . ." 
 
 OrnanOj not waiting for Pani Walewska's answer, rushed to 
 the door leading to the service room, and he was taking hold of 
 the handle when suddenly the opposite door into the Emperor's 
 room opened with noise. 
 
 Napoleon appeared at it. 
 
 "Ornano!" came a loud call. The lieutenant stopped as 
 if paralysed^ riveted to the floor. 
 
 "Sire ! " he stammered. 
 
 " Here are the papers ! To Maret at once ! " 
 
 The lieutenant automatically approached the Emperor, took 
 from his hand the roll of papers, and went slowly to the door. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Napoleon walked to Pani Walewska stand- 
 ing in the centre of the room. 
 
 " A . . . you. . . . Pray follow me ! " 
 
 The officer's spurs clanked violently. 
 
 The Emperor turned. 
 
 " Omano ! " 
 
 "Sire!" 
 
 " Have I to repeat my order ? March ! " 
 
 Ornano stretched himself violently and turned to the door. 
 
 Napoleon looked after the lieutenant till the door closed after 
 him ; then he said simperingly to Pani Walewska : " Well, pray 
 come in ! " 
 
 She followed him slowty. 
 
 Napoleon, not looking after her, entered the room and sat at 
 his desk covered with papers. 
 
 Pani Walewska passed the threshold and stopped. 
 
 The Em})eror looked through some papers, tugged at a large 
 sheet, and having turned imperceptibly, he said abruptly : 
 " Shut the door ! Sit down ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska executed the command. 
 
 Quiet ruled supreme in the room. 
 
 Pani Walewska became familiar with the light coming from 
 large candelabra reflected in two large mirrors ; then little by 
 little she dominated her fright, and began to comprehend the 
 thoughts crowding on her. 
 
 At last she was with the Emperor !
 
 252 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 She beheld him sitting at the desk ! She could see the clouds 
 passing over the imperial brow ! She heard the violent short 
 screech of the pen that preceded every throwing aside of the 
 papers ; she distinguished large silver monograms upon portfolios 
 scattered on the floor, as well as the complicated design of dark 
 red damask covering the walls ; she noticed the large portrait of 
 the last Polish king Poniatowski, and the figure of the secretary 
 bent over the papers at the other end of the room, the sword 
 lying on the chair, and the grimacing face of a satyr standing 
 on the mantelpiece. 
 
 She was with the Empei'or ! One moment more, and she 
 would cast away the burden weighing on her so heavily. She 
 would tell him ! She must tell him ! But suppose ... It is 
 true that this audience is quite strange ! He told her to wait. 
 Why .'' He is busy. She was with the Emperor ! She was 
 almost forced to come, and now he does not even look at her. 
 
 At once it seemed to her that she heard the noise of the 
 spurs behind the door. 
 
 There was Ornano ! No doubt about it ! Why did he speak 
 to her like that ? He spoke so convincingly ; but how mistaken 
 he was ! For what then .'' She is with the Emperor, and in his 
 behaviour towards her she does not see anything else but in- 
 difference and neglect. 
 
 The situation seemed to Pani Walewska ridiculous. So many 
 passionate discussions, so many fears, warnings, fights, and at last 
 she was received almost with a shrugging of the shoulders ; and 
 now by every movement she was given to understand that her 
 presence cannot hinder him from reading reports, that she does 
 not deserve even a few words of conversation between the 
 reading of two documents. 
 
 And Małachowski imagined . . . ! Not he alone, but all of 
 them. She also was mistaken. . . . 
 
 But, such being the case, why had he asked her to see him ? 
 
 Impatience began to take hold of Pani Walewska. The 
 thought that her presence was forgotten tormented her. 
 The Emperor did not lift his eyes from the papers ; he moved 
 several times in his armchair, but it seemed only to turn away 
 fi'om her moi'C. 
 
 A long, unbearable moment passed. At last, at the other end
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 253 
 
 of the room, a slight movement was heard. The Emperor's 
 secretary rose, gathered together his papers, and having 
 approached him on his tiptoes, he put them on the edge of the 
 table. 
 
 " Have you finished .'' " muttered Napoleon. 
 
 " Yes, Sire." 
 
 " You can go." 
 
 The secretary bovi sd, and went towards the door. Napoleon 
 called after him : " Meneval ! " 
 
 " Sire ? " 
 
 " Remind me to-morrow about Talma. The actors of the 
 Comedy have quarrelled again." 
 
 Meneval saluted for the second time ; then he went. 
 
 The Emperor remained alone with Pani Walewska. 
 
 When the secretary left she was again seized with nervous 
 trembling. She was certain that now, at any moment, the 
 Empei'or would turn to hex-, that the decisive moment for 
 Malachowski's hopes had come. 
 
 But, contrary to her supposition. Napoleon bent over the 
 desk and concentrated himself on the papers. 
 
 Pani Walewska became quiet. A bitter smile twisted her 
 beautiful face. The clock on the mantelpiece struck twelve 
 o'clock. 
 
 The Emperor rose suddenly from the chair, pushed it, and 
 began to walk across the room. Then he stopped near Pani 
 Walewska. 
 
 " Blow out the candles ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska went to the branched candlesticks. 
 
 The Emperor started again walking across the room, stopping 
 from time to time at the desk and glancing at the papers, as if 
 verifying their contents. 
 
 Pani Walewska, having blown out the lights, returned to 
 the sofa, turning round the desk so as not to meet Napoleon 
 walking to and fro. 
 
 The room now was almost dark, it being lighted only by an 
 oil lamp with a green shade standing on the desk, and con- 
 centrating its light on the papers. 
 
 Pani Walewska followed the Emperor's silhouette furtively, 
 but it was in the shadow, and only when he came near the
 
 254 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 lamp could she see the colours of his uniform and the sharp 
 outlines of his features. 
 
 Pani Walewska was counting mechanically the tick-tack of the 
 clock. 
 
 Five . . . ten . . . twenty . . . thirty. . . No, it cannot 
 continue any longer. She would rise and go. 
 
 The Emperor is busy. He has no time. She ought to go 
 out unnoticed. It is late . . . very late. And then Vauban 
 will be making conjectures. And not she alone. Princess 
 Jabłonowska, Ornano, Frpie — all of them. . . . They wished 
 to apply their measure to him, to Napoleon. But suppose she 
 should now fall at his feet and tell him why she came here? 
 Suppose she tells him the whole truth . > . all her most secret 
 thoughts . . . ? 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled ironically to herself. 
 
 And how should she begin ? She was asked to come, and 
 if, notwithstanding that, he has nothing to tell her, if he does 
 not feel it his duty at least to say a few commonplace words 
 of politeness to her, if he treats her so coolly — so indifferently — • 
 then how could she suppose that he will listen to her, much less 
 grant her anything ? . . . The Emperor spoke to her, he asked 
 her for a conversation, and now he perhaps regrets it ; he is 
 meditating, perhaps, how he can get rid of her. 
 
 Self-esteem moved Pani W^alewska ; she rose and went 
 towards the door. 
 
 The Emperor, however, caught the rustling of her dress, 
 lifted his head, and said impatiently : " Where are you going ? " 
 
 "Sire!" 
 
 "Sit down." 
 
 Pani Walewska stood motionless. Napoleon came to her. 
 
 " What have you to tell me .'' What } You have come at 
 last ! Who taught you to play a comedy with me .-* You are 
 beautiful ... it is no news to you . , . I suppose you repeat 
 that to yourself every day .'' . What ł Do not frown. You 
 are beautiful. . . ." 
 
 Napoleon's voice changed into subdued muttering. His hand 
 touched Pani Walewska's face ; she retreated with disgust. The 
 Emperor seized her by the hand. 
 
 "Well, well, be not angry. Why do you not speak.'' Do
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 255 
 
 you know why I asked you to come ? To tell you that I love 
 you. . . . Do you hear ? I love you ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska covered her face with her hands. 
 
 Napoleon frowned. 
 
 " Be reasonable ; I do not like comedies. You have already 
 abused my good will. It seems to you that I am going to sigh 
 like a youngster. Be calm ! Are you afraid .'' And perhaps 
 you have some request ? Of course ! Well, out with it ! it 
 becomes too tedious." 
 
 Pani Walewska made a violent movement, and said with an 
 outburst : " Yes, Sire, I have a request . . . more than a 
 request. . . ." 
 
 " What is it } " 
 
 " That your Majesty will not insult me ; not humiliate 
 me. . . ." 
 
 Napoleon's eyes shone with vivid light ; on his lips appeared 
 a sweet smile. 
 
 " You are a capricious child. Do not interpret my words 
 wrongly. Sit here beside me ; like that. . . . You got the 
 mastery over me ! Do you think that I am pleased with that 
 sentiment ? I would first like to break that chain which you 
 have put on me. Hence my irritability. Oho ! my little one ! 
 you thought that resistance was your privilege alone. You are 
 afraid . . . and you do not think that the depth of your eyes, 
 that those lovely hands, that those shining teeth, are not a 
 hundred times more dangerous .f* , . . I to humiliate you ! . . . 
 But do you know why .'' Because I thought that you came 
 here not only to chain me with your looks, but also to wrench 
 away a part of my power. . . . For I thought that you did not 
 come to me, but to my crown, to my sceptre, to my imperial 
 mantle. . . , What ? Can you deny it .'' You see . . . Then 
 you are right to wonder. I ... to insult you ! . . . But you 
 are so much, so much to me that if I could, I would seat you 
 where neither I should be obliged to stoop down to you, nor 
 you to creep to me. I . . . humiliate you ? . . . Mary, I 
 want you, for I must love you ! I have not sought you ; I 
 did not try to know you ; you crossed my way by your own 
 impulse. . . /' 
 
 " Is it not permitted to a subject . . . ? "
 
 256 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Do not talk like that to me. Fate conducted you, and it 
 is done. You came. To-day you must not even mention the 
 motives by which you were prompted. It suffices for me that 
 you are near me, that I can look at you ! " 
 
 The Emperor's voice grew softer and softer; Napoleon's 
 eyes were burning. 
 
 "Sire, permit me to go." 
 
 Bonaparte laughed indulgently. 
 
 "And you suppose that I would let you go? You are afraid 
 . . . afraid of me ! You are crying ! The thought that you 
 will be my joy makes you sad to such a degree." 
 
 "I do not belong to myself! " 
 
 Napoleon seized her hand and spoke violently — 
 
 " Yes . . . for you are mine ! Do you understand ? From 
 to-day nohody has any right over you. You will be with me. 
 I am mighty enough to surround you with such a j)ower that 
 nobody will dare to raise his eyes to you. I will give you 
 palaces and riches ; I will make yovn* life beautiful and full of 
 delight ! You will be my star, and every one of your wishes will 
 be a command to me. I will oblige the most powerful to seek 
 one of your smiles. I will write your name on the pages of 
 history. I shall have the world at my feet, and I shall be at 
 yours. Everybody that is dear to your heart will be so to me 
 also. To your family I shall give honours and riches — I shall 
 give them everything they wish for. I do not know a sacrifice 
 great enough for you. . . You will permit me to seek some 
 rest beside you after hard work ; you will have a loving word 
 for me ; you will persuade me that you love me not for the 
 crown and sceptre. 
 
 Bonaparte became silent. Pani Walewska was sitting- 
 motionless, as if listening to the Emperor's words. 
 
 Napoleon bent to her. 
 
 " You are mine, Mary ! Do you hear ? I love you ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska pushed aside, with a swift movement of her 
 hand, the hair that was slipping on her forehead, and pressing 
 her hands nervously, said hesitatingly : " Sire, were you not an 
 Emperor, I would not hesitate with my answer." 
 
 Bonaparte seized her hands, and covered them with kisses. 
 
 "Speak like that. My presentiment did not deceive me."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 257 
 
 ''But, Sire," continued Pani Walewska with increasing 
 energy, "if you have doubts that I was prom])ted by calcula- 
 tions, I must be afraid that it is only your absolute might, your 
 desire, that does not know any obstacles, your Court, flattering 
 any of your wishes, gave me to you as a sacrifice for a 
 momentary passion. . . ." 
 
 Napoleon dropped her hands. 
 
 " Speak on, speak ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose, and said, after a moment of silence : 
 ''Therefore, Sire, I must be cautious. I must remember to- 
 morrow, which may bring me disgrace. I must think how, in 
 case 1 am deserted, I should find consolation. . . ," 
 
 Napoleon laughed sarcastically. 
 
 "Aha ! You are so careful I Ha, ha, ha ! Well, what more .'' 
 How much .'' Speak, why do you not ? Certainly it is better 
 to set the price ! Well, what do you wish for .'' Go on, quick ! 
 I do not like long bargaining ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska staggered under the weight of the Emperor's 
 hoarse voice. 
 
 Napoleon did not pay any attention to the impression he 
 made, and urged with increasing anger. 
 
 " Do not stand on ceremonies ! I am ready to say that I like 
 such frankness ! Say, then ! I am rich enough ! Well, you 
 are silent?" 
 
 Pani Walewska threw herself at the Emperor's feet. 
 
 " What is the matter with you ? " 
 
 " Sire ! return to my comitry her existence — revive her, call 
 her to hfe . . . rebuild ! . . ." 
 
 Bonaparte bent to her in order to lift her up. 
 
 "Mad woman ! . . . A hundred times mad ! " 
 
 "Permit me to remain as I am. I will be your slave, your 
 humblest servant ! Only look at the millions of arms stretched 
 out to you ! Only realise the hopes of our legions, only reward 
 them for years of sacrifices ! " 
 
 " Madame, rise, if you please ! " 
 
 "I do not ask you for anything for myself," besought she; 
 "I do not wish for anything!" 
 
 " Rise ! " commanded the Emperor imperatively, helping her 
 to do so.
 
 258 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " You do not know yourself what you are talking about ! 
 Childishness ! They have suborned you^ they are using you for 
 a tool !" 
 
 " YeS;, it is true^ Sire ! " said Pani Walewska with an effort. 
 " But I hope^ I believe that I am seconding your own wishes, 
 that the fulfilment of our hopes Avill give millions of hearts 
 that will throb for you, millions of people that will be ready 
 to die for you ! " 
 
 Napoleon put one of his hands under his uniform and began 
 feverishly to walk to and fro in the room. 
 
 "Sire, we are waiting for one word from you, the hope of 
 hearing it. ..." 
 
 Bonaparte stopped suddenly before Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Who taught you that speech ? Then you come here for 
 that purpose .'' You recited your lesson till you have learned it by 
 heart ! What ! Do you imagine that I shall become your knight- 
 errant — that from the ruin of quarrels, disorder, imaginary 
 ambitions and selfishness of your aristocracy, the insolence 
 of your nobility — here, hundreds of miles from my own country, 
 I shall build a palace of cards .'' Then I have given them an 
 answer, even too generous a one, and in return I have until now 
 promises . . . hunger and diseases in the army . . . lack of 
 shelter for my soldiers ... I have excuses and complaints, so 
 that . . . that I regret, that I did not come here as an enemy!" 
 
 "Sire ! " whispered Pani Walewska M'ith a trembling voice. 
 
 " Be silent ! You have recited the lesson they taught you. 
 Enough of it ! I cannot bear women mixing in politics. Enough ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska tightened her lips and went towards the door. 
 
 The Emperor crossed her way. 
 
 "Where to ? . . , You shall remain here ! " 
 
 " Sire ! " 
 
 " You shall remain ! " repeated Bonaparte with a muffled 
 voice, " for I wish it ! Do you hear } " 
 
 Darkness covered Pani Walewska's eyes. She felt warm 
 breath near her face, she heard words which burned her, wounded 
 her, crushed her. She understood that Napoleon's every word, 
 his every entreaty and every oath were forming one strong chain 
 that was put round her, but she lacked strength to answer, to 
 find words.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 259 
 
 And the Emperor's voice^ from being irritated and angry, 
 from penetrating like steel, changed into a hardly-heard whisper. 
 
 " I love you ! You must stay with me, and you shall stay ! 
 I take you ! You are beautiful . . . you are mine ! . . ." 
 
 " Never ! " cried Pani Walewska with a desperate outburst. 
 
 Bonaparte grew pale ; sparks came from his eyes. He bent 
 his head, he stretched out his arms and seized her by her 
 shoulders. 
 
 Pani Walewska wished to say something, but she could only 
 move her lips — she fainted. 
 
 Napoleon, feeling the weight of her inert body that fell into 
 his arms, laughed, and that laughter was answered by the clank- 
 ing of his orderly's spurs on the other side of the door.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 AFTER an almost sleepless night the Chamberlain was just 
 ^ dressing, when Princess Jabłonowska was announced. He 
 quickly put on a dressing-gown and went to meet her. 
 
 The Princess was unusually solemn, and when, after the 
 ordinary exchange of greetings, the Chamberlain began to 
 complain, not sparing to reproach his sister at every moment, 
 and making bitter exclamations against Madame de Vauban, 
 the Princess smiled coolly, and answered : "Ah, my dear, your 
 arguments would be very good in the mouth of a paltry noble- 
 man. You are talking as if you did not know the Court and 
 the world. Marie is in the right place." 
 
 '' In your iinagination, but not in mine." 
 
 "Directly you decided to use her for your ambitious 
 plans ..." 
 
 The Chamberlain rapped his snufF-box violently. 
 
 " It does not mean that I shall permit her to be in the hands 
 of that intriguing woman." 
 
 " You do not imagine how much you are indebted to Madame 
 de Vauban." 
 
 " I do not care for her services. I have enough of her. She 
 wishes to entangle Marie, to catch her in snares. I have ample 
 proof it. She went to her yesterday. ... I was waiting till 
 midnight. Do you know what has happened .'' " 
 
 " She was taken ill, and Madame de Vauban kept her. There 
 is nothing extraordinary in that." 
 
 The Chamberlain laughed drily. 
 
 " She was taken ill, and could not drive a couple of hundred 
 yards ! Do you think that I do not know ? . . ." 
 
 " What ? " interrupted the Princess uneasily. 
 
 " The guests left the Blacha Palace only towards the morning." 
 
 260
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 261 
 
 «Ah! yes. . . ." 
 
 " Is it not enough ? Why should she stay there ? Where I 
 am not she must not be either. I permitted her to gOj for 
 I thought it was only a question of civiUty. But they wish 
 simply to take hold of her entirely, to make her join their 
 clique — perhaps to arm her against me. But it shall not be ! 
 I shall not permit her to take another step without me. I shall 
 not permit her to open her mouth. Vauban must stop her visits 
 here. And I wonder that you should have permitted such 
 familiarity." 
 
 "But, Anastazy!" 
 
 "Do not deny it. You have been there. I know it. 
 Małachowski, Wybicki, and Sobolewski were there too. All 
 Dombrowski's partisans gathered there. Do you see that I know.'' 
 I know about everything, even M. de Perigord's civihties." 
 
 " Then you must know also that your charge of Chamberlain 
 was confii-med." 
 
 The Chamberlain looked at his sister with astonishment. 
 
 " Confirmed — my charge of Chamberlain ? " 
 
 " Well, yes ; and this is the proof that Marie has not lost her 
 time. The Duke de Bassano told her about it semi-officially, 
 and she sent me to you with this news." 
 
 The Chamberlain puffed out his cheeks, rapped his snuff-box 
 lightly, and said indifferently — 
 
 "Very much obliged for what I have long possessed." 
 
 " Yes ; but the question is about the charge of Chamberlain 
 of the Imperial Court. Perhaps it is nothing very much, but 
 it is the first step to further honours and dignities." 
 
 " H'm ! ... it may be. Only her haste was not necessary. 
 I told her that first of all I must have here . ■ . Do you 
 understand ? " 
 
 The Princess did not understand the eloquent movement of 
 the hand from the right shoulder across the breast towards the 
 left hip. 
 
 "Legion," explained the Chamberlain. 
 
 " I do not know ... as it seems, it is difficult for those 
 who are not in the army. Although .... it will be possible 
 for you. . . ." 
 
 That assm*ance tranquillised the Chamberlain, excited his
 
 262 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 imagination^ and directed his thoughts to his cherished dream 
 about his future position. 
 
 The Princess hstened silently to her brother's ambitious 
 plans, with which she was already familiar, neither approving 
 them nor making an opposition. 
 
 The Chamberlain spoke at length : humiliated his adversaries, 
 distributed offices, gave advice to Napoleon — till he tired him- 
 self, coughed, and, feeling pain in his legs, seated himself in an 
 armchair, and only then noticed the Princess's indifference. 
 
 "Why do you not speak ? " 
 
 " I was listening." 
 
 " You were listening, and perhaps you disapprove ? What ? 
 Do you deny it.'' I know that you have other views. But 
 I must tell you that I shall not permit anybody to change my 
 orders . . . anybody . . . perhaps you do not believe ..." 
 
 " Entirely . . . but permit me for a moment to change the 
 subject. I came to inform you of something." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " The Grand Marshal will call on you to-day." 
 
 " Duroc will come ! . . . H'm ! . . . I will receive him." 
 
 "Certainly, but this time his visit may be connected with 
 some proposition. . . ." 
 
 "And it is time for them." 
 
 "Then, dear Anastazy," continued the Princess with increas- 
 ing animation, " if you remember that there is the question of 
 the welfare of your family, that you must accommodate yourself 
 to the circumstances, that you cannot do anything against 
 destiny ... If you do not lose common sense and control over 
 yourself . . ." 
 
 " What are you aiming at ? " 
 
 " I only wanted to remind you, for I do not know what the 
 Grand Marshal . , . But I am sure it Avill be something of 
 importance . . and your behaviour will decide about our 
 family ; but it would not change the thing itself. . . . The 
 Emperor does not know what opposition means. Opposition 
 would only push us away from him. , . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain winked with an effort, as if wishing to con- 
 centrate all his attention. 
 
 " What opposition .'' "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 263 
 
 " Ah ! I do not think it will come to that. I trust too much 
 to your experience . . . only^ at all events ..." 
 
 The Princess hesitated. 
 
 " I do not know how to say it. Well, simply a burning senti- 
 ment took hold of him ! " 
 
 "Of whom?" 
 
 « Of the Emperor ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain rubbed his forehead uneasily, not being able 
 to connect the Grand Marshal's visit with the Emperor's senti- 
 ment and his family's career. Suddenly red spots appeared on 
 his yellow face ; his thin bony hand began to tug violently at 
 his dressing-gown. 
 
 " I am sure you have noticed it yourself," said the Princess, 
 striving to be calm. " It happened so suddenly. Even those 
 who surround the Emperor do not think it will bring any serious 
 results." 
 
 The Chamberlain muttered significantly, and laughed a 
 frightful hoarse laugh. 
 
 The Princess became sincerely sorrowful, not knowing 
 whether she should continue her persuasions or openly tell 
 him everything. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the Chamberlain laughed continually, 
 tugging more and more violently at his dressing-gown, and 
 winking at his sister. 
 
 " One must think it over." 
 
 The Chamberlain bent and laughed still more. 
 
 " I see you trifle with the thing . . . although ..." 
 
 The valet who entered the room did not permit the Princess 
 to finish her sentence. 
 
 Baptiste handed a visiting-card to the Chamberlain on 
 a tray. 
 
 The Chamberlain looked at the card, crumpled it in his 
 trembling fingers, and threw it on the floor. 
 
 ''What shall I answer?" asked the valet witli marked 
 surprise. 
 
 The Chamberlain pointed to the door. 
 
 The Princess picked up the card, read the name, and said 
 impetuously to her brother : " Anastazy, consider the Grand 
 Marshal of the Court ! There is no doubt that he came with
 
 264 NAPOLEOxN'S LOVE STORY 
 
 the diploma. . . . Baptiste, introduce the Prince to the white 
 drawing-room." 
 
 Baptiste went out. 
 
 The Chamberlain breathed heaxdly. 
 
 The Princess did not stop her persuasions. She depicted to 
 him in the most glaring colours the Emperor's power ; she tried 
 to fire the Chamberlain's ambition, laying stress on the fact that 
 opportunity would now be his to use as he would, and finally she 
 advised him to consider the situation before taking a decision. 
 
 The last argument acted on the Chamberlain. He rose, rang 
 for a lackey, hastily put on a swallow-tail coat, and went to the 
 Prince of Friul. 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska breathed more easily, and, having 
 told Baptiste to let her know as soon as the Grand Marshal's 
 visit was over, she went to Pani Walewska's apartment. Here, 
 having called a chambermaid, she ordered the Chamberlain's 
 wife's things to be packed at once, and given to the footman 
 waitmg at the portico. Having done this, the Princess re- 
 turned to her brother's study and began to write letters. 
 
 One hour passed before the Chamberlain's quiet, tottering 
 steps were heard. 
 
 The Princess shivered, and tried to concentrate all her 
 presence of mind in order to endure the expected attack, and 
 by doing so to fulfil what she considered to be her duty. She 
 put a handkerchief imbued with a strong perfume to her mouth, 
 leaned on the writing-desk, and waited — waited with that 
 emotion which, in the critical moments of life, leaves only the 
 conviction that one is right. 
 
 The Chamberlain walked swiftly, trotting along with an 
 animation unusual to him, pressing imder his arms some rolls of 
 paper. His wig was pushed on one side, the frills of his shirt 
 were crumpled, the collar of his dress was awkwardly uplifted on 
 account of a red riband hanging on his neck. 
 
 Ha\dng perceived his sister, the Chamberlain stopped, handed 
 her the roll of paper, and said : " Read it ! See, and be con- 
 vinced." 
 
 The Princess unrolled the paper, but the Chamberlain did 
 not give her a chance to read it. He lifted himself on his tip- 
 toes, and passing his hand over the red riband, which only now
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 265 
 
 could be seen entirely, said : " Look ! . . . Do you see ? . . . I 
 am a commander ! What ? Wybicki will wither ! . . . Mała- 
 chowski will be drowned in his bile ! " 
 
 The Princess, seeing such a change in her brother, altered her 
 tactics at once. 
 
 " Ah ! mon cher ! I congratulate you heartily. You could 
 hardly believe how proud and how pleased I am to see you 
 commander of the Legion ! " 
 
 " You think this is all ! Read the documents. Half a million 
 donation, and I am free from furnishmg recruits to the army 
 and from having soldiers billeted on me for the period of twenty 
 years." 
 
 '' You have deserved it all ! " 
 
 " And this is only a beginning ! They wish to win me by all 
 means. But the riband ! Eh .'' " 
 
 " Magnificent ! " 
 
 " It is becoming ! Eh ? " 
 
 " I had a presentiment ! And you were reluctant ! I was 
 persuaded that the Court had the best intentions. Permit me 
 to congratulate you once more ! I am awfully glad ! If you 
 need any further news, send for it to me." 
 
 " Are you going ? " 
 
 " I must go to Vauban ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain became gloomy suddenly. 
 
 " Shall you see her } " 
 
 " I am going for that purpose. I wish to tell her the news. I 
 am sure she will be glad. Oh ! . . . Yes, my dear, she wishes 
 you v.'ell." 
 
 "Who?" asked the Chamberlain sourly. 
 
 " Vauban ! " 
 
 " I am not talking about her." 
 
 The Princess turned her head. 
 
 " I am sure you do not doubt about Mary." 
 
 The Chamberlain stared at the riband. 
 
 " Not at all. But she must return ! I shall send her to 
 Walewice ! " 
 
 The Princess looked with alarm at her brother. 
 
 " But only think ! Send Mary to Walewice ! I thought the 
 Marshal had explained the position to you .'' "
 
 266 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 '' She must return at once ! " said the Chamberlain with 
 increasing irritation. " She must return, first of all ; we shall 
 see, afterwards." 
 
 " I am afraid she cannot, on account of her health. She is not 
 well." 
 
 " No matter. Wrap her up carefully, put her in a carriage, 
 and bring her here. Such is my wish. 1 shall not trouble her 
 about what has happened, but now I demand obedience from 
 her. Tell her that the situation has changed ! I do not need 
 them ; they need me. Her help is superfuous ! " 
 
 The Princess could hai-dly believe her ears. 
 
 "^^ Anastazy, you forget the Emperor's sentiment." 
 
 The Chamberlain pointed proudly at the riband. 
 
 "That might be taken into consideration if I had not this 
 proof. She will be in my way. I do not wish her to mix in 
 politics. I shall send her to Walewice, and I shall not render 
 an account to anybody for that." 
 
 The Princess suddenly lost all her assurance in presence of 
 such an unexpected turn. She said a few commonplace words 
 and departed. 
 
 The Chamberlain, after that decisive conversation, became 
 calm. He rang for Baptiste, put on a new dark green swallow- 
 tail coat, and began very seriously to consider how he could 
 wear the two ribands. It was a difficult task according to 
 the Chamberlain's refined taste, for the riband of the White 
 Eagle was blue, and that of the Legion red, and neither should 
 cover the other, nor should one be niore visible than the other ; 
 they should both equally adoi'n the breast and arouse respect. 
 After a long trial, the Chamberlain decided to put the two stars 
 on the coat and the two ribands aci'oss the frills and the waist- 
 coat. 
 
 The Chamberlain looked at himself several times in the 
 mirror, and when Baptiste assured him solemnly that the 
 ribands harmonised, he busied himself with a more important 
 affair — with the uniform of a Chamberlain. According to Court 
 etiquette, the Chamber.ain was obliged to return thanks for the 
 honour on the next day . . . and there was nobody who could 
 make the uniform. The Chamberlain had already a general 
 idea of it ; he knew that it would be a tunic of red silk with
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 267 
 
 silver embroideries, with a silver key on the right pocket ; a 
 white vest, breeches of the same colour, stockings, and a three- 
 cornered hat composed the rest of the dress, but he understood 
 that without an engraving nobody in Warsaw could make it for 
 him. 
 
 Baptiste, however, found means to overcome the difficulty, 
 and proposed to go to the Castle and find the Court tailor — 
 a Frenchman — and bring him to the Chamberlain's mansion. 
 The Chamberlain sent his valet at once on the errand, ordering 
 him in the meanwhile to go to Blacha Palace, and to tell his 
 wife that in the afternoon a carriage with Dr. Wójcicki should 
 be sent for her. A lackey was despatched for the physician. 
 
 Having remained alone, the Chamberlain took a pinch of 
 snufF, shook his fingers and trotted to the mirror, in which he 
 looked with satisfaction, for he found that the red riband was 
 toned down by the blue of the White Eagle, and that the two 
 already made him look like a senator. 
 
 The Chamberlain cleared his throat, rose on his tiptoes, 
 came nearer the mirror, then he retreated, looked at himself 
 from both sides ; then he tried whether it would be becoming 
 to him to put the left hand under the riband, while the right 
 hand, holding the snuff-box, was dropped ; then putting forward 
 the left leg, he remained majestically quiet, being satisfied 
 that such a pose would be proper for the audiences and for the 
 receptions of important persons. 
 
 While the Chamberlain was contemplating himself, he sud- 
 denly perceived in the mirror a big red face smiling cunningly. 
 
 The Chamberlain made a movement of impatience, and in 
 the meanwhile a voice very well known to him was heard. 
 
 " Your most humble servant, sir ! I dare to present you my 
 due congratulations." 
 
 "Ah, Bolesha!" 
 
 " The same ! Always with unchanged respect, parole d'honneur ! 
 A little while ago I learned about the great honour that has 
 befallen you, and I find that it was granted to the most wortliy 
 person. . . ." 
 
 " Thank you, Bolesha. Pray be seated. Would you care for 
 some wine ? " 
 
 Bolesha half closed his small, swollen eyes.
 
 268 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I would not dare to trouble you, although I should be dis- 
 posed to correct my opmion about your wine-cellar — or at least, 
 to forget the headache caused by the wine I drank here last 
 time." 
 
 The Chamberlain laughed and rang for a lackey, and wheo 
 he brought a crusted bottle. Pan Walewski said jokingly: "I 
 hope this will put you in a good humour." 
 
 " Your health ! H'm ! Parole d'honneiir ! it does honour to 
 the riband." 
 
 *' Ah ! you have already learned that I am a commander } " 
 
 " Of course, and about the donation, too ! My hearty con- 
 gratulations ! you who sacrificed so much, parole d'honneur !" 
 
 " Yes, yes ! " muttered the Chamberlain, looking suspiciously 
 at Bolesha. "Then they are already talking in the town.''" 
 
 " Very much indeed ! Coming here, I doubted if I could 
 make my way through the crowds of guests. Excellent wine, 
 exquisite ! It has a boinpiet I Ten years more, pajvle d'honneur, 
 and it will be simply delicious ! I thought I could not make 
 my way." 
 
 " I do not receive anybody ! " 
 
 " And you are right — crowd, flatteries, jealousy, empty 
 words, and lack of . . . what you call it.'' ah, yes! . . . heart! 
 I approve that sohtude. In such a moment to empty a bottle 
 of ^;e^ż/ vin, that is quite different ! And then, why should they 
 hasten with congratulations.'' They are busy with other 
 things. ..." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " Well, from early this morning a shower of honours fell 
 from the Castle on Warsaw." 
 
 " Was anybody appointed commander ? " 
 
 Bolesha moved his shoulders negligently. 
 
 " No, I have not heard about another commander." 
 
 " About what honours are you talking ? " 
 
 " Then you do not know about the new body of govern- 
 ment.'' " 
 
 The Chamberlain made an uneasy movement. 
 
 " What body ? " 
 
 " Well, Pan Joseph Wybicki, with several others, constitute 
 our present Government."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 269 
 
 " It cannot be ! Gossip ! I do not know anything about it. 
 The Marshal did not say one word to-day . . ." 
 
 " I wonder, for everyone knows it. For a week they were 
 preparing that in M. Talleyrand's kitchen ; to-day they simply 
 announced the result. We, by grace of Bonaparte, Wybicki 
 first ! " 
 
 " Leave off joking, and tell me the truth ! I must know it ! 
 Perhaps there is yet time. I am going to the Castle. I shall 
 explain the matter. I shall ask for the revocation of the deci- 
 sion ! I shall move heaven and earth, for there is an intrigue 
 in all that ! They circumvented me ; they plotted without my 
 knowledge — perhaps they used my name ! I am sure they did ! 
 Speak, then ! Why do you not speak ? " 
 
 Bolesha caressed his broad chin, took a draught of wine, and 
 said coolly : " There is nothing to be said ! There is a commis- 
 sion divided into six departments ! " 
 
 "But I shall protest ... I shall not accept the office. I 
 wish to have nothing to do with such people as Wybicki." 
 
 " H'm ! H'm ! " Bolesha cleared his throat gravely. "I 
 understand that it is why they spared you fatigue." 
 
 " Then who is there — who .'' " inquired the Chamberlain in a 
 trembling voice. 
 
 " Well, first of all, the luminary of the republic. Pan Joseph 
 Wybicki," said Bolesha with a comical gravity. 
 
 « Who else ? " 
 
 " Pan Ludwik Gutakowski, for nothing can happen without 
 him ; Stanislaus Count Potocki ; the small brother of the great 
 Ignacy, Piotr Bieliński, and Dzialynski ; and over them that 
 pearl of pearls, Małachowski." 
 
 " It cannot be, it cannot be ! " whispered the Chamberlain 
 with an effort. 
 
 " Unfortunately it is ! To-night there will be a gala thanks- 
 giving performance in the theatre. The Emperor promised to 
 come with all his splendour. Only in the Blacha Palace every- 
 thing is gloomy, for Pepi did not even get a riband. . . ." 
 
 Bolesha looked at the Chamberlain, and suddenly stopped. 
 
 " Perhaps you do not care .'' . . ." 
 
 " Speak, speak ! I wish to know . . ." mumbled the Cham- 
 berlain.
 
 270 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Well, there is not much more ! For one day it is quite 
 enough ! There is a great commotion in town ; new dignitaries 
 are visiting each other, bowing to the Imperial valet, and pro- 
 jnising mountains of gold to their friends. ... As for you, you 
 have got some consolation, parole d'honneur, for the new officials 
 might be cleared out by the Prussians, while the riband and 
 half a million will remain if Bonajiarte's majesty is not killed 
 somewhere ! " 
 
 Bolesha burst into laughter, pleased with his own joke. 
 
 The Chamberlain was silent, looking thoughtlessly into space. 
 
 Bolesha did not like that silence. He emptied another glass, 
 made a grimace, and having closed his eyes, said : " Well, you 
 can say what you please, but we must say to ourselves that all 
 is over with us. Yes, Jiiiis ! We had our times ! Good times, 
 too. Do you remember when you took possession of the estate 
 of Warec ? The servants had better wine there than I to-day, 
 although, pajvle d'honneur, it would be proper to honour the 
 riband." 
 
 The Chamberlain spat with disgust. 
 
 " I do not want any riband I " 
 
 Bolesha laughed. 
 
 " But as they have given it, one must keep it. Parole 
 d'honneur, one must ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain trembled, seized the red riband and threw 
 it on the floor. 
 
 " I do not want it. Walewski can live without that . . . that 
 . . . impostor ! Do you imderstand ? If he prefers Dom- 
 browski's and Malachowski's partisans, let him hold with them. 
 Colonna Walewski has not yet fallen so low as to seek his favours. 
 A donation to me ! Let him keep it. Yes ! Where is the 
 document ? Here is my answer." 
 
 He rushed to the desk on which were the diplomas, and 
 began to tear them to pieces and trample on them. 
 
 " There is the proper place for Napoleon's favours. People 
 like him to dare to give diplomas, while he himself could not 
 prove that he is a nobleman ! . . . Enough of him ! I shall not 
 let him into my anteroom." 
 
 " Why so hasty.''" tranquillised Bolesha. "The little donation is 
 not to be despised, and with Mme. la Chambellane's industry . . ."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 271 
 
 The Chamberlain rang the bell furiously. Two lackeys rushed 
 into the room. 
 
 " Send a carriage at once to Blacha Palace. Bring her lady- 
 ship. Tell her I demand it. Find Baptiste. Water ! Go at 
 once ! " 
 
 The lackeys disappeared. The Chamberlain fell into an arm- 
 chair^ coughing. 
 
 Bolesha moved his head significantly. 
 
 "Fire I Thunderbolt I My dear Chamherlain, parole cT/iofuieur, 
 excuse my familiarity, but we have known each other for about 
 half a century. Why so ^'iolent ? Well, it seems you care so 
 much for that little Napoleon. The best way is to be indifferent, 
 as I am." 
 
 " I do not care. My wife will be back, and . . . to-day, 
 immediately ... I ana going." 
 
 " In-deed .■' And where, if you please ? " 
 
 "To Walewice, and then to Viemia ; to St. Petersburg — any- 
 where ! . . ." 
 
 " As you please ; but I should consider — I should wait. , ." 
 
 "You digest very easily." 
 
 "Perhaps. The best proof is that I drink your Avine." 
 
 " Pray do not mind my irritation. Will you look out of the 
 window and see if the carriage is gone ł " 
 
 Bolesha glanced into the street and said with indifference : 
 " It is even coming back .already." 
 
 " So quickly ? Impossible ! " 
 
 " Yes, yes ; it is already here ; but it seems the lady has not 
 come." 
 
 The Chamberlain turned to the door, in which a lackey 
 appeared. 
 
 "Where is her ladyship .'' " 
 
 "They said . . ." 
 
 " Have you been to the Palace .'' " 
 
 " Yes, my lord." 
 
 " Did you tell her ladyship ? " 
 
 " They did not let me. The Countess's valet told me that her 
 ladyship cannot come." 
 
 " What ? Cannot ? Give me my fur. Where is Baptiste ? 
 I am going. My fur ! "
 
 272 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Chamberlain^ trembling and tottering, rose fi-om the 
 ax-mchair and went to the door. Bolesha barred the way. 
 
 "Permit me. Parole d'honneur, is it worth while ?" 
 
 " I must ! I must ! It is too much." 
 
 " H'm ! it may be/' said Bolesha drily, standing at the door ; 
 '^but you shall not go." 
 
 " Have you become a madman .'' " 
 
 " For . . . they will not let you into the Blacha Palace." 
 
 " Who will not let me in } " 
 
 "Well, even I. You are excited, and your wife is not well." 
 
 " And is it any concern of yours ? " 
 
 " Not altogether ; but as I am anxious to drink another 
 bottle, a better one, therefore the duty of a host . 
 
 The Chamberlain looked stupidly on Bolesha's impudently 
 smiling face. 
 
 " You are crazy ..." 
 
 "We will speak about that later on. And now, parole 
 d'honneur, be seated, otherwise I shall be obliged to be im- 
 polite." 
 
 The Chamberlain stretched out his arm to the bell, but 
 Bolesha anticipated him. 
 
 " Permit me . . . shall I ring once more ? " 
 
 The Chamberlain had not time to reply, for four Imperial 
 gendarmes appeared in the room. 
 
 " How do you like that ? Well, before all, I have the honour 
 to inform you that I am here in the capacity of an official. 
 Then I dare to warn you that I have an order to keep you in 
 your house." 
 
 " Bolesha, I shall order . . ." 
 
 "Be seated," muttered the Chamberlain's former companion, 
 brutally pushing him towards a chair. " So ; sit down and 
 listen, remembering that for you I am Chevalier de Bolesha, that 
 I have been a chamberlain like you, although I have not 
 gathered as much money as you did, for I never offered my 
 guests such bad wine as you do, juvole d'lwnneur ! Do not sniff, 
 do not gnash your teeth — for there are not so many of them 
 left — and accommodate yourself. Do not think of any scenes, 
 for your wife has no time. Do you see those strapping fellows .'' 
 I have two score like that under my command. Do you wish
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 27S 
 
 to listen to my advice ? Ask foi- a divorce — be galant, parole 
 d'houneur ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain trembled in his armchair, breathing with 
 difficulty. 
 
 Bolesha rose slowly, sent away the gendarmes, called a 
 lackey, and ordered a glass of water ; then he said quietly — 
 
 " Are you better now ? If you are going to be reasonable, 
 then I will explain to you. Eh ? " 
 
 The Chamberlain nodded with an effort. 
 
 " Very well, for Bolesha is not a miu-derer. I do not wish to 
 wrong you, parole d'honneur, but to help you. Only you do not 
 understand my kindness and your own good. Speaking shortly, 
 the Emperor is madly in love with your wife. Therefore, you 
 cannot make war with him. Take what he gives, ask for more, 
 and treat Bolesha to an honest bottle." 
 
 " I do not wish for anything ! " 
 
 " Yes, yes ; and where is your common sense ? Well, you are 
 sorry to lose such a wife ! I do not contradict. But it could 
 not be otherwise. Do you remember your frolics .'' And that 
 Italian girl, Chiarini, from the circus, and Pani Szwejkowska, 
 and Małgosia Sitko ! I shall not name the others, for I am not 
 a register ; only I come to the conclusion that now your turn 
 has come. You wanted a young wife. Well, sic transit, parole 
 d'honneur! Bless the fate that sent you such an adorer, and make 
 terms with him. It is done ! And there is nothing bad, parole 
 d'honneur, in all that. You had only bother with your wife. 
 You will become quiet, and all is over. There is the whole 
 truth ! " 
 
 " Scoundrels ! " 
 
 " Yes, yes ; parole d'honneur, it will do you good." 
 
 " I will not permit myself to be divorced. I shall put her 
 into a convent." 
 
 " My dear sir, you have abeady done so ; you have signed a 
 consent for divorce." 
 
 « I—I ? " 
 
 "Parole d'honneur, I have seen it." 
 
 « It is false ! " 
 
 " Another argument. You have forgotten how those things 
 are done. They have your consent and your signature as well 
 T
 
 274 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 as your wife's. The papers will be sent to the right place, and 
 —^nis ! I am sorry to be obliged to explain all tJiat to you. 
 Parole d'honiieur, if anybody had told me that I should become 
 your nurse, I should have challenged him. Well, well ! I shall 
 be all right here, for there is some wine in your cellar, and I 
 understand you brought your chef from Walewice." 
 
 The Chamberlain's face became green like that of a corpse. 
 
 " Bolesha," said he quietly, " send for Ksawery ; I am going 
 to Walewice to-day. I do not wish to know about anything. . . . 
 Ungrateful ! I have reared a snake ! I shall dictate a letter to 
 her ; let her do what she pleases. ... I must see Ksawery. . . ." 
 
 " H'm ! h'm ! It will be difficult. I do not say in a few 
 days. . . ." 
 
 " I return to-day to Walewice ! " 
 
 " Why should you hasten ? It is very cold now, and the roads 
 are crowded with army transports so that it is impossible to pass." 
 
 *' I return," persisted the Chamberlain with a trembling 
 voice. " I have nothing to do here. Send me Ksawery ! I 
 shall tell him what to do. Bolesha, do you hear me .'' Remem- 
 ber our old friendship. I must return. I am not well. I do 
 not wish to hear of anybody. They have deceived me ; you 
 see that — they have sent me you here ! " 
 
 Bolesha cleared his throat with a comical gravity, and 
 stretched out his arm with a snuff-box to the Chamberlain. 
 
 " H'm ! As you are talking so nicely . . , then I answer as 
 to my own brother. Pan Ksawery will come to see you in a 
 few days. Now he has no time, for if he loses an opportunity, 
 then, parole d'honneur, he will not be able to catch that office 
 after which he is hunting. As to Walewice, you must wait ! " 
 
 " Then am I a prisoner } I am going alone. I shall not force 
 anybody. . . . Even should she return, I would set my dogs at 
 her. I will not see her any more ! " 
 
 His voice changed into an ominous hiss ; foam covered his 
 mouth. Bolesha sighed. 
 
 " Hie jacet lepus ! You are righteously angry, but you must 
 remember about the splendour of the Roman descent of your 
 family ; a glorious name . . . you must protect it from evil 
 tongues ; you must preserve appearances ; you must not injure 
 decency. . . ."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 275 
 
 " Wheat ? You mercenary wretch . . . you will dare preach 
 to Colonna Walewski ? " shouted the Chamberlain, rising. 
 
 Bolesha grunted ironically. 
 
 " Certainly, certainly ; parole d'homieur you will stay here, you 
 will get Avell, and when the attack of madness is over you shall 
 return to Walewice. You boast that you know all about the 
 Court, and you do not know that if l' Empereur deigned to bestow 
 on you such an honour, and if you do not want to go to the 
 Castle to thank him for it, then you cannot show yourself in the 
 streets with your boxes to delight the mob ; you can only wait 
 discreetly, and when the time comes you can go. For the sake 
 of safety I shall conduct you myself." 
 
 " Scoundrel ! Scoundrel ! Hang me then ! " moaned the 
 Chamberlain in wrath. 
 
 Bolesha became gloomy, his eyes shone like fire. He called 
 a lackey and ordered the Chamberlain to be taken to bed, 
 threatening to call in gendarmes if his will were not carried 
 out. 
 
 The Chamberlain tried to resist. He called his servants ; then 
 he weakened, and wished to arrange the matter with Bolesha 
 peacefully ; then again he was furious. He swore and wanted 
 to get rid of the guardian imposed on him. 
 
 Bolesha, however, was unmoved. 
 
 Gendarmes were posted at all the doors, and without Bolesha's 
 permission nobody could go out of the mansion. 
 
 The Chamberlain was cut off from the world. The guests 
 that would come from time to time were received by Bolesha, 
 and were sent away with the assurance that the Chamberlain 
 and his wife were either at Princess Jablonowska's or Princess 
 Radziwil's, or at M. Talleyrand's reception. 
 
 The guests would look at Bolesha doubtfully, would ask him 
 to express their compliments and the assurance of the most 
 hearty regard, and would go away smiling. 
 
 In the meanwhile the Chamberlain had a fever, which 
 slackened towards evening. This was followed by an absolute 
 torpor. He was stubbornly silent ; he did not complain of any 
 ailment ; his silence was in harmony with the tranquillity that 
 reigned supreme in the mansion, hardly disturbed by the 
 servants' whispering, by the measured steps of the guards, and
 
 276 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 the quiet laughter of Bolesha, who was enjoying himself in 
 drinking. 
 
 While the Walewski mansion was quiet, dark, and deserted, 
 Mme. de Vauban's apartment in the Blacha Palace was cx'owded, 
 brilliant and full of animation ; Mme. de Vauban's drawing- 
 rooms were thronged with guests. Fryne Czosnowska, together 
 with Countess Moszyńska, were doing the honours of the house, 
 entertaining guests, excusing the hostess, who appeared only 
 when a valet, posted at the entrance to the further apartment, 
 told her that some one of importance had come. 
 
 Then Mme. de Vauban would come with long steps, would 
 smile gravely and speak with a subdued, mysterious voice. 
 
 The topic of conversation was the current news that interested 
 everyone, but in spite of all the interesting details which allowed 
 of so many suppositions, commentaries, and deductions, in spite of 
 perennial subjects such as Napoleon's decree about the new 
 Government, the dazzling majesty of the Emperor, his favours 
 and his way of living, the conversation in Mme. de Vauban's 
 drawing-rooms would often break off, would change into a 
 whisper, would be limited to eloquent looks, and by its lack of 
 order and continuity would arouse the involuntary supposition 
 that these people were thinking about something other than 
 what they were talking about. 
 
 When Mme. de Vauban appeared, the ladies would sur- 
 round her, the gentlemen would draw nearer, and all would 
 hold their breath as soon as she began to talk. When she 
 ended a sentence there was silence, for they expected that she 
 would say something more. 
 
 But Mme. de Vauban did not say one word too much, 
 although by her gestures, by the expression round her mouth, 
 and her emphasis on certain words, she made them understand 
 that she had some great secret which she would like to share 
 with everybody, but that she must respect its sanctity. 
 
 If, however, Mme. de Vauban was without a rival in her 
 role of Sphinx, Princess Jabłonowska excited cui'iosity even 
 in the most indifferent. She, like Mme. de Vauban, avoided 
 conversation, was silent at questions, and hardly answered the 
 courtesies of the ladies and the respectful bows of the gentle- 
 men ; but, in the meanwhile, she knew how to throw out some
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 277 
 
 apparently insignificant words, and by this means to keep up 
 continual expectation. 
 
 From time to time Countess Moszyńska, who tried to tone 
 herself up to her friends and fulfil the duties of a hostess with 
 a dignity corresponding to the moment, would rush to the 
 Princess and riddle her with questions. But instead of 
 answers, she would receive only the pressure of a hand or a 
 warm assurance. 
 
 " How much I would give if I could only speak ! " 
 
 "I understand; but I think that with me . . ." 
 
 " I have no secrets ; it is only the danger of emotion. " 
 
 "Then Pani Walewska is here ? " 
 
 " My dearest, she is where she would not dream of being ! " 
 
 " And the Emperor ? " 
 
 " I have not seen him these two hours." 
 
 "These two hours?" whispered Countess Moszyńska aston- 
 ished ; but before she could comprehend the importance of 
 such an answer, the Princess disappeared into the other part 
 of the apartments. 
 
 Those half words did not solve the riddle, but were sufficient, 
 however, to furnish material for gossip and stories, in which 
 the principal figures were Napoleon and Pani Walewska, while 
 Gorayski, the Chamberlain, Duroc, Roustan, and Bassano were 
 secondary. 
 
 Among the Frenchmen there were some who could throw 
 some light on the Emperor's intentions, and even solve the 
 riddle ; but some of them, like Talleyrand, avoided questions ; 
 others, like Bassano, were silent when any one made an allusion 
 to Pani Walewska ; still others, like Duroc, had witty subter- 
 fuges at their disposition. The latter, however, was threatened 
 by a plot made by Countess Lubieńska, Pani Sobolewska, and 
 Anetka Tyszkiewicz, who had determined to attack the Marshal 
 with the charm of their extraordinary beauty and exceedingly 
 sharp tongues. And before Duroc was aware, he was surrounded 
 and pushed along the slippery roads of conversation. The 
 Marshal smiled, answered, avoided all allusions, but, notwith- 
 standing all his ability, he did not rebuff Anetka Tyszkiewicz. 
 
 "Marshal," said Anetka boldly, "why do you avoid conversa- 
 tion about what interests us so much } "
 
 278 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 "I . . . avoid?" answered Duroc freely. "But until now 
 you did not say anything about the new Government." 
 
 " Nor do I wish to speak about it." 
 
 "Then you think . . ." 
 
 "That we are in the constellation of the Louis, and, there- 
 fore, among rising stars." 
 
 " I have no ideas about astronomy ! " 
 
 " But you do not deny its existence ? " 
 
 " I state only my ignorance." 
 
 " Even if I were to lament Mme. Walewska's absence ? " 
 
 " Yes," answered Duroc drily. 
 
 "After such a postive answer I should capitulate^ but I am 
 not like the Ulm fortress which, as it seems, surrendered 
 yesterday without a shot." 
 
 " The Ulm fortress ? " repeated Duroc, who did not under- 
 stand the wickedness of the joke. 
 
 "Yes, yes!" assured Anetka with comical gravity. "It 
 surrendered without a snot ; hoisted the white flag at the first 
 summons. In a woi'd, a new success. It is a wonder that 
 General Gauvion did not order the news to be announced by 
 cannons. Kostusia Lubieńska assures that it was due to the 
 fear that the Chamberlain Walewski has not only the Legion, 
 but also a fever, and that cannon-shots might injure his health." 
 
 Pani Sobolowska and Countess Lubieńska burst out with 
 laughter. 
 
 Duroc recovered his self-possession. 
 
 "You undei-rate the capacity of the defence of the fortress 
 of Ulm." 
 
 " I mention only the quickness of its capitulation." 
 
 " Notwithstanding our superior forces ! You forget that 
 there are some fortresses that would like to have an opportunity 
 of surrendering. But in vain, for nobody pays any attention 
 to them." 
 
 Anetka became red. 
 
 " You meant to say that access to them is too difficult." 
 
 " On the contrary. But while an extraordinary general is 
 necessary to take such a fortress as Ulm — M. de Flahaut, let us 
 say — the Prince of Berg's aide-de-camp could manage another 
 fortress."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 279 
 
 At that bold turn of Duroc's Anetka became confused and 
 lost ground. The allusion was too evident. The Marshal 
 assumed his ordinary affability and changed the subject of 
 conversation. 
 
 Towards the evening Mme. de Vauban's guests began to take 
 leave in order to meet again in a few hours in the theatre, 
 where a gala performance was to be given. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban gave instructions to Fryne how she should 
 act during her absence^ and, having dressed, left the palace. 
 
 As to Fryne, she, having given the servant orders about 
 supper for Pani Walewska, quietly entered the room occupied 
 by the Chamberlain's wife. 
 
 Quiet and darkness which Fryne found in the room made 
 her timid. She looked round the room, and, perceiving Pani 
 Walewska sitting in an armchair, came quietly towards her. 
 " Do I not disturb you ? " 
 Pani Walewska shivei'ed. 
 
 " Who is there .'' A ... it is you ! . . . I did not recognise 
 you." 
 
 " How happy I am that I can be with you. Will you permit 
 me to stay?" 
 
 Pani Walewska nodded. 
 
 "Thank you so much. I am so happy. But why are you 
 so sad? Ah ! ... if I were in your place ! . . ." 
 "So you think." 
 
 " I am sure. Only to think ! Ah ! no one speaks of anything 
 but you ; and then they are afraid whether you will be kind to 
 them, whether you will honour them with a smile. Upon my 
 word ! But you are not angry with me ? " 
 
 " No, I am not ; but you must not talk like that to me." 
 Fryne, however, could not refrain from prattling. Pani 
 Walewska wished to avoid her indiscreet questions and remarks, 
 but Fr3'ne, notwithstanding her assurances that she would not 
 dare to touch upon a subject disagreeable to Pani Walewska, 
 that she was not inquisitive, would constantly return to the 
 same subject. 
 
 Pani Walewska was already losing her patience, when Fryne's 
 loquacity was interrupted by the valet, who came to ask whether 
 he should bring a box sent to Pani Walewska.
 
 280 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska consented, thinking that her husband had 
 sent some of hei* belongings. 
 
 The box was brought and put in a corner of the room, and 
 the key was handed to Pani Walewska in a sealed envelope. 
 
 '^Pray, be so kind," said Pani Walewska to Fryne, "as to 
 open the box ; there must be some handkerchiefs." 
 
 Fryne tore open the envelope, did not notice a small piece 
 of paper that fell out of it, went to the box, and opened it. 
 
 "Thei'e are only jewellery boxes. What a lovely necklace ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska shrugged her shoulders, thinking that her 
 husband had sent her the family jewels. 
 
 " Leave it. What an idea of Anastazy's ! The handkerchiefs 
 must be at the bottom." 
 
 "No; there are more jewellery boxes. An emerald necklace!" 
 
 " You must be mistaken ! " 
 
 " There is a ruby necklace and a pearl necklace ! O Lord ! 
 what riches ! Earrings, bracelets, rings ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose from her chair. 
 
 " What is the matter with you } It cannot be ! " 
 
 Fryne did not hear, and continued to bring out other costly 
 things. 
 
 " What a big diamond in that ring ! Topazes ! Lovely ! A 
 mirror ! A whole gold toilet set ! I never saw such riches 
 in my life ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose and came to the box, and was staggered 
 by the dazzling of precious stones, gold, and silver. 
 
 "Those things do not belong to me. Where did they come 
 from .'' " 
 
 '^ Magnificent ! beautiful ! superb ! One could not dream of 
 better ones. And that locket ! It opens. . . . Look ! . . . a 
 miniature ! " 
 
 " Whose ? Let me see it ! " 
 
 "The Emperor ! How beautiful he is ! Look ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska glanced at the miniature. Fryne did not 
 notice her confusion, for she was looking with ecstasy and 
 avidity at the jewels, screaming with delight and surprise. 
 
 Pani Walewska was silent. 
 
 Fryne, having satisfied her curiosity, clasped her hands and 
 said with naive jealousy : " O Lord, what riches you have ! "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 281 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled sadly. 
 
 " You are a big baby. Do not grieve, for all that is not mine." 
 
 " But the valet said ..." 
 
 " Impossible ! " 
 
 "I know — I understand. The Emperor sent them as a 
 present." 
 
 "To me ! The Emperor ? " said Pani Walewska, in a hollow 
 voice, feeling that Fryne's words confirmed her own suspicions. 
 
 " For certain," continued Fryne, and having noticed on the 
 floor the small piece of paper, read it, and cried triumphantly, 
 " I have a proof ! read it : 'To the best among the most 
 beautiful. This is sent by her devoted N.' " 
 
 "It cannot be." 
 
 " But yes, yes, dear Madame ! Let me kiss you ! How happy 
 you must be!" 
 
 Pani Walewska got rid of Frjntie's embraces, and returned 
 with tottering steps to her chair, while Fryne continued her 
 raptures over the jewels. 
 
 The entrance of Mme. de Vauban's valet did not disturb 
 Fryne. The valet waited at the door, and not having heard 
 the question on what errand he came, he went to Fryne and 
 announced solemnly : "His Excellency the Speaker Małachowski 
 wishes to see her ladyship, Pani Walewska." 
 
 "Ah! What.'' Very well," said Fryne. 
 
 "Shall I show him in.^*" 
 
 "Yes. Why not?" 
 
 The valet went away. Fryne suddenly became thoughtful, 
 and came to Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Małachowski was announced ; perhaps I was v/rong. Vauban 
 told me not to let anybody in." 
 
 " Who .''" asked Pani Walewska, as if waked up from a slumber. 
 
 " Małachowski — the Speaker. He wishes to see you." 
 
 " I must be excused. I cannot, not for anything. I do not 
 wish to see anybody." 
 
 "Then I must excuse you." 
 
 Fryne was rushing to the door to call a lackey, when Mała- 
 chowski appeared at it. 
 
 " You must excuse, sir ; Pani Walewska cannot , . . " 
 
 Małachowski hardly nodded to Fryne.
 
 282 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska rose. Fryne tried to save the situation. 
 
 " Pani Walewska is not well — the valet made a mistake. . . ." 
 
 "I shall not fatigue you with a long conversation," said 
 Małachowski, turning to Pani Walewska, who nodded affirma- 
 tively. Fryne went out. 
 
 Małachowski seated himself opposite Pani Walewska and said 
 gravely : " Pray excuse my intrusion, but at this important 
 moment we cannot stand on ceremony. From early this morn- 
 ing I have been Avishing to see you, and the news that is going 
 about increased my impatience. But they did not let me in, 
 and if it were not for Poniatowski I should not have been able 
 to be here. You are acting very wisely. It is better to avoid 
 the crowd." 
 
 The Speaker became silent, as if waiting for a reply. His 
 large grey eyes, full of good feeling, were turned on Pant 
 Walewska, who was sitting motionless looking into space. 
 
 " I came hoping that you have something to tell me. And 
 perhaps it is all gossip ? Perhaps you did not go yesterday .'' 
 You have not seen him yet ł " 
 
 "I have," Avhispered Pani Walewska. 
 
 " And what ? Have you anything to tell me } " 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed spasmodically. 
 
 Małachowski dropped his head. 
 
 " Do not wrongly interpret my questioning of you, but it is a 
 matter of the greatest importance to our country. We are 
 losing ground under our feet ; we do not know what this new 
 Government means — hence my intrusion. You say you have 
 seen him ? H'm ! It is a very important circumstance. How 
 did you find him disposed towards you ? Was he pleased .'' " 
 
 Pani Walewska suddenly shook off the stupor, stretched out 
 her arms in the direction of the boxes glittering with jewels, 
 and said with an outburst : " Look there ! Look ! Do you think 
 it is not enough .'' " 
 
 Małachowski looked in the direction pointed out to him and 
 grew pale. 
 
 " Unusual magnificence ! But you must not tliink of it. In 
 our calculations it is a proof that we can demand still greater 
 sacrifices." 
 
 " You think so ? " cried Pani Walewska ironically.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 283 
 
 Undoubtedly." 
 
 "Then learn ... I went to the Castle ... I said every- 
 thing ... I fell at his feet when he was promising me the most 
 splendid future." 
 
 " And he ? " 
 
 "He.'' Do you see those blue marks — here, on my 
 hands .^ ... Is it not enough .'' Must I display my whole disgrace 
 to you ? And that magnificence^ does it not satisfy you.'' " 
 
 Pani Walewska began to cry. 
 
 " Do not lose your courage. Become stronger." 
 
 " Enough, sir ! I am not made for your plans. Look for 
 another woman. I am burnt by my disgrace. You have stolen 
 from me even what little peace I had. You exposed me to 
 opprobrium. He did not let me say a word. He insulted me ; 
 and you dreamed about my influence. Why did you push me 
 to that .'' What have I done to you ? " 
 
 " Your reproaches are aAvful. God is my witness that I acted 
 against my own conscience, that I was ashamed of the means. 
 But you shall be avenged. Bonaparte has shown his cards. 
 Your unsuccessful enterprise has its importance ; it is sad and 
 gloomy, but great. I promise to avenge jou. Napoleon has 
 calculated badly. We shall resist the French wave— we shall 
 seek help elsewhere. Yesterday he threw a gaimtlet to 
 you. I pick it up. I know noAv what his evasive words meant ; 
 we shall not try any more to guess their meaning." 
 
 Pani Walewska wiped her tears. The Speaker's steely voice 
 frightened her. She neither understood exactly the meaning 
 of his words nor the hidden threats, but she felt that because of 
 her, something that threatened Napoleon — that hero, conqueror, 
 warrior of her dreams — would happen. 
 
 Pani Walewska was frightened at that thought, not knowing 
 why. The Emperor had wronged her awfully ; he had ruined 
 her peace, her dreams, had taken her honom*. She would 
 avoid him, but why should she avenge herself? Had she had 
 Mme. de Vauban's experience, had she had courage, had 
 she known how to act, who knows, perhaps Napoleon would have 
 been different. Everjrthing was against her. Even that meet- 
 ing with Ornano, and Constant, and even that guard — all 
 seemed to have conspired to make her lose her self-possession.
 
 284 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Those thoughts passed quickly through Pani Walewska's 
 mind, dried up tears, and prompted her to protest. 
 
 "What is done/' she said to Małachowski, "cannot be 
 undone. Forget me. My hfe was very unhappy even before. 
 I do not wish to be a cause of battle." 
 
 Małachowski was surprised. " What do you mean ? " 
 
 "I beg of you to forget me, and to permit me to forget. 
 Such is my lot. Give up vengeance ; do not pronounce even 
 my name ; let me return to oblivion. Yes, yes, in one 
 hour I lived years. You are the first and the last to whom 
 I have complained. I trust to your honour that you will not 
 repeat it to anybody else, that you will not draw any conclusions 
 from my words, that you will not use them for any action ; for 
 I am feeble, for I am not capable even of expressing myself 
 well. It is too much for me — too much ! " 
 
 " You are mistaken. I would not dare to hurt you ; only 
 what you have told me convinces me . . ." 
 
 "But . . ." 
 
 " It is so, undoubtedly. Napoleon did not want to promise 
 anything, even to you, in the moment when he felt how much 
 he could please you ! Is a better argument necessary ? 
 Napoleon does not possess that amount of hypocrisy which 
 anybody else in his place would have. And we and Wybicki — 
 thousands of us — dazzled by him, wish to follow him ! We 
 thought that he would share his thoughts in regard to our coimtry 
 with you. But he did not say anything, because he does not 
 intend to do anything for us. He arouses hopes, and then 
 he will sell us in a treaty. Do you think that it is agreeable 
 for me to come to such a conclusion .'' No, no ! I would prefer 
 to trust Napoleon ! " 
 
 Małachowski breathed heavily, 
 
 " He will take all our money, the last piece of our bread, all 
 our men fit for fighting, and he will leave our country exhausted, 
 hungry, devoid of arms capable of work. We must stop that ; 
 we must defend ourselves ; and in that defence you shall be 
 avenged too ! " 
 
 Małachowski rose, looked at tlie clock, and added : " I must 
 go to the theatre. Excuse me for having troubled you. Accept 
 my thanks for your good will and self-sacrifice."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 285 
 
 Pani Walewska was rubbing her forehead, looking in a 
 stupefied way at the Speaker. 
 
 " And should you need my help or advice, I am always at 
 your command. I shall never forget your noble behaviour. 
 We were bold, and aimed high ; we failed, but we came out 
 victorious just the same. I would advise you to go away — im- 
 mediately, to Vienna ! You will be quieter there. I will send 
 you some one who will arrange the journey for you. . . . The 
 Prince and the Princess de Ligny will do everything for you. 
 You must run away, for now it is that you are in danger — now 
 you will be obliged to become a common favourite. My 
 respect . . ." 
 
 Małachowski bent his head and went towards the door. 
 
 Pani Walewska rushed from her seat and crossed his way. 
 
 " One word more ! " 
 
 Małachowski looked at Pani Walewska's transparent, pale 
 face, and said, -with paternal benevolence — 
 
 "Speak, pray. ..." 
 
 Pani Walewska pressed her breast as if wishing to stop its 
 heaving. 
 
 *'I will do anything for you," said Małachowski. 
 
 " I did not tell you the truth," said Pani Walewska, in a 
 muffled voice. 
 
 "What.?" 
 
 " I have not seen the Emperor ! " 
 
 " You are joking. I know you have been in the Castle. 
 I know even that Corvisart brought you here." 
 
 '' Then, yes, I have been there, but I did not say even one 
 word about what you told me. I lacked courage, will, daring." 
 
 " Reflect. ... A minute ago you accused him. . . ." 
 
 "Because I wished to justify myself, because I wanted to get 
 rid of that mission." 
 
 Małachowski looked at her in bewilderment. 
 
 " And you did not ask him for anything ? " 
 
 " No," whispered Pani Walewska through her set teeth. 
 
 " Then, why did you promise ? Why did you deceive me ? " 
 
 " I do not know. I wanted . . . Do not ask me ! Forget 
 about me. Do not count on me." 
 
 Malachowsld laughed ironically.
 
 286 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Ha, ha ! You say you did not have courage ! But you had 
 courage to ask for those things ! " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " You are paid, and you think it is enough ! " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Małachowski drew himself up proudly. 
 
 " Excuse my mistake ! I value your sincerity ; and should 
 you be in need^ you can ask me to pay for your trouble in 
 gold." 
 
 Pani Walewska gasped^ wanted to say something to defend 
 herself, to parry the insult thrown at her, but Małachowski 
 was gone. 
 
 Pani Walewska was seized with an access of madness. She 
 rushed to the boxes and began to destroy them, to break the 
 necklaces, to scatter the pearls and precious stones on the floor, 
 making her hands bleed. A desire for destruction took hold 
 of her. When there were no more jcNvels in the boxes she tore 
 her silk gown, clenched her fingers on her ov/n hands ; she 
 pulled at her abundant hair. She seemed to seek physical pain 
 to balance her moral suffering that penetrated her and burned 
 her. 
 
 After this attack she was overcome little by little by a stupor 
 — an unconsciousness of what was going on around her. She 
 saw Fryne's frightened face bending over her ; she heard her 
 voice ; she felt the touch of her soft hands ; she could dis- 
 tinguish in the shadows the silhouette of moving servants, but 
 she could not account for all that. 
 
 She could not explain to herself why the chambermaids were 
 coming to her, why they dressed her, who put on her neck that 
 locket. 
 
 Only when everything became quiet round her. Pani 
 Walewska came to her senses, passed her hand over her 
 face and felt the tears. 
 
 Was she crying ? Was it true that the Speaker had been to 
 see her ? But she was not crying. Why should she .'' She 
 had acted like a child. It was not necessary to permit him to 
 talk like that. She should have been silent. What were Mała- 
 chowski and others to her ? She must remain alone with her 
 grief, pain, and disenchantment ; for notwithstanding her
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 287 
 
 interior fight^ she wished for the voice of common sense and 
 conscience. And that desire was so sudden, so powerful, so 
 dizzying that she could not resist it. She had committed an 
 unpardonable fault — almost a crime ! But they tempted her so 
 much by displacing to her such magnificent pictures of the 
 future. She defended herself as much as she could, but not 
 enough, not as she should have done. Her duty was not 
 to have confidence in her own strength. It was she who had 
 attempted to bar his way. He trampled upon her and threw 
 into her face a handful of jewels, and to-day he had already 
 forgotten that he had broken one more life, that he had 
 annihilated one more existence. 
 
 Pani Walewska trembled. 
 
 And she had imagined to herself that he was different. He 
 trampled on her, he insulted her, he did not wish even to 
 respect that beautiful portrait of himself, that she had engraved 
 in her heart with the most exalted thoughts, that portrait which 
 she had worshipped with every drop of her blood. P'or years 
 and years the figure of that magnificent commander, that 
 general of nations, had been growing in her mind. For years 
 and years fantastic stories, adorning him with legendary 
 wreaths, surrounding him with rainbow-like hues, had been 
 coming to her. For years and years she had heard Napoleon's 
 name pronounced in her father's house with respect. It had 
 taken years and years to personify Napoleon in her mind as 
 a genius, as an idol. Then came that awful moment in which 
 she learnt the merciless truth. Why did it come .'' Why did 
 it rob her of such a beautiful dream ? 
 
 Pani Walewska sighed. 
 
 The spell had disappeared, and the person to whom from her 
 childhood she had wished the greatest good had done her the 
 gi-eatest wrong. 
 
 But perhaps it was her own fault ; perhaps she was too bold 
 in fulfilling the promise given to the Speaker of the Diet. 
 
 Had she followed Ornano's ad\'ice at once ; had she not 
 been too late only by one minute ; had she valued Gorayski's 
 warnings ! But it had to be. She was punished for her 
 longings, for her dreams, for her complaints against the lone- 
 hness of Walewice.
 
 288 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska was surrounded by quiet and darkness. She 
 was overpowered by the feeling of boundless solitude and 
 isolation. She had nobody — nobody would know and understand 
 her secret grief, bitterness, and tears. Her husband, Mme. 
 de Vauban, Fryne, Anetka Tyszkiewicz, Herceau, Małachowski, 
 the Princess her sister-in law, Constant, Princess Radziwil, 
 Corvisart, her family, and even perhaps her own brother, would 
 condemn her, and would be persuaded that they were right 
 to do so. And for her there would remain that fearful quiet, 
 for she had nobody, nobody ! . . . They are still fondling her 
 and cringing to her, for they still think yet that she will be able 
 to get something for them. . . . 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed spasmodically. Her strained thoughts 
 became slower and slower. 
 
 Suddenly she felt that some one had touched her hand. And 
 this touch was soft but firm, a touch so familiar to her that she 
 could hardly refrain from screaming. 
 
 Her first thought was that she had a vision, and she wanted 
 to defend herself against it. 
 
 But the touch was repeated, and with it a whisper resounded, 
 a whisper that froze Pani Walewska's blood. 
 
 " Mary, forgive me ! . . . I am very guilty," was the whisper. 
 " I shall do everything in order to reward you for that moment. 
 Do not put me away. Madness took hold of me. I thought 
 that it would suffice to have you in order to quench my love, 
 which made my heart throb for you ! Forgive me. Look ! 
 I humble myself before you — I beseech you ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska opened her eyes wide. 
 
 At her feet Napoleon was kneeling ! 
 
 She covered her face with her hands. 
 
 " O Lord! What have I done ? Was I not punished already ?" 
 
 " Child, think it over. I avow my mistake, and I beg. 
 Permit me to deserve forgiveness, permit me to love you, 
 permit me to be proud of you. Your beauty had intoxicated 
 me. Child, remember how many storms I have to face. 
 Remember that I have not for me such a soft little hand as 
 is yours, which would smooth my brow. Yes, yesterday I wanted 
 to break my fetters, which you put on me ; yesterday by one 
 outburst of passion. I thought to be able to put down the flames
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 289 
 
 devouring me. And to-day I return — I bend before you 
 conquered, in love, sorry for your sadness, humiliated. . . . 
 Mary, tell me that you forgive me ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose, stretched herself, and said quietly — 
 
 " Sire, your wish is for me a command. But I have nothing 
 to forgive." 
 
 Bonaparte got up quietly. 
 
 "Do not speak to me like that. Forget my crown and 
 sceptre, for I wish you to talk to me as to one who loves 
 thee." 
 
 Pani Walewska leaned on a table, feeling that her legs bent 
 under her. 
 
 "I also. Sire, try to believe that, for I cannot think that 
 I have spoken with the Emperor — with Napoleon." 
 
 Bonaparte frowned ; fiery sparks shone in his eyes and 
 disappeared under frowning eyebrows. 
 
 " You are bold, too bold ; and, perhaps, too severe. You 
 do not think what my coming to you means." 
 
 " It is true. Sire ; it is an honour for me." 
 
 Bonaparte took Pani Walewska's hand. 
 
 " Mary, forget. Do not wound me. Have pity on yourself, 
 and I will not let you forget your kindness." 
 
 " Undoubtedly, Sire, you know how to be magnificent ! " 
 
 Napoleon bit his lips. 
 
 '^ What is the meaning of your irony ? Tell me, why do you 
 force yourself to keep a courtly distance between us ? Why 
 do you not answer with your heart ? Why are not you 
 sincere ? " 
 
 " I am afraid of hurting you. Sire." 
 
 " I demand frankness. Speak ! I do not wish you to have 
 even a shadow of grief against me. Forget about the Emperor ; 
 he came here, not to command, but to beg. Do tell me every- 
 thing you wish for." 
 
 " Very well," answered Pani Walewska shortly, and she rang 
 the bell. 
 
 " What do you intend } " 
 
 " I do what you authorised me, Sire." 
 
 The valet appeared at the door. 
 
 "Who brought those jewels?" asked Pani Walewska drily, 
 u
 
 290 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " A soldier of the Guard ; there was a valet from the Castle 
 . . . they said . . ." 
 
 " Enough ! Put the small boxes in the big one ; lock it up, 
 give me the key, and carry the box at once to the Grand 
 Marshal of the Court of his Imperial Majesty ! " 
 
 The valet, abashed by the Emperor's presence, awkwardly 
 fulfilled the order, and left the room with the box. 
 
 Pani Walewska turned to the Emperor. 
 
 " And now, Sire, pray take the key." 
 
 '' But, child," said Bonaparte, embarrassed by an ending to 
 the proceeding so incomprehensible to him, "they must have 
 given you my note. I took the liberty of sending you those 
 trifles, with the intention of giving you a proof of my thoughts 
 of you." 
 
 Pani Walewska drew herself up proudly. 
 
 " I cannot accept them ! " 
 
 "But . . ." 
 
 " It is so. Sire ; it is too much for Walewska, and too little 
 for a Polish lady." 
 
 Bonaparte folded his arms upon his breast. 
 
 " I can be munificent only to Walewska." 
 
 " That being the case. Sire, she cannot accept anything from 
 
 you! 
 
 " Then, not being able to obtain your price, you reject my 
 love ; you do not care for me ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska blushed. 
 
 "No, Sire," she said in a whisper; "only if my request could 
 not be granted, then do not think about presents — let me be 
 neither richer nor poorer than I am." 
 
 Napoleon seized her hand and pressed it to his lips. 
 
 " But permit me to become rich by having you ! Speak ! " 
 
 The tears appeared in Pani Walewska's eyes. 
 
 "Whose can I call myself since yesterday?" 
 
 Bonaparte's face beamed. 
 
 " A hundred times good ! You shall be tlie star of my new 
 better life. . . . Mary ! love and trust me ! What seems to-day 
 to be a fable, what reason declares impossible, that I promise 
 you to embrace with my hearty willingness ! In exchange for 
 your love, I promise to follow your ideals ! "
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE cannons became silent at Tchew. 
 A gloomy February night had stopped the bloody victory 
 of the Polish legions, and did not permit the victors to pursue 
 the retreating Prussians. 
 
 Decimated regiments lay down on snow hardened by frost, 
 gathering round camp fires, satisfying their hunger and thirst 
 with the consciousness of their victory and with the hope of the 
 Emperor's praise, of crosses and advancement. 
 
 Not far from the house occupied by the commandant-in- 
 chief a group of officers were chatting with animation, recollect- 
 ing episodes from the battle. 
 
 '^ The Colonel ! " suddenly exclaimed Lieutenant Lonczynski, 
 jumping to his feet. 
 
 The others followed his example. 
 
 A tall man wrapped in a cloak was coming from the direc- 
 tion of a house. 
 
 " Who is mounting guard over the camps .^ " asked the 
 Colonel. 
 
 " The captain of the second regiment of infantry, Chluso- 
 wich ! " answered a voice from the fire quickly. 
 
 " Is Major Konsinowski here ? Ah ! it is you ! Very well ! 
 And Lieutenant Lonczynski ! Look, I have brought the report 
 from Pakosh to show it to you. Come near the fire ! Listen : 
 * Paul Lonczynski, lieutenant of the Italian Legion, lately trans- 
 ferred from Marshal Davoust's army corps, three times reported 
 for promotion in the last seven years, to-day charged a Prussian 
 battery with half a squadron of horse, and took a cannon alone ; 
 he is reported for promotion and reward.' I hope it is enough .i*" 
 
 "Thank you, sir!" said the Major; "he deserves such a 
 recommendation . " 
 
 291
 
 292 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 '' I am very much obliged to you, sir," added Lonczynski, 
 smiling slightly. 
 
 " You must thank yourself/' said the Colonel, putting out his 
 hand to Lonczynski. " I have done an agreeable duty. Now, 
 I am sure, you will get the long-deserved epaulettes." 
 
 Lonczynski had no time to ans\ver, for the door of the house 
 occupied by the general staff opened briskly, and an officer, 
 turning to the Colonel, said hastily : " The Emperor's courier, 
 sir. Major, and you, lieutenant, to the General at once ! " 
 
 " The deuce ! " said the Major through his set teeth. " 1 am 
 sure, some change in the service ! " 
 
 " I do not think so ; it is something about you." 
 
 " About me .'' " answered Lonczynski doubtfully. 
 
 They entered the house occupied by the staff and generals. 
 
 In the first room, in which several aides-de-camp were sitting 
 at two tables, the lieutenant was asked to wait. 
 
 Lonczynski greeted the officers, who answered by muttering 
 something, and went to the fireplace ; but he had not time to 
 warm himself, for the Colonel came out from the other room 
 and asked him in. 
 
 Lonczynski followed the Colonel ; grey-headed General Gieł- 
 gud rose from behind a table. 
 
 " Lieutenant Lonczynski ! " introduced the Colonel. 
 
 " I am glad to see you," said the General, putting his hands 
 out, " and still more glad to congratulate you on the particular 
 favour of the Emperor." 
 
 " I do not understand ..." 
 
 ''^We did our best to-day with the Colonel in the report 
 about 3'ou, but, in the meanwhile, they remembered you better 
 in Warsaw. Your road lies open to the most brilliant career. 
 I have heard much good about you, therefore I do not wonder 
 at the great honour that has befallen you. I am glad of it 
 with my whole heart." 
 
 " Really, sir," said the lieutenant hesitatingly, " I do not 
 understand. . . ." 
 
 Giełgud opened a longish box standing on the table. 
 
 " Lieutenant Lonczynski, the Emperor's courier has brought 
 you these epaulettes. You are appointed colonel to the general 
 staff; you are called to be near his Majesty."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 293 
 
 «I ... I ... sir?" 
 
 " Here is the appointment and the command calling you to 
 headquarters." 
 
 The lieutenant passed his hand over his eyes, as if wishing 
 to clear away a nightmare. 
 
 " I — a colonel ! It is impossible ! " 
 
 The General stroked his abundant white hair, and smiled 
 benevolently. 
 
 "I am pleased with your surprise, for it means that you 
 deserve the reward honestly." 
 
 The Colonel helped Lonczynski to take off his cloak, took 
 off his lieutenant's epaulettes and put on those of a colonel. 
 
 The General looked, and approved joyfully. 
 
 "They are very becoming to you. You are now a man of 
 importance all at once. General staff! The Emperor's head- 
 quarters ! It is a great honour to us all. It appears they 
 think of us. But this is not all. Here is the cross, and five 
 hundred napoleons for equipment." 
 
 Lonczynski reddened, paled, grew blue by turns. He looked 
 stupefied at the rich silver epaulettes, the Legion of Honour, 
 and at the gold, and could not gather up his thoughts. He 
 could not account for such a peculiar favour of the Emperor. 
 For years he had not been able to get the long-deserved 
 promotion to the rank of captain ; had had no pay for two 
 years, and lived on the money sent to him by his sister, Pani 
 Walewska. And here, all at once, the Emperor's courier 
 brought him the post of a colonel in the general staff, a cross, 
 and money. The thought came to his mind that there must 
 be some mistake. 
 
 '' But it is impossible," said he ; "it must be some one else ! " 
 
 The General took snuff, and said positively : " Not at all. 
 With the diploma is a paper on which is your father's name 
 and place of your birth, and this is evidently sent that there 
 should be no doubt whatever. Yes, yes ; Dombrowski was a little 
 surprised that you should jump over three grades, but he was 
 glad, and he begs of you to take with you, as you are going to 
 see the Emperor, the report about yesterday's fight, as he would 
 like to spare every officer. And I suppose you will be pleased 
 to present such thanks to the Emperor."
 
 294. NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Having advised the newly appointed colonel to go the next 
 day to Liebstadtj he took leave of him. 
 
 Hardly had the grey winter morning come, when the news 
 about the Imperial courier was already being commented upon 
 throughout the camp. 
 
 Some officers expressed their jealousy frankly ; the others 
 tried maliciously to find the cause of such a sudden distinction ; 
 still others — these were Lonczynski's friends — rejoiced heartily; 
 but they wondered just the same. 
 
 The oldest soldiers, who remembered Napoleon when he was 
 as poor as they were now, had never heard of such rapid pro- 
 motion. It was true that such of his satellites as Berthier, 
 Murat, Bessieres, Lannes, and even Lefebvre had passed the 
 military grades quickly, but it was an unheard of thing that 
 a special courier should be sent to an ordinary officer, who 
 had never had the chance to be at Bonaparte's side, and never 
 had been spoken of by him. 
 
 Lonczynski's appointment would have been justified if he 
 had a great historical name, if he had a powerful family, if he 
 had accomplished some extraordinary deed. 
 
 Lonczynski was appreciated as a capable and brave officer, 
 but men like him, and, perhaps, more capable of commanding, 
 were very numerous. 
 
 If, however, the surprise in the Polish Legion was great, 
 the shock experienced by the lieutenant himself was as strong, 
 and it increased in proportion as he sought after the cause of 
 such a favour of fortune. 
 
 A captain's rank would have filled him with contentment and 
 pride, would have fulfilled his hopes and dreams, and a soldier's 
 cross would have been a sufficient reward for his hardships. 
 
 But the epaulettes of a colonel spoiled his pleasure, did not 
 permit him even to answer properly his comrades' congratula- 
 tions, filled him with a kind of shame towards his former 
 superiors. 
 
 And then, notwithstanding hearty words and vigorous hand- 
 shakes, the lieutenant felt that there was something in his 
 comrades' behaviour which made his blood rush to his face, 
 which the red riband of the Legion changed into some 
 reproach, an evident mark of blind fate, a wrong to the others.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 295 
 
 The lieutenant passed the night in feverish excitement, 
 in bashfully looking at his epaulettes, in reading the diplomas, 
 in wondering whether it was not all a dream, a hallucination. 
 
 After the first sounds of reveille, when Lonczynski was 
 gathering his poor belongings together, and laughing inwardly 
 at the contrast between the shabby and patched uniform and 
 the rich, bulky epaulettes, the aide-de-camp rushed in and 
 asked him to come to General Dombrowski. 
 
 Lonczynski folloAved him at once, replying hesitatingly to the 
 salutes rendered to him. 
 
 In the house occupied by the staff, he was met by the 
 Colonel and introduced into a room in which General Dom- 
 browski and his son, both wounded in the late fight, were lying 
 in two beds beside each other. 
 
 " Who is there .'' " asked a muffled voice. 
 
 *'You gave orders, sir," said the Colonel, ''to bring you 
 Colonel Paul Lonczynski." 
 
 "Ah, give me your hand. Sit down on the bed. We 
 wei*e anxious about you. And the appointment came of 
 itself.? ..." 
 
 " I do not know myself . . ." said Lonzcynski timidly. 
 
 " You must have some one who seized an opportunity." 
 
 " Upon my word, sir, I cannot think." 
 
 Dombrowski sighed quietly. 
 
 I do not make any reproaches to you. Even if that were 
 the case you would have acted wisely, for. as you know, they 
 have not paid any attention to my reports." 
 
 Dombrowski became silent. 
 
 Lonczynski tightened his lips and sat motionless. 
 
 " You are going to the Emperor's staff," said the General, 
 after a longish pause. " I congratulate you." 
 
 " There is no cause for congratulation, sir." 
 
 " Why not > " 
 
 " Because I beg of you to answer that I do not accept the 
 appointment, and if my refusal is not granted I shall leave the 
 army." 
 
 The General made a movement of uneasiness. 
 
 "What an idea ! " 
 
 "Yes, sir," answered Lonczynski earnestly, "for I did not
 
 296 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 make any steps to be promoted in this manner, and to advance 
 before others more worthy than I am." 
 
 " Nonsense, nonsense ! " 
 
 " I shall do as I said, sir." 
 
 "You shall not dare to. I should never forgive you, 
 LonczjTiski. The deuce, I do not know hoAv to lie, therefore 
 I say that in the first place I was surprised at such an appoint- 
 ment ; but I do not envy you. On the contrary, I am glad, and 
 now more than ever, for I see that you are more worthy to be a 
 colonel than the others. If I could, I v.'ould have already given 
 you those epaulettes. Give me your hand. I cannot move 
 mine. Go to the general staff. The more like you are there, the 
 better it will be for us. You will take the report about yester- 
 day's fight. You have been sharing our hardships for years ; 
 you will know what to say to the Emperor. We will follow him, 
 but he must take better care of us. Yes, yes ; it is well that 
 you should be on the general staff. We have had nobody there, 
 and our best plans were crippled. The Emperor, as it seems, 
 is in Liebstadt. That is all. I cannot speak any longer." 
 
 The General breathed deeply, his head fell motionless on the 
 pillows. 
 
 Lonczynski rose heavily. 
 
 "I wish you a quick recovery, sir," said he with a stifled 
 voice. 
 
 " Thank you. Give me your hand. Good bye. By-the-by, 
 Lonczynski, if I am not mistaken, you are a relation of the 
 W^alewskis." 
 
 "Of the Walewskis .'^ " repeated with surprise Lonczynski. 
 " Relation ! No ; my sister married a Walewski." 
 
 "Then she is a Walewska." 
 
 "Undoubtedly, sir," said Lonczynski drily, "if she is 
 Walewski's wife." 
 
 " Is he not a chamberlain ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then the Chamberlain Walewski's wife is your sister!" 
 ended the General, with a peculiar smile. 
 
 Loncz}Tiski was hurt by the expression of his face. 
 
 " May I ask you, sir, for the reason .'' . . . " 
 
 " I have none. Well, we were chatting with Giełgud about
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 297 
 
 you, and it came into my mind. . , . Good-bye, and be careful, 
 for the roads are crowded with dangerous marauders " 
 
 Lonczynski took leave of the General and Colonel, got from 
 Pacosh the report for headquarters, and about an hour later 
 mounted a big mare, which he purchased from a dragoon officer 
 for five napoleons, and started off. 
 
 The journey was difficult, for the mare was old and exhaiisted, 
 the short days did not allow him to make long rests, and 
 armed bands of vagabonds did not permit of travelling by night. 
 Moreover, in the halting-places the Colonel could hardly get a 
 piece of bread for its weight of gold, or a handful of straw for 
 his mount. In several places he was obliged to run away from 
 robbers, who, although they wore French uniforms, did not pay 
 any attention to his colonel's epaulettes, and hoped to find him 
 a wealthy prey. 
 
 For this reason Lonczynski took off his epaulettes by the time 
 he reached Malborg, and put them with the other things he 
 carried on the saddle. 
 
 When, on the third day, he perceived Liebstadt in the 
 distance, he breathed freely and sighed. Gloomy thoughts left 
 him ; curiosity about his new duties, about headquarters, that 
 foundry of the thunderbolts of war, took hold of his imagination. 
 
 In Liebstadt he was, however, disappointed, for instead of 
 headquarters he found only a battalion of infantry. Lonczynski 
 reported to the commandant of the battalion, and from him he 
 learned that the Emperor had gone to Ostród. The Colonel 
 wanted to go further at once, but the Frenchman detained him 
 almost by force, entertained him in the most hospitable way, 
 and only when the Colonel and his mount had eaten and rested, 
 did he consent to his departure. 
 
 Lonczynski was puzzled at the cause of the Frenchman's 
 hospitality ; he understood it only at the moment of taking 
 leave, when the commandant of the battalion begged him to do 
 him the favour of asking at the general staff for him to be 
 transferred to Marshal Davoust's army corps. 
 
 The dusk was already falling when Lonczynski left Liebstadt, 
 but he did not wish to stay there overnight, for his road to 
 Ostród was straight, the horse was rested and fed, and the 
 distance was only about twenty miles. Then the proximity of
 
 298 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 headquarters promised that the road would be devoid of robbers, 
 for the field gendarmes were patrolhng as far as Elblong. 
 
 In Morong the Colonel stopped to get a guide and set out for 
 Saalfeld. 
 
 The guide — a big, broad-shouldered peasant, with a sheep- 
 skin on his head — looked to the Colonel suspicious ; but there 
 was no choice, and he could not travel alone, for the snow had 
 begun to cover the black, beaten road. 
 
 The innkeeper in Morong told him that the man was ready 
 to conduct him to Saalfeld for half a thaler. The Colonel 
 agreed, and as he was accustomed to all kinds of dangers he 
 did not bother his head much, and started. 
 
 The guide rushed forward so quickly that the mare was 
 obliged to follow at a good pace. 
 
 For about an hour the Colonel followed the guide in silence, 
 admiring the man, who would not stop even for one moment, who 
 passed through the snow-drifts, and would not allow the mare 
 to reach him. Finally he seemed to be tired, for he stopped 
 suddenly, leaned on his staff, and wiped the perspiration from 
 his forehead. The Colonel neared him. 
 
 The guide pushed his sheepskin over his eyes and muttered— 
 
 "For such a trouble half a thaler is not too much." 
 
 " We shall see ; you may have one thaler if you bring me 
 where I want to go." 
 
 "And perhaps ten." 
 
 "How now ? " 
 
 " No matter," muttered the man, and went forward. 
 
 The Colonel pressed his mare, not wishing to stop the 
 conversation. 
 
 " Where do you come from ? " 
 
 " From Jansbok." 
 
 "A Pole ? " 
 
 The man shrugged his shoulders and did not answer. 
 
 " How far is it from Morong to Saalfeld ł " 
 
 "Frenchmen shall not reach it." 
 
 " You do not like the Frenchmen .'' " 
 
 The peasant gnashed his teeth. 
 
 "The plague may take them ! " 
 
 " Did they trouble you so much ? "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 299 
 
 " They crowded my house^ they have eaten everything, they 
 killed my hens, pigs, and cows, they have burnt my hedges. 
 I am a beggar now." 
 
 "War!" 
 
 "So we say also/' muttered the man, and laughed savagely. 
 
 " When once the war is over the good old times will return." 
 
 "If they do not devour us." 
 
 "Was it more easy for you under the Prussians ? " 
 
 " It was not easy, but at least they did not rob us. Are you 
 going to those d Frenchmen } Eh ? " 
 
 The Colonel, hearing that question pronoimced with a kind 
 of threatening barking, looked at the broad-shouldered peasant 
 and answered evasively — 
 
 " Do you not see that I am your countryman ? " 
 
 " It may be . . . although I thought so. Then why do you 
 go where those Frenchmen are swarming ? " 
 
 "Sometimes one must." 
 
 " It's not my business ; only you will give me a thaler, for the 
 road is difficult." 
 
 " I shall not bargain." 
 
 The guide stopped, looked round the white plain, and said 
 after a thought : " From the willow we go to the right." 
 
 " But the road to Saalfeld is straight. 
 
 The peasant laughed. 
 
 " Yes ; only we have not gone the way you wanted." 
 
 " Have you lost your way .'' " 
 
 " No ; but they told me at the inn that you were a French- 
 man, and I wanted to bring you to Hans across the lake." 
 
 " What Hans } " 
 
 " Well, we lead every Frenchman there. He has a big cellar. 
 A blow on the head, and then ..." 
 
 The Colonel shivered. 
 
 " So you commit murder } " 
 
 " No ; they murder themselves. And what can we do with 
 them } We get ten thalers for every Frenchman. We can get 
 back something." 
 
 " But if they discover you they will hang you." 
 
 " They hang without that. They hang anybody they like ; 
 they do not ask one word. The day before yesterday a French
 
 300 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 general was coming from Bransberg. He said he had a letter 
 from our king to Napoleon Bonaparte. He was a Frenchman, 
 although he spoke human language. But he does not any more." 
 
 " What have you done with him .'' " 
 
 " Nothing. Hans took him, and he gave me his bag. Not 
 much in it. Hardly a thaler. But the bag was full of papers. 
 Hans read them and could not make them out — French writing. 
 I shall show them in Saalfeld to the secretary ; they may be of 
 some use." 
 
 " Have you them with you .'' " 
 
 The man rapped his sheepskin coat. 
 
 " Yes ; and perhaps you could make them out, for the 
 secretary is a cheat." 
 
 Then the peasant swore at the Frenchmen and threatened 
 them. 
 
 The Colonel did not listen to his effusions— he was thinking 
 how he should get the papers from the man, for they must have 
 been important if they were sent by a special officer. At any 
 fate, the papers of the French general staff should not fall into 
 the Prussians' hands. On any other occasion the Colonel would 
 not have hesitated to shoot down such a man ; but here he was 
 entirely at his mercy, for without him he could not possibly find 
 his way. Common sense advised him to wait for an opportunity. 
 
 It is true that he could kill the man and get the papers, but 
 he had some scruples about doing this. The man was a robber, 
 a foe worse than the Prussians, but he was blinded and pushed 
 to despair by his own misery. The churl felt only that they 
 robbed him and made a beggar of him. 
 
 The Colonel had seen with his own eyes the devastation made 
 by the French army, and he understood the peasant's hatred. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the consciousness of duty, the conscious- 
 ness that he had before him a man who perhaps possessed very 
 important papers ; a man who, without any scruples, had given 
 up a French courier to death, troubled him. 
 
 Had that man had a wea])on and known how to defend him- 
 self, then the Colonel would not have hesitated to risk his own 
 life ; but to shoot at an unarmed man, especially after having 
 taken advantage of his credulity, seemed to him a villainy 
 unworthy of his rank.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 301 
 
 While the Colonel was trying to find some means by which he 
 could get hold of the papers, the peasant stopped suddenly and 
 pointed towards the distance. The Colonel looked in that 
 direction, when at the same moment the report of a rifle, 
 followed by several others, was heard. 
 
 '^'^They ai-e fighting." 
 
 The man waited awhile, and when the firing was not 
 repeated he smiled ironically, and said : " They are firing to 
 scare the people. We must tui'n to the right. You had better 
 dismount, for it is safer." 
 
 " I shall only do that when it is necessary." 
 
 " As you wish ; but you must give me my thaler now, for 
 I do not know whether I shall get it afterwards." 
 
 The Colonel threw the money to the peasant. 
 
 " Now we must hasten to reach that wood. Take care of the 
 horse, for it is marshy here." 
 
 And the guide began to walk so quickly that the horse, 
 stumbling on the frozen ground, could hardly keep pace with 
 him. 
 
 When they reached the wood the peasant listened for a while, 
 and then went forward, pushing aside the brushwood to make 
 way for the horse. 
 
 Suddenly, a few steps in front of them, the shadow of a man 
 appeared. The peasant stopped the horse by the bridle, and 
 said in a whisper — 
 
 "Down, and follow me." 
 
 But before the Colonel could follow the advice he heard 
 behind him : " Qid vive !" 
 
 " Les amis !" answered the Colonel. 
 
 "Nous aUons voir! Ne bougez pas!" and twelve men sur- 
 rounded him. 
 
 " Where from ? " asked one of the men imperatively. 
 
 " Colonel of the Staff of his Majesty." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " I have said it. Conduct me to the commandant of the 
 detachment. Is it the field artillery?" 
 
 " Yes. But you must excuse us. It is dark ; we must escort 
 you." 
 
 "That is what I want."
 
 302 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Pray dismount." 
 
 The Colonel did as was asked, and stood beside the peasant. 
 
 They started at once. The peasant was gloomy. The Colonel 
 took pity on him. 
 
 " Why are you so sad ? " 
 
 "They will hang me." 
 
 " Do not be afraid ; only say that you are in my service." 
 
 " Yes ; but if they find on me those papers ..." 
 
 " Give them to me — quick ! " 
 
 The peasant hesitated, for he thought that his companion 
 was putting a rope round his neck, but at last took out the 
 papers from under the sheepskin coat and slipped them into 
 the Colonel's hand. 
 
 After an hour of fatiguing mai'ching they reached Saalfeld, 
 where, after some inquiries, which had rather the character 
 of military honours rendered to the Colonel, he was called 
 to General Herve, who was in command of the third army 
 corps. 
 
 Herve received him enthusiastically, showered compliments 
 upon him, and invited him to lunch. The Colonel wanted to 
 excuse himself, giving as a reason that he had a shabby and 
 patched uniform, but the General would not hear of such an 
 excuse, and the Colonel was obliged to stay. 
 
 " I will introduce you to my aides-de-camp ; they will take 
 good care of you." 
 
 The General went to the side door, but stopped suddenly, 
 and said: "Colonel, are you not Madame Walewska's brother.''" 
 
 " It is true that my sister married a Walewski, but I do not 
 know which Madame Walewska you mean." 
 
 The General was embarrassed. 
 
 " I am sure I had the honour to be introduced to your sister 
 in Warsaw ! I was dazzled ! I do not know a more beautiful, 
 a more charming, and a more elegant person than Madame 
 Walewska ! " 
 
 The Colonel could hardly help smiling at the General's 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 " I am glad to hear that ; but there must be some mistake. 
 My sister does not go into society. A certain difference of age 
 between her and her husband . . ."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 803 
 
 Herve laughed good-heartedly. 
 
 " Then it is the same. Mary, wife of a very ... of the 
 former Chamberlain, not very young. . , . I was, and I am still, 
 bewitched ! Should you have an opportunity, pray remember 
 me to her." 
 
 " I should be very glad, only now . . ." 
 
 " Naturally, naturally ! I understand ! " said the General 
 shrewdly. "At any rate, pray remember my request. We 
 lunch at twelve o'clock." 
 
 Herve then conducted the Colonel to the other room, occu- 
 pied by the aides-de-camp of the staff, introduced them, and 
 commended him to their hospitality. 
 
 The Colonel found himself in the midst of elegant officers, 
 and he felt that he was in another world unknown to him. 
 Therefore, when Captain Romeuf asked him if he would not 
 hke to rest in his quarters, the Colonel accepted his proposition 
 at once. 
 
 Romeuf occupied elegantly furnished rooms in the next 
 house, which testified that the Captain had not ceased to be a 
 refined Parisian. 
 
 " I wonder if you will find everything you want," said 
 Romeuf to his guest. "I will send our Jacques to you at once — 
 he is not at all a bad coiffeur." 
 
 " Thank you ! May I ti'ouble you to send me my servant 
 with my things, and also to give me a pass for him, as I wish to 
 send him back." 
 
 Romeuf at once did as he was asked, and withdrew. 
 
 The Colonel looked at the gloomy peasant, and said cheer- 
 fully : "Well, you see they have not eaten us up ! " 
 
 « Not yet ! " 
 
 " And they shall not ! I am sure you would Uke to go as 
 soon as possible." 
 
 " Would they let me } " 
 
 " Yes. Here is your pass. You can go at once. And here 
 is another thaler. . . ." 
 
 The peasant grew red. 
 
 " May God reward you!" answered the man, and sneaked out 
 of the room. 
 
 The Colonel began to dress himself. He brushed his shabby
 
 304 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 uniform carefully, pinned on the cross of the Legion, made the 
 hilt of his sword shine, and then, having looked at himself in 
 the mirror, he smiled with satisfaction. 
 
 Then he proceeded to pack his shabby belongings, for he did 
 not wish the Captain to see his ragged linen. While doing this 
 he noticed the papers he had got from the peasant. He 
 imfolded them and began to read, thinking that the best way 
 would be to hand them to General Herve, telling him that he 
 had found them. The papers were signed by General Bertrand, 
 and all wei'e addressed to the Imperial bureau. The Colonel's 
 attention was especially attracted by a report dated from Klay- 
 ped, which was then the headquarters of the Prussian king, 
 Frederick Wilhelm ; and in that report he found that the 
 Prussian king had received Napoleon's propositions to make 
 peace, on condition that his possessions up to the River Elbe 
 should be restored to him, very coolly, and that even Na- 
 poleon's intimation that he did not think much of the Polish 
 provinces, since becoming acquainted with them, had not made 
 the expected impression. 
 
 The Colonel's head whirled at such a discovery. Those 
 words contained the kernel of Napoleon's diplomacy, the irony 
 of life and the world, scattering the fantastic dreams for which 
 thousands of Poles had let themselves be killed, the whole 
 falsehood of diplomatic notes, proclamations, half-words, and 
 even promises. 
 
 The Colonel was a soldier who believed in Napoleon — he was 
 a soldier of hope. That hope sometimes only gleamed faintly, 
 but it was always within him — and now it began to die out. 
 
 The entrance of Romeuf interrupted his gloomy thoughts. 
 
 " Do I disturb you ? " 
 
 "Not at all," said the Colonel, folding the papers and 
 putting them into a side pocket under his uniform. 
 
 " It is time for lunch."
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 IT was already dusk when the Colonel, convoyed by a span 
 of General Herve's stallions, came to the inn in Ostród. 
 Tired and cold, he welcomed the brightly lighted hostelry, 
 promising himself a good rest in a warm room. He was, how- 
 ever, terribly disappointed. The inn was so packed Avith officers 
 of all ranks and regiments that the Colonel at once lost hopes 
 of finding even a corner to lie dov/n in. Wishing, however, to 
 inquire where he could spend the night, he pushed his way 
 through the group of officers sitting on the floor to a corner, in 
 which a ragged innkeeper was sitting. 
 
 " Listen. I want a room ! " 
 
 " I wanted one myself." 
 
 " I will pay well." 
 
 " I would do the same." 
 
 " What the deuce ! Have you not at least a bunch of 
 straw } " 
 
 " I have nothing ! They have taken everything ! They do 
 what they please ! " 
 
 " Give me some whisky ! " 
 
 "I have none ! " 
 
 " Then sell me some bread." 
 
 " I have not got it." 
 
 " Is there another inn ? " 
 
 "Every house is an inn, but everywhere you will find the 
 same thing as here." 
 
 The Colonel set his teeth and looked round. Only now 
 he could see what was going on. The room was crammed 
 with French uniforms. Uproar, shouts, laughter, swearing, 
 threats filled the room. Without any consideration for rank, 
 for prayers and threats, those who were stronger occupied 
 
 X 305
 
 306 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 chairs, tables, benches, and the floor, and did not think of 
 giving way. 
 
 There was no other alternative for the Colonel but to take his 
 valise and go elsewhere, and in the last instance to spend the 
 night in General Hervc's carriage or to report himself to the 
 general staff. The Colonel left the inn and went to the town. 
 
 Ostród was crowded ; all the houses were lighted up ; all 
 were smoking in order to lessen the steely embraces of the 
 fi'ost and to warm the victors of Ilawa. 
 
 The Colonel began at first to look for an inn, but having 
 convinced himself that all were as crowded as the first one, he 
 wanted to find a room in a private house, but all in vain. The 
 guards occupied every corner ; the hospitals were in barns ; the 
 stables were taken by generals ; the officers took possession 
 of hen-houses. 
 
 Having lost all hope of finding even a corner to lie down in, 
 the Colonel decided to pass the night in his carriage ; but to 
 his amazement, the carriage was not where he left it, and the 
 marauders lying in the street near the inn informed him that 
 the coachman, being afraid that his horses would be eaten, had 
 left as soon as he could. 
 
 His position was more than unpleasant. It was impossible to 
 remain out-of-doors, because of the intense cold. 
 
 Suddenly a thought flashed through his brain. He had 
 a report to the Emperor ; therefore he had a right to go at 
 once to the Imperial general staff, where he would be able 
 at least to sit on a chair and wait till morning. 
 
 He determined to carry out his idea at once, and having 
 turned again towards the town, he met a detachment of field 
 gendarmes, of whom he inquired where the quarters of the 
 staff wei*e. The officer pointed out to him a one-storied house. 
 
 " Here," said he drily. 
 
 The Colonel boldly entered a dimly lighted house. 
 
 "Who? To whom.''" asked a voice from the other end. 
 
 " Colonel of the Imperial staff with a report." 
 
 "To the left ; you will find an aide-de-camp on duty." 
 
 The Colonel, following the indication, found himself in a 
 large room, in which several officers of different ranks were 
 sittin<]f at the tables.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 307 
 
 The bright light of several candelabra and warmth coming 
 from a fireplace gave him a thrill of delight. 
 
 The Colonel mumbled the usual greetings, and, attracted by 
 the warmth, went to the fireplace, but at the same time there 
 resounded from a table a sharp question : " Who ? What for ? " 
 
 The Colonel raised his head proudly. 
 
 " I have a report from Tchew." 
 
 ''Ah ! Pray show it to me." 
 
 " But you are not the chief of the staff." 
 
 " I must know all the same what you bring." 
 
 "\ bring a report addressed to his Majesty. Here it is." 
 
 The officer sitting near the fireplace rose, took the envelope, 
 glanced at it, and said drily : " It is not for us." 
 
 "But this is the staff ..." 
 
 " Of Marshal Berthier," finished the officer. "It is not for us." 
 
 " Where shall I go, then .'' " 
 
 "Two steps from here. But the report is not urgent." 
 
 " It contains details about the fight at Tchew." 
 
 "We know them already through Marshal Lefebvre." 
 
 The Colonel was abashed. The officer finished the conversa- 
 tion in a more friendly manner. 
 
 "You have plenty of time till to-morrow. The best way 
 will be to report to the commandant of the Emperor's head- 
 quarters, and he v/ill tell you to whom you are to go." 
 
 "Certainly. . . . But that being the case, will you not be 
 kind enough to tell me where I could spend the night .'' " 
 
 " I } " 
 
 " I am a colonel of the general staff." 
 
 " I see it, and I wonder that you have forgotten about the 
 quartermaster." 
 
 " But where can I find him ? " 
 
 "That is none of my concern. . . . Excuse me ... I am 
 very busy. . . ." 
 
 The Colonel, notwithstanding the officer's bow of dismissal, 
 did not stir. The officer grew impatient. 
 
 " You are not reasonable at all. I understand that it is not 
 agreeable to search for quarters at night, but what can I do ? " 
 
 " I do not ask you to help me, only to permit me to stay here 
 till morning."
 
 308 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 '' Here ? It is out of the question." 
 
 " I shall stay here, all the same." 
 
 The officer exchanged a significant look with his comrades. 
 
 "I consider it impossible." 
 
 "And I look at it as a disagreeable but unavoidable necessity." 
 
 " Colonel, you are not going to violate the rules .'' " 
 
 " Nor to freeze out of doors." 
 
 " I shall be obliged to report you." 
 
 "As you like. I remain. What, the devil ! I was summoned 
 to the Imperial staff, not to sleep in the street with vagabonds." 
 
 "But why do you not go to the quartermaster?" 
 
 " I shall see him to-morrow." 
 
 The officer rose and looked at the Colonel threateningly. 
 
 " Colonel, I have the honour to ask you to leave this room." 
 
 " I am sorry, but I shall not." 
 
 " You expose yourself to the worst consequences." 
 
 "Very well." 
 
 The officer seized a sheet of paper, 
 
 " I am writing to the commandant of the guard-house." 
 
 "That is your business." 
 
 " In a quarter of an hour you will be deprived of your sword 
 and conducted to the guard-house," 
 
 " If only there is a fire there." 
 
 The officer seized the pen. 
 
 " Your name, sir ? " 
 
 " Paul Lonczynski." 
 
 The officer grew crimson. 
 
 "I beg your pardon, sir." 
 
 "Lonczynski," repeated the Colonel. 
 
 " Madame Walewska's brother ? " exclaimed the officer, rising 
 from his chair hurriedly. 
 
 "That has nothing to do with the matter," answered the 
 Colonel sourly, troubled again by the last question. 
 
 "You came from the North Legion, from General Dom- 
 browski's army corps. Yes ; Colonel Lonczynski, Madame 
 Walewska's brother." 
 
 The Colonel frowned. 
 
 "What then?" 
 
 The officer buttoned himself up and rushed from behind the
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 309 
 
 table. " Colonel, permit me to have the honour. I am Flahaut, 
 the Prince of Berg's aide-de-camp. I am very glad, and very 
 sorry, too, that you did not tell me your name at once, for we 
 were expecting you." 
 
 " Expecting me .'' " 
 
 "Certainly. Your quarters have been ready for two days. 
 Truly, I do not know how to excuse myself. Will you permit 
 me to introduce my comrades to you — Messieurs Remusat and 
 Delaunay. Can I offer you the hospitality of my rooms .'' I am 
 sqre you will not refuse. Here to the left are my modest 
 quarters. Ah ! papers ! Nothing urgent ! " 
 
 The Colonel, surprised by such an ending to the quarrel, did not 
 refuse, and was soon sitting before a sumptuously served table. 
 
 " Pray excuse my camp meal." 
 
 " But it is a banquet." 
 
 " We do what we can. Do you prefer Bordeaux or Burgundy .'' " 
 
 '' Anything." 
 
 " Ah, Colonel ! How could you expose your servant to such 
 a confusion ? " 
 
 " I did not know ..." 
 
 " An hour ago we were talking about you with M. de Segur. 
 You understand, the Emperor's mareckal de logis." 
 
 " You were speaking of me ? " 
 
 "Yes. You were expected yesterday. This morning the 
 Emperor asked about you." 
 
 The Colonel became confused. 
 
 " The Emperor . . . about me ! . . . You must take me for 
 someone else." 
 
 " Certainly not. Is it not you who, by some mischance, have 
 been waiting years for your appointment as captain .'' " 
 
 " Yes, it is I." 
 
 " One more proof that I have good information." 
 
 The Colonel did not know what to say. 
 
 The wine, abmidantly poured out by Flahaut, and still more, 
 the news about the Emperor's inquiring after him, upset him, 
 together with the sudden transition from complete isolation to a 
 sumptuous and hearty reception. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Flahaut continued to entertain him with 
 conversation
 
 310 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Ostród is unbearable. Much more so that we come here 
 from Warsaw. What a lovely town ! And women ! Every one of 
 us has left our heart in Warsaw. Naturally, Madame Walewska 
 was the queen. Beautiful woman ! " 
 
 The Colonel laughed good-humouredly. 
 
 " Dear Warsaw ! If I had not been born in Paris, I should 
 like to have been born in Warsaw." 
 
 Flahaut continued to be enthusiastic, and finally tired him- 
 self and the Colonel. 
 
 "Then you say I have quarters?" delicately hinted Lonczynski. 
 
 Flahaut rushed from his chair. 
 
 " I am at your service. I have sent you an orderly. Pray be 
 so kind. . . . Your valise shall be sent." 
 
 "Is it far.?" 
 
 " Almost opposite the Emperor's quarters. You are the Prince 
 of Bassano's neighbour." 
 
 "The Prince of Bassano's I " 
 
 "Yes ; M. Maret ! De Sógur will be sorry that he is not present 
 at your installation. In his name I beg to ask you to excuse 
 it, should you find anything not corresponding with your 
 requirements." 
 
 " But how have I deserved all this .'' " 
 
 " It is our duty, nothing more. Pray, this way." 
 
 Flahaut went forward. 
 
 Soon the Colonel found himself in a luxuriously furnished 
 apartment, heated, lighted, and provided with everything. 
 
 " I wonder if you will be comfortable here .'' " 
 
 "For years I have not had such quarters." 
 
 "During the war we must reduce our requirements. Here 
 you have your sitting-room, here is your bedroom, here is the 
 room for your orderly, and here is the oi'derly himself." 
 
 The Colonel perceived the stalwart figure of a soldier in 
 the uniform of chanscurs a cheval. 
 
 " What is your name ? " 
 
 "Jacob, sir." 
 
 " And now permit me to wish you good night. I shall advise 
 M. de Segur at once. Perhaj^s you will be summoned to-morrow 
 to the Emperor." 
 
 " But, Captain, 1 have not a decent uniform."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 311 
 
 Flahaut became thoughtful. 
 
 " In that case it must be made at once." 
 
 " But who will make it ? " 
 
 " Leave that to me, provided you do not go to bed at once." 
 
 The Colonel, entirely hypnotised by the Captain, nodded 
 affirmatively. 
 
 Flahaut was so quick, that in about fifteen minutes he 
 returned with three tailors, who, without losing one minute, 
 took measurements for the new uniform, cut out the cloth, 
 and tried it on as soon as the pieces were put together. 
 
 Flahaut considered it his duty to entertain the amazed Colonel. 
 
 After about an hour of work, the head tailor tried on the 
 new uniform once more, and, bowing respectfully, said, "At 
 six o'clock the dress uniform will be ready, at eight o'clock 
 the overcoat, in the afternoon the undress unifoiTn." 
 
 Not waiting for an answer, the tailors left the room. 
 
 Flahaut rose also. 
 
 "It will be my duty to call on you to-morrow. By-the-by, 
 a little indiscretion ; will you permit me to settle with the 
 tailors .'' and when you ..." 
 
 The Colonel shook the Captain by the hand heartily. 
 
 " No ; thank you very much. I have money. But, dear 
 Captain, tell me to what I may attribute all your kindness ? Be 
 frank, and do tell me." 
 
 Flahaut became embarrassed. 
 
 " Nothing more than simple duty, respect, and, if you would 
 not think I am too daring, then I would add also my personal 
 sympathy for you." 
 
 Flahaut took leave. The Colonel dismissed the orderly and 
 lay on the sofa in order to collect his thoughts. But it was 
 a difficult task. What had happened to him during the last two 
 or three hours had upset the order of his ideas. He could not 
 doubt now that he had become a man of importance, and not 
 because of his charge and of the Legion of Honour, but by 
 himself, simply because he was a Lonczynski. 
 
 The Emperor had inquired about him. To-morrow he would 
 be at the Emperor's. M. de Segur would pay him a visit. 
 And then ? Then . . . perhaps he would get a regiment — 
 perhaps a whole brigade .''
 
 312 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 They might say what they would, but the Emperor had 
 remembered him. He had asked about him. Perhaps he had 
 heard of him at Hohenlinden, and recollected only now ! 
 O Lord ! How could he show his gratitude ? Would he have 
 a chance to die for him ? If he had charge of a regiment, 
 if there was some difficult position to be taken, he would go 
 first against the bayonets and die under the flag floating on the 
 redoubt ! 
 
 Let the cry of victory be his last cry, and the Emperor's 
 name the last word of that cry ! 
 
 Such were Lonczynski's dreams. 
 
 The tailors brought the new uniform at the stated hour, and 
 when the Colonel put it on and looked at himself in the mirror 
 he blushed — so elegant he appeared to himself. That grey-blue 
 cloth was becoming to his silky brown moustaches, to his face 
 that had become swarthy in the field. Silver braid and em- 
 broidery, white trousers, top boots, a three-cornered hat with 
 a cockade, and a sword completed the uniform. 
 
 He was still looking at himself when Captain Flahaut rushed 
 in announcing M. de Segur, and insisting that immediately 
 after the audience with the Emperor he should call on Marshal 
 Berthier ; otherwise the latter would feel offended. 
 
 The Colonel could not help laughing. 
 
 " Captain, be frank with me ! " 
 
 " I consider it my duty." 
 
 " Then why should the Marshal care about me ? " 
 
 Flahaut cleared his throat. 
 
 " Well, sir, you are already a man of importance, and perhaps 
 you will soon be of still greater importance. Ah, I think this 
 is M. de Segur." 
 
 The Colonel went to meet the new-comer, who, with all liis 
 courtier's amiability, paid several compliments to the Colonel, 
 mentioned Pani Walewska, and told Lonczynski semi-officially 
 to come to the Emperor's ante-chamber. 
 
 "But should I be there.'' Perhaps his Majesty . . ." 
 
 " He has been told of your arrival. Then you must present 
 General Dombrowski's report." 
 
 After having said that, M. de Segur took leave of the Colonel. 
 
 Lonczj'nski was so moved by the news that in about an
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 313 
 
 hour's time he would be in the presence of Napoleon^ that 
 he did not try to conceal his fears from M. Flahaut^ who in- 
 dulgently encouraged the Colonel. 
 
 " You will see there is nothing extraordinary in all this, 
 especially for you, because you are cćrtain to be received very 
 graciously." 
 
 " But how shall I talk ? " 
 
 " As with me, adding Sire. Then you must answer boldly, 
 without hesitation." 
 
 The Captain's words made Lonczynski more courageous, 
 although not for long, for when he found himself in the 
 Emperor's waiting-room, packed with most splendid uniforms, 
 when he heard the aide-de-camp calling generals and marshals, 
 when he saw the different expression of the faces of those who 
 had passed the door to the Emperor's study, and with Avhat 
 burning cheeks they returned from the audience, his fright 
 returned. Besides, either on account of Flahaut's popularity, 
 or simply because of the kindness difficult for him to under- 
 stand, the Colonel made acquaintance with some one at every 
 moment ; every moment some one was shaking hands with 
 him and covering him with compliments, or asking him to 
 be permitted to become his friend. Moreover, he several 
 times heard the name of his married sister pronounced in 
 a whisper, and then he noticed that they looked at him in- 
 quisitively. Of course, it must have been sheer curiosity 
 aroused by his sudden advancement, but the Colonel would 
 have given anything — and he did not know why — if they had 
 not pronounced the name of his dear Mary. 
 
 " Monsieur le Colonel Paul de Lonczjoiski ! " read the 
 Emperor's aide-de-camp from the list. 
 
 The Colonel grew pale, adjusted his sword mechanically, and 
 went to the door. Those standing in his way retreated respect- 
 fully. The aide-de-camp opened the door and whispered — 
 
 " To the right." 
 
 The Colonel found himself in a small room, beyond which to 
 the left was the Emperor's study. 
 
 Lonczynski made a few steps and stopped as riveted. Through 
 the open door he perceived the Emperor sitting at his writing- 
 desk.
 
 314 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Napoleon raised his head slightly. 
 
 "Come nearer." 
 
 The Colonel came to the desk and drew himself up hke 
 a cord. 
 
 " You are Lonczynski .'' " 
 
 " Yes, Sire." 
 
 The Emperor rose, walked to and fro, and said as if speaking 
 to himself — " Lonczynski ! Very well, very well ! " 
 
 Then he stopped suddenly, and asked — 
 
 " What have you to say ? " 
 
 " I have the honour to thank your Majesty most humbly ..." 
 
 Napoleon made a gesture of impatience, and interrupted him : 
 " You come from Dombrowski's army corps ^ " 
 
 "I have a report." 
 
 "Then why do you not give it.'' " 
 
 The Colonel, abashed by that remark, could hardly pull the 
 paper from under his uniform, and handed it to the Emperor 
 with trembling hands. 
 
 Napoleon unfolded the papers and read them quickly. 
 
 " They are short of provisions and ammunition. He thinks 
 that I have them. He is wounded." 
 
 "Yes, Sire." 
 
 The Emperor glanced sharply at the Colonel as if wishing to 
 tell him that he did not ask for a reply. 
 
 " But he is bi*ave. The only man amongst you all. Under- 
 stand ? He and Wybicki. They should have been born French- 
 men. Ah ! he writes about you also. Excellent ! That is what 
 I wished. You are a brave man. I am very glad : you have 
 distinguished yourself at the right time." 
 
 "I should like to do better." 
 
 " What ? Ah ! very well. I am satisfied with you. You 
 shall remain with me." 
 
 Napoleon stopped suddenly — put his hand under his uniform, 
 and became thoughtful. 
 
 The Colonel stood, not knowing whether the audience was 
 finished or not. 
 
 After a moment of silence the Emperor turned, and as if 
 recollecting the Colonel, asked abruptly : " Ah, Lonczynski I 
 And v.hut more have you to tell me .'' "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 315 
 
 The Colonel reddened, searching in vain for a proper answer. 
 
 The Emperor walked again across the room, took a pinch of 
 snuff, and said : " Cold ! The country is poor, eh ? " 
 
 "Because of the war, Sii'e." 
 
 '' No ; because of disorder, laziness, incapability. You think 
 otherwise } " 
 
 Lonczynski was confused. 
 
 " Speak ! Why do you not speak ? " 
 
 "Your Majesty," began the Colonel, but before he could 
 finish General Dorsenne rushed into the room. 
 
 The Emperor, at the sight of the General's excitement, 
 frowned and asked through his set teeth — 
 
 " What is the reason of this ? " 
 
 " Sire, the Guards refuse to obey." 
 
 "What.>" 
 
 '' Yes, Sire, mutiny ! They refuse to execute the command." 
 
 The Emperor laughed drily. 
 
 " Dorsenne, you are a madman ! " 
 
 The General said in despair — 
 
 " I would rather become a madman, than come here with 
 such news." 
 
 "Speak, then ! " 
 
 "They were dissatisfied after the battle at Ilava. We did 
 our best. This morning they asked for bread." 
 
 Dorsenne breathed deeply and lowered his voice : "I informed 
 all the officers ; we reported to Marshal Berthier^he came at 
 once. He spoke. We all besought them, we threatened them — 
 all in vain. They will not give up their demands." 
 
 " What demands ? " 
 
 " They demand either to return to France ... or ... " 
 
 " Or what ? " 
 
 "Or bread." 
 
 " What have you said to that ? " 
 
 Dorsenne shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 " Sire, we cannot get any bread." 
 
 "Why did you not tell me that before .'' " 
 
 "Your Majesty, we wanted to hide their refractoriness from 
 you ; we wished to save the honour of your Guards, Sire." 
 
 Dorsenne became silent. For a moment only the General's
 
 316 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 heavy breathing was heard in the room. The Colonel stood 
 as if riveted, unable to grasp the horror of this bad news. 
 
 " Dorsenne, you can go ! " said Napoleon suddenly, in a voice 
 that betrayed no emotion. 
 
 The General looked at the Emperor with sm'prised eyes. 
 
 "I am going there at once/' added Bonaparte. 
 
 Dorsenne sounded his spurs while saluting awkwardly, and 
 went out blindly obedient. 
 
 The Emperor looked for a while toAvards the door by which the 
 General had gone out, then he glanced at a table on which were 
 lying a sword, three-cornered hat and gloves, and said quietly 
 to the Colonel : " Give me my sword ! " 
 
 The Colonel obeyed the command. 
 
 " Hat ! Gloves ! " ordered Napoleon. 
 
 The Emperor girded on the sword, pressed on the hat, and 
 began to put on the gloves. 
 
 The Colonel followed the Emperor's every movement. Gloomy 
 thoughts swarmed in his head and tore his heart, and horrible 
 presentiments made him shiver. 
 
 There is a mutiny ! Unbridled madness that broke the chains 
 of discipline, and dared to disobey a Marshal ! And here . . . 
 he . . . the Emperor, was going there amongst the demoralised 
 soldiers ! 
 
 Napoleon buttoned his gloves and went with firm steps 
 towards the door. The blood rushed to the Colonel's head, his 
 legs gave way. . . . 
 
 "Your Majesty ! " cried he with trembling voice. 
 
 The Emperor turned round astonished. 
 
 Lonczynski knelt. 
 
 " Sire, you cannot go there ! There is mutiny ! Do not go. 
 Sire ! " 
 
 Napoleon put his hand on the Colonel's shoulder. 
 
 " Yes, you have the same beautiful kind eyes. I shall not 
 forget your words. Rise ! You wish me to be afraid of my 
 boys ? No ! Rise ! Come with me ! Come ! " 
 
 The Emperor went swiftly into the ante-room ; the Colonel 
 followed him. 
 
 Napoleon said a word to the Mameluke, who rushed out and 
 made a sign to the ostlers.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 317 
 
 The horses were brought. The Mamektke gave the Emperor 
 his grey overcoat. 
 
 Napoleon mounted. 
 
 The Colonel jumped on the back of the first horse. Several 
 officers rushed to the others. 
 
 The Emperor did not look at his aide-de-camp, spurred his 
 horse, and galloped towards the suburb of Ostród, where a 
 frightful mutiny was seething. Those who two weeks earlier, 
 during a snowstorm, advanced blindly against cannons, those 
 who had spent years in wars, who did not understand how they 
 could live without war, to whom a bullet was a comrade, a 
 carbine a dear friend, they refused to obey ! 
 
 Former soldiers of Hoch, Kleber, Joubert, former comrades of 
 Lefebvre, Bernadotte, Lannes, Davoust and Ney ; artillei'ymen 
 who remembered the thin Capitain of Toulon, infontrymen who 
 had as many stripes as Bonaparte had taken steps to the throne 
 — men of iron, harder than rocks, madmen, whose whole pride 
 was a cross, whose whole happiness the Emperor's smile, whose 
 only desire was to fight and to die for him — the forefront of the 
 army, the wall of Napoleon's eagles, glory of France, cradle of 
 heroes, nursery of Bonaparte's marshals, dukes, princes, and 
 kings ; blind men, for whom the only sun was Napoleon ; a 
 croAvd hardened by climbing the Alps, by fighting in the sands 
 of the Sahara— such men refused obedience. 
 
 In the suburb of Ostród, where the extensive camp was 
 situated, a human ant-hill was seething ; there the Guards were 
 discussing in disorderly groups ; the calls of officers were 
 answered by threatening growls ; there Berthier was received 
 with hisses. 
 
 Nothing could be done ; enthusiastic speeches about Lodi, 
 Abukir, Austerlitz and Arcoli were vain. The mad feeling of 
 wrong, the longing for their country, the lack of enthusiasm for 
 further warfare, and finally, misery — had broken discipline. 
 
 " Enough of war ! We want to go to France ! To France ! " 
 shouted the Guards. 
 
 " Soldiers, will you then return without laurels ? " admonished 
 a young officer. 
 
 " We prefer to find them in the soup," answered an old 
 corporal boldly.
 
 318 NArOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Very good ! Laurels in soup ! Conduct us to France ! " 
 shouted les chasseurs a cheval. 
 
 "We will go by ourselves/' growled les grenadiers a pied. 
 
 "We shall ride/' corrected les grenadiers a cheval. 
 
 " Or let them give us bread ! " shouted a dragoon, 
 
 "Bread ! Bread ! " thundered the Guards. 
 
 "We have sent for it ! " explained an officer of les chasseurs ń 
 pied. 
 
 " Shut up, you well-fed doll ! Get out ! " 
 
 The officer withdrew precipitately. 
 
 " We are going home, and that's all about it." 
 
 " Vive la France / Five le pain / " 
 
 The flame of mutiny increased every minute. The regiments 
 mixed with one another, and above the crowd of soldiers rose 
 the martial faces of those who were more sure of themselves. 
 
 " Let Vraincourt speak!" shouted the grenadiers. "Listen 
 to Vraincourt ! " 
 
 " Black Michael will give us advice. Where is Black 
 Michael?" cried the dragoons. 
 
 The demoralised ranks were looking for leaders. The officers 
 went away, for they understood that words were useless, and 
 only bloody cannonading would bring order. 
 
 At any moment the Guards might pass from protest and 
 threatening to deeds, when all at once the crowds moved 
 nervously. 
 
 "The Little Corporal is coming/' said numerous voices. 
 
 " Let him come — we shall tell him also ! " 
 
 "Enough bluffing ! " 
 
 " He would like to go to the moon ! " 
 
 "Short legs ! " 
 
 " Like that windmill's wings ! " 
 
 " He will speak to us about ambitions." 
 
 " Old story ! Let him give us bread ! " 
 
 " Hold up, boys ! " 
 
 " He will not bite— fiddlesticks ! " 
 
 "Wonder what he will say ! " 
 
 " We will shout louder than he ! " 
 
 " Why ? Let him talk for the last time ! " 
 
 " Here he is ! "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 319 
 
 The Emperor rushed at full gallop among the mutinous 
 soldierSj followed only by Lonczynski. 
 
 The Guards became silent at once. 
 
 Bonaparte reined in his horse^ looked rounds and said loudly : 
 " What are you doing here, you smutty-nosed boys ? " 
 
 The soldiers looked at each other. The Emperor's words 
 surpassed their expectations^ confused them, struck them dumb. 
 
 " Bread ! " cried someone. 
 
 "Breadj papa, bread!" thundered the soldiers. 
 
 Bonaparte laughed, looked serenely at the mutinous soldiers, 
 and slightly whipped his horse. 
 
 "Du pain? Eh hien il ny en pas!" said the Emperor, and 
 turned his horse towards the town. 
 
 Dead silence reigned supreme over the mutinous Guards. 
 All at once six thousand hearts throbbed quicker ; six thousand 
 faces became brighter ; six thousand bearskins, casques, and 
 tui'bans rose over the heads of the demoralised soldiers ; and six 
 thousand voices shouted joyfully : Vive l' Empereur ! Vive le Petit 
 Caporal ! " 
 
 " With him and for him ! Five P Empereur ! To the camp ! " 
 
 Those shouts flew after Napoleon until he disappeared at the 
 turn of the road. 
 
 The Guards returned slowly to the camp, chatting, joking, 
 and saluting the officers they met. 
 
 On the place of the mutiny remained only two would- 
 be leaders — Vraincourt, the grenadier, and Black Michael, the 
 dragoon. 
 
 Vraincourt looked at Michael, and Michael at Vraincourt ; 
 then both sighed. 
 
 " What now .'' " mumbled Michael. 
 
 Vraincourt pushed his bearskin over his eyes. 
 
 " He spoke." 
 
 " The deuce ! " 
 
 " Do not speak, because . . ." 
 
 " We were full of words." 
 
 " As if we could, without him ! " 
 
 " We must go the Colonel." 
 
 " Let them shoot us ! " 
 
 " They must ! "
 
 320 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Let us be going." 
 
 "What did he say?" 
 
 "Smutty-nosed boys." 
 
 " And we wanted to go to France — as if we could^ without 
 him ! " 
 
 " We are blockheads ! " 
 
 " Scoundrels ! " 
 
 " Vra in court ! " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " I think that for such scoundrelly behaviour it will not be 
 enough to be shot." 
 
 " Certainly, we shall be hanged." 
 
 "Without trial." 
 
 " We must accuse ourselves honestly." 
 
 The mutiny was over. 
 
 The Emperor returned to his quarters, quiet, thoughtful, not 
 paying any attention to the enthusiastic astonishment of his 
 staff. Lonczynski followed the Emperor, staring at his grey 
 overcoat, not seeing anything but him. 
 
 Reaching his quarters, Napoleon turned slightly and called 
 the Colonel. 
 
 " I am very much pleased with you. I am doubly satisfied, 
 for I have convinced myself that you are worthy of your 
 appointment." 
 
 "Sire!" 
 
 " You will report yourself in the afternoon also ! " 
 
 The Colonel had no time to thank him for that favour, for 
 the Emperor entered the courtyard of his quarters, where, 
 having dismounted quickly, he disappeared in the doorway. 
 
 The Colonel handed his horse, as did the other officers, to 
 the ostlers, and was intending to return to his rooms, when 
 he met Flahaut. 
 
 " I was just looking for you ! " 
 
 "It was my duty, sir. Have you seen — what ? And what do 
 you think ? He alone can manage them ! Is it not true ? " 
 
 " I have no words to express my astonishment." 
 
 " Every day we have something new here ; not only the 
 Guards, but we all. ... I do not know if three men could 
 be found who would not be paralysed by the Emperor's one
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY S21 
 
 word. He is a sorcerer ! What ? Ah, the Prince de Bassano 
 asked after you. Perhaps you would be kind enough to go 
 into the Emperor's waiting-room." 
 
 " But I have not . . ." 
 
 " Precisely, because you have neither audience nor a report. 
 You shall rest for a while. That is where we all assemble — a 
 kmd of club. And then it would be a pity for us all, if you 
 would not deign to be with us, for as the hero of the day . . ." 
 
 " Captain, you are joking ? " 
 
 "It is as 1 say. You shall convince yourself! " 
 
 Flahaut was right, for hardly had the Colonel passed the 
 threshold of the Emperor's waiting-room than he was greeted 
 by a long whisper of voices pi'onouncing his name, and this 
 whisper was followed by hand-shakes and compliments. 
 
 The Colonel could hardly answer all those civilities ; but 
 attentive Flahaut, with all the freedom and self-assurance, 
 helped him, assuming not only the role of a guide, but also 
 emphasising his friendship, by which he overawed those present. 
 
 Amidst that torrent of SAveet words disturbing the Colonel's 
 thoughts, the vigilant Captain Flahaut rushed to him again. 
 
 "Colonel, the Prince of Bassano wislies to talk with you." 
 
 "The Prince of Bassano?" 
 
 " If you will be so kind — to the left.' And before Lonczynski 
 could notice, his hand was grasped by that of powerful M. 
 Maret. 
 
 "You are my neighbour," said the Prince simply. "To my 
 great sorrow, however, I am leaving here, and I was afraid 
 to lose the opportunity of making your acquaintance. There- 
 fore, I ventured to trouble you." 
 
 " It is an honour to me ! " 
 
 "Colonel, permit me to congratulate you. The Emperor 
 spoke well of you a little while since. I am sure we shall see 
 each other often — very often ! I shall be very pleased if you 
 permit me to be of any use to you." 
 
 " Your kindness . . ." 
 
 "You must not talk in that way to me. I am Wybicki's 
 friend. I am sure you know him." 
 
 "I used to see him formerly in our iegion, but we were 
 divided by the abyss of inequality of rank."
 
 322 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 ''I understand, but such abysses disappear sometimes. . . , 
 I am going to-day to Warsaw. Perhaps you have some errand ? 
 Letters ? " 
 
 "I would not dare ..." 
 
 Bassano smiled good-humouredly. 
 
 " The idea, my dear Colonel ! it is our duty to be useful to one 
 another. You will do me a true favour by giving me some 
 errand. And you must not despise the opportunity, for it is far, 
 and communication is difficult." 
 
 " If I knew I should not be abusing . . ," 
 
 "Well, come, my dear Colonel! Anything you want ..." 
 
 "Well, then, I have a sister, who must be in Warsaw. I 
 should like to send her a letter." 
 
 "You have tAvo sisters," corrected Bassano. 
 
 "Yes, but I wish to write to the elder one, the one who is 
 married." 
 
 " To Madame Walewska ? " 
 
 " You know her ? " 
 
 " My dear Colonel, how could I help knowing her ? Would it 
 be possible ? " 
 
 " If I might dare to ask you to take a letter ..." 
 
 Bassano looked surprised at the Colonel. 
 
 " You wish to send a letter to Madame Walewska to Warsaw .'' " 
 
 " Yes ; but should it be inconvenient to you . . ." 
 
 " Not at all ! Only, do you think that Madame Walewska is 
 in Warsaw ? " 
 
 " Undoubtedly ! " 
 
 " H'm ! such bemg the case — with pleasure ! At any i*ate, 
 you may be sure that the letter will reach her. In an hour I 
 will send my servant to you." 
 
 Lonczynski thanked the Prince heartily, and having taken 
 leave of M. Flahaut, returned to his quarters, in order not to 
 lose an opportunity of sharing with his dear Mary the news 
 about his unexpected appointment, about his stay in Ostród, 
 about the conversation with Napoleon, and about the whole 
 revolution that had happened in the poor life of the lieutenant. 
 
 Hardly was the letter finished and handed to the Prince of 
 Bassano's servant than Captain Flahaut came to remind him 
 that he must pay a visit to Marshal Berthier.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 323 
 
 It was impossible to avoid the honour of visiting the Vice- 
 Constable, as well as of making some other solemn calls. 
 
 Lonczynski did as was suggested by the Captain, and when at 
 last he was going with him to his rooms, he thanked him 
 heartily for the trouble and fatigue caused to him. 
 
 Flahaut interrupted the thanks by a modest remark : " It is 
 not worth while to speak about such a trifle." 
 
 " I do not agree with you, and I consider myself your debtor." 
 
 " Then you can make things square with one word." 
 
 " I shall be very pleased indeed." 
 
 " If you could obtain for me to be transferred to the general 
 staff and leave to Paris." 
 
 Lonczynski was surprised. 
 
 "Excuse me. Captain, but I do not understand." 
 
 " It is a long story. I am tired of being aide-de-camp to the 
 Prince of Berg. I do not know whether you know him. ..." 
 
 " Not at all." 
 
 " He is very queer. He is fantastic, conceited ; in one word, 
 service with him is not very agreeable. I have endured it for 
 a long time, but cannot any longer, and as my family affairs call 
 me to Paris, I should like to combine a transfer with my leave." 
 
 " Captain, I understand, but what can I do .'' How can I do 
 anything ? " 
 
 " Is this little favour too great a trouble .'' " said Flahaut, 
 offended. 
 
 Lonczynski burst out into hearty laughter. 
 
 "Captain, excuse me — I take that for a joke ! I should like 
 with all my whole heart — but what do I amount to } I have no 
 influence to get that for you." 
 
 " You can do it very easily." 
 
 "How? Tell me, then." 
 
 ^'To-morrow, when you meet Marshal Berthier, during the 
 conversation with him, say two words to him about me." 
 
 "Where shall I meet him ? " 
 
 " In the Emperor's waiting-room. Berthier will first speak to 
 you. He must ! " 
 
 "Very well, then. I will tell him, but I do not guarantee 
 success." 
 
 " I am sure of success, and I thank you for it in advance. I
 
 324 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 am very grateful to you. Here are your quarters ! I have the 
 honour to wish you good-bye," 
 
 The Colonel became thoughtful. " Captain^ niay I ask you 
 for a moment of conversation in my rooms .'' " 
 
 "I am at yoiu- service." 
 
 They entered the Colonel's quarters, and Lonczynski, having 
 seated the Captain at the fireplace, said to him : " And now 
 favour for favour." 
 
 '^Always at your service ! " 
 
 "You are a man of honour. Forget about the difference of 
 my charge, and be my friend." 
 
 " Colonel, to-day . . ." 
 
 "And tell me frankly, to what exactly do I amount here.''" 
 
 "To very much," said Flahaut precipitately. 
 
 "That means nothing to me. I will be frank. A few days 
 since I was a lieutenant, who dreamed in vain of the epaulettes 
 of a captain, for whom you were an authority. I have not done 
 anything extraordinary. . . ." 
 
 " I protest most emphatically." 
 
 Lonczynski became gloomy. 
 
 "Captain, I asked you to be frank. If you say that the 
 Italian Legion had no reason to be ashamed of me, I agree 
 with you ; but all that does not explain to ine the mystery why 
 you all consider me to be a man of importance ; to what I may 
 attribute such a distinction." 
 
 Flahaut could not conceal his embarrassment. 
 
 " Colonel, it is natural. The Emperor pleased to do that ! 
 The circumstances . . ." 
 
 " That does not explain to me . . ." 
 
 "Destiny, Colonel! The Emperor could not do otherwise. 
 And then ..." 
 
 " There are better and more worthy . . ." 
 
 " No, positively, no ! " 
 
 Lonczynski pressed more and more. The Captain continued 
 to give evasive answers. At last the Colonel became irritated. 
 
 " Captain, upon your honour ! From your words I gather 
 that you know something, and you must understand my curiosity, 
 or being more precise my duty to be curious." 
 
 Flahaut frowned.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 325 
 
 " Colonel, I respect not only your rank, but also the man in 
 you. I know but very little. . . ." 
 
 " Then tell me ... I must know the whole truth ! Where 
 did my promotion come from ? I am sure there was some talk 
 about it. I have convinced myself how well everyone here 
 knows. If the Emperor wished to have some one on his staff, 
 then why have I been chosen } " 
 
 " Ah ! nothing strange in that. Simply some one, without 
 your knowing of it, has rendered you the same service as I asked 
 of you. It was sufficient to mention to the Emperor at the proper 
 moment. And then . . ." 
 
 "What then .^" 
 
 " The rest depended on you. This morning one might doubt 
 if you would be able to keep on the surface. It is very difficult 
 with the Emperor. You were lucky enough to win his favour 
 at once. The audience decided. You are on the list of the 
 Court, I have seen it with my own eyes. And the man who 
 stands so near the Empei'or is feared here." 
 
 The reasoning seemed logical to the Colonel. 
 
 "I agree on that point, but I do not know anybody who 
 would have spoken in my favour." 
 
 "Well, in Warsaw the Emperor was very accessible." 
 
 " No, no ! I cannot thuak of anybody. It is true that I have 
 a brother-in-law, by name Walewski, but I never saw him in 
 my life, and I have some reasons to think that, were he able, he 
 would rather ask for my dismissal." 
 
 " H'm ! And Madame Walewska ? " 
 
 " My sister ! You must know her but very little. She is 
 the best soul, and very fond of me, but she would not dare. 
 She is not capable of having such an idea ! " 
 
 There was a puzzling smile on the Captain's face. 
 
 " But often women can do most. They all can ! " 
 
 " You do not know her ! " interrupted Lonczynski bitterly. 
 
 "An innocent conjecture, without any intention ! " 
 
 The Colonel changed the subject of conversation. Flahaut 
 remained a while longer, and then took leave, reminding 
 Lonczynski about his protection with Berthier. 
 
 The Colonel having remained alone, called his orderly, told 
 him to wake him after the first sound of the reveille, and retired.
 
 326 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 After the day, full of such different impressions, Lonczynski 
 desired rest ; he did not want either to think of events, solve 
 his doubts, or try to think Avhat the next day would bring to him. 
 He wanted to sleep, to forget, to find rest for his sorrowful 
 head, to cool his burning imagination. But, notwithstanding 
 all the efforts of his will to banish the thoughts that crowded 
 on his brain, sleep did not come, the irritated brain was working 
 with double activity. 
 
 The pictures seen returned to him, the words heard sounded 
 in his ears, he fell into a vicious circle of the same reminis- 
 cences. Only towards morning he became quieter, he was 
 even slumbering, when he suddenly woke up and remembered 
 the papers taken from the peasant. 
 
 That remembrance made him get up, and aroused in him a 
 storm of remorse ; it crushed him and filled him with fright. 
 
 He, a Colonel of the Imperial Staff, an officer, whose duty 
 was to embrace, as widely as possible, all the needs of the 
 army, having acquired by chance documents of such importance, 
 keeps them in his possession ; does not care that perhaps 
 the Emperor may be waiting for the news from Klayped, that 
 perhaps Bertrand is counting the hours and minutes, and 
 waiting for new orders. And he, a Colonel of the Staff, so 
 honoured, who was made a person of importance, who ought 
 to possess some military talents, some future merits, had 
 forgotten a duty so simple that the lowest soldier would 
 remember it. And he had such an opportimity ! He was 
 asked twice what had he to say. 
 
 Lonczynski, frightened by such a merciless deduction, began 
 to dress hastily, not wisliing to lose one minute more. But 
 when he plunged his face into a basin of cold water, quite 
 different thoughts came to his mind. The whole gloomy, 
 awful contents of the documents in his possession rose before 
 him and froze the blood in his veins. 
 
 In the half light of dawn the Colonel noticed the silver 
 epaulettes on his carefully laid out uniform, and laughed drily 
 to himself. Who was he ? Of course, a scoundrel whom 
 Bonaparte had purchased, and who was ready to sell him his 
 soul ; who was glad that Napoleon's favours were showered 
 upon him.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 327 
 
 A few days ago the reading of such documents would have 
 made him call out with indignation ; and to-day, he is like 
 a dog who, having found a collar in the road, brings it to his 
 master without any care that he may be obliged to wear it ; a 
 dog who is glad when he is patted or when he gets a bone as 
 a reward. 
 
 Infamous, a hundred times ! For what had he found in these 
 documents ? 
 
 Well, nothing more or less than that Napoleon was playing 
 false with the Prussians, that he was exciting the Poles in order 
 to frighten the Germans and get better conditions from them. 
 
 And that awful truth unveiling Bonaparte's plotting, was 
 it not sufficient to tear from his uniform the epaulettes and any 
 gratitude for favours ? 
 
 Lonczynski felt a contempt for himself. He seemed to himself 
 like a common villain. For, even a few moments ago, he was so 
 upset, not by the contents of the documents, but by not having 
 handed them to the Emperor. 
 
 He was simply intoxicated with his own rank, with flattery 
 and adulation. 
 
 He had seemed to himself to be walking on the heights, and 
 had not felt that none of the marauders of the Legions had yet 
 fallen so low. 
 
 It was done ; but now he would not bear it any longer. He 
 had been told that the Polish commissary Batowski was in 
 Ostród, and that Count Stanislaus Potocki was here also ; he 
 would begin by them — would let them know. 
 
 He got the documents by an accident. It is not his duty to 
 have any scruples about keeping them secret. Perhaps he will 
 lose his epaulettes. No matter. He does not need them, for 
 he is not going to hire himself. 
 
 Tormented by such sentiments Lonczynski finished dressing, 
 put a cloak over his shoulders and rushed out. 
 
 The reveille was sounding in the guard-house. The small 
 streets of Ostród were still quiet — only here and there one 
 could hear conversation between ostlers and orderlies. 
 
 The Colonel determined first of all to find the commissary 
 Batowski ; but nobody could tell him where he was, therefore 
 he understood that he must wait until people got up. In order
 
 328 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 to shorten his -waiting he strolled about the streets, and did not 
 notice that he had come to the square in which stood the house 
 occupied by the Emperor. Attracted by a crowd of servants he 
 stopped, and among a group of lackeys he noticed one who 
 wore big moustachios, and who seemed to excite a great 
 hilarity, for all round him laughed heartily. 
 
 Lonczynski did not know why he was attracted by the 
 possessor of the moustachios. The lackeys laughed continually, 
 evidently amused by the man. At that moment a uniform of 
 the Imperial Commissary appeared in the side door, and the 
 lackeys scattered silently. 
 
 The Colonel moved on also, but seeing a lackey coming in his 
 direction, said to him in a tone of reproach — 
 
 " Are you not ashamed to tease the old man ? " 
 
 The lackey at the sight of the hat of a colonel took off his 
 cap. 
 
 '• But he is very amusing, sir." 
 
 " Because he is old ? " 
 
 " No, sir ! He does not know one word of French, and he 
 would talk ! " 
 
 "Who is he?" 
 
 "They say he is a Pole, with a lady . . " 
 
 The Colonel looked towards the moustachioed man, who was 
 also coming in his direction. Lonczynski looked attentively at 
 the man, for, strange to say, if it wei-e not for his green uniform 
 with gold buttons and braid and his three-cornered hat, he 
 could swear that he was his father's former gamekeeper. 
 
 That impression became so strong that the Colonel, recollect- 
 ing what the lackey said about the man's nationality, could not 
 refrain from saying to him in Pohsh : " Well, old man, how did 
 you come to the Court ? " 
 
 The man, at the sound of Lonczynski's voice, stopped as if 
 petrified, looked astonished, and before the Colonel could 
 understand what was happening, fell at his feet : " Jesus of 
 Nazareth ! It's our young lord ! " 
 
 "John!" 
 
 " The same ! I did not think I should have lived to have 
 such a joy ! Jesus ! Jesus ! " 
 
 " I am so glad to see you, old man ! I looked at you, and
 
 NAFOLEON^S LOVE STORY 329 
 
 could not believe my own eyes . . . you, wearing the Imperial 
 livery. ..." 
 
 John cleared his throat, rubbed his eyes, and said with 
 emotion : '^^Such a joy ! Such a joy ! A little while ago I was 
 thinking of you, my lord ! The years passed in waiting, expect- 
 ing and longing." 
 
 " I have not been lost, as you see. Well, come to my rooms, 
 there opposite ; I have been here since yesterday, and we did 
 not know about each other," 
 
 The Colonel conducted him to his quarters, told him to sit 
 down, and said : " I could hardly expect a more agreeable 
 surprise. Look, John ! What ? We are both alive ! What ? " 
 
 " My lord ! Permit me to rise ; I am your lordship's servant." 
 
 "^Sit down. You are a friend. And besides that, you wear 
 the Imperial hvery ; then you are somebody by that. Well, 
 well ! I should never have thought of meeting you here, for I 
 could not imagine it. How came you to be separated from our 
 house in Kiernozia. Do not excuse yourself. I understand . . , 
 all is changed there, and nol, for the better ... I am not angry 
 with you about that. ..." 
 
 " But, my lord ..." 
 
 " I know, I know ! Good old times, although hard ! But 
 how the deuce did you come to the Imperial Court?" 
 
 "Well . . . they told me about a week since to dress like 
 that, for otherwise it is difficult to pass. But I do not find 
 either honour or pleasure in that." 
 
 " Wait a moment, for I do not understand. In whose service 
 are you, then .'' " 
 
 John raised his bushy eyebrows at the Colonel, and said 
 jovially : " My dear lord, who would take such an old thing as 
 I am ? I serve our lady, as God commanded ! " 
 
 " Mary ! " exclaimed Lonczynski joyfully. 
 
 " Yes, yes, always ! How could she, poor thing, do without 
 me ? And then it is my right to be with my lady." 
 
 A warm wave of reminiscences rushed to the Colonel's head, 
 but he dominated the emotion, and said : " But you swore to 
 me that you would never leave my sister, and you are here. 
 What are you doing at the Court ? " 
 
 "And could I leave my lady alone .'' "
 
 330 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Loncz)rnski got up as quickly as he could. 
 
 " Where is she, then ? " 
 
 ''Where could she be? . . . Here!" 
 
 " Here ! Mary ! The Chambei'lain's wife ! Pani Walewska ? " 
 said the Colonel with increasing astonishment. 
 
 " Yes, my lord ! Do you see those three windows on the 
 first flow ? " 
 
 "Those windows .'' But that is where the Emperor is ! " 
 
 John shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "What of that?" 
 
 Lonczynski thought that a madman was talking to him, but 
 having glanced on the quiet, smiling, good-hearted face of the 
 old servant, he said: " Do not talk nonsense, for you irritate me." 
 
 "Am I a liar?" 
 
 "Answer, then!" interrupted the Colonel sharply. "Where 
 is my sister? " 
 
 " Here, in Ostród," 
 
 " When did she come ? " 
 
 "To-morrow will be two weeks." 
 
 "Where does she live?" 
 
 The old man pointed at a window looking on the street. 
 
 "There!" 
 
 The Colonel put his hat on. 
 
 "Take me to her ? " 
 
 John moved his head. 
 
 "Not for an hour. It is breakfast-time now. Nobody can 
 enter." 
 
 "Are you drunk ? " 
 
 " No, my lord, but it is as I said. Yesterday morning their 
 greatest General wanted, and he could not enter. I spoke to 
 my lady, but she said it must be so." 
 
 "Then I shall see the Chamberlain," said the Colonel, not 
 understanding the meaning of John's Avords. 
 
 "His lordship, the Chamberlain? But . . . but he is not 
 here ! " 
 
 "He is not here ! " repeated Lonczynski mechanically. 
 
 " No, and as it seems, as he did not exist at all. Oh, a 
 hard master ! My lord is impatient. And if she knew ! She 
 speaks of you, sir, continually. But it will be soon, for the
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 331 
 
 Mamelukes are already there. A little while longer^ and the 
 Emperor will come out." 
 
 At this conclusion a kind of lightning rushed through the 
 Colonel's head — he was thunderstruck. He covered his face 
 with his hands as if he wished to look within him. Only now 
 he understood everything : his appointment, compliments, 
 flattery, bows, and a whole series of circumstances incompre- 
 hensible to him till now. A few words of his old servant 
 opened to him the whole horror of the situation. 
 
 John at the sight of the Colonel's change of face, became 
 sorrowful. 
 
 " My lord, may I ask you what is the matter with you ? 
 Have I said what I should not } I am old, and I do not under- 
 stand evei'y thing." 
 
 The Colonel shook off his torpor, looked at the old man, and 
 said through his set teeth — 
 
 " You must tell me the whole truth. How did she come 
 here ? Speak ! " 
 
 John grew pale. 
 
 '' My lord, God is my witness ..." 
 
 The Colonel seized him by the shoulder and shook him. 
 
 " No useless words ! Speak ! Who is with her ? " 
 
 "Two maids and I," muttered John. 
 
 "And she is there — she lives with him .'' " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "And her husband remained in Warsaw ? " 
 
 "They are going to be divorced." 
 
 " So ! She found that she could live a happier, gayer, and 
 more magnificent life." 
 
 "To be sure!" muttered John. "At least, there is no one 
 to scold her, to abuse her." 
 
 " Shut up ! You will go with me to her at once ! " 
 
 The old man trembled. 
 
 "Would it not be better to wait until the anger passes.^ . . ." 
 
 "It is none of your concern," grumbled the Colonel, and 
 began to put on his cloak. 
 
 " Come ! " 
 
 John breathed heavily, and went towards the house occupied 
 by the Emperor.
 
 332 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Colonel followed him, not paying any attention either to 
 military salutes or to the officers greeting him. 
 
 Lonczynski did not see anything except the green uniform 
 of the lackey and his grey hair. That uniform led him to 
 her — to the infamous one — to the one who, until now, had been 
 the dearest in the world to him, of whom he had thought con- 
 stantly for years, to the one whom he had carried in his arms, 
 for Avhose silvery laughter he was longing, whom he considered 
 as the better half of his soul, and who was now covering him 
 with such shame. 
 
 Lonczynski walked thinking. She, purer than the dew, more 
 modest than a violet, crying with laughter and smiling through 
 her tears, a child, a most tender-hearted little sister, she is 
 here, in the whirlpool of the Emperor's headquarters, on the 
 billows of a wild life. Her name pronounced by the lowest 
 servant, her name repeated in the whisper of the Court 
 intrigues, her name laughed at by soldiers sitting round fires. 
 At the price of her name, he had the epaulettes of a colonel, 
 a cross, and a bag of napoleons. He had become a man of 
 importance. They had paid him. They had paid him, not for 
 years spent in misery, not for wounds, not for days of hunger, 
 not for having sacrificed himself, for all that would not be 
 worth such magnificence. They paid him for Mary ! 
 
 The Colonel was seized by a spasm of laughter. 
 
 " Only that for Mary ? What a miserably paltry price ! " 
 
 John stopped suddenly at the side door leading to the 
 Emperor's quarters and drew back, seeing a commissary of the 
 palace standing at the door. 
 
 The Colonel stopped involuntarily, and looked threateningly 
 at the Court official. 
 
 "You will be so kind, sir, to pass by the other door to the 
 reception room." 
 
 " Let me pass ! I must see her ! " 
 
 " I have no order. You must speak to M. de Segur." .^ 
 
 "I want to see Madame Walewska, not M. de Segur." 
 
 The official became confused. 
 
 " You are mistaken . . . Madame Walewska ..." 
 
 Lonczynski made a disdainful grimace. 
 
 " You wish to stop me from seeing my sister .'' "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 333 
 
 " Ah, Colonel Lonczynski ! " whispered the commissaiy, 
 respectfully stepping aside. 
 
 The Colonel rushed upstairs, but was stopped by a chamber- 
 maid. 
 
 "Madame Walewska.''" asked Lonczynski through set teeth. 
 
 "Here to the left, but Madame . . . just now ..." 
 
 LonczjTiski pushed aside the maid and rushed into the apart- 
 men7, arousing at every moment exclamations of surprise among 
 the chambermaids putting the rooms in order. The Colonel 
 paid no attention to the protests, he was not abashed by the 
 quiet of the boudoir, and went further to the Imperial apart- 
 ment. 
 
 He tvu-ned to the door on the left. The door Avas half-closed, 
 so that one could see what was going on in the next room. 
 
 LonczjTiski looked, and stopped as though turned to stone, so 
 much vras he struck by the picture which he beheld. 
 
 A few steps from him, there, in the room, at the table 
 magnificently set, sat Napoleon, and opposite him a lady. A 
 beautiful lady, dressed in blue silk, smiling cunningly, chatting 
 freely with Napoleon, filling the role of hostess without any 
 embarrassment — a lady in every movement, in every joint of 
 the pink fingers of her little hand — ^^ne grandę dame ! 
 
 They were talking. 
 
 The Emperor begged — and he did it so awkwardly, so bash- 
 fully, that the Colonel could not help smiling. Was it the same 
 Napoleon, the conqueror Avho knew not resistance— thoughtful, 
 abstracted from everything that was not powerful, not mad, not 
 great.'' Then that face, which had frowned majestically, those 
 steely looks, were able to have such a serene expression, they 
 could contain so much tender embarrassment ; and that voice 
 could be not imperative ? 
 
 " Do this for me — only once," insisted Bonaparte. 
 
 "You wish me to learn how to break my oath.^" answered 
 the lady. 
 
 " Child ! But those presents did not come from me ! " 
 
 " It is true, but were I simply Madame Walewska, the Persian 
 ambassador would care nothing for me ! And so those things 
 were sent for you ? " 
 
 "Consequently for you also ! "
 
 334f NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " No, no ! " 
 
 " I do not wear shawls." 
 
 " But they belong to the Empress of the French." 
 ''You wish to tease me to-day, although I beg — I beg so 
 nicely of you ! Then I cannot give you anything at all ? I 
 know what you will tell me. But it was understood between us 
 that there is no Emperor here." 
 
 "Ah, it is true," answered Madame Walewksa sighing, and, 
 having risen from the table, she went to the large open chest, 
 and from a pile of fabrics she took a blue Persian shawl. 
 
 "I will keep this one." 
 
 " But it is the worst one." 
 
 The lady came to Napoleon and put her little finger on his 
 mouth. 
 
 "There is no Emperor here — I command in this place." 
 
 Bonaparte kissed the fingers passionately. 
 
 " Always ! Always ! Only that colour is not becoming to 
 you — you told me so yourself." 
 
 " But Jeannette Radziwil is fond of it." 
 
 "What shall I do with the rest.? 1 was so glad that I should 
 be able to please you." 
 
 "Let us be wise. It would not be right to neglect the 
 Empress. She has not many bright moments in her life." 
 
 Bonaparte frowned. 
 
 "It is her fault." 
 
 " But you told me that you respect the Empress in her, and 
 you chei'ish her as a friend." 
 
 " Yes, it is true ! You are right ! You are good-hearted, 
 immensely so, and always disinterested." 
 
 " Ah, permit me ! To-day I have a request ..." 
 
 " Speak — hundreds — thousands of requests ! What is it ? " 
 
 "Ask an audience for me of the Emperor ! " 
 
 Napoleon laughed heartily, and assuming a comical gravity, 
 he said — 
 
 "It is granted this very moment." 
 
 Pani Walewska executed with an amusing exaggeration three 
 curtseys. 
 
 "Sire!" 
 
 "Madame, I am pleased to see you."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 335 
 
 "Your kindness, Sire." 
 
 "Pray, speak." 
 
 Pani Walewska passed from a ceremonious curtsey to a 
 coquettishly frolicsome pose. She craned her neck, with one 
 hand she gathered the folds of the long dressing-gown, with 
 the other she touched her slightly blushing face. 
 
 " Here, Sire ! " 
 
 Napoleon came near her Avith a beaming face. 
 
 " I beg of you to kiss here, quickly ! " 
 
 The Emperor fulfilled the command. Pani Walewska 
 assum.ed a pouting face. 
 
 " But I said here ! Here in that beauty spot, and not there 
 near the nose." 
 
 Bonaparte flushed with joy. 
 
 "Mine, a hundred times mine!" he whispered, with the 
 emotion of happiness, covering her with kisses. 
 
 " Your Majesty, you caught my lace with your cross ! Look, 
 you have torn it ! As a punishment you will spend the evening 
 with me." 
 
 "Very well — everything you order — I cannot refuse you 
 anything ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska became serious. 
 
 " You have repeated that so many times, and you forget that 
 it is not allowed to you to speak that way." 
 
 " You are mistaken. Every one of your desires is mine also. 
 Mary, I swear to you — if I doubted yesterday, I believe 
 to-day. Believe me, you will never regret the confidence you 
 had in me." 
 
 " Can it be true then ? " 
 
 Napoleon closed Pani Walewska's mouth with a kiss. 
 
 " Do not ask. Have faith ! " 
 
 "I believe with my whole soul, for you are bound to be 
 Napoleon." 
 
 "And it will come more easy to me, for only now I am 
 certain that my blue-eyed star shines with full brightness." 
 
 Pani Walewska put her head on the Emperor's shoulder. 
 
 "The star shines always with the same light, but it cannot 
 help it if sometimes the clouds cover it." 
 
 A light rap at the door interrupted the conversation.
 
 336 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Napoleon made a movement of impatience. 
 
 " My time is over." 
 
 " Only you must not be so long as yesterday." 
 
 " And who suffers more .'' " 
 
 " I shall be angry ! " 
 
 The Emperor kissed Pani Walewska's hand and disappeared 
 behind the curtain. 
 
 Lonczynski, who witnessed that scene,, wiped his perspiration 
 — he could hardly believe his eyes and ears. 
 
 Then that lady, with the looks of a princess, with the 
 refinement of a marchioness, that half queen teasing Napoleon 
 as a pla}Tnate, was his former little sister, his Mary } He must 
 be mistaken ; he must have lost his consciousness ; his senses 
 must be in disorder. She, in the Emperor's room in that 
 luxury ! No, it must be a nightmare ! The Evil One had 
 brought him here and was deceiving him. Mary could not speak 
 like that, could not be so coquettish ; she would be burnt with 
 shame before she could say one such word. It is not she ! Some 
 grandę dame, but not his Mary ! 
 
 The Colonel siglied deeply and wanted to leave the place, 
 but he could not. Something riveted him to the spot — some- 
 thing imprisoned him — something deprived him of the faculty 
 of movement. 
 
 Lonczynski felt that he ought to leave the place at once, 
 that he ought to run away, so far as to lose sight of his former 
 sister, to forget even the memories of his youth, even that for 
 which he was longing. He would have given half of his life 
 if he could not have stood at the door, if he could be where 
 there was neither any Emperor's quarters, nor staff, nor army, 
 nor those dizzying war cries, nor the shouts of victory, nor 
 Napoleonic eagles, nor Polish legions, where there would be 
 such emptiness as there was in his breast, in his mind. 
 
 The Colonel pressed his head against the wall and stood 
 motionless. 
 
 All at once sounded in his ears the words of a familiar song, 
 which he had heard so often when he was a child, then as a 
 youth, which accompanied the noise of spinning-wheels, which 
 sounded during the harvests, during the hay-making, at sunrise 
 and at sunset.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 337 
 
 Lonczynski staggered as if he were drunk. In the mean- 
 while, the song resounded stronger and stronger — 
 
 " In the dusky grove a nightingale trills sadly. 
 Love makes him joyful and song sorrowful. 
 It is not the same with Kasia's love, 
 For her heart is weeping while her face is bright." 
 
 The singing stopped suddenly, the door opened, Pani 
 Walewska beheld her brother standing before her. 
 
 Seeing him she became pale. They looked at each other as 
 if wishing to guess what was in the other's mind. 
 
 Pani Walewska first shook off her stupefaction, her face 
 became crimson, her lips opened. She stretched her arms to 
 her brother and put them round his neck with an outburst of joy. 
 
 " Paul, Paul ! You are here ! How happy I am ! Come 
 here ! Let me look at you ! I was so longing, so longing for 
 you ! So many years ! Only think ! You have not forgotten 
 your Mary ! She is always yours, always the same." 
 
 Pani Walewska, having glanced at her brother's stony face, 
 stopped suddenly, and after a moment continued : " There is 
 something the matter with you ! Perhaps you have been told 
 something ! Do not believe — believe nothing ! Do not ask 
 me anything. I will tell you everything. I will conceal 
 nothing. Only do not reproach me. I know what you think. 
 I never forgot that I should be obliged to render you an 
 account, you alone — for I have nobody who could understand 
 me. Sit down here — I will sit at your feet. Only, Paul, do not 
 look like that at me. I shall lose my senses. I must drink 
 some water, for it burns me, I cannot speak. Ah, I feel better 
 now ! At last you are with me. I see you. What a happiness ! 
 How cold your hands are. I understand. You doubt — you 
 think that I am wicked. Yes, as they all do. Impossible ! 
 Although, naturally, you must think like the others. If you 
 knew how they cringe ! Before, I was nothing to them, and 
 now I am their oracle. I have the best taste, the sweetest 
 smile — I am the most intelligent. Everything is superlative. 
 Stupid ! As if your Mary could change ! You must know 
 everything first, and then you will judge and kiss me. Will 
 you not .'' I was so longing for your kiss, for your embrace." 
 
 Panl Walewska began to cry. 
 Z
 
 338 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Lonczynski sat motionless^ looking with glassy eyes at his 
 sister, and showing no sign that he understood what she said 
 to him, that he heard her. 
 
 Pani Walewska wiped her tears, put her hands on her 
 brother's knee, and with a trembling voice began to tell him 
 about 3^ears spent with him, about her sorrows, disenchant- 
 ments, longings, hopes, struggles, and dreams. 
 
 She spoke, smilmg and crying, reaching with her thoughts 
 the most remote boundaries of her memory, then again touch- 
 ing yesterday's events. 
 
 And when at last she told him all her story, when she 
 unveiled to him her most secret thoughts, when she reached 
 to the farthest corners of her heart, where she did not dare 
 to look alone, when she felt that she had nothing further to 
 say that could strengthen her justification, she covered her face 
 with her hands, bent over her brother's knees, and became 
 silent. 
 
 A moment of deadly silence followed, a moment of awful 
 expectation for Pani Walewska. 
 
 Lonczynski was sitting motionless, gazing at his sister's head ; 
 his hands were cold and stiff. 
 
 Pani Walewska could not bear the silence any longer, she 
 shook her head, pressed her hands on her brother's hands, and 
 said with irritation : " Paul, I have told you all ! Tell me, 
 could I act differently ? Fate pushed me to this. Destiny 
 Avilled it to happen as it did. I had nobody who could advise 
 me, who could help me. Do you hear — nobody ! " 
 
 "Even no God ! " muttered the Colonel. 
 
 Pani Walewska shivered, for in her brother's words she heard 
 a merciless indictment. Her face quivered with pain, fear 
 filled her heart. 
 
 " Paul, do not speak that way ! You are the one person in 
 this world who should understand me and should stand by me. 
 If I am guilty, if you think that I should act differently, tell 
 me, and I will do as you will order. Yes, provided you love 
 your Mary, as you did formerly. Tell me, could I have acted 
 differently ? In the beginning I was troubled by some scruples, 
 but now I have become familiar with the humiliation. It is 
 true that that humiliation is one continual homage for every
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 339 
 
 one of my looks, for every one of my words, but that homage 
 has something in it that you cannot understand. . . . Formerly 
 my cheeks were burning, now I smile condescendingly to 
 hirelings. Let them censure me, let them tear me, let them 
 crawl — my life was not worth so high a price. Your Mary 
 became a Judith, only instead of cutting off Holofernes' head, 
 she has lost her own. I do not wish for anything for myself. 
 He is very good to me. But sometimes I am afraid of him. 
 I am afraid that she . . . Josephine . . . they say she loves 
 him — others affirm she does not — perchance they do that on 
 purpose. I am afi-aid also of Prince Eugene. But provided 
 I reach my aim . . . What do you think ? Paul, you have not 
 yet said a word. Had I known you were coming I should have 
 gone to meet you. I should have recognised you even in that 
 uniform. Ah, I understand the army ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed nervously. 
 
 The Colonel made a movement, his eyes were full of fire. 
 
 Pani Walewska stopped laughing and began to talk quickly. 
 •^'Yes, I do understand. In Warsaw people speak of nothing 
 else. The uniform is becoming to you . . . those silver 
 flowei's — for they look like flowers — mean that you belong to 
 the Imperial staff. You cannot imagine how glad I am. 
 Could I have dreamed that I should see you wearing the 
 uniform of a colonel ? I am proud of you ! He did not tell 
 me that you were here. Perhaps he did not know it. You 
 shall see how kindly he will receive you. You are going to 
 lunch with us. You, your Mary, and the Emperor. Life is 
 sometimes more beautiful than a fairy tale. Is it not ? Ah, 
 I did not notice, you have the great cross of the Legion ! 
 Great cross ! You have distinguished yourself." 
 
 Lonczynski grew pale, pushed aside his sister brutally, and 
 rose. 
 
 " Listen, you camp-follower ! You shall return this play- 
 thing to your lover ! Take it . . . the epaulettes also ! You 
 have earned them, you may wear them ! " 
 
 The Colonel pulled off the cross and the epaulettes and threw 
 them into his sister's face. 
 
 Pani Walewska clasped her hands together. 
 
 " Paul ! . . . For God's sake ! "
 
 340 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " You shall return them to him, and tell him to keep them 
 for the brother of some other favourite, for you have no 
 brother." 
 
 " O Lord ! " 
 
 " Silence ! Do not soil the name . . . you . . . harlot ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska bent under the weight of the insult. 
 
 " You also against me ! Then there is nobody in this world 
 who will help me . . . who will understand . . . that I do not 
 want anything for myself." 
 
 Lonczynski burst out into dry laughter. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! Then you are so degraded that you have lost your 
 common sense. You imagine that you will obtain from them 
 the independence of our country. Ha ! ha ! " 
 
 The Colonel made a contemptuous grimace, while Pani 
 Walewska spoke feverishly : " You do not know him ! You do 
 not understand how much he loves me ! " 
 
 Lonczynski took out from under his uniform the roll of 
 papers and threw them at her feet. 
 
 " Here is the answer ! Here are documents which prove 
 that I know him well. You have overestimated your beauty. 
 Enough ! You will give him all this, and you will tell him that 
 you have no brother." 
 
 He put his three-cornered hat on quietly and turned to the 
 door. 
 
 Pani Walewska rushed desperately after him, wishing to 
 stop him. 
 
 Lonczjoiski looked at her contemptuously and pushed her 
 aside. 
 
 '•' Away ! . . ." 
 
 '' But you will not go ! You will not leave your little sister — 
 your Mary ! " 
 
 The Colonel breathed deeply, and said with an effort : " My 
 sister . . . my Mary ... is dead ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska moved her pale lips, but could not say a word. 
 
 The Colonel went away.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE active M. Flahaut was very much surprised when, 
 on going to the Colonel to remind him of his promise of 
 speaking in his favour to Marshal Berthier, he found Lonczynski 
 in his old uniform of a lieutenant of the Polish legions. 
 
 The polite officer of the general staff did not let him know 
 of his surprise either at such a change or at the disorder in 
 the rooms, and greeted Lonczynski with a salute that mingled 
 the military and the modest. 
 
 " I hope my visit is not too early, sir } " 
 
 Lonczynski, who was sitting in a corner of the sofa, made an 
 impatient movement. 
 
 " Who is there ? " 
 
 M. Flahaut became confused. 
 
 " Pray, excuse me ! Perhaps I importune you ? But I bring 
 the day's report, in which there is a mention of you. Colonel." 
 
 " I am not a Colonel ! " 
 
 Flahaut tried to smile, but having glanced at Lonczynski's 
 much changed face, made a grimace. 
 
 "To-day's report is very interesting," continued the Captain, 
 wishing to get out of a difficult position, which he guessed but 
 could not understand. " Very interesting indeed ! " 
 
 "Ah, it is you, Flahaut ! " interrupted the Colonel suddenly. 
 
 The Captain saluted, not knowing what to answer. 
 
 "Yes, yes ! " muttered Lonczynski, "you are Flahaut. Well, 
 I remember you asked me for protection, but you are too late. 
 What a pity I am no longer a Colonel ! But wait, I will give 
 you some advice. Have you a sister .'' " 
 
 " No, I have not." 
 
 " That is unfortunate, for if you had, it would be very easy. 
 
 341
 
 342 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 They would make you an officer of the Legion, and they would 
 give you the epaulettes of a Colonel of the Staff." 
 
 Flahaut became crimson. 
 
 " Excuse me, how am I to understand your remark ? " 
 
 Lonczynski made a gesture with his hand. 
 
 " You and all of you do not understand. Perhaps it seems 
 to you as it seems to me. If you only had a Mariette ! But 
 wait. You already have a cross. Well, you are cunning enough 
 for that. Naturally, you would not know. Excuse me, I am 
 forgetting. It is only in our Polish legions that there are 
 men who believe that in order to get such a plaything it 
 is necessary at least to take a redoubt, or to cut half a regiment 
 to pieces. But it is not so. Instead of such trouble . , . well, 
 you know ..." 
 
 Flahaut retreated towards the door. Lonczynski said to him 
 in a friendly manner : " Captain, wait ! You asked me for 
 protection. You see that I remember well. You would like 
 to leave Murat's staff. Nothing easier — provided you call a 
 sister to you. She will be appointed a lady-in-waiting, and you 
 will become a general. You do not like that ! Ha ! ha ! I tell 
 you it is the shortest way to distinction. ... I am speaking 
 from experience." 
 
 The Captain muttered something and left the room pre- 
 cipitately. Lonczynski called after M. Flahaut, but when he 
 did not return the Colonel shrugged his shoulders and laughed 
 to himself. 
 
 " Idiot, he does not believe it, although it is very simple." 
 
 The Colonel walked several times across the room, and then 
 he called his orderly. 
 
 " Listen, what is your name ? Ah ! Jacob ! my name is Paul." 
 
 "I understand. Colonel." 
 
 " You are stupid. I am not a Colonel. Understand, you will 
 call me Paul." 
 
 The orderly drew himself up. Lonczynski frowned. 
 
 "Do not make any faces. If you do, see this fist? Give 
 me some whisky." 
 
 " Yes, sir ! " 
 
 '^ Quick !" shouted the Colonel. " Ah, you have it ! Your 
 health ! "
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 343 
 
 "I do not dare ! " 
 
 "Drink! but listen . . . perhaps you wish to remember 
 me? ... Eh?" 
 
 "Sir . . . Paul !" muttered the orderly, confused, "I do not 
 dare ! " 
 
 " You are a beast ! What have you on your shoulder ? An 
 epaulette ? Give it to me ! Away with it ! Yes ! Drink ! 
 Mary is dead ! Remember that ! Why do you not drink ? " 
 
 " I am drinking, sir . . ." 
 
 " Very well, then. Did you see that idiot Flahaut ? — he did 
 not want to believe me. What bad whisky ! Have you given 
 me water?" 
 
 "W^hisky, as you ordered." 
 
 " Bring me some better." 
 
 "There is none, sir . . ." 
 
 " There must be ! Go, bring it . . . march ! " 
 
 The frightened orderly ran as quickly as he could. 
 
 The Colonel looked round carefully. 
 
 " He has gone. H'm ! Bad whisky. He put some water 
 into it, and I am so thirsty." 
 
 Lonczynski seized the bottle, lifted it to his m.outh and drank 
 its contents. Then he went to a table on which a pair of 
 pistols were lying. 
 
 He was familiar with them. This one with the heavy barrel 
 was the one he preferred ; he knew that it jerked to the right. 
 But noAv he would know how to fire. The thick-headed rogue 
 did not expect such an honour. For the occasion he deserves 
 to be treated well. Let him have twice as much powder as 
 usual. If one has to fire, then why not fire well ? Now some 
 wadding and a bullet. It is a round one. More wadding — he 
 is not hungry now ! A fresh flint, and he is ready. 
 
 Having finished the loading of the pistol, Lonczynski laughed 
 with satisfaction, looked with childish pleasure into the barrel, 
 then he lifted up the weapon. 
 
 At that moment the door opened and spurs clinked, 
 Lonczynski lowered the pistol and turned impatiently. About 
 two steps from him stood an officer of chasseurs a cheval of the 
 Guard. " Have I the honour of speaking to Colonel Lon- 
 czynski ? " began the officer.
 
 344 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I am not a Colonel." 
 
 " I have the honour to ask you to be kind enough to report 
 at once to the officer on duty in the Emperor's ante-room." 
 
 Lonczynski became crimson. His eyes filled with blood. 
 
 " Who are you ? ' ' 
 
 " My name is Ornano, officer of the squadron on duty of the 
 chasseurs a chcval, by order of the Commandant." 
 
 "I know no Commandant." 
 
 " I am ordered to bring you, Colonel." 
 
 " I said I am not a Colonel." 
 
 Ornano looked hesitatingly at Lonczynski, who added : " Go, 
 and say that the Colonel will not come because ... he is 
 not . . ." 
 
 "Excuse me, but I was told that Colonel Lonczynski's 
 quarters were here." 
 
 "These were his quarters yesterday ! " 
 
 Ornano saluted. 
 
 "Such being the case, they gave me a wrong address." 
 
 " Certainly, you can see for yourself that in this uniform I do 
 not look like a Colonel." 
 
 "To be sure, but could you tell me where I could find 
 Colonel Lonczynski .'' " 
 
 "It is difficult to say. . . . For you understand, a man of 
 such importance. You must know the Colonel's sister . . ." 
 
 Ornano paled. " I have heard something." 
 
 Lonczynski half closed his eyes, smiling cunningly. 
 
 "Well, you must agree that he advanced very rapidly. A 
 week ago he was a lieutenant, and to-day they are all afraid 
 of him. He received the grand cross of the Legion, he 
 belongs to the Staff, he is on the Court list. He has sacrificed 
 everything. But he has a sister ! He .'' " 
 
 "Scoundrel ! " muttered Ornano. 
 
 Lonczynski staggered. 
 
 " You are right ! Ha, ha ! you are right ! But permit me, 
 you too have the Legion ! Is it also for . . . ? " 
 
 " I was at Jena," answered Ornano proudly. 
 
 "At Jena .'' You took that trouble .'' " 
 
 " Sir, I do not know you, and I beg you to refrain from your 
 remarks. Where can I find Lonczynski } "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 345 
 
 "Ask Bonaparte^ he will know." 
 
 " Do you forget to whom and about whom you are speaking? " 
 
 "I remember^ and therefore I speak." 
 
 Ornano went out slamming the door. 
 
 He had not yet left the ante-room when he heard a report 
 of a pistol behind him. He stopped and looked towards the 
 door, through which he passed. Had that half madman fired ? 
 Who knows .'' Some odd fish ! Let him fire. The Commandant 
 of the guard-house must be informed. 
 
 Not paying any attention to the report of the pistol, Ornano 
 became thoughtful ; he did not know where to find Lonczynski. 
 The order Avas urgent. He Avas commanded to bring the 
 Colonel. At that moment a soldier entered the hall with a 
 bottle under his arm, and he went towards the door of the 
 apartment where Ornano had been vainly speaking with some 
 madman. 
 
 " Hey ! Do you live here ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir ; I am orderly of the Colonel of the Staff." 
 
 " Perhaps Lonczynski's ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " Very well ; is your master at home ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Conduct me to him." 
 
 The soldier went unhesitatingly to the door which the 
 Captain had left a short time ago. 
 
 " But it is not here. I was told that he had not been here 
 since yesterday." 
 
 "I am sure he is here, sir." 
 
 "Then conduct me," said the Captain impatiently; "go 
 first ! " 
 
 The orderly turned the handle, helped the Captain to take 
 off his cloak, then, saluting, opened the second door. 
 
 Ornano looked at the other end of the room and retreated, 
 moved by what he saw, 
 
 A few steps in front of him was lying in a pool of blood that 
 odd man with whom he was talking a moment ago. 
 
 " What has happened ? Who is he .'' " 
 
 " I do not know — I do not understand. Only a few minutes 
 affo the Colonel ordered me . . "
 
 846 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Then he is a Colonel?" 
 
 " Undoubtedly, sir. I cannot understand. A wound in the 
 forehead. He is still breathing. ..." 
 
 Ornano stood as if pondering something, and not paying 
 any attention to the efforts of the orderly who wished to lift 
 up Lonczynski's body. Only when the clouds passed over 
 Lonczynski's face he hastened to help the orderly. 
 
 The Colonel's face seemed to be one bloody wound. 
 
 Ornano, helped by the orderly, put Lonczynski on the bed 
 and asked for water, which revealed a large flat wound on the 
 Colonel's forehead. 
 
 Lonczynski gave no signs of life. There was no time to be 
 lost. Ornano seized a piece of paper lying on the table, wrote 
 on it a few words, and told the orderly to run with it to M. de 
 Segm* ; then he took from Lonczynski's valise a shirt, tore it 
 into pieces, and having put them into water, applied them to 
 the wound. 
 
 The wound bled much. Ornano did not stop, changed the 
 water, and applied it constantly. 
 
 The orderly did not return. 
 
 Ornano was losing patience, but did not leave Lonczynski. 
 It is true that the young officer had some wicked thoughts, 
 which were that he did not care for the Colonel — that rather 
 he should leave him, that he had done enough for Madame 
 Walewska's brother by having sent the orderly for a surgeon — 
 that it was none of his business to find the cause of such a 
 desperate deed. But all the same, something forced him to 
 remain, and to give the wounded man relief. 
 
 And this relief was already visible. The Colonel breathed 
 deeper and deeper, his face became pink, the eyes opened 
 slowly and grew brighter. 
 
 Ornano smiled bitterly to himself, 
 
 "I should give up the honour," he muttered to himself; ''he 
 will be wanting to be thankful to me. What a stupid story ! 
 And that numskull is not back. Just because of the loss of 
 blood he may be wanting to begin his last will. Sapristi ! 
 He may ask me to give his blessing to that . . ." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 The wounded man made a movement.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 347 
 
 Ornano set his teeth and wanted to change the water, when 
 he felt a light pressure of his hand. 
 
 " H'm ! What ? " asked Ornano. " You have made yourself 
 bleed foully. What ? To die ? Upon my honour, you should 
 not hasten. Walewska ? Ah ! " 
 
 Lonczynski made an effort, and whispered : " Not one word 
 to her ! Understand ? To Walewska ! To nobody. Nobody 
 must know that I existed." 
 
 " Well,-well ! Plenty of time for that ! I understand some- 
 thing about wounds. . . . One can take out the ball with 
 one's fingers. ... I understand." 
 
 "But you do not imderstand my shame!" moaned the 
 Colonel, and fainted. 
 
 Ornano shivered. The veil of the truth was lifted up and 
 uncovered the cause of the drama which he had witnessed. 
 Remorse of conscience shook him. Yes, he was sneering at 
 misfortune — he had accused that man of baseness. An hour ago, 
 when he received the order to summon Madame Walewska's 
 brother, he thought that he was going to see a boastful parvenu, 
 who did not feel the mud with which he was bespattered; an 
 hour ago he was obliged to call the sense of duty to his help, 
 to enable him to carry out the order, to forget that he was 
 going to the brother of that ... to quench the fii-e that 
 burned him. , . . For, ever since the day before, the whole of 
 Ostród was talking only of Lonczynski. People told each other, 
 with biting remarks, that the newly appointed Colonel thought 
 he was advanced so rapidly because of his military talents, and 
 how quietly and impudently he asked the Prince of Bassano to 
 take a letter to his sister at Warsaw ! . . . 
 
 M. de Flahaut had defended Lonczynski, declaring that he 
 was pretending to know nothing. Ornano was familiar with 
 all the details, and he was free with his malicious remarks, for 
 it seemed to him that he had a right to them, much more so, 
 that they made the burden pressing his heart lighter, and he did 
 not know that he was sneei'ing at a pain greater than his own, 
 
 Loncsynski either knew the whole truth and was fighting 
 with himself to save his honour from falling too low, or else, 
 struck by the thunderbolt, he was unhesitatingly giving a 
 proof . . worthy of an officer ... of a man !
 
 348 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Ornano reasoned in this manner, continuing to apply cold 
 water to Lonczynski's forehead. The latter, however, seemed 
 to be half dead again. 
 
 Suddenly the officer was seized with a fear about the Colonel's 
 life, although, on the other hand, he was inclined to think that 
 he should let him die, that he had no right to force him to live. 
 
 The appearance of the surgeons with M. de S^gur inter- 
 rupted Ornano's thoughts. 
 
 The surgeons proceeded at once to dress the wound and to 
 extract the bullet. 
 
 M. de Segur listened to Ornano's report sorrowfully. 
 
 "A very unpleasant accident," concluded the Emperor's mare- 
 chal de logis, and Master of the Ceremonies during the war. 
 
 " You did well to inform me of it ! He must have turned 
 the barrel imprudently, the cock fell down and fired ! " 
 
 "I can assure you that nothing of the kind has happened! 
 A few minutes ago the Colonel came to his senses and spoke." 
 
 "Ah! . . . bespoke! But he was unconscious. . . . I repeat 
 that there was an accident. Nothing else. Let us hear what 
 the surgeons would say. Ah, the bullet is taken out ! . . ." 
 
 " It was on the surface," explained one of the surgeons. 
 
 " What do you think .'' " 
 
 "Nothing — he must be sent to the hospital. In two months 
 he will be well. He pressed the barrel too much to his fore- 
 head ; the lack of air made the shot weak. The only fear is 
 that his brain may have been troubled. He will have a scar 
 on the forehead. His skull is very strong. . . . He pressed 
 the pistol so much that the barrel made an impression on the 
 wound ! He wanted to get rid of life quickly ! " 
 
 "What.''" interrupted M. de Stgur drily. "Then you would 
 call an accident with a pistol a suicide .'' " 
 
 " Undoubtedly ! " 
 
 " You are mistaken. Colonel Lonczynski could not do such a 
 thing. If you look more carefully, you will come to that con- 
 clusion." 
 
 The surgeon looked attentively at M. de Segur and bowed. 
 
 " Certainly, certainly ! " 
 
 The marechal de logis turned to Ornano. 
 
 "You have heard and you know now. Colonel Lonczynski
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 349 
 
 is a man of too great importance ; such an action would give 
 rise to conjectures. Pray remember it ! " 
 
 Ornano understood the command. 
 
 " I shall conform myself to your indication." 
 
 '' Yes, yes, you must. By-the-by, I have news for you. . . , 
 His Majesty is very well disposed toAvards you. You have the 
 Legion, you were promoted to be a captain, and now I am sure 
 that you will be on the list for a subsidy." 
 
 " I am obliged. . . ." 
 
 "His Majesty speaks of you often, and calls you 'cousin.' 
 I am sure you see how quickly you advance. Only a few weeks 
 since you were a lieutenant. And how old are you .'' " 
 
 " Twenty-three." 
 
 "A fine career ! Well, we have nothing to do here. They 
 will take care of the Colonel. Poor man ! And what care- 
 lessness ! " 
 
 "As to carelessness, the Colonel's orderly is not yet con- 
 vinced." 
 
 "Did he see?" 
 
 "As well as I did." 
 
 " No matter, I shall order him to be arrested at once ; there 
 is no other remedy for such churls. I am obliged to you for 
 having reminded me of that. Should you need anything, pray 
 call on me." 
 
 Ornano rubbed his forehead with uneasiness. 
 
 " I am ready at once to take advantage of your kindness." 
 
 " You will make me happy. . . ." 
 
 "Therefore I shall be obliged if my name does not appear 
 on the list for the Imperial subsidy." 
 
 " Wliat do you mean. Captain ? " 
 
 "What I have is entirely sufficient for my needs," answered 
 Ornano almost in a whisper. "As for silence, I have learnt 
 that before to-day." 
 
 M. de Segur tried to smile. 
 
 " Ah, yes, if you prefer. It is a little odd. People are right 
 to call you whimsical." 
 
 "Precisely," muttered the Captain drily, "and I like to 
 remain so."
 
 350 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 It was a quiet morning in April. After a cold March, which 
 held the Polish rivers in its fetters, covered the plains of North- 
 western Prussia with snow and impeded the movement of the 
 French army, the sun came out and began to melt the provinces 
 of Moravia, Silesia, Lithuania, and Great Poland, which had 
 been frozen until then. 
 
 The headquarters in Ostród became full of animation and 
 resomided with drums. 
 
 The Emperor ordered the headquarters to be removed to 
 Finkenstein. The staff breathed more easily, the looks of the 
 soldiers were brighter. The days spent in Ostród had been 
 very hard indeed ; hunger and cold reached even the generals ; 
 merciless misery had been felt even by those who could conjure 
 it with gold ! There was plenty of gold in Ostród, but there 
 was no bread. From day to day not only the body, but also 
 the spirit failed. Napoleon wished to rescue both. He would 
 send messenger after messenger to Talleyrand to Warsaw, he 
 would load the commissaries of the temporary Government with 
 reproaches, imperatively demanding provisions. Bonaparte's 
 cry was "bread and whisky," but notwithstanding Wybicki's 
 efforts, notwithstanding that ever}' granary was unsparingly 
 ransacked, no more supplies could be got. 
 
 Bonaparte was the only person who did not lose heart. He 
 willingly gave up the house he occupied in Ostród and settled 
 in a barn. The Emperor's example produced some effect, but 
 not for long — cold conquered ! And the worst of it was that 
 Ostród was diminishing, growing smaller and smaller, dis- 
 appearing. The soldiers, demoralised by hardships, did not 
 pay any attention to threats of court-martials, and destroyed 
 hedges, even houses, in order to warm their frozen limbs. The 
 field-gendarmes could not stop the disorder. Misery, climbing 
 from grade to grade of the officers, had ah'eady reached Oudinot 
 and even Berthier. 
 
 No wonder, then, that when the April sun appeared and the 
 order was given to march, there was a mad outburst of joy in 
 Ostrcd. The preparations were pushed on with enthusiastic 
 activity. The soldiers imagined that Finkenstein was a land 
 flowing with milk and honey. It is true that in the mean- 
 while there were x'umours that the war would begin soon, but
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 351 
 
 Napoleon's soldiers were not afraid of that provided they were 
 not cold and hungry. 
 
 Captain Ornano, who was also pleased at the prospect of 
 leaving Ostróda after a talk with his comrades about it^ became 
 sorrowful, and having commanded his oi-derly to pack, he went 
 to the other end of the town, where the military hospitals were 
 situated. There he announced himself to the surgeon on duty, 
 and was received with the respect due to an officer of the 
 Guards, and what was more important, the Emperor's cousin. 
 Ornano went straight to the object of his call. 
 
 " What will become of the sick men when the headquarters 
 are removed.^" 
 
 " We shall keep them here for some time." 
 
 "And then?" 
 
 "We shall send the convalescent to France, and leave those 
 who are not able to support the journey in proper care." 
 
 " H'm ! yes ; but you must have some orders concerning the 
 superior officers." 
 
 The surgeon winked at Ornano. 
 
 "I know about whom you are talking, and I can give you 
 some news. . . . The Colonel, according to the last report of 
 the head surgeon, is so well that he can get up in a few days. 
 Yesterday Corvisart paid him a visit." 
 
 " I have heard of that." 
 
 "Then you must know, also, that the Colonel will be trans- 
 ported to Paris." 
 
 "To Paris ! Does the Colonel know about it ? " 
 
 " I do not think so — the order came this morning." 
 
 " H'm ! the question is whether he will consent." 
 
 " Why not ? The Colonel is surrounded by such care. He 
 shall not be tired with the journey. Then he will have the 
 special care of Dr. Larrey. You know that the Colonel is 
 treated here like a marshal ; we report about him every day 
 to the Emperor." 
 
 " Could I see the Colonel ? " 
 
 The surgeon became sorrowful. 
 
 " Have you permission from M. de Segur ? " 
 
 " I have not, but I think you will permit me to see him. I 
 have been here already several times. . . ."
 
 352 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Yes, but always secretly — always." 
 
 "I shall be grateful to you if you make no difficulties this 
 time also. I only wanted to shake hands Avith the Colonel before 
 marching out." 
 
 The surgeon decided quickly, A favour shown to such a 
 man as Ornano was a good investment, for Ornano was already 
 a man of importance, and he had every chance of becoming 
 even a marshal. 
 
 •^'Well?" urged Ornano. 
 
 " I cannot refuse you, Captain, although I run a risk. If only 
 nobody sees us. In case of necessity, pray name some other 
 sick officers, as usual." 
 
 The surgeon sighed several times in order to emphasise the 
 importance of the favour shown to the Captain, then went to 
 the first floor, where, bowing, he indicated a door. 
 
 Ornano opened the door and found himself in a small room, 
 which served for an ante-chamber to another larger room. The 
 Captain threw his cloak and bearskin to the orderly, then 
 opened the door and went quietly to the bed on which was 
 lying a man with a bandaged head. 
 
 Hearing the steps, the sick man made a movement and asked 
 in a subdued tone : " Is it you, Hieronym } " 
 
 "No; it is Ornano." 
 
 The sick man made an effort and sat up in the bed. 
 
 "Ah, it is you ! " 
 
 " How are you to-day. Colonel ? " 
 
 "Much better. Only do not call me Colonel. Simply 
 lieutenant — ex-lieutenant.' ' 
 
 " Do you know that we are going to leave Ostród ? " 
 
 The sick man made a movement of uneasiness, and over- 
 powered the Captain with questions. 
 
 Ornano told him about the situation of the army. 
 
 When the Captain had finished the other laughed. 
 
 " It is strange ! I could swear I knew all that." 
 
 " It happens sometimes. Now, you must decide. You cannot 
 remain here." 
 
 " Naturally, for what . . ." 
 
 " I have heard they wish to propose to you to go to Paris." 
 
 "To Paris .'' You must be joking! What could I do there.''"
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 353 
 
 "In your position . . . Should you not like to continue to 
 sei've in the army ? " 
 
 " Never ! " interrupted the sick man. 
 
 " In that case you may be certain there are people to whom 
 your future is not indifferent." 
 
 " Captain, how shall I be able to show you my gratitude.'' . . .' 
 
 " Not to me. I am only a poor soldier ! My only treasure 
 are these epaulettes, which I won by hard Avork. I should 
 like . . . But what can I do ? There are more powerful 
 people than I. ... In Paris, you may have any post you care 
 for. . . ." 
 
 The sick man looked attentively at Ornano, scrutinising his 
 face with merciless attention. Ornano could not stand that 
 look ; he dropped his head and became silent. 
 
 There was a long silence, during which the Captain was con- 
 sidering in vain how he could continue the dropped conversa- 
 tion. Suddenly the sick man seized the Captain's hand and 
 said: "And you think that I would choose? You think that I 
 should be capable . . .?" 
 
 Ornano raised his head. 
 
 « No ! " 
 
 The wounded man fell back on the pillows and breathed 
 deeply. 
 
 " I thank you. You are what I thought you to be." 
 
 The Captain said timidly — 
 
 ''You must decide something about yourself — you cannot 
 remain here. You must express a wish. Where would you 
 like to go .'' " 
 
 "Where I wanted to go . . . they did not let me go. . . . 
 Well, now I shall return to my modest country home." 
 
 " Would you not prefer to return to your regiment ? " 
 
 "What for? Would the regiment return to me what was 
 taken from me ? You do not understand ! Emptiness ! There 
 is nothing in my heart ! Once there was the war cry ! I shall 
 return to my fields, to quiet woi'k, to God ! Perhaps j'ou do 
 not believe in God ! There is a God, and He punishes ! " 
 
 " He forgives also ! " 
 
 The eyes of the sick man grew large. 
 
 " Yes . . . God can ! " 
 
 2 A
 
 354 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Ornano was silent ; the wounded man fell into a stupor. 
 After a while the Captain roused himself^ and said — 
 
 " Will you permit me to repeat your wish where it should be 
 I'epeatcd? " 
 
 The Colonel nodded affirmatively. 
 
 ''It shall be as you wish/' added the Captain. "And now 
 permit me to take leave of you." 
 
 The Colonel responded by a warm pressure of the hand. 
 
 Ornano went towards the door. 
 
 " Captain ! " called Lonczynski after him, as if he had re- 
 collected something. 
 
 " I am at your service ! " 
 
 The sick man lowered his voice. 
 
 "Tell me why you . . . not knowing me . . . Did you do 
 all this for me, by yourself . . . or . . . or . . . ? " 
 
 " Upon the word of an officer, nobody knew about my visiting 
 you." 
 
 "I believe you. You speak the truth, or you are silent. 
 But excuse me, my poor head is so weak. ... I do not re- 
 member anything. . . . But it seems to me that I have seen 
 you once in my life. . . . But I cannot connect that moment 
 with your kindness and sympathy. ..." 
 
 " Permit me to be silent." 
 
 " Captain, otherwise I must believe . . ." 
 
 "Then I will tell you that, when I met you, I was in such 
 despair that it seemed to me that nobody could be more un- 
 happy than I. But when I saw you, my pain appeared to be 
 very paltry. I noticed then that everything in you was so 
 pure, so little egotistical, so proud, that I was frightened at my 
 own weakness. I wanted to have a shining star, but I wanted 
 it for myself! The fear that it shone for some one else per- 
 suaded me that I was not worthy to be called a star. But you, 
 you wished to have its rays eternal. For you there was no 
 Ego, there were no two roads, two morals, two honours ! 
 Where I destroyed, you wished to build ; where I saw a con- 
 queror, you were looking for a defender. I served because of 
 ambition, you served because of self-sacrifice, and that con- 
 sciousness attracted me to you." 
 
 Lonczynski, stunned by the torrent of ingenuous words, misty
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 355 
 
 to him, looked hesitatingly at the Captain, and rubbed his fore- 
 head. 
 
 Ornano smiled benevolently. 
 
 "Excuse that riddle. Perhaps you will learn more soon. 
 Believe only one thing : that I came to you by my own will." 
 
 Ornano shook Lonczynski again by the hand and left the 
 room. 
 
 In the ante-chamber the orderly handed him his coat. 
 Ornano threw him a gold piece, and was going out of the door 
 leading to the corridor, when it opened, and in the doorway 
 appeared a carefully-veiled lady, followed by a frightened 
 surgeon. 
 
 The lady shivered slightly at the sight of the Captain. 
 
 Ornano stood as if transfixed. Notwithstanding veils, he 
 recognised Pani Walewska. 
 
 The Captain paled slightly, and drew aside. 
 
 The lady walked into the ante-room. 
 
 The surgeon bowed humbly, and hastened with an explana- 
 tion. 
 
 " Your ladyship . . . the worthy patient wished to see the 
 Captain. This door . . . straight ..." 
 
 " Be so kind as to leave me." 
 
 "I am at your ladyship's service," mumbled the surgeon 
 humbly, making signs to the orderly, and winking significantly 
 at the Captain. 
 
 Ornano, who had recovered after the first impression, bowed 
 coolly to the lady, and followed the surgeon. 
 
 The lady, however, said suddenly to him : " Would you be so 
 kind as to remain a moment ł " 
 
 Ornano bowed again and remained. 
 
 The lady made a sign to the surgeon to leave her, which he 
 did, hurriedly closing the door. 
 
 The lady took off the veil. Ornano, at the sight of the face 
 of the beautiful lady, grew crimson. 
 
 " Did you not recognise me ? " 
 
 "At once." 
 
 " I thought so. Have you seen him ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "I am grateful to you."
 
 356 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I did not visit him for the sake of gratitude." 
 
 " You visited him ... it is enough. Is it true that he is no 
 longer delirious ł " 
 
 " For the last week." 
 
 " For a week I have waited in vain for him to be feverish." 
 
 "Ah ! you wanted . . ." 
 
 " I wished to see him, without being seen. I am going to-day. 
 I must see him. I came alone . . . Captain ? " 
 
 "Madame?" 
 
 "Will you refuse me a favour — Avould you not intercede . . . ? " 
 
 " I ? " 
 
 " Yes. I do not wish for anything. I do not wish to ask his 
 forgiveness ... I wish only to see him^ to glance at him even 
 from the threshold. . ." 
 
 " He needs quiet so much. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska leaned on the chair. Her eyelids trembled^ 
 her bosom heaved. 
 
 Ornano was afraid of the shock to the sick man. 
 
 " Madame, pray remember that he may hear you, and it 
 would arouse his slumbering grief." 
 
 " I will be quiet ! I will not cry ! " 
 
 " But you must go, you must not stay here." 
 
 "Then you refuse to help me? And I thought you alone . . ." 
 
 Ornano made a movement. 
 
 " I would like to take your word literally. I mean it ! " 
 
 The Captain breathed. " I am going ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska bent over the chair. Ornano went into 
 LonczjTiski's room. 
 
 Pani Walewska fell into a kind of stupor. Her face expressed 
 timid uncertainty. 
 
 Ornano did not return for a long while. Twice Pani 
 Walewska heard a muffled voice through the door, twice she 
 trembled, till at last the door opened and the Captain came in. 
 
 Pani Walewska knew instinctively that Ornano stood before 
 her, that he brought her a merciless answer. . . . She did not 
 doubt for a minute what that answer would be — she was certain 
 of it ; but notwithstanding, she had not courage to listen to it. 
 
 Ornano was silent. Pani Walewska turned her head — the 
 Captain dropped his eyes.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 357 
 
 "I know/' she whispered painfully — "I know what you 
 bring me ! I am unworthy even to look at him — to touch his 
 hand. I have soiled the family name for my own pleasure ! You 
 are pure^ you have great ideals, while I am an egotistical, greedy 
 doll. . . ." 
 
 " Madame ! " 
 
 "You wish to be so merciful, that you are ready to lie in 
 order to pacify me. Do not trouble yourself uselessly. Repeat 
 to me Avhat he said to you. I must hear it ! " 
 
 " But you have guessed it ! " 
 
 " It is not enough ! I wish to hear — I must hear it ! Did you 
 tell him what I told you ? " 
 
 « Yes, I did." 
 
 "And he.?" 
 
 " Refused." 
 
 "Perhaps you were not careful, and did not tell him the 
 exact purpose of my visit } " 
 
 " I do not think so. I did what I could — I tried to persuade 
 him. . . ." 
 
 " And in exchange he told you to bring me an insult 'i " 
 
 " No, he was quiet ; he listened to the end, and then he told 
 me that I was mistaken, for his sister ... is dead. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska drew herself up proudly. 
 
 "Thank you, sir. Yes, she is dead, undoubtedly." 
 
 Ornano, hearing that unexpected conclusion, pronounced in a 
 steely voice, was surprised, and could hardly believe his own ears. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Pani Walewska gathered the folds of her 
 long d»;ess and said : " Give me your arm ! " 
 
 Ornano did as he was requested. 
 
 Pani Walewska turned towards the door, having previously 
 veiled herself. In the corridor the surgeon wished to show her 
 the way, but she dismissed him with a nod. 
 
 The Captain, feeling Pani Walewska's arm, dizzied by some 
 intoxicating scent emanating from her, was undergoing fiery 
 emotions. The moment when he first met her, all the hours 
 during which he had lived for her, longings and unrealised 
 dreams, rose before him and shook his heart. 
 
 The Captain conducted Pani Walewska with all the care of a 
 fashionable man attentive to ladies ; he even smiled, looked
 
 358 NArOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 quiet and attentive, but nevertheless he was struggUng horribly 
 within, in order not to utter an imprecation. 
 
 In the front of the hospital a carriage was waiting ; the foot- 
 man and the coachman wore green livery. 
 
 Pani Walewska stopped. 
 
 " I would prefer to return on foot if I knew it would not tire 
 you." 
 
 "Pray, consider yourself rather — the distance is consider- 
 able." 
 
 " It is such a lovely day ! " 
 
 '' If you prefer . . . ? " 
 
 " Yes, let the carriage return." 
 
 The footman saluted. Pani Walewska continued : " But I 
 would prefer a side road, not through the town. I wish to 
 breathe the fresh air." 
 
 "Then we will go by the field," said Ornano. 
 
 They turned to the right, and for some time both were silent. 
 
 Pani Walewska took off her veil and breathed the fresh air 
 with delight. As for the Captain, having recovered a little from 
 his first emotion, he tried to become entirely self-possessed, and 
 for this purpose inwardly called Pani Walewska a cold-blooded 
 comedian. 
 
 "How absent I am," she said suddenly, with quiet ease. 
 " I had forgotten to congratulate you on your advancement. It 
 is fine to be a captain at your age." 
 
 Ornano reddened. "I am twenty-three years of age," he 
 answered with dignity. " I have served for seven years." 
 
 " But, if I am not mistaken, you were only a lieutenant at the 
 ball." 
 
 "Then you still remember that ball . . ..''" 
 
 Pani Walewska became confused, and she answered only after 
 a little while : " It was so beautiful." 
 
 " Like a dream ! " 
 
 "A very elaborate comparison. And you are ah*eady a 
 captain." 
 
 "Then, you did not even recognise the uniform." 
 
 " Prince, you try to be malicious." 
 
 " You will excuse me, but I could not help it. But why do 
 you call me Prince ? "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 359 
 
 " You were introduced to me by that title." 
 
 " I am obliged to Countess Potocka for it." 
 
 '' Is that so .'' Then ... I thought you were the Emperor's 
 cousin } " 
 
 "I could prove that very easily, for my mother was born 
 a Bonaparte." 
 
 "A great honour." 
 
 "Now, but not at the time, when she married a colonel of 
 the Corsican Guards, Louis Ornano, a descendant of indepen- 
 dent counts." 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled at that tirade. The Captain perceived 
 his boastfulness, and became ashamed of it. 
 
 " Then your family comes from Corsica ? " 
 
 "I was born in Ajaccio." 
 
 " Therefore, military service has a double charm for you. He 
 will . . ." 
 
 "Who.''" interrupted Ornano passionately. 
 
 " Naturally, the Emperor." 
 
 " He has already taken from me more than he can give me." 
 
 Pani Walewska turned to the Captain, and having met his 
 fiery looks dropped her head. 
 
 "What ground is there for that idea.^"" she said, after a 
 moment's thought. " Has the man who has taken what you 
 would have liked to have, but which is not yours, robbed you of 
 your possession .'' " 
 
 " You are right," answered the Captain gloomily. " One 
 may learn from you how to be cool ! Not everybody can weigh 
 every word." 
 
 " Although you are an officer of a regiment who has so many 
 duties at the Court. . . ." 
 
 "To-day I shall ask to be transferred to a regiment of the 
 line." 
 
 " Your career will suffer by that." 
 
 " But my heart will gain." 
 
 Pani Walewska stopped. 
 
 " We have reached our destination." 
 
 Ornano looked round astonished, but noticing the Imperial 
 standard floating over a large barn, said : " Yes . . . here are 
 the headquarters. ..."
 
 360 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Permit me to thank you for your trouble/' said Pani 
 Walewska, with exaggerated friendliness. " I am very much 
 obliged to you. I wish you success in your plans. I do not 
 doubt that you will advance as quickly as you have done, and 
 that when I meet you next time I shall be speaking to a 
 general." 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled, and nodded good-bye. 
 
 Darkness covered the Captain's eyes. He did not hear her 
 words, he did not understand anything but that she was going, 
 that probably he would never see her again. 
 
 " Madame," he said passionately, " have you nothing to say to 
 me — nothmg whatever .'' " 
 
 Pani Walewska stojjped ; her eyes were veiled with sadness. 
 
 " Why should one speak if one knows that one would not be 
 believed .'' " 
 
 " One might make truth convincing." 
 
 "Where there is no faith there is no truth. The conscious- 
 ness of truth sets aside the need of beheving." 
 
 " It seemed to me, however, that it would not be indifferent 
 to you. . . . Excuse my presumption ; it only seemed to me . . ." 
 
 " I am listening — speak ! " 
 
 " It seemed to me, then, that I deserved, that . . . that it 
 would not be indifterent to you what opinion . . . that telling 
 certain details . . ." 
 
 " What would be the use of them to you .'' " 
 
 " Because I wanted to have you justified, because convic- 
 tion . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska tugged nervously at her veil. 
 
 " You are mistaken. Sometimes it may not be indifferent to 
 us that some one believes in us, but as soon as proofs are asked 
 for, that inclination passes. . . . Captain, Farewell ! " 
 
 " Are you going to Finkenstein ? " 
 
 "I do not know." 
 
 " At any rate, I wish you a pleasant journey." 
 
 " And I wish you as quick promotion as you have had." 
 
 "Only not so quick as this of to-day." 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed drily, nodded to the Captain and 
 left him. 
 
 Ornano stood for a while following her with his looks, and
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 361 
 
 when she disappeared behind a house, he went slowly to his 
 quarters. 
 
 Pani Walewska reached a small door in the gate, guarded by 
 two grenadiers of the Guard. The sentry stepped aside re- 
 spectfully, and Pani Walewska found herself in a large barn, 
 converted into Imperial headquarters. 
 
 Here she hastened to a corner, covered with a large tent, in 
 which for the past two weeks had been her bedroom, dressing- 
 room, and drawing-room. 
 
 A chambermaid took off her fur coat. Pani Walewska sat 
 on a bench covered with a rug. Her face was burning, her 
 eyes were filled with tears. 
 
 The maid was going to and fro, and tried to distract her 
 gloom by talking to her. Pani W^alewska seemed to hear 
 nothing. She looked into the dusky space and was silent. 
 
 All at once quick steps were heard near the tent. The maid 
 withdrew towards the entrance, and said quickly : " The 
 Emperor ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska did not stir. Napoleon entered the tent, 
 embraced its interior with a quick glance, went to her, and 
 said with a mild reproach : " It is the second time I have come 
 — I was uneasy. It is time, my dear child, to be ready for the 
 journey. Your carriage is waiting for you." 
 
 " Very well ! " whispered Pani Walewska. 
 
 " I am glad we are at last going to leave this horrid Ostród ! 
 And I am sure you will not guess how we shall celebrate our 
 leaving here. We are going to have chicken for lunch ! A 
 real chicken ! Oudinot made us a present of it. But I see you 
 do not enjoy the thought of such a feast." 
 
 Bonaparte touched Pani Walewska slightly on the shoulder, 
 and said in a reproachful tone — 
 
 '' You have been to see him .'' " 
 
 " I could not resist it ! " 
 
 " And what for ? I begged you not to go. He is a mad- 
 man ! " 
 
 " He is my brother." 
 
 " I think I have proved to you that I have not forgotten that 
 for a minute. But he is not M'orthy of your attachment to 
 him. He wilfully and inconsiderately trampled on the closest
 
 362 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 ties, and you went to see him ! What for ? To tear your 
 nerveSj to irritate your unhealed wound, to humiliate yourself 
 before one who is not worthy to touch the hem of your dress ? 
 You should respect yourself!" 
 
 " I went there, Sire, to convince myself that I have nobody 
 m this world, nobody whatever ! " 
 
 Napoleon took Pani Walewska by the hand. 
 
 " Mary, have you a right to talk so ? And I ? " 
 
 She looked sadly on Napoleon, as she said in a subdued tone : 
 " It is true. Sire, you are still with me ! " 
 
 Bonaparte made a movement of impatience. 
 
 " Ungrateful, spoiled child ! Can you admit that I shall ever 
 abandon you — you, my bliss, my good, my bright star .'' Do I 
 not give you enough proofs of my attachment to you .■* Do you 
 not see that you become dearer to me every hour ? " 
 
 " If you only depended on yourself, Sire ! " 
 
 Napoleon became thoughtful. 
 
 "You are right," he said after a while; "who knows what 
 may happen ! At any rate, you must remember that my love 
 for you will last for ever, that I shall never abandon you, that 
 you shall be the dear, the only one ! But you must be the 
 same for me as I am for you ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska shook her head sadly. 
 
 "No, Sire, I shall remam what I am."
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 A QUIET July evening was falling on the shady gardens of 
 Schoenbrunn, lulling the flowers to sleep^ cooling the 
 heated earth with dew and fresh breeze. 
 
 Sehoenbrunn was retiring from the sad sound of trumpets 
 and subdued beating of the drums ; Sehoenbrunn was retiring 
 quickly, as if not wishing to lose one second of rest, as if wish- 
 ing to make up for the nights of Essling and Wagram, during 
 which the uproar of cannons chased away sleep. 
 
 The crescent of the moon came out from behind elm trees, 
 silvering the roof of the residence of the Hapsburgs, and 
 began his nightly wanderings through the alleys of the park. 
 
 Even for such a frequent visitor as was the moon, there were 
 quite remarkable things to be seen in Sehoenbrunn, because, 
 from the standard flapping over the roof of the palace to the 
 passwords of the night sentry, everything was changed. The 
 white uniforms of the Austrian Imperial grenadiers had dis- 
 appeared, Tyrolese songs were heard no more, the white wigs 
 of the servants of the palace were no longer seen. 
 
 Sehoenbrunn, that quiet refined Sehoenbrunn, was filled with 
 the clatter of arms, with a multitude of soldiers, with cries un- 
 familiar to the echoes of the park, conversations, signals, and 
 songs. Soldiers unknown to Sehoenbrunn were mounting 
 guard, the palace swarmed Avith the martial faces of proud 
 people who had been unimportant to Sehoenbrunn ; everything 
 that spoke of the might and grandeur of the Hapsburgs was 
 overborne by the people who came out from the fire lighted by 
 the thundering cannons. 
 
 Everything was changed in Sehoenbrunn — the inhabitants of 
 the palace, as well as those in the pavilions occupied by 
 servants, the horses in the stables, the carriages in the coach- 
 
 363
 
 364 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 houses, the cooks in the kitchens, and the soldiers in the 
 barracks ; only the tall trees rustled as before, only in the 
 green thicket the statue of a satyr was showing his teeth in a 
 malicious smile, dead on his stony mouth. 
 
 Everjrthing was changed in Schoenbrunn ; from Schoenbrunn 
 the Hapsburgs were no longer ruling Austria. In Schoenbrunn 
 Napoleon was staying, and he ruled that country. 
 
 At the edge of the park of Schoenbrunn, on a spot remote 
 from the Vienna Road, stood a small, one-storied house wrapped 
 in creepei's, nestling among shrubs and trees. In front of the 
 house a groom, in rich green livery, was holding three saddled 
 horses. On the veranda stood a middle-aged man wearing a 
 half military and half court uniform, and looking at the horses 
 he rapped constantly at his snuff-box. 
 
 Suddenly the door of the house opened briskly, and there 
 appeared the green uniform of a colonel of chasseurs a chcval. 
 The elderly gentleman turned at once to the new-comer, who 
 said : " Corvisart ! " 
 
 "Sire?" 
 
 " We are going back." 
 
 " I am ready, Sire ! " 
 
 The groom brought the horses nearer. The Emperor 
 mounted. Corvisart did the same. 
 
 At that moment resounded through the half-opened windows 
 of the house the sounds of a spinet, followed by sonorous, 
 silvery singing. 
 
 Napoleon reined in his horse. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the song resounded amidst the quiet of the 
 park, waking up its echo, complaining and rejoicing by turns. 
 
 The smple words seemed to come from the dejiths of the heart 
 and to I'each beyond worlds, till having embraced the whole 
 scale of sentiment, they changed into a war cry. 
 
 " Vous me quittez pour aller k la gloire ! 
 Mon triste coeur suivra partout vos pas ; 
 Alle/, volez an temple de memoire, 
 Allez, volez, mais no m'oubliez pas ! " 
 
 The song stopped. Napoleon was still there as if waiting for 
 more. 
 
 " Mme. Walewska sings charmingly."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 365 
 
 " Yes ; it is my favourite song. She alone knows how to put 
 so much feeling into it/' said the Emperor, not answering 
 Corvisart's remark directly. 
 
 " Ne iHouhliez pas /" resounded a subdued voice through the 
 half-opened window. 
 
 Bonaparte bent from his saddle towards the window, and said 
 with feeling : '" Jamais, Jamais !" 
 
 The horses moved on and disappeared at the turn of the 
 shady path. 
 
 Bonaparte rode ahead, followed closely by Corvisart. The 
 groom kept at a respectful distance. The Emperor was silent ; 
 the physician did not dare to disturb his thoughts. Only when 
 they reached a broad road, Napoleon turned a little towards 
 Corvisart, who understood that movement and rode nearer. 
 
 " Have you examined her ? " 
 
 ''Yes, Sire. We had just finished our conversation when your 
 Majesty came ! " 
 
 "And what .^" 
 
 " There is no doubt. Mme. Walewska expects . . ." 
 
 " Are you certain of it .^ " 
 
 " Positive — then Mme. WalcAvska . . ." 
 
 '' Yes, yes, the best and noblest. ... I did not myself doubt 
 even for one moment — but you understand — I was diffident in 
 spite of myself. Josephine deceived me so many times." 
 
 " Here I can guarantee. Sire ! " 
 
 ''Very well, then. Your assurance was necessary, for it is a 
 very important matter. You understand, my own child ! France 
 must have an heir, for she cannot trust her fate to a bullet, 
 which may find me during a battle. France must have a 
 dynasty. The whole world must know that after Napoleon the 
 First, there will follow the second, the third, the fourth — that the 
 death of the first will not diminish French power, that the 
 State built by me will last, will remain ! " 
 
 "Sire ! " whispered Corvisart hesitatingly, unable to guess the 
 meaning of the words, 
 
 "Josephine must be put aside ! " 
 
 "The Empress?" said the physician, frightened. 
 
 " Yes, she must be put aside for one who will be able to give 
 me a son."
 
 366 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " But the attachment of Her Majesty . . . ?" 
 
 " If I could be permitted to look for affection^ then I would 
 look for it Avhere we are coming from." 
 
 "Then Pani Walewska^ in spite of herself, influenced the 
 determination. . . ." 
 
 "You speak as if you Avould like to reproach me. . . ." 
 
 " I would not dare. Sire ! " 
 
 "I know very well, by myself, that she will be very un- 
 happy. . . ." 
 
 Then, after a while of silence, the Emperor said : " At any 
 rate, not a word to any one yet." 
 
 "\ understand. Sire ! " 
 
 There was silence in the house left by the Emperor ; the 
 noise of the horses' hoofs was not heard any longer. On the 
 veranda of the house appeared a woman dressed in Avhite ; she 
 looked at the depths of the paths between the trees, sighed, 
 and sat on a bench. 
 
 It was a charming July evening. 
 
 The woman sitting on the bench did not remain long alone ; 
 the door opened again, and in the meanwhile a subdued voice 
 said : " Chere Marie, you are alone. . . . Has he gone } " 
 
 « Yes." 
 
 "Why did you not tell me?" said a lady reproachfully, who 
 came on the veranda. " I wanted to speak to him about the 
 Lubienskis. It would be difficult to have another opportunity." 
 
 " I do not think so," quietly answered the woman in white. 
 
 " Perhaps he was not in a good humour. What did he say ? " 
 
 "You know. Princess, that we never talk about politics." 
 
 "And it is too bad. You Avilfully renounce all influence." 
 
 The woman in white made an impatient movement. The 
 lady prevented her answering. 
 
 " Do not feel hurt, my dearest, it is for you and not tor me. 
 , . . You have a position, and you must keep it." 
 
 " I do enough, but I shall not allow mj^self to be mixed up 
 with intrigues. The Emperor knows the people that surround 
 him well, he does not need my advice." 
 
 " But, ma cherle, there is no question of intrigues, but of your 
 way of living. You ought to get rid of certain ideas of yours, 
 you ought to give up that convent-like existence. People
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 367 
 
 should see you, should feel your power. You have convinced 
 yourself about it. Do you remember in Paris when you were 
 afraid of Josephine ! You imagined that she would be furious 
 with you, but it was quite otherwise. . . . Three times Josephine 
 wished to call on you, and you refused to see her. What an 
 idea ! It worries me." 
 
 " I explained to you several times why I did not wish to see 
 the Empress." 
 
 ''^Prejudices are good in our country houses, but not in the 
 grand monde ! I flatter myself that it is not the first Com't that 
 I have been at. You may not mix in politics, but you shoi;ld 
 be with him, he should see you, and then others would respect 
 you." 
 
 " Princess, our opinions differ very much } " 
 
 " Unfortunately ! You are too confident in yourself. If you 
 listen to me ! Enjin, how was he to-day ? " 
 
 " I do not know myself . . . different from usual. Thought- 
 ful, absent-minded." 
 
 " Do not say so ! " 
 
 " Yes, it puzzles me. I have not for a long time seen him as 
 he was to-day." 
 
 " Perhaps Elćonore again ? " 
 
 " I do not think so." 
 
 " Ah, ma cherie ! You do not know people — yes, you do not 
 know, and I would swear ..." 
 
 " Napoleon gave me his word. . . ." 
 
 " His word .'' Does a man give his word to a woman for the 
 purpose of keeping it afterwards } " 
 
 "You have a peculiar gift of irritating." 
 
 " Marie, would I dare ? Do you not see that a most sincere 
 friendship is guiding every one of my steps. You blame me 
 because I wish to be vigilant ! " 
 
 " I do not see any danger." 
 
 " H'm ! who knows ? Only pray do not irritate yourself; but 
 in your position one should expect anything, one must be pre- 
 pared for the worst. . . . But you do not wish to understand 
 that. . . . Suppose there is a change in his disposition — suppose 
 you should be obliged to give him up, what will you do then ? 
 . . . You cannot count on Anastazy. . . . You will be welcome
 
 368 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 to me^ but shall I be able to keep you in your position, which 
 has its requirements. Do not deny it, ma chere. It has great 
 requirements. A Walewska can withdraw, but she must 
 remember who she is } " 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife smiled bitterly. 
 
 " I understand my position too well." 
 
 The Princess sighed. 
 
 "You refute all arguments. You do all in your power to 
 lessen even that influence which came to you of itself. Instead 
 of catching the threads you break them wilfully. I had a letter 
 to-day from Małachowski ; there they know no more than we 
 do here." 
 
 " What does he write ? " 
 
 " Naturally, about the treaty. The news had come already 
 from Vienna to Warsaw, that the provinces taken from Austria 
 will not be joined to the principality of Warsaw." 
 
 " It is false ! " 
 
 "You said the same before Tylza," said the Princess Jabłon- 
 owska drily. 
 
 "Then the Emperor could not." 
 
 "Let us suppose it was as you say, but now a concession in 
 favour of Austria is still more strange." 
 
 "How shall I understand this?" 
 
 "Ah, cheńe ! I do not know myself. You take ever3'^thing so 
 seriously. But you should know that I am the last to hurt your 
 feelings. And then perhaps it is only gossip, although one is 
 obliged to take it into account. But perhaps it would be better 
 if you do not know anything about it. My dearest, let me kiss 
 you. . . . Do you feel cold } Let us go in, the dampness may 
 be dangerous to you." 
 
 Pani Walewska listened patiently to this speech, varied by 
 several kisses deposited on her shajjely head, and when the 
 Princess finished her preface by putting a handkerchief to her 
 eyes, the Chamberlain's wife said : " I daresay you understand 
 that now I must insist upon your telling me everything — you 
 must share your apprehensions with me." 
 
 " But is it worth while ? They say . . . ! And what do they 
 not say ? It is a trifle, and you cannot imagine how painful it is 
 to me to repeat such things."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 369 
 
 An ironical smile appeared in Pani Walewska's face. 
 
 '^ If it is really such a trifle ? " 
 
 There was fright in the Princess's small eyes. 
 
 " H'm ! I cannot say that. . . , On the contrary^ to a cer- 
 tain degree one should count with it. It is apparently a trifle. 
 Only, my dearest, do not take it too earnestly. Every cloud 
 on your forehead is painful to me. Yes, cheiie, very painful ! " 
 
 Here Princess Jabłonowska seated herself on the bench 
 near Pani Walewska, and, assuming a melancholy expression, 
 began to arrange the folds of her silk frock. 
 
 Pani Walewska listened to the rustling of the trees coming 
 from the park, and after a while said quietly : '^ Pray, speak 
 then ! " 
 
 "Well, if you wish I must give in. For could I refuse you 
 anything? Although it costs me such an effort. You could 
 hardly believe. Oh, mon Dieu ! how charming you look in that 
 moonlight ! Is he worthy of you ? Ah ! ma chere la Valliere ! 
 Do not pout, for they give you that name. If you could have 
 such a residence as la Valliere had ! I will tell you everything, 
 my dear, although it is painful to me. Listen, then. . . . M. 
 de Flahaut, the most unbearable gossip, although he is very 
 well at Court, is madly in love with Anetka ! Truly, I do not 
 understand Potocka. Were he at least a marshal. Murat was 
 courting her. ..." 
 
 " And what about de Flahaut ? " 
 
 " I met him yesterday in Vienna. We were talking about 
 horoscopes for our country, and imagine that he assured me that 
 it will be another Tilsit — with this difference, that it is not yet 
 known who will play the part of Marie Louise. You under- 
 stand? Then they say — pray do not take it too seriously — that 
 Eleonorę, bribed by the Austrian diplomacy, is preparing her- 
 self to play a scene . . . my dearest, you tremble ! I told you 
 it is damp ... I shall finish, and we shall go in. I always 
 hated that woman. But what could we do? She will throw her- 
 self at his feet, she will beseech him in the name of her son, and 
 the man will believe her tears, as a man always does, and will 
 wipe them by giving Austria our province. And who knows ? " 
 
 "Have you finished?" asked Pani Walewska, with a strange 
 intonation in her voice, 
 2 B
 
 370 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Princess looked inquisitively at Pani WalcAvska's face, 
 which was no longer bathed in moonlight^ and could hardly be 
 seen in the dark corner of the veranda, and replied with well- 
 played simplicity : " No, my dear child, I have not finished yet, 
 for could you think that, knowing about the danger threatenmg 
 you, I should not take some steps to prevent it ? It seems to 
 you that I have no experience, and that I do not know that in 
 such circumstances one must act, one must defend one's self? 
 You know that I had several errands to do, eh hien, I have done 
 nothing, for as soon as that gossip was told me about Eleonorę 
 I had myself driven at once to the Prince de Ligny's. He 
 lives incogniio, and how he suffers ! How he still loves those 
 Bourbons ! It is moving ! I do not share his ideas, but it is 
 moving ! Then the Prince suffers, for as you know he came to 
 Vienna, not for the purpose of building arches to Bonaparte ! 
 De Ligny is Schwarzenberg's friend, and he is very devoted to 
 me. I told him the whole truth, for we cannot let Eleonorę do 
 as she pleases. Then you have the right of precedence, and 
 should anybody get any advantage from the treaty it must be 
 you, my dearest, for you are in power. 
 
 "The Prince promised me faithfully to speak with Schwar- 
 zenberg about it. There is no doubt that Eleonorę will be 
 removed. They will not risk having an enemy in you, if they 
 have an opportunity of havmg you as their ally. Naturally, 
 I said that Mme. Walewska's terms could not be the same as 
 some Mademoiselle's or Madame Eleonore's. Then they see, 
 my dearest, that there is nothing lost, that the intrigue is frus- 
 trated, and that it depends on your goodwill to end it well." 
 
 " In a word. Princess, you advise me to act against the 
 interests of my own country, to intrigue in favour of Austria, 
 and to induce the Emperor to withdraw Poniatowski and his 
 army from Galicia .'' " 
 
 " You interpret the whole affair wrong. There is no question 
 what provinces should be taken or returned to Austria, but of 
 having a material proof that it is done through you. The 
 armistice is continued ; the Emperor, as you said yourself, would 
 like to return to Paris as soon as possible ; Stadion is j^utting off 
 — perhaps he is preparing a fresh alliance ; in Spain the war is 
 still raging, so that it is difficult to say who Avishes for a treaty
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 371 
 
 most. At any rate, I have done the most difficult part. De 
 Ligny will keep his word. ... It is probable that to-morrow 
 we shall have some news . . . well, speaking frankly, I expect 
 at any minute a courier from Schwarzenberg. A disguised 
 cornier — I do not know myself how — he will bring you a letter 
 and perhaps will ask for an answer." 
 
 "Then you are certain, Princess, that Schwarzenberg will 
 send me a messenger ? " 
 
 " Very certain." 
 
 " In that case I should at once give orders . . ." 
 
 " My dearest, you must not do that ! Nobody must even 
 suspect." 
 
 " I shall only speak with the officer on duty." 
 
 " What do you mean } " 
 
 ^'Simply this, that I cannot ask old John and the maids to 
 struiigle with some strapping Austrian." 
 
 f What do you propose to do, then ? " 
 
 "To arrest the spy and hand him over to the gendarmes." 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska rushed from the bench, and, crush- 
 ing her hands, said rapidly : " Marie, child, consider ! What 
 an idea ! But I shall not permit it ! I shall not bear such 
 levity. You can do what you please with regard to yourself, but 
 you have no right to repay the Prince de Ligny in that way for 
 his goodwill, to compromise me, to make me ridiculous. ..." 
 
 " I am very sorry ! " 
 
 " In that case it remains for me to inform the Prince at once." 
 
 "You shall not do it," said Pani Walewska quietly, but with 
 determination. 
 
 " I cannot act otherwise. I should never forgive mj'self if the 
 Prince should suffer because of me. Therefore, think it over. 
 I am going to wi-ite the letter. I must perform this painful 
 duty. . . ." 
 
 " You do not need to hasten." 
 
 " What .'' Marie ! Is it possible that some good spirit 
 whispered to you to have confidence in me, who love you so 
 sincerely ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska replied quietly — 
 
 " You misunderstand me, Princess ! You forget that not a 
 scrap of paper can enter or leave this house without first passing
 
 372 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 through the Emperor's bureau, and this means that if you per- 
 severe in carrying out your plans, you would find yourself in 
 the same position as that Austrian spy, should he come here." 
 
 The Princess was struck dumb, and she could only speak 
 after a while. 
 
 " It surpasses all conception ! For my self-sacrifice, for my 
 devotion! Oh, mon Dieu! to threaten me! C' est trop fort ! 
 Oh, je lie supportcrais cela ! Water ! Ah, if ma j)ativre mere 
 were living ! Let some one unbutton me ! Lord, nobody to 
 unbutton ! Could I expect such an ohUgeaiice ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska called the servants. The Princess, in order 
 to relax her irritation, complained, not paying any attention to 
 the presence of the maids. 
 
 " De Ligny trusted me. I Avanted to help her. Water ! No, 
 take it away. What are you doing ? No, no, do not unbutton 
 me, I am going at once ! Send for a carriage. I am going, for 
 I will not Avait here for Eleonorę ! Rose, fan me ! Pack my 
 boxes at once. For my kindness to threaten me with arrest ! 
 O est brusque ! To frighten me ! " 
 
 Notwithstanding her irritation, the Princess noticed that Pani 
 Walewska went away. 
 
 " Has she gone ? " 
 
 "Yes, your Highness. Shall I rub you with salts?" 
 
 " No ; go to my bedroom, draw the blind, perfume it with 
 lavender, light the lamps, and , you will tell me my 
 fortune .'' " 
 
 " When will he come ? " 
 
 " Rose, silence ! Not a word. Help me. Malvina, on this 
 side. Go slowly." 
 
 The maids did as they were told ; they took the Princess by 
 the arms and conducted her to her rooms. 
 
 The little house on the edge of Schoenbrunn Park became 
 quiet. The lights disappeared one by one ; evidently its 
 inmates had retired. The park followed the example of the 
 house. The crickets stopped their chirping, and but for the 
 measured tread of the sentries, but for bayonets shining here 
 and there over the thickets, it would have seemed that the 
 charm of a July night had made everything sleepy, that it 
 had stopped even the beating of human hearts. All at once a
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 373 
 
 clatter of horses' feet sounded in the depths of the park. The 
 clatter increased until it became silent at the edge of the glen, 
 stopped by a loudly pronounced : " Qui vive ? " 
 
 " Kleber ct Marengo .'" proudly answered a sonorous voice. 
 
 " Shall I conduct you to the officer on duty, sir ? " 
 
 " No ; which way shall I turn ? " 
 
 " To the right." 
 
 " Have they already retired ? " 
 
 " I do not think so, sir ; I saw a light a little while ago." 
 
 The officer went on toAvards the house. As he was dismount- 
 ing before the portico the moon threw its light on him, and in 
 that light one could see the purple colour and silver embroidery 
 of his uniform, a large tuft and a gold plate on his bearskin. 
 
 Having dismounted, the officer hung the reins over the 
 pommel of his saddle, and leaving the horse to himself, rapped 
 energetically at the door. 
 
 After a while, and after some alarm in the house, which could 
 be perceived by lights that appeared in several windows, the 
 door opened and an old servant holding a lantern appeared in it. 
 
 " Pani Walewska lives here ? " asked the new-comer in Polish. 
 
 The servant sank his head between his shoulders and looked 
 at the officer in wonder. 
 
 " Do you not understand me ? " 
 
 " Yes, it is here, your honour . . . only . . ." 
 
 ''An urgent message ! " said the officer sharply. 
 
 The man made a grimace, opened the door wider, invited the 
 officer in, then trotted to a room, lighted a candle, and having 
 returned to him, said : " If your honour will be so kind as to 
 follow me." 
 
 The officer entered the little room, straightened out his 
 uniform, clanged his spurs, caressed his moustache, and com- 
 manded : " Announce me to Pani Walewska. I am Paul 
 Jerzmanowski, captain of the Light Horse of the Guards of His 
 Majesty the Emperor." 
 
 The servant bowed respectfully, muttered significantly, and 
 pushing a chair to the officer, said confidentially : " It was so 
 dark, your honour, that I did not recognise the uniform — and 
 such a beautiful one ! It is a great festival for me to look at it 
 with my old eyes."
 
 S74 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The officer looked kindly with his sharp black eyes at the old 
 servant. 
 
 "Thank you for your kind words." 
 
 The old man winked at him cunningly. 
 
 "We only see here the chasseurs a cheval. They are nice 
 people, one must say, but impossible to exchange with them a 
 word in human tongue." 
 
 " H'm, yes ! Well, announce me, for I am in haste." 
 
 "I am sure there will be no answer." 
 
 " Go ; go and be quick ! " 
 
 The old man scratched his head and did not budge. 
 
 " Your honour, I may be trusted. I will give it to her lady- 
 ship faithfully. The gentlemen hand to me letters aiad I carry 
 them to my lady, and before the orderly has time to empty a 
 bottle I bring the answer." 
 
 The officer tugged impatiently at his moustache. 
 
 " Sacre bleu ! Announce me to the lady, and do not take me 
 for a messenger ! " 
 
 "I beg of your worship," stammered the frightened servant, 
 'Hhose are my orders. My lady does not receive even a 
 general. ..." 
 
 The officer put his hand on the old man's shoulder, pressed it 
 hard, and having turned him like a broom, said in his imperative 
 voice — 
 
 " Sacrć hleti ! Announce me ! If not, 1 shall announce my- 
 self!" 
 
 At such an argument the servant bowed and disappeared at 
 the door. 
 
 The officer having remained alone, began to walk to and fro, 
 clanging his spurs, tugging at his moustache, and looking from 
 time to time at the door. 
 
 Evidently he came here on very important business, for thei'e 
 were deep wrinkles on his broad forehead. 
 
 A long moment passed before, after some noise in other rooms 
 of the house. Jerzmanowski beheld an elderly lady wrapped in 
 a dressing-gown, and with a dishevelled wig on her head, rushing 
 into the room. 
 
 The captain of the Light Horse drew himself up, and then 
 bent in a court boAv.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 375 
 
 "Madame/' he began. 
 
 The lady did not permit him to speak further. She stretched 
 out her bony hands with a dramatic movement, and Avhispered : 
 " I know, I know all about it ! Do not say a word to her ! It 
 would be in vain ! " 
 
 Jerzmanowski, surprised at such an unexpected greeting, said 
 impatiently : " Excuse me, Madame, but, upon my word, I do 
 not imderstand anything, for hardly an hour since . . ." 
 
 " Yes, yes, but for God's sake not a word ! Even here you 
 are not very safe ! I know for certain that they have already 
 sent for the sentry. You must escape. Yes, yes, trust me, I 
 shall save you. . . ." 
 
 " What ! Save me .'' Sacre bleu ! Excuse my camp expres- 
 sion, but what the deuce ..." 
 
 The lady hung on the officer's arm and explained with pathetic 
 terror : " Listen to me ! I am Jabłonowska ! Oni, cest moi ! 
 You brought a letter ! Stoop a little, I will tell you in your ear ! 
 De Ligny, Schwarzenberg ! Well now } " 
 
 Jerzmanowski looked stupefied at the Princess, trying in vain 
 to understand the mysterious words. Jabłonowska continued : 
 " There is not a moment to lose ! Consider, you will expose me 
 to a danger, you will compromise the Prince ! She is a dreadful 
 woman ! Only to-day I learned that ! Imagine, she threatened 
 to have me arrested, imprisoned ! Wliere is the letter } Give 
 it me. I will burn it ! Do you hear } They are coming ! " 
 
 The captain, stunned by the spasmodic outburst of the 
 Princess, stood surprised, knowing less and less what she wanted 
 of him. 
 
 As to the Princess, she having looked into the brown eyes of 
 the handsome officer of the Light Horse, concluded with despaii'- 
 ing determination : " I will not allow you to get into trouble ! 
 Where is the paper } I must have it ! Be quick ! I will burn 
 it ! It must not reach her hands ! Wait, something is rustling 
 here under your uniform ! It must be the letter ! " 
 
 " But, Madame," protested the officer, seeing that the Princess 
 meant to search him. 
 
 " Do not be afraid for me. Think of yourself. Here it is ! 
 I shall not give it to her. I shall not permit you to suffer on 
 account of me."
 
 376 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 And before the officer had noticed, the Princess seized the 
 order of service Avhich he was carrying under his uniform, and 
 disappeared with it. 
 
 The officer could hardly control his surprise at all this, think- 
 ing that the lady must be half mad, when Pani Walewska 
 appeared in the doorway. The captain, recognising her, bowed. 
 
 " My due respect, Madame. I am Jerzmanowski, captain of 
 the Light Horse of His Imperial Majesty. I had the honour to 
 be introduced to you at Prince Borghese's ball. A very urgent 
 affair forces me to trouble you." 
 
 Speaking thus, the captain drew himself up, rattled his silver 
 belt, clattered his sword, and clashed his spurs. Pani Walewska 
 nodded slightly to the officer's bow, and then said coolly and 
 distinctly : " I am surprised that you have accepted such an 
 errand ! " 
 
 "What am I to understand ? " answered the officer, offended. 
 
 " Have you a letter ? " 
 
 " A letter ! But, poor man, he cannot move his arm ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled ironically. 
 
 " Do not think I shall assume the role of inquisitor, but in 
 the meanwhile you must know that I have chosen the road 
 shown to me by duty. The letter will be found, even if you 
 have succeeded in handing it to Princess Jabłonowska." 
 
 The officer made an impatient movement, understanding that 
 he had fallen into a whirlpool of some mystification. 
 
 " But, Madame, I do not understand one word of all that. A 
 little while ago some lady in tears rushed at me, and, clasping 
 her hands, told me that she would rescue me from some peril. 
 To the deuce ! I came here not secretly, but with a password 
 and on a mission. ..." 
 
 "Then Princess Jabłonowska has taken the writing.''" inter- 
 rupted Pani Walewska feverishly. 
 
 "Yes, she seized it from under my uniform." 
 
 " It is true, I have taken it ! " resounded the Princess's 
 screeching voice triumphantly. 
 
 Pani Walewska turned to the Princess, and said — 
 
 " I believe. Princess, that having understood the importance 
 of that document, you will give it back ?" 
 
 "That document does not exist any longer ! "
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 377 
 
 " Sacre bleu J" 
 
 " Do not be afraid ! I could not allow the name of the noble 
 de Ligny to be dishonoured on account of my indiscretion, and 
 your self-sacrifice to be exposed to the maliciousness of a person 
 who does not understand her own good." 
 
 " Princess ! " Pani Walewska remonstrated. 
 
 The Princess half closed her eyes, and said with force : ''That 
 document does not exist any longer ; I have burnt it ! " 
 
 At this Pani Walewska started, while the officer grew purple, 
 and burst out — 
 
 " Sucre bleu ! that paper was the service order for to-morrow ! 
 I received it from the general staff as I came here, and I have 
 not had even time to look at it. Upon my honour, it is very 
 serious ! " 
 
 "Allow me, sir," said Pani Walewska, who began to under- 
 stand. "Then to what have I to attribute your tardy visit ? " 
 
 The officer dropped his head, deep wrinkles appeared on his 
 forehead. 
 
 " I came here on a sad errand. An old comrade, a friend, 
 is dying, and he made me promise to bring you his last 
 greeting. . . ." 
 
 The officer became silent suddenly, turned his face away, and 
 tugged at his moustache. 
 
 Pani Walewska grew pale, and, having dropped her head, 
 seemed to wait for the dying man's name. The officer of the 
 Light Horse stood silent. 
 
 The stillness was only interrupted by the rustling of the dress 
 of the Princess, who listened eagerly to such an unexpected 
 ending to the de Ligny-Schwarzenberg intrigue. 
 
 "And what more ? " said Pani Walewska with an effort. 
 
 The officer answered sadly — 
 
 "That is all!" 
 
 "But I must know . . ." 
 
 The officer breathed deeply, and began to speak at first 
 gently and then more distinctly. " He had never been well," 
 said the officer ; " he was always sad, on that account we called 
 him ' Sniveller,' but we all loved him, for he was a very good- 
 hearted and ambitious fellow. When he joined the army he 
 became an example to the whole regiment ; he was the first one
 
 37a NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 up and he went to bed last ; he worked constantly, and cared 
 for his soldiers as for his OAvn children. If a soldier was 
 wronged, he would bother a marshal until justice was done, 
 until a reward was granted, until the mischief was forgiven. 
 When he rode at the head of his squadron of horse it seemed 
 that he would not be able to ride a mile, so weak he continually 
 was. But as soon as the signal for attack was given, then he 
 rushed with such impetuosity that nobody could equal him. 
 Such he was ! He would cough and would speak only in a 
 whisper, but as soon as a command was given he would rush 
 first into the whirlpool, and be the bravest amongst the 
 bravest. He was called ^Sniveller,' but he would go first into 
 the fire — Avould rush to meet the balls. One of them he found 
 at Rioseco, another at Madrid, a third one at Eckmiihl, and the 
 last one at Wagram. He was taken to the ambulance. The 
 news spread in the regiment that he had been trampled under 
 the horses' feet. His own soldiers did not see him when he 
 disappeared. Only about ten days after news came to the 
 general staff that he was alive. Dautancourt sent Girardot at 
 once with an ambulance and the order to bring him to Lanzens- 
 dorf. Girardot remained for five days, and returned with the 
 '^ Sniveller.' I wanted to see him at once, but I had not 
 a minute to spare. I only learned from Załuski that the 
 'Sniveller's ' shoulder was wounded — not very dangerously — and 
 that he had a fever. 
 
 " To-day, about noon, when I was coming back from service 
 with my squadron of horse, Fredro rushed to me and said : 
 'The Sniveller wishes to see you.' A bad presentiment took 
 hold of me, and I rushed at a gallop. In half an hour I was 
 at the house in Lanzendorf. Girardot met me. How is he ? 
 What .'' The surgeon dropped his eyes and said that the wound 
 was a dangerous one. I looked at Girardot and thought that he 
 had become a madman. I did not believe the medical man's 
 croaking. I swore to myself, and rushed to the room. ' How 
 are you. Sniveller ? ' I shouted from the threshold. The room 
 was half dark ; he was lying in his bed. I began to joke at the 
 Sniveller, who nodded to me, smiled, and said that he was going 
 on half-pay. It sounded strange to me, but I did not show it, 
 and approved his intention, and wishing to amuse him, began to
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 379 
 
 tell about the last reviev/ at Schoenbrunn. Suddenly he seized 
 me by the hand, and said : ' Excuse me, my half-pay is coming 
 on. There is not much time left, and I have still much to do. 
 I wanted to ask you to carry my greetings to those I loved, and 
 send my things away ! ' ' Snivellei*, sacre bleu ! that stupid shot 
 has made you feverish.' The Sniveller made a movement, took 
 off the bandage, and shoAving his bluish arm, said : ' To be sure it 
 is stupid ; it does not even bleed. I have lost so much blood that 
 there is not a drop left in me. Formerly it used to come out 
 even from my mouth, to-day it does not come even from the 
 wound. I hoped to find a piece of lead that would quench my 
 life at once, but in vain ; even the bullets would not kill such 
 a man as I am. They only notched me, poured out all my blood, 
 and now I must wither.' ' To the deuce ! You covered, not only 
 yourself, but the whole regiment with glory. You exposed your- 
 self too much, you did not wish to listen to honest advice ! ' 
 ' For I could not . . . here in my chest it burned me.' The 
 Sniveller stretched his thin, bony arms to me, and said in a 
 whisper : ' Paul, I wish to make a confession to you. You are 
 strong, your heart and soul are sound ; and I, although I followed 
 your war cries, wanted to quench the grief that was devouring 
 me, I was searching for oblivion ; I was a Judas in our regiment. 
 You went to death to give proofs of your bravery, to show your 
 gratitude to Napoleon, while I amongst you was a selfish man, 
 who wished to die like a hei'o, while I was only a wretch 
 deceived by love, pushed away by a woman ! Apparently I was 
 one of you, but in fact I was a stranger. And it is done now ! 
 It Avas not permitted to me to cany the secret of my selfishness 
 to the grave ! ' He became silent, and it seemed to me that he 
 was delirious. I tried to comfort him. He listened patiently, 
 till at last he interrupted me, beseeching me to do his last wish. 
 I promised. He ordered a light to be brought in. He sat on 
 his bed, and haA'ing taken out from under his shirt a miniature, 
 asked me Avhether I kncAv the person it represented. I was 
 surprised ; the portrait of a beautiful lady seemed familiar to 
 me. The Sniveller said : ' She is not far from here ! Do not 
 deny it, I knoAv it for certain ! If she kncAv, perhaps she Avould 
 not refuse. ... I shall not complain and make any reproaches ; 
 she shall not hear one complaint, she shall not see even a shade
 
 380 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 of grief. ... I wish only to take leave of her, and tell her that, 
 knowing her sorrow, I would render her a last service ! Go and 
 tell her ! Hasten, for perhaps I shall not live till morning ! 
 His request seemed to me impossible. I tried persuasion. The 
 Sniveller fainted. I did not know what to do, for I had engaged 
 my word. I left Girardot with the Sniveller, and rushed to 
 headquarters to the Grand Marshal of the Court. Duroc was 
 very kind to me, and although he could not give me permission, 
 he did not spare me some advice, and did not dissuade me from 
 taking my chance. I rushed here at once to you, Madame, and 
 here I am." 
 
 Pani Walewska, who during this long narrative seemed to be 
 changed into a statue, sighed deeply. Fi-om her lips came a 
 quiet, trembling whisper. 
 
 " But you did not say his name. ... I do not know who he 
 is. I am afraid to make conjectures. . . ." 
 
 The officer became red, his eyes filled with tears, the breath- 
 ing seemed to be stopped in his chest. 
 
 For a while he was fighting with emotion, till at last he 
 tugged at his shoulder-belt, and said in a hoarse voice — 
 
 " Madame, Gorayski is dying ! " 
 
 After that exclamation there was quiet in the room. The 
 officer dropped his head. Pani Walewska stood motionless, cold, 
 looking at the purple facings of his uniform — only it seemed 
 that the lively hue of the purple irritated her eyes, for her eye- 
 lids quivered, and her eyelashes moved. 
 
 " How far from here ? " she asked suddenly. 
 
 " About one hour." 
 
 " Shall we arrive in time .'' " 
 
 " I do not know." 
 
 " I will go at once ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska rushed from the room. The officer cleared 
 his throat, took out a handkerchief and began to wipe his fore- 
 head, and then turned towards the door leading to the ante- 
 chamber. He was, however, stopped by the Princess. 
 
 " Very well ! Splendid ! " the latter said in rapture. " What 
 an experience ! What a clever stratagem ! " 
 
 "What?" muttered the officer. 
 
 " I guessed your ruse at once. Only such ways are good
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 381 
 
 with her ! I tell you that she had already informed the 
 sentries. I admire your idea. Do not be afraid— the paper 
 does not exist." 
 
 The officer did not answer, and rushed to the vestibule, 
 leaving the Princess to her reflections. Such behaviour from 
 the messenger of Schwarzenberg cooled the Princess at once, 
 and turned her imagination in another direction. Suppose that 
 officer really came in the name of Gorayski ? Suppose Goray- 
 ski . . .? In that case one must act. 
 
 The Princess had already her plan of action, and when Pani 
 Walewska appeared ready to go, the Princess said sarcastically : 
 "I am much vexed that you wish to hazard your reputation." 
 
 "I do not understand." 
 
 " H'm ! . . . but it is not difficult. At night, with an officer 
 to see another officer. . . ." 
 
 " It seems to me that I am my own mistress." 
 
 "Certainly. Only if the Emperor hears about that expedi- 
 tion, although a very military one, and in your position doubly 
 imprudent. ..." 
 
 "It is not you, but I who shall be responsible." 
 
 " You forget that moral duty forces me . . ." 
 
 " To try to induce me to intrigue with the Prince de Ligny." 
 
 The Princess made an angry movement. 
 
 " But not to such expeditions." 
 
 Pani Walewska shrugged her shoulders contemptuously and 
 went into the vestibule, not paying any attention to the 
 Princess's face contorted with malice. 
 
 In front of the vestibule, besides the captain's horse, stood 
 two others brought by John. 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife nodded to the officer of the Light 
 Horse, and, helped by him, mounted her horse ; the captain 
 and John jumped on theirs. 
 
 The officer turned to Pani WaleAvska, Avho understood his 
 movement, and said : " Show the way." 
 
 The captain went ahead. Pani Walewska and John following 
 him. 
 
 The glen was filled with the trampling of horses' hoofs. 
 The surrounding depths of the park answered that trampling 
 with a long rustling. Shadows came out from behind the
 
 382 NArOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 thickets, monotonous voices were heard here and there, the 
 captain's several answers sounded in the interval, and the three 
 riders disappeared among the trees. 
 
 Jerzmanowski rushed forward, looking behind him from time 
 to time as if wishing to hurry Pani Walew'ska, who, without a 
 word of protest, kept uji with him ; only when they turned 
 from the main road on a stony country road, the Chamberlain's 
 wife said hesitatingly — 
 
 " Permit me ... I must slacken. ... Is it far still .'' " 
 
 The captain drew in his horse and pointed at a hill in the 
 distance. 
 
 "There is Lanzensdorf. We can reach it in a quarter of an 
 hour." 
 
 " Is there really no hope ? " asked Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Girardot says so. Yesterday Dautancourt wished to bring 
 Larrey to the Sniveller, but they gave up the useless trouble. 
 The wound does not bleed any more. Sucre bleu ! I never saw 
 a more villainous one. It is bluish, swollen, and it is not pain- 
 ful. They burned it with hot iron, but they did not succeed in 
 bringing out any blood. Well, it flowed from the Sniveller, 
 through his wounds and his mouth, till there is no more of it 
 in him." 
 
 Jerzmanowski became silent ; he pushed his shako on one 
 side and laughed gloomily. 
 
 "They promoted him, they promised him a cross, but he will 
 sooner get a wooden one on his grave. If he had been struck 
 by a cannon-ball — well, such is a soldier's lot ! But no, he is 
 lying like a log, and must wait until it deigns to come. Pfuy ! 
 And if one begins to think, how and who it shall be . . . then 
 . . . Sucre bleu ! one minute of torture will seem to one a couple 
 of years. There is no order in this world. Well, this way ! 
 There in the light." 
 
 The captain spurred his horse and went ahead again, in the 
 direction of a house that stood on a hill. 
 
 In front of the house Jerzmanowski reined in his horse and 
 threw the bridle to an orderly, who at sight of an officer rushed 
 out from the door ; then he went towards Pani Walewski, who 
 was coming up with John. 
 
 "Allow me, Madame, to tell him about your coming."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 383 
 
 Pani Walewska stopped. The captain rushed into the house 
 and returned quickly. 
 
 "Well?" asked Pani Walewska with uneasiness. 
 
 "He is asleep, Girardot says. . . . He is an idiot!" burst 
 out the officer angrily. " He is clever as long as he does not 
 see death, sacre bleu ! Pray, follow me." 
 
 Pani Walewska followed the captain, who introduced her 
 into a room dimly lighted with a tallow candle, in the light of 
 which she could not even see a group of officers sitting quietly 
 — then opened another door, and with a gesture of his hand he 
 asked her to enter. 
 
 Pani Walewska made a few steps forward and found herself 
 in a large square room, the furniture of which was composed of 
 a modest pine bed, a table and two benches. Three tallow 
 candles lighted the room so feebly that Pani Walewska required 
 a few minutes to see the objects surrounding her. As for 
 Jerzmanowski, he seemed to be at home here, for he went 
 straight to the bed, looked at it, and, moved by some thought, 
 walked to the window, at which a tall man could be discerned. 
 
 "Wasilewski, sacre bleu!" he said, trying to control his wrath. 
 " You put the full uniform on him ! " 
 
 " The captain himself ordered it." 
 
 " And what did Girardot say } He is a painted doll ! The 
 collar would choke him. Tfny ! You donkeys ! And what is 
 that } " 
 
 "A piece of consecrated wax-candle." 
 
 "Tfuy! Tfuy ! " spat Jerzmanowski, looking still more 
 threateningly at the sergeant standing erect. " You are almost 
 grey, and still you are stupid. You should have brought a 
 priest to him." 
 
 " According to order — he just left." 
 
 " What ? A priest .'* " exclaimed Jerzmanowski. 
 
 "Well, according to our Christian custom ..." 
 
 Jerzmanowski made an impatient movement and went into a 
 dark corner of the room. 
 
 At that moment Pani Walewska, having grown used to the 
 dusk, came to the bed on which Captain Gorayski was lying. 
 But hardly had she looked at his face when she staggered, and 
 was obliged to lean on the foot of the bed so as to prevent her-
 
 384 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 self from falling. In the meanwhile, the Chamberlain's wife 
 looked with astonishment at the captain's yellow, cadaverous, 
 motionless face, which even the reflection of the pm-ple facing 
 of the gala uniform could not animate. Was it really Gorayski, 
 that bashful but always cheerful playmate of her childhood ? 
 Was this that sentimental youth who was in love with her even 
 then, Avhen she was still living in her parents' house ? Was 
 this that cavalier full of self-denial, who was the first to warn 
 her of the abyss towards which she was being dragged by her 
 family's calculations ? Was this that noble man, who had tried 
 in vain to change her sisterly sentiment into another, and who, 
 in order to forget his disenchantment, had gone to the war to 
 find forgetfulness .'' Then that face covered with deep wrinkles, 
 withered, marked with suffering, the face of the twenty-five- 
 year-old officer of the Guards, of the knight who used to rush 
 into the fire, of an enthusiast risking his life .'' 
 
 Pani Walewska passed her hand over her eyes as if wishing 
 to chase away a nightmare. Gorayski made a movement — an 
 attack of awful coughing moved the uniform buttoned over his 
 hollow chest. From the head of the bed rose the physician and 
 approached a glass with some potion to the captain's lips. 
 Gorayski pressed his lips eagerly to the glass and drank avidly. 
 Then he breathed and whispered : " Is it late .'' " 
 
 ''After midnight." 
 
 " Has he returned yet ? " 
 
 The surgeon wished to answer, when suddenly Gorayski's 
 eyelids quivered, the eyes opened wide and became full of life. 
 " You are here ! You are. ... I was sure ! You did not 
 refuse ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska drew nearer. 
 
 "I have just heard that you are ill, and I took the liberty of 
 coming to see you, and asking you if I could do anything for 
 you." 
 
 The Chamberlain's wife, feeling Gorayski's fiery look, dropped 
 her eyes and blushed. 
 
 " Always beautiful. ... As beautiful as ever ! I dreamed 
 of you so, so I wished to see you once more." 
 
 " You must take care of yourself — not talk too much, for it 
 tires you," she ti'ied to persuade him.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 385 
 
 Gorayski made an impatient movement. 
 
 "No, it gives me strength. Jerzmanowski! Where is he .^ 
 A . . . pray, leave us alone. Wait ; put me near the window. 
 So ! And now leave us. . . ." 
 
 Jerzmanowski, followed by the surgeon and the sergeant, left 
 the room quietly. 
 
 Gorayski was silent for a while, and then said in a whisper : 
 " Mary, forgive me for daring to disturb the quiet of this lovely 
 July night. ... I am going away, but it is not for this reason 
 that I troubled you. Were I burning with desire to see you, I 
 could have controlled that wish, and I would not have sent for 
 3^ou to Schoenbrunn. It is not of myself that I wish to talk. 
 Give me your hand. Do you feel how cold mine is groAving ? 
 You live in Schoenbrunn, so Fate wished. May it not be too 
 hard at least for you. Well, perhaps your lot would have been 
 not so hard if not for your brother. Do not accuse him — do not 
 judge him ; the surprise was too cruel. I saw him before the 
 first Spanish campaign. We had several long talks, till finally he 
 swore to me that if I were of the same opinion in a year's time 
 he would give in. He was going to the front. Before leaving 
 he gave me this ring as a token. I accepted it on condition 
 that it was to be an agreed sign between us. Here is our com- 
 pact : if I had no chance of seeing him, or if, when dying, I still 
 upheld my ideas about you, I was to give you this ring. It 
 will open the door of your parents' house to you, as well as your 
 brother's heart. Take it from me. I wished to send it to you by 
 a friend, but I preferred to spare you. ..." 
 
 "I thank you," answered Pani Walewska, in a muffled voice. 
 " I appreciate your good intentions, but I do not think that I 
 shall need that enchanting ring. All is over between Paul and 
 me." 
 
 Gorayski pressed Pani Walewska's hand. 
 
 " Mary, for God's sake do not speak in that way ! He is your 
 brother, he loves you. He is a soldier. He was in the Polish 
 legions. He did not know anything about intrigues. A 
 thunderbolt struck him. It did not spare even his soldier's 
 honour. He was in despair. Do you think he does not love you, 
 that he did not wish to justify you ? In me he wished to find an 
 affirmation of his thoughts, and he found it. He wanted time to 
 
 2 C
 
 886 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 become accustomed to that idea. Mary, do not follow your 
 pride. He is your brother. There may come a time when you 
 will need his heart. Look at me, how much stronger and better 
 I could have been had I had a sister who could share my 
 sorrows. . , ." 
 
 " You have a sister," interrupted Pani Walewska, with feeling, 
 and bent to the captain's hand. 
 
 Gorayski smiled bitterly. 
 
 " You alone I wished not to have for a sister." 
 
 An excess of coughing tore the captain's chest again. 
 
 Pani Walewska handed him a glass Avith a potion. Gorayski 
 hardly touched it with his lips, and pushed it aside. 
 
 " It will not quench." 
 
 "Does the wound burn.''" asked Pani Walewska solicitously. 
 
 "Yes," answered the captain, with an effort, and then, ani- 
 mated by a thought, he asked abruptly : " Then you will see 
 Paul, you will be reconciled to him .'' You are hesitating. . . ." 
 
 " But if he perseveres . . ." 
 
 " No ! the sooner you do it, the shorter you will make his 
 suffering. Believe me, he suffered much . . . very much. Do 
 you promise ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "Very well. Press my hand. Thank you. That is all I 
 wished to tell you. All. . . . ! " 
 
 Gorayski dropped his head on the pillows. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked with painful astonishment at the 
 captain's face, vainly searching in her mind for some word of 
 consolation. After a while she said hesitatingly : " Could I do 
 anything for you ? I should be so glad." 
 
 Gorayski shook his head. 
 
 " No, nothing ; I do not need anything. Pray forgive me for 
 having troubled you. I would not have dared, if not for that. 
 . . . Forgive me if sometimes by look or word . . . but some- 
 times baseness takes hold of a man. I remember at that ball. 
 ... I was a scoundrel. ... I v/as mad. ... I persecuted you 
 with my reproaches, accusations, suspicions. ... I was em- 
 bittered by my wild imagination. Forget ! Forgive me ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska made a nervous movement. Her face became 
 pale.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 387 
 
 She knelt at his bedside, put her hand on his forehead, 
 and said : " Do not speak in that way to me. Do not wound 
 me. You were always a brother to me. I i*espected you ; you 
 had my friendship. The more I knew your magnanimity, the 
 more I regretted that I had crossed your road, that unwittingly 
 I was the cause of your suffering, that I disturbed your 
 peace. . . ." 
 
 The captain rose Avith an effort, his eyes shone again. 
 
 " Mary, is a star to be blamed if it attracts by its lustre, if 
 it makes one blind, if it draws the soul beyond the worlds ? " 
 
 " Your sentiment," went on Pani Walewska in a trembling 
 voice, "weighed on me like a stone. I prayed the Almighty to 
 take it from you, or . . . to awake in me an answer. Yes, I did 
 pray. The thought that you suffered through me, that for long 
 years I could not understand your intentions, was a continual 
 reproach to me. Not being able to give you my heart I wished 
 to increase my sisterly affection. Unfortunately, I only per- 
 suaded myself that I made your suffering keener. Then I tried 
 to repulse you by my indifference ; I strove to make you have 
 the worst opinion of me possible. Wilfully I ignored your good 
 advice ; at last I surrounded myself with inaccessibility. Do you 
 remember when, two years ago, you were wounded } Do you 
 think it was easy for me to put on the mask of indifference 'i 
 No; I was afraid to arouse in you a hope — I did not wish to 
 rekindle your already dying sentiment for me. . . . Therefore 
 forgive me ! ... It is difficult to command a heart. The 
 enormity of the wrong done you crushes me — it frightens me. 
 Only to-day I realised how much you suffer. And all through 
 me, and for me." 
 
 The captain made a deprecating movement. 
 
 "It is not true," he protested in a hoarse voice. 
 
 " Yes," continued Pani Walewska, with a painful emotion, 
 " the curse reached even those whom I loved, to whom I 
 wished well. It is awful ! " 
 
 " And I tell you it is not true ! I — I never loved you ! . . . 
 Do you hear me } . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska raised her head and looked in stupefaction at 
 Gorayski's face, that shivei'ed with the mortal effort of life ; it 
 was feverish, it quivered with pain.
 
 388 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " You did not love me ? " she asked with astonishment. 
 
 " Never ! " cried the captain, with a wrathful outburst. 
 
 Gorayski's voice vibrated Mith such determination, with such 
 strength, with such mercilessness, that a cold shiver ran through 
 Pani Walewska ; the whole building of her ideas about the 
 captain fell in ruins. She smiled sadly, dropped her eyes, and 
 began to search in the depths of her soul for an explanation. 
 Was it possible that she had misunderstood him, that she had 
 made such a mistake .'' The Chamberlain's wife not being able 
 to find answers to these questions, having failed to understand 
 such a change, looked at Gorayski as if she wished to find on his 
 face the solution of the riddle. But hardly did she raise her 
 silky eyelashes, hardly did she glance at the captain, than a cry 
 of awe came out of her mouth. 
 
 Gorayski was lying with dropped head, with half-closed eyes ; 
 brownish, coagulated blood was on his lips, while from his throat 
 was coming a hoarse rattle. 
 
 At Pani Walewska's scream the surgeon, followed by 
 Jerzmanowski and the sergeant, rushed into the room. The 
 surgeon bent over Gorayski and began to administer salts to 
 him. Jerzmanowski went to Pani Walewska, helped her to rise, 
 and conducted her to another room, where he left her with an 
 officer of the Light Horse, and then returned to Gorayski. At 
 that moment the surgeon put aside the salts, and having looked 
 at the dying man's face, put his hand under his uniform. 
 
 Jerzmanowski frowned. 
 
 " What } How is he ? " 
 
 " He is dying." 
 
 Jerzmanowski snorted and said angrily — ■ 
 
 " Listen, Girardot ! Sacre hlev, do not assume the countenance 
 of a grave-digger I ... he is breathing. ..." 
 
 The surgeon took the dying man's hand, felt his pulse, then 
 said quietly — 
 
 " He is dead ! " 
 
 " Dead ! " repeated Jerzmanowski mournfully, leaned against 
 the wall, and looked in bewilderment at the comrade who was 
 growing stiff. 
 
 Girardot sighed, and said quietly to Jerzmanowski : " Captain, 
 be careful, do not strain yourself; remember your own wound."
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 389 
 
 *' What then ? " muttered the officer angrily. 
 
 Girardot shook the captain's hand. 
 
 "Better go away. Poor man, he could not live ! Consumption ! 
 And in addition to that they pierced his feeble chest." 
 
 "You think . . ." said Jerzmanowski, and again looked at 
 the dead comrade without finishing his phrase. Girardot dropped 
 his head. 
 
 " I have expected it for a long time. That womid received 
 at Wagram was not mortal — grief killed him. A brave soldier, 
 a good comrade ! Well, I must report to the general staff." 
 
 And he went slowly towards the door. Here, having met the 
 sergeant, he whispered something to him and went out. 
 
 Jerzmanowski did not notice Girardot's absence, being absorbed 
 by strange thoughts that suddenly rushed into his head. 
 
 " He is dead ! " repeated the captain. " Well, he is not the 
 first and not the last. Many others were taken from the ranks. 
 This one was at least wounded several times, while some were 
 like Dembiński, who fell from his horse during a march, and all 
 was over with him. Not everybody dies in the same way, 
 although everyone must die. Sacre bleu ! such is the law. The 
 worst is to die slowly, for then one behaves like a woman — one 
 prattles ; then the priest . . . tfuy ! ... In Rome there is a 
 crowd of saints and what . . . The Legion went where it was 
 to go. One cannot avoid death. . . . What a pity that the 
 Sniveller is dead! But it is not unusual — provided it come at 
 once. One is swept away, they pity you, they sigh after you, they 
 talk about you at the camp fires, some one cries for you at 
 home and that is all. Then you shine with your captainship, 
 you cling, you shout in the squadi'on, and you think that 
 if you are not there it is a great loss. If you are not there, 
 there is another ! Six lieutenants would be glad to exchange 
 their epaulettes. Well, he was a good comrade. Pity, sacre 
 bleu ! . . ." 
 
 Jerzmanowski stopped that stream of thoughts, for he noticed 
 that the sergeant was feverishly busy. 
 
 At first Jerzmanowski wanted to scold him, and to tell him 
 that he was behaving inproperly ; but having understood the 
 soldier's doings, restrained himself, and looked at him atten- 
 tively.
 
 390 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 The sergeant moved swiftly about. He took off the blanket, 
 arranged the bed ; then he put on Gorayski the purple full-dress 
 trousers and buttoned them under the uniform, which he 
 smoothed ; he arranged the aiguillettes ; then he slipped the 
 silver cartridge-box over the left shoulder^ and having girded 
 Gorayski with a white leather belt, he twisted twice round his 
 body a white and purple scarf with silver tassels. Here he 
 stopped, looked sharply at his work, and worked further. 
 
 Jerzmanowski smiled with satisfaction, thinking — 
 
 "What a dexterous knave ! Such an old wolf of the regiment ! 
 He has forgotten nothing." 
 
 He bound the dead man's chin, so that the jaw should not 
 hang, closed his eyes, and put two coins on the eyelids ; the 
 shako, the sword, and a pair of pistols he put at the foot of the 
 bed, and the white mantle he stuck in so adroitly under the 
 body, that under it the modest bedding disappeared. Every- 
 thing he dusted, cleaned, polished. He had not forgotten boots 
 and spurs. He even found a comb and arranged the dead 
 man's hair and moustache. 
 
 " He almost has it ! Grcmde tenue, on the cloak ! Honestly, 
 according to order ! " muttered Jerzmanowski. 
 
 But as it seemed, the sergeant was not of the captain's opinion, 
 for he lighted a candle, he went to a cornei*, arranged his uniform, 
 put on the shako, girded a sword, and came to the bed with 
 military gait, stretched himself erect, and raised his hand to the 
 visor. 
 
 The sergeant's grey eyes shone, his hand slightly shook, his 
 chest heaved. 
 
 "I humbly report that everything is according to order," 
 sounded in the quiet the sergeant's quivering voice. 
 
 Something seized Jerzmanowski by the throat. 
 
 In the meanwhile the sergeant made a half movement, and 
 with the same military gait he went to the corner, Avhere he 
 took off his shako, ungirded the sword, and began to search for 
 something m a box. 
 
 Jerzmanowski muttered — 
 
 "The rogue knows the service, and he has everything he 
 needs ! " 
 
 But hardly had the captain come to himself by that con-
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 391 
 
 elusion, and thought that it would be time to return to his 
 squadron, when the sergeant came out from the shadows and 
 approached the body, this time without the shako, and almost 
 bent. 
 
 Jerzmanowski grew impatient. 
 
 " What more has he found .'' " 
 
 The sergeant did not pay any attention to the captain's 
 impatient movements, and put some object into Gorayski's hands. 
 Then he knelt, and began to pray in a muffled voice. 
 
 Jerzmanowski bit his lips. 
 
 " Fanatic ! " 
 
 "Lord, give him eternal rest ! " said the sergeant. 
 
 "Sexton ! " muttered the captain. 
 
 " Gi'ant him eternal light . . ." 
 
 " Tfuy ! He recollects, sacre bleu ! . . . He had better join the 
 Capucin monks! I do not want such a soldier in my squadron! 
 Wasilewski ! " he called to the sergeant. 
 
 The sergeant crossed himself without any haste, passed his 
 sleeve over his face, and then, having noticed the captain, he 
 drew himself up as if on duty. 
 
 "What, you old booby ! " said the captain, trying to be severe. 
 
 "All according to order, sir ! " 
 
 "H'm ! . . . you, sacre bleu .' . . . A . . . what have put into 
 his hands ? " 
 
 "I, sir?" 
 
 "Of course, it is not I! Well, here, here!" grumbled the 
 captain. 
 
 The sergeant stretched his hands towards the dead man, took 
 from his hands a small object and handed it to the captain. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " Blessed Virgin of Czenstochowa, sir ! " 
 
 Jerzmanowski's face became scarlet ; he looked at the little 
 picture and tugged at his moustache. 
 
 " Well . . . and . . . saci'e bleu ! upon my word I could not 
 think. H'm ! " 
 
 The captain turned from the sergeant and went to the open 
 window. There, from beyond undulating hills, the sky was 
 growing bi-ighter, the light was chasing the darkness and 
 quencliing the stars.
 
 392 NArOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Jerzmanowski looked to the west, a big tear suspended on his 
 eyelashes, and his thoughts embraced his childhood. 
 
 And there rose before him the figure of his father, a proud 
 nobleman, who never bent before anybody, whose severe face 
 had never shown weakness even during the most trying moments 
 of his life. Only when from the blue space there came the 
 sounds of a church bell, then in such moments that stalwart man 
 would bend before an image of the blessed Virgin of Czen- 
 stochowa. 
 
 Jerzmanowski sighed, turned to the sergeant suddenly, and 
 said hesitatingly : " Listen, old man. . . ." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "When I . . . Well, then ..." 
 
 The sergeant looked at the captain. 
 
 " You understand, well ... a beastly cannon-ball . . . then 
 you also . . . me too. . . . For although it helps the dead man 
 no better than incense . . . one must have the Virgin of 
 Czenstochowa, sacre bleu!" 
 
 That day Napoleon got up earlier than usual, so that Constant 
 was hardly ready to dress his master, and Corvisart, instead of 
 finding the Emperor being shaved, as usual, found him already 
 dressed and asking for Meneval. 
 
 Corvisart, with the ability of an old courtier, guessed the 
 Emperor's bad humour, and withdrew discreetly. The Emperor 
 did not say a word to him, entered his study and sat at his desk, 
 covered with papei's. 
 
 All the inhabitants of Schoenbrunn Castle trembled. There 
 was a dead silence in ante-chambers, in service rooms, and even 
 in the apartments occupied by ministers and marshals ; the 
 aides-de-camps' faces were long ; the officers of the staff and 
 employes gloomy ; the generals waiting for an audience ; the 
 officers who had come with reports looked at each other 
 hesitatingly. 
 
 Napoleon was working with the energy that crushed Mene- 
 val ; that made changes in the army and administration ; that 
 reached the boundaries of Europe and surprised the world. 
 The papers quivered in Napoleon's hands. His pen threw on 
 them short decisions; the couriers rushed in and out with
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 393 
 
 voluminous letters. The employes of the Emperor's bureau 
 worked faster than ever, for the thunderbolt was threatening to 
 strike anybody among them. 
 
 After two hours' work the Emperor rose and paced the room. 
 Meneval lifted his head slightly and looked at his master. 
 
 The Emperor caught his secretary's look. 
 
 " Is there anybody waiting ? " 
 
 "Herr von Bubna^ the Emperor Francis's aide-de-camp." 
 
 " What does he want } I told him yesterday ! They wish 
 for more war ; they shall have it ! " 
 
 " He has brought new propositions." 
 
 *' Afternoon ! I have no time ! Any news from Saronne ? " 
 
 "Nothing. . . . The Pope holds on! Prince Rovigo writes ..." 
 
 " That he has made a new blunder ! " 
 
 "He has intercepted some correspondence from Rome." 
 
 " He wishes to prevent the Pope from communicating with 
 his clergy ! It is an extreme measure — unnecessary. Write to 
 him at once ! " 
 
 Meneval bent over a sheet of paper, and executed the order. 
 Napoleon went to a side table loaded with correspondence, and 
 began to open the letters and read them. 
 
 Evidently there was nothing of importance in them, for 
 Napoleon glanced at them more and more rapidly. Suddenly 
 from between two large envelopes slipped a small one. The 
 Emperor opened it and began to read a long letter. 
 
 He became gloomy. 
 
 " Where is this from ? " 
 
 Meneval rushed from behind the table. 
 
 " This letter .^ I do not know. Sire ! I will find out imme- 
 diately. ..." 
 
 " You do not know ! None of you know what is going on 
 around you ! " the Emperor scolded, finishing the letter. 
 
 Meneval stood like a block of stone. 
 
 In the meanwhile. Napoleon read the letter again, and when 
 he had finished his face was blue. Meneval grew pale. 
 
 "Call Duroc," cried Bonaparte. 
 
 Mcneval rushed out. Napoleon read the letter a third time, 
 as if not wishing to believe his own eyes. The Marshal of the 
 Court appeai-ed in the doorway.
 
 394 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 ''You called me^ Sire?" he said quietly. 
 
 Napoleon threw the letter on the table, and said passionately: 
 " Read this ! I am sure there is more truth in it than you 
 would suppose ! Well, read it ! " 
 
 Duroc took the letter quietly, and read it. 
 
 The Emperor strode to and fro, speaking angrily. 
 
 "What.'' A lovely letter! Rejoice at it! It needed an 
 anonymous letter to discover that ! If it were not for that 
 scoundrel or intriguer, she might laugh at me to my l;ice ! And 
 you do not know anything about it ! You did not expect that. 
 Mme. Walewska ! Ha ! ha ! ha I A woman like the others. 
 No better than the others ! You are surprised, eh .'' " 
 
 Dui'oc stood quietly under the fire of the Emperor's ironical 
 looks. 
 
 "Not at all, Sire," the Grand Marshal of the Court answered 
 simply. " I have a report with me about the matter." 
 
 " Ah ! A report, which arrives after the anonymous de- 
 nunciation." 
 
 " Only for this reason, that it contains the truth ; and that 
 truth does not tarnish Mme. Walewska's honour in the slightest 
 way. His Majesty will be kind enough to read. . . ." 
 
 The Emperor seized the paper from Duroc's hands. 
 
 " Report ! Ah ! She went out. Yes, to Lanzensdorf ! The 
 anonymous letter says the same, word for word." 
 
 " But it says that there was a rendezvous," rejoined Duroc. 
 
 The Emperor did not answer that remark, and read the 
 report attentively. 
 
 "H'm! A fine conclusion; if they did not deceive each 
 other ! A dying playmate of her childhood ! . . . the last 
 adieu ! Comedy ! Order an investigation ! " 
 
 " It is done ! Here is the report of the Colonel of the Light 
 Horse of the Guard about the captain's death." 
 
 " He died } " 
 
 " This morning, Sire. He was recommended for the cross and 
 promotion. ..." 
 
 "Gorayski! I do not remember that name. H'm ! But it 
 must be as you say. ..." 
 
 The Emperor walked across the room again as if pondering 
 over something. Then he stopped before Duroc.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 395 
 
 " You are right. Never she ! All of them, but not she ! 
 What a villainous calumny ! Yes, the more I think, the more I 
 wonder at myself for being carried away by a suspicion. 
 Duroc, no other woman was ever as dear to me as she ! Never ! 
 She alone . . . ! " 
 
 " Yes, it is so. Sire." 
 
 ''Wait, I must reward her for that . . . yes, I must ! She 
 does not know that I doubted, but I know and that suffices. 
 Duroc, think it over ! We must ..." 
 
 "Sire, the task oversteps my ability, for until now, as your 
 Majesty knows, Mme. Walewska has not accepted any presents, 
 and I do not know if she would change her mind." 
 
 The Emperor became sincerely sorrowful, and continued in a 
 confidential tone : " Yes, and that sometimes makes me angry. 
 I should like to do something, but in vain. What extraordmary 
 disinterestedness ! I had good intentions towards her brother, 
 but you know how unfortunately it ended with him. On the 
 other hand, she continues to have confidence in me. You know 
 what I am thinking about. She has such confidence that 
 sometimes I shiver. Perhaps I pushed my promise too far. 
 Well, she deserves to have the whole world laid at her feet. 
 Unfortunately I must count with events. You know very well 
 how much I would like to take Galicia from Austria and join it 
 to the Principality of Warsaw ! But who knows if it would 
 be diplomatic ? In a word, nothing for her ! Nothing what- 
 ever ! " 
 
 " According to my opinion. Sire, if your Majesty's sentiment 
 has not cooled ..." 
 
 " I should then be the foe of my own happiness." 
 
 "Then, your Majesty could be certain that she would appre- 
 ciate your goodwill ... a loving woman ..." 
 
 " You are right. Wait, what time is it .'^ " 
 
 "Ten o'clock. Sire." 
 
 " I cannot now ; but in the afternoon. You will go with me. 
 She likes you very much — she always speaks well of you." 
 
 " Sire ! " 
 
 " That bore, von Bubna, is waiting for me ! Come to lunch, 
 and Ave will dine with her. Send me that tiresome von Bubna ! 
 I wonder v/hat new political combination he has brought .'' "
 
 396 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Duroc bowed and retreated towards the door. The Emperor 
 recollected somethmg suddenly. 
 
 " Permit me . . . one moment ! Ah ! Have j^ou taken that 
 anonymous letter ? " 
 
 " I wish to burn it together with the report ! " 
 
 "H'm!" said the Emperor, after a movement of hesitation, 
 "you must keep them . . . they may be useful!" 
 
 " These . . . these . . . scraps ? " 
 
 " Well, yes ; can you not think ? I have nothing to hide from 
 you. In case a favourable answer comes from St. Petersburg, I 
 must take steps for divorce at once ; and much more, I must not 
 permit the spreading of news about my private relations. The 
 Grand Duchess is, as it seems, a little sentimental. She may 
 dislike it, that I do not regulate my affairs of that kind. There- 
 fore it will be necessary to send Mme. Walewska away. I 
 should like to avoid all explanations. One must give her some 
 pretext for the rupture . . . although it will not be a rupture. 
 And these papers will furnish good material for a diversion, 
 and afterwards for a reconciliation." 
 
 Duroc looked at the Emperor in astonishment. Napoleon 
 made an impatient movement. 
 
 "You do not like that.'' You may think it is a barbarous 
 way, but it is better than explanations and scenes. I do not 
 wish to see her tears, I cannot stand them." 
 
 " But they will only be more abundant. Sire. The conscious- 
 ness of unjust suspicion will make her grieve. ..." 
 
 " But, then, she will think that the disgrace was in con- 
 sequence of an intrigue." 
 
 " She cannot be prevented from hearing about the wedding." 
 
 " As about a political step. She is prepared for it partly, but 
 should she be obliged to leave here suddenly ... I should 
 have plenty of reproaches and tears. Do as I said ! " 
 
 " You command. Sire ! " 
 
 " Well, well, do not be sour. It could not be helped ; some- 
 times with one's nearest one can do nothing without a subter- 
 fuge. Yes, keep the report and the letter, and in the meanwhile 
 send me von Bubna and Meneval." 
 
 The Emperor smiled, and the whole of Schoenbrunn, gloomy 
 and silent till then, was filled with joy; joy was depicted in
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 397 
 
 the courtiers' eyes ; joy animated the martial faces of generals, 
 aides-de-camp, and officers of the staff. 
 
 In the meanwhile the sun was hidden under a cloud ; the 
 castle, park, guard-houses^ bright uniforms of the Guards, the 
 amaranth facmgs of the Light Horse, and the turbans of 
 the Mamelukes were covered with a grey shadow. 
 
 But Schoenbrunn did not care for the gloomy sky if Roustan, 
 standing at the door of the Emperor's study, smiled, showing 
 his white teeth. There was the sun of Schoenbrunn,
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 PAN ANASTAZY WALEWSKI looked into a mirror, moved 
 his toothless jaws impatiently, and scolded Baptiste, who 
 stood behind him. 
 
 " I said it is bad ! The bow is crooked." 
 
 "It can't be otherwise ! " muttered the valet angrily. 
 
 " It must be — do you hear ! I wish it — I command ! " shrieked 
 the Chamberlain. "Change my necktie! Grey SAvallow-tail 
 coat ! The riband is not right ! " 
 
 " Because you stoop, my lord." 
 
 " I stoop ? Then support me ! You do not take any care of 
 me ! Where is my snuff-box } " 
 
 "In the pocket of the coat." 
 
 " H'm ! . . . how he ansvv'ers ! You do not like my being 
 di'essed ! Y'ou wish me to wear all day long my dressing-gown 
 and slippers ! " 
 
 " Certainly, sir, for it tires you to dress." 
 
 "What a solicitude ! " 
 
 " There is not a soul, and you dress every morning as if for a 
 Court reception." 
 
 The Chamberlam looked threateningly with his glassy eyes 
 at the servant. 
 
 " Listen, if you grow old, and have not yet any common 
 sense, then be silent ! " 
 
 Baptiste shrugged his shoulders triflingly. The Chamberlain 
 snorted, leaned on his walking-stick that was handed to him, 
 and, having come to a big mirror, began to look at himself. 
 
 The inspection was a long one, full of impatient movements 
 and deep sighing. 
 
 Well, four long years had passed since the Chamberlain had 
 put on his gala dress, being satisfied even on the most solemn 
 
 ^98 
 
 i
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 399 
 
 days with the amplest, warmest, and the most comfortable 
 coats. And then, after those four years, he had noticed that 
 he was different, that he was less elegant. He could neither 
 assume that lordly mien of which he had been proud, nor could 
 he smile in a courtly manner, nor move with a stride and with- 
 out a walking-stick ! If he could only conquer that rattling of 
 the jaws ! 
 
 The Chamberlain sighed heavily, and became sad. 
 
 Only yesterday he thought that Baptiste's experience would 
 suffice to make him young again, and to give a lesson to any 
 youngster how to bend, walk, bow, how to wear the riband, and 
 to remind the world what elegant people surrounded the late 
 king. 
 
 To-day, however, although he wore a new wig, although 
 Baptiste did not spare powder and paint, although he buttoned 
 him up tightly, it was not the same as four years ago, when he 
 was complimented at the Emperor's receptions. 
 
 But perhaps it was Baptiste's fault ; perhaps he had neglected 
 his art. 
 
 That thought made the Chamberlain turn and look more 
 attentively at his valet. The Chamberlain's look rested sud- 
 denly on Baptiste's head. 
 
 "Well!" muttered the Chamberlain with astonishment. 
 " But you have groAvn old ! . . ." 
 
 Baptiste smiled. 
 
 "A long time ago, sir." 
 
 " I did not notice. How old are you .'' " 
 
 "Fifty-two, my lord." 
 
 " Phi ! Fifty - two ! You are older than Pan Ksawery ! 
 H'm ! and I am . . ." 
 
 "Eighty . . ." 
 
 "It is none of your business how old I am!" the Chamber- 
 lain interrupted energetically. " You have grown old ! . . . 
 Ho ! . . . ho ! You have grown old ! " 
 
 "We all grow old," 
 
 The Chamberlain snorted angrily. 
 
 " All ! Phi ! phi ! Not every one in the same way. Well, to 
 be sure ! I am not younger, either ! But you . . . you . . . 
 have become old ! I tell you you are grey ! "
 
 400 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Baptiste did not answer. As for the Chamberlain^ he took 
 his snufF-box, opened it with a noise^ took a good pinch^ then 
 snapped his fingers, and concluded with contentment — 
 
 " You have groAvn awfully old ! " 
 
 "Shall I call the lackey, sir?" 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 " I thought your lordship would go to the park." 
 
 "But I do not need any assistance! Give me my hat, and 
 conduct me downstairs." 
 
 The valet drew nearer. The Chamberlain glanced once more 
 into the mirror, and said impatiently — 
 
 " Wait ! I have not the Legion ! Where is the Legion ? " 
 
 " The Legion of Honour ! " 
 
 " Why are you staring at me ? I am asking you where is my 
 Legion of Honour ? " 
 
 " In a box ; but my lord . . ," 
 
 " Give it to me ! Be quick, I have no time ! " 
 
 Baptiste did as he was ordered. 
 
 "The riband is crumpled, even torn a little . . ." said the 
 valet. 
 
 " It is your fault ! You do not take care of it. . . ." 
 
 " Because yourself, my lord . . ." 
 
 "Do not excuse yourself! Put it under the coat. On the 
 White Eagle ! " 
 
 "H'm! . . , very well. But perhaps it would be proper to 
 put on the Court dress ? " 
 
 The valet was frightened at the thought that his master 
 would order him to dress him again. 
 
 " Court dress to-day ? Here in Walewice ? " 
 
 The Chamberlain moved his head with commiseration. 
 
 " You have grown old, and you do not remember the simplest 
 etiquette." 
 
 "Well, here . . ." 
 
 "You are stupid," whispered the Chamberlain with a 
 mysterious smile. " It is lovely weather. Understand ! H'm ! 
 , . . therefore I may meet some one in the park, and then it 
 is proper for a host to do the honours. It is my duty to hope 
 that His Imperial Highness would like to breathe the fresh 
 air . . ."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 401 
 
 " His Imperial Highness ! " Baptiste repeated with astonish- 
 ment. 
 
 The Chamberlain rapped angrily with his stick. 
 
 " Enough of it ! You are stupid ! You have no idea ! Call 
 me a lackey ! Quickly ! He will conduct me. I do not need 
 your help. You have become grey, and have grown stupid ! " 
 
 The valet set his teeth and called a lackey. When the latter 
 entered the Chamberlain nodded to him to come nearer, 
 leaned on his shoulder, and went tov/ards the door leading 
 to the park. 
 
 "Conduct me behind the castle, where the statues are," 
 ordered the Chamberlain. 
 
 The lackey took the direction he was told. 
 
 When the fresh air touched the Chamberlain and the sun 
 began to warm him, he grew joyful. 
 
 " Phi ! The hawthorn is blooming already ! " 
 
 " Yes, my lord ! " 
 
 " And the lilacs also ! " 
 
 "Summer is early this year, my lord." 
 
 " Yes, yes ! Wait ! I cannot see. Is John over there, under 
 the linden-trees } " 
 
 " He is, my lord." 
 
 " Then conduct me to him," said the Chamberlain, trying to 
 make long steps, but in the meanwhile leaning more heavily on 
 the lackey's arm. 
 
 The lackey brought his master to a bench on which the old 
 gamekeeper, John, was leaning under some aged linden-trees. 
 
 The Chamberlain nodded to old John, who took off his cap 
 respectfully, sat on the bench and breathed. 
 
 " Stand there," he ordered the lackey, and when the latter 
 retreated several steps respectfully, the Chamberlain turned to 
 John and asked : " Well, how goes it } " 
 
 "Everything right, my lord. He will soon be here. They 
 were dressing him." 
 
 "Then you say he will come out to-day? " 
 
 " He may be here at any moment. . . . Andrew's wife was 
 dressed as if for church." 
 
 The Chamberlain cleared his throat and rapped on his snuff- 
 box. 
 
 2 D
 
 402 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "Have you swept the alleys of the park ? " 
 
 " Yes^ my lord^ there is not one large pebble underfoot ! " 
 
 " If she is only careful, and does not stumble." 
 
 John laughed. 
 
 " Andrew's wife } Where she puts her feet there are marks 
 as if some one had driven posts into the ground. . . ." 
 
 " So ! " wondered the Chamberlain, taking a sincere interest 
 in what John was telling him. " Andrew's wife ! I did not 
 imagine ! Where does she come from .'' " 
 
 " From Bielaw ; she is my first cousin." 
 
 " H'm ! h'm ! I did not expect. How did you say ? As if 
 posts were driven. We cannot do it any more. But I must tell 
 you that Baptiste has grown old. Then Andrew's wife. H'm ! 
 Tell Andrew to come . . . perhaps a span of horses. . . . .'' " 
 
 "It will help them, my lord ; they are not very rich." 
 
 "Well, a few cows. H'm! it is so. And . . . how are the 
 others ? . . ." 
 
 "The others, my lord.''" answered the old servant question- 
 ingly, not knowing what to answer. 
 
 " Yes, the others !" said the Chamberlain hesitatingly, looking 
 at his snuff-box. " Well, apparently nothing . . . the one who 
 was ill is well now. . . ." 
 
 " Everything is right, my lord ; her ladyship looks like a rose, 
 and all fear is over." 
 
 The Chamberlain looked closer at his snuff-box. 
 
 " If I do not say it in a bad hour, she is health itself now. 
 Last night she went beyond the park, across the field to the 
 birch grove ; I could hardly keep up with her." 
 
 " In the evening, cold lies in wait in the dew." 
 
 " If one is in good health . . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain made an impatient movement. 
 
 " I said it lies in wait ; cold, pain. In the dew. . . ." 
 
 John v»'as abashed at such a passionate outburst ; in the mean- 
 while the Chamberlain further enlarged upon ailments lurking 
 in the dusk. The reasoning was so long that it tired the Cham- 
 berlain himself and made him sleepy. 
 
 " My lord, they are coming ! " John said suddenly. 
 
 The Chamberlain shivered, and seized a walking-stick. 
 
 " Where } Who } "
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 403 
 
 "Andrew's wife with the chambermaidj and . . ." 
 
 " His Imperial Highness," finished the Chamberlain feverishly. 
 
 John raised his bushy eyebrows, but having understood, 
 affirmed enthusiastically : " Yes, my lord ; Andrew's wife is 
 carrying our Imperial Highness." 
 
 The Chamberlain began to move hastily. 
 
 " John, give me your arm, or no, you," said he to the lackey. 
 " Come here, help me ! John, wait ! We will go round and meet 
 them as if by chance ... at the turning of the alley. Let us 
 be going. Look if the riband of the Legion of Honour is all 
 right ! Take hold of my left arm ! " 
 
 The Chamberlain, propped up on both sides, went on striding 
 into the alley that turned in the direction taken by the cham- 
 bermaid and the nurse with the infant in her arms. The 
 manoeuvre was well calculated, for after a few steps the women 
 were opposite the Chamberlain. The distance diminished 
 rapidly. 
 
 The Chamberlain glanced forward, stopped suddenly, wiped 
 the perspiration from his forehead, fixed his head, and whispered 
 something to John. 
 
 '' Introduce me." 
 
 " Introduce .'' " 
 
 "Introduce me to his Imperial Highness, you blockhead, 
 introduce me pleno iitulo ! " 
 
 John became scarlet, advanced toM^ards the nurse, took off his 
 cap, and, looking fiercely at the infant's tiny face coming out 
 from the white cap, shouted solemnly : " His lordship Anastazy 
 Colonna Walewski, Chamberlain of the Court of his Majesty the 
 King, Chevalier of the Orders of the White Eagle and the Legion 
 of Honour ! " 
 
 The nurse and the maid became abashed. 
 
 As for the Chamberlain, he came nearer to the child and 
 bowed with his hat. 
 
 " I am very much obliged for the honour. I have long wished 
 for that favour. The privilege your Imperial . - ." 
 
 Here the Chamberlain stopped suddenly, frightened at the 
 infant's screaming ; the nurse tried to tranquillise it. 
 
 The Chamberlain bowed awkwardly and withdrew. 
 
 "Such a tiny creature, my lord," said John, noticing the
 
 404 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Chamberlain's emotion. " It does not know it lives ; how could 
 it understand? . . ." 
 
 The Chamberlain ground his teeth and looked crushingly at 
 the old servant. 
 
 " You do not understand. Apparently you have seen many 
 thingS; but you have not learned anything. Understand ! Why 
 should he understand } Respect to the imperial blood must be 
 shown. And it seems to you that one should act as . . . as . . . 
 with any little shrimp ! Perhaps it seems so to all of you ? 
 Wait ! I shall show you . . . respect ! Bow at five steps. 
 Retreat ! I shall give you lessons ! To the four winds ! Stupid ! 
 Baptiste has grown old^ become grey and stupid, and you 
 too. . . Suppose some one hears .'' Horrendum ! Crimen lessee 
 majestatis ! " 
 
 Here the Chamberlain Aviped the perspiration, and having 
 made an energetic movement with his stick, seized the lackey's 
 arm and turned to the castle. 
 
 This incident impressed John and disturbed the women, who 
 had received the strictest orders to choose the solitary alleys in 
 the park and to avoid any meeting with inhabitants of the 
 castle. But as it seems this incident made the greatest impres- 
 sion on a witness, hidden behind the hangings of a window on 
 the first floor of the castle. 
 
 That witness was Pani Walewska, who having told the 
 women which alley they should follow with her son so that she 
 might see him from her window, and having purposely chosen 
 an early hour so as not to disturb her ex-husband's afternoon 
 walk, had experienced an unexpected shock. That shock was 
 like a thunderbolt, upsetting all her ideas about her former 
 husband, about his behaviour, about the present situation, about 
 his egotism and childishness. 
 
 Pani Walewska had lived here since the previous autumn, a 
 not over-pleasant life. At Schoenbrunn, where she had lived 
 in quiet happiness during a mild October, near the Emperor, 
 whom she worshipped, where, in the modest house, she was 
 hiding her longings and sorrows and the apprehensions of 
 coming maternity, the order of the Marshal of the Court had 
 fallen on her. 
 
 She could hardly believe. But it was so. It was a laconic^
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 405 
 
 stiff, merciless, precise order, not leaving any doubt that they 
 had a right to command even her. Together with the order a 
 scandalous gossip reached her, uniting her name with Gorayski's 
 in a knot of base intrigue. 
 
 At the first outburst of the wrong the Chamberlain's wife 
 went to the Emperor's headquarters in Schoenbrunn Castle, but 
 they did not allow her to see the Emperor, and pressed her to 
 obey the command. And that command was doubly merciless, 
 painful, humiliating. Not only did it separate her from the 
 Emperor, not only did it chase . her away, not only did it pierce 
 her heart, but it also crushed her dignity, her pride, for it 
 required her immediately to go to Walewice, and to be under 
 the roof of her divorced husband. 
 
 In vain Pani Walewska resisted, in vain she Avished to avoid 
 at least that humiliation . . . they sympathised with her, they 
 showed her hearty commiseration, they promised to speak in 
 her favour, but in the meanwhile they told her distinctly that 
 the command must be executed before all. And notwithstand- 
 ing the strain of her will, protests, desperate threats. Pani 
 Walewska found herself under her ex-husband's roof in Wale- 
 wice. 
 
 Here, her former apartments were given to her. They sur- 
 rounded her with the care of servants unknown to her, and 
 tried to persuade her that although the Emperor was very 
 much afflicted, he cared immensely about the Chamberlain's 
 ex-wife's health, and would not forget her. . . . 
 
 Pani Walewska was so crushed, so frightened and so disen- 
 chanted, that she became apathetic. 
 
 Months passed away. Pani Walewska did not even try to 
 think about the future, about to-morrow. A crushing thought, 
 obstinately the same, tore her mind, rent her heart. And that 
 thought was about the fact that she had allowed herself to be 
 carried away by passion, that she had not had strength to resist 
 persuasions, that she had broken the most sacred oath, that she 
 had brought shame upon her husband, under whose roof she 
 now found a shelter, while there they had chased her away 
 brutally, they had calumniated her, they had repudiated her. 
 
 Months passed away — awfully long, monotonous, like her 
 grief that could not be quenched.
 
 406 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska did not leave her apartments even for one 
 moment, neither did she listen to Princess Jablonowska's 
 reasoning, or heed her chambermaid's whispers, telling her that 
 Duroc had sent a special courier asking after Pani Walewska's 
 health, and hinting adroitly that the inquiry was not made by 
 Duroc alone. What did she care about that kindness, about 
 proofs that she was not forgotten, while below her apartment 
 there lived an infirm old man, crixshed perhaps by her levity, 
 despising the unfaithful ex-wife, sneering that that great hero, 
 that lord of kingdoms, who was so powerful and had riches at 
 his disposal, did not give her even a piece of bread, a roof under 
 which she could hide her sad lot without being obliged for any- 
 thing to her divorced husband. 
 
 Months passed away, till from that apathy, from that stupor, 
 Pani Walewska was waked up by the crying of a child, a son, 
 who having come into the world with May, filled her heart with 
 new warmth, with new life. And Pani Walewska's soul was 
 melted ; she cared for the child alone, she rejoiced by it, she 
 was happy through it. 
 
 It is true that new apprehensions and cares swarmed in her 
 head, but although they tormented her, they did not make her 
 apathetic any more ; on the contrary, they gave her strength for 
 a struggle, and she determined to conquer impediments and 
 difficulties. 
 
 Pani Walewska was soon well, and she doubled her cares 
 about her situation. Apparently it was not changed — for as 
 formerly she had led a solitary life — but in the meanwhile the 
 servants surrounding her became more and more respectful and 
 humble. 
 
 Pani Walewska endeavoured to use her ascendency to learn 
 some details concerning herself, but those details were scarce^ 
 for the servants were passive tools in some one's hands. 
 
 The French housekeeper could only tell her that the Marshal 
 of the Court was sending couriers every day, and that the day the 
 child was born five ordinances were sent into the world with the 
 news ; further, that the Marshal announced a change as soon 
 impending, but that she did not wish for it, for she waS 
 attached to Pani Walewska with her whole heart. On the 
 other hand, the Polish servants, especially old John, had also a
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 407 
 
 little newSj and this was that the Chamberlain, only once a 
 day, in the afternoon, would leave his room for a walk in the 
 park, that Baptiste administered the whole estate, and that the 
 latter liked to know what was going on in Pani Walewska's 
 apartment. 
 
 All this news did not make any impression on Pani Walewska ; 
 still less could she learn when she asked what was going on in 
 Warsaw. Since the Chamberlain's return to Walewice, in 1807, 
 he had not subscribed to a paper, the neighbours did not visit the 
 castle, probably estranged because the Chamberlain was not 
 well, and did not receive anybody. The only sources of news 
 were Jewish merchants from Bielava and Sobota, and through 
 them some news came to Pani Walewska about festivities in 
 Warsaw, about the sojourn of the new Polish king, that the 
 Austrian Emperor had been obliged to give his daughter as a 
 wife to Napoleon, that the Pope was imprisoned, that the Polish 
 army had come back, and that Prince Joseph was going to 
 marry some young girl who, disguised as a private, had served in 
 the army ; that the Speaker Małachowski had died, and while 
 dying had cursed Napoleon so awfully that Wybicki had besought 
 him to withdraw his curse, but that the Speaker had died with- 
 out doing so ; that the Napoleonic law had been introduced, and, 
 according to it, even a nobleman could be fined or imprisoned ; 
 that they were going to recruit again, although the Diet did not 
 wish it, but Davoust ordered it, and it must be so, for Davoust 
 could not stand any opposition to his wishes. 
 
 Those disorderly pieces of news, ornamented with various 
 remarks from the gossipers, could not satisfy Pani Walewska, 
 who was accustomed to stand at the great altar and look at the 
 whole chessboard of history and events. 
 
 The result was that those pieces of news, instead of satisfying 
 her, aroused in her the desire to learn something more precise. 
 Several times she wished to write to Warsaw to Princess Jab- 
 łonowska or to Mme. de Vauban, but she gave up the idea and 
 waited. 
 
 Such was the state of affairs on the day when Pani Walewska 
 had sent her son with the nurse and chambermaid for the first 
 walk in the park. She would have given much if she could also 
 have gone into the shady alleys of the park, trodden the well-
 
 408 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 known paths, and breathed the balmy air of the spring. Pride, 
 and then the fear of meeting her ex-husband's servants, obliged 
 her to stop in her apartments. Yielding to that voluntary 
 restraint, Pani Walewska had determined to accompany her son 
 at least with her looks from behind the window hangings. 
 Therefore she sat at the window and looked with love to the 
 spot where the child's white cap was seen. All at once she 
 perceived her ex-husband coming out from under a shadowy 
 tree and going directly towards the child. 
 
 At that sight Pani Walewska wished to shout and warn the 
 nurse to turn the other way, but it was too late. 
 
 And Pani Walewska beheld her ex-husband's thin figure 
 hanging on the arms of two servants ; she beheld his white, 
 plaster-like face, and saw the Chamberlain come to her child ; 
 how he bowed ; she even heard some sounds of his voice. 
 
 At the first moment Pani Walewska thought that her husband 
 was sneering at her child, that not being able to reach the 
 mother he was avenging himself on her child, that he was in- 
 sulting it — giving vent to his anger. But having attentively 
 looked at the Chamberlain's humbly bent figure, at his solemn 
 movements, and at his gala dress. Pani Walewska unconsciously 
 felt gratitude towards her ex-husband. She knew him too 
 well not to be able to see, even from a distance, that in his 
 strange behaviour there was no maliciousness and anger. 
 
 The nurse and the maid dispersed Pani Walewska's doubts. 
 Tears appeared in her eyes. She forgot all the grievances she 
 had against the Chamberlain ; she had forgiven him all ; only 
 her own fault seemed bigger, only she became humble, and a 
 desire to go down to the Chamberlain's apartment and thank 
 him seized her. 
 
 And thinking in that way she did not dare to suppose that, after 
 that act of duty, her life would change under the roof of her 
 ex-husband. Never ! The marriage had been made invalid — 
 the bridges were burnt — even should she be obliged to live in 
 misery, she must leave, she must go away, she Avould take 
 nothing from him. When, after the meeting in the park. Pani 
 Walewska was pressing her son to her bosom, thinking again 
 about her past, the housekeeper announced Mme. de Vauban's 
 arrival to her.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 409 
 
 Pani Walewska would not believe it at first, but being 
 solemnly assured by the woman, she rushed into the boudoir and 
 fell into the Countess's arms. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban was moved by that unexpected outburst of 
 cordiality on Pani Walewska's part, for she did not understand 
 that the latter welcomed her because she expected Mme. de 
 Vauban to be able to disperse all her conjectures, and per- 
 chance to help her to put a stop to her unbearable position. 
 
 After a noisy greeting on Mme. de Vauban's part, and after 
 numerous exaggerated compliments from her, "how much more 
 beautiful chere Marie had become," about the marvellous beauty 
 of the child, about her longing for "her best friend," the con- 
 versation became evener, quieter. 
 
 Precisely speaking, it was not a conversation, but the 
 Comitess's long monologue, sometimes interrupted by Pani 
 Walewska's questions. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban spoke at length and picturesquely, smiling 
 at her listener's signs of astonishment. Pani Walewska learned 
 then about the peace concluded with Austria, about the prob- 
 able divorce of Anetka Tyszkiewicz from her husband, about 
 the projected marriage between Victor Ossoliński and Zosia 
 Chodkiewicz, Princess Jablonowska's niece, about the Pope's 
 sojourn in Saronne, about Czosonowska, who sent a thousand 
 kisses to Pani Walewska, about the continual quarrels between 
 Davoust and Prince Poniatowski. 
 
 All this news Mme. de Vauban ornamented with artful 
 remarks, mixed with irony and sometimes with malice. 
 
 Pani Walewska listened patiently, waiting till the Countess 
 would touch on the subject that was most interesting to her ; 
 but when Mme. de Vauban dwelt still further upon things in- 
 different to the Chamberlain's ex-wife, she interrupted her 
 suddenly — 
 
 " And where is the Emperor ? " 
 
 " The Emperor ! In Paris, my dear child ! He is tired, as 
 it seems ! I pity him heartily. What a bother he was obliged 
 to undergo on account of that marriage. Josephine made 
 scenes ! I pity her, too ! But one must be indulgent — I have 
 a right to know something about it. . . . But you have grown 
 pale, my dearest . . . ! "
 
 410 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I thought it was only gossip ! " 
 
 " He was obliged ! I tell you he was obliged ! It is a 
 political marriage ! There is the question of the dynasty . . . 
 of a successor ! They forced him ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska dropped her eyes, and stared at the carpet. 
 
 " You know very well that my social position, the tradition of 
 my family splendour, makes me a partisan of the Bourbons ; but 
 notwithstanding that, I feel for him a hearty commiseration, 
 il est si brave ! They imposed an Austrian on him. As it 
 seems, elle nest pas trop hien. Josephine got a large fortune, 
 and they left her a title. Truly, I do not understand, for she 
 should long ago have lost all her illusions. . . . Not everybody 
 is as strong ! But you, dearest, you have no reason to com- 
 plain of that . . . ! " 
 
 " It seems that all this is perfectly indifferent to-day." 
 
 " You are mistaken ; they always highly appreciate your 
 opinion, every one of your words." 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed bitterly. 
 
 "Then you must know that I am in disgrace. Either I 
 became importunate to him, or permitted another to conquer 
 my position. ..." 
 
 Mme. de Vauban closed Pani W^alewska's mouth with a kiss. 
 
 " Enough, enough ! Not one word more ! Fatality, that is 
 all, and if you wish, malice, jealousy, human iniquity ! They 
 circumvented him, deceived him, and you must agree they 
 had such proofs, such appearances of your being guilty . . ." 
 
 " Of having visited a dying playmate of my childhood. . . ." 
 
 " Chevalier de Gorayski ! I was moved by the news of his 
 death. But what would you say if I tell you that I, your 
 devoted friend, who knew your immaculate heart, I thought 
 that you were a little bit fond of Gorayski. . . . And even that 
 you loved him. . . ." 
 
 " I did love him like a brother. . . ." 
 
 " I believe you ! But is there a man who would believe this ? 
 Only think ! Ever since that adventure with Herceau — he has 
 a nasty scar on his face— they watched Gorayski. . . . They 
 spied on you, and saw you with officers on horseback at night. 
 Well, notwithstanding all, it is a Court, although it smells of 
 barracks, but it is a Court! And he suffered so much. ..."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 411 
 
 "And found me guilty without listening to my justification." 
 
 "You must see in that the cleverness of the intrigue." 
 
 " It is done/' said Pani Walewska drily. 
 
 " YeSj but the truth is bound to come out. Do not think, my 
 dear child, that those who loved you have abandoned you, that 
 they have forgotten you. Time was necessary for the elucida- 
 tion, and it came. ..." 
 
 "I do not understand," whispered Pani Walewska, dominat- 
 ing her emotion with an effort. 
 
 " The Emperor expects your return to Paris." 
 
 Pani Walewska lifted her head proudly. 
 
 "I do not intend to go there at all." 
 
 Mme. de V^auban grew sorrowful. 
 
 " You do not understand me ; my sudden arrival here is not 
 without reason. It is simply this : knowing my friendship for 
 you, and your reciprocal sentiment towards me, they besought 
 me ; they made me promise that . . . well . . . bring you to 
 Paris, where longing ..." 
 
 Pani Walewska rushed from her seat. 
 
 "Countess, you must give up your plans, then. I permitted 
 myself to be brought from Schoenbrunn here, where I live on 
 the generosity of my ex-husband, but there is no power which 
 could make me move without my will. I shall defend myself." 
 
 Mme. de Vauban grew confused, and began to manoeuvre in 
 order to save the situation. 
 
 " Dearest ! What ideas ! Would I dare ! I came here pushed 
 by my heart, for the sake of friendship ! " 
 
 "Such being the case, stop your further arguments ! " 
 
 " Only one word more ! " 
 
 "Very well." 
 
 " You are the mother of his son ! " whispered Mme, Vauban 
 M'ith emphasis. 
 
 " But I have also a right to have my dignity and to be my 
 own mistiness." 
 
 " Undoubtedly, but you have no right to trifle with the 
 child's career ; he also has a right tu be considered." 
 
 Pani Walewska crushed her hands. 
 
 " Finish, finish quickly ! " 
 
 " Only be quieted, and think it over. There is the question
 
 41^ NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 of the future. Judge for yourself. You are divorced, you 
 have no right to your ex-husband's name. Excuse me for 
 going into such details. What name will you give to your son? 
 Have you a right to refuse him his father's care .f* Have you 
 a right to forbid the father to see his child, after whom his 
 heart is longing ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska covered her face with her hands and was 
 silent, while Mme. de Vauban defended her position en- 
 thusiastically. 
 
 " You can bear ill-will, you cannot love any more, you can 
 say that you have lost all illusions, that you have fallen from 
 the heaven of dreams on the earth of disenchantment, but you 
 cannot deny the tie uniting you. And this tie is the son, is the 
 future of that son — his career. I do not deny that the Emperor 
 hopes you will return his feelings — that you will forgive him 
 a moment of jealousy — that you will take into consideration 
 his own sufferings ; but all this depends on your point of view. 
 All he would like to do is to assure his son a position in the 
 world. Such is the state of affairs. My dearest, I did not 
 think for a minute that you would give in at my first prayer, 
 that you would forgive at once . . . but the son . . . the son!" 
 
 Pani Walewska looked feverishly around her, and went to her 
 bedroom. There she knelt at the child's cradle and cried. 
 
 Mme. de Vauban, having looked discreetly at Pani Walewska, 
 smiled with satisfaction, and having exchanged a few words 
 with the housekeeper, ordered herself to be announced to the 
 Chamberlain. 
 
 A week after Mme. Vauban's visit to Walewice, a large blue 
 carriage, with six powerful bay horses harnessed to it, stood at 
 the portico of the castle. 
 
 Two vans were behind the carriage. 
 
 A feverish animation reigned round the vehicles. The servants ; 
 were bringing out trunks, boxes, baskets, bundles, and casks. 
 
 The apartment on the first floor was full of noise, of mixed 
 voices, of maids and lackeys rushing about commanded by John. 
 On the ground floor a grave-like quiet was supreme. 
 
 Notwithstanding that, even in that part of the Walewski 
 residence there had been some participation in the caz'es about 
 the preparations, only in a different way.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 413 
 
 The Chamberlain himself, dressed since early morning in a 
 brown coat, with the star of the White Eagle and the cross of 
 the Legion of Honour on his chest, was sitting at the window 
 and watched the preparations from behind its hangings, from 
 time to time sharing his thoughts with Baptiste, and even 
 giving him some orders. 
 
 '• Tell Matthew to drive carefully." 
 
 " An old coachman^ sir." 
 
 "That makes no difference. Has he taken everything he 
 ought to } Such a long journey ! An accident is inevitable." 
 
 "I am sure he has everything he needs/' muttered the 
 valet. 
 
 " Very well ! Baptiste, send a lackey to the housekeeper and 
 tell her to take good care of the provisions ! They will be on 
 the road ten days or a fortnight. Above all, they must not 
 forget medicine." 
 
 "The housekeeper will not obey a lackey if she does not 
 know who orders. I must tell her it is your lordship." 
 
 " No ! You must not do that ! But do it just the same. 
 Look ! they do not know how to load the boxes." 
 
 The time passed quickly so, that the Chamberlain hardly 
 noticed that the vans were ready. 
 
 Pan Walewski was so absorbed by his observations that he did 
 not feel that some one was tugging at his sleeve ; only when he 
 heard John's voice he turned his head from the window. 
 
 " What is it ? " 
 
 " I came to make my bow to your lordship." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "We are going, my lord." 
 
 " You are going ! How is it ? But is nobody there yet ? " 
 
 "They are coming down." 
 
 " Coming down ! " repeated the Chamberlain in a hoarse 
 voice. " H'm ! Then you also ! And the Emperor's courier .'' " 
 
 " He will sit on the box with the coachman." 
 
 "Ah ! with the coachman," repeated the Chamberlain. "And 
 Andrew's wife ? Wait ! Come here ! Help me ! Here is a 
 purse ; give it to Andrew's wife. Tell her . . . well . . . tell 
 her . . . that . . . that it is from you." 
 
 " She would not believe it, your lordship."
 
 414 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 *' No matter ! Wait ! Here is a box ! Take good care of 
 it. . . . Should there be any need of diamonds , . or ■ , . 
 understand ? Then in this box . . . are . . '' 
 
 John's eyes became moist. 
 
 The Chamberlain, in the meanwhile, holding by the arm of 
 the old servant, spoke further. 
 
 " Not now, but when it may be necessary. As if it were from 
 you . . . the necklace. . . . Wait ! . . . here is for you . . . 
 go— with God ! " 
 
 '^ Your lordship ! " moaned John, falling at the Chamberlain's 
 feet. 
 
 '' Nothing . . . well ! With God ! " 
 
 John put the purse into a pocket, took the heavy box, bowed, 
 and went out. 
 
 The Chamberlain minced to the AvindoAV again, but as soon as 
 he glanced through it he trembled, and cried passionately to 
 Baptiste — 
 
 " My stick ! Hat ! Give me your arm ! Lively ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska, sitting in the carriage, looked at the castle. 
 Beside her, Andrew's wife was holding in her arms the child. 
 The chambermaid was ready to get in. 
 
 Pani Walewska Avas oppressed. She had lived so many long 
 and sad days in this castle ! And she Mas going perhaps to 
 meet with worse ones. She was going, not having said one 
 word to the man under whose roof she had found shelter, 
 whose wife she formerly was, whose last days she had made 
 bitter. ... It is done . . . bashfulness, and fear that she 
 might be insulted, took her courage away. . . . She wished, 
 but postponed. . , . She was going, and the consciousness of 
 that departure, at the moment when death was hovering over 
 that old man, would follow her, would pursue her, . . It was 
 done ! 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed deeply, dominated her emotion, and 
 was looking through the window of the carriage in order to tell 
 John to hasten the departure, when the Chamberlain's wrinkled 
 face appeared. 
 
 At that sight Pani Walewska paled and threw herself back. 
 
 The Chamberlain, not paying any heed to her fright, waved! 
 his hand to the infant and whispered some words.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 415 
 
 " In the name of the Father, of the Son . /' muttered the 
 Chamberlain, and stopped. 
 
 Pani Walewska could hardly breathe. She turned her eyes 
 on her ex-husband and put out her hand. 
 
 The Chamberlain trembled and stood bent, leaning with both 
 hands on his Avalking-stick. 
 
 "Forgive me ! " muttered Pani Walewska with an effort. 
 
 The Chamberlain looked at her with his pale, sad eyes, took 
 her hand, and pressed it to his lips. 
 
 "No, no ! I am not worthy ! " whispered Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Well," mumbled the Chamberlain. " Well . . . it is . . . 
 and if . . . then bring me his Imperial Highness ! Yes, bring 
 me ... In the name of the Father and of the Son. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska wished to answer, but she could not find 
 words, her strength gave way. . . . She saw the Chamberlain's 
 white wig bend before her. She understood what he had said 
 to her, and she noticed when a big tear rolled on his withered 
 face, but she could only, by a nervous pressure of his hand, 
 make him know that her soul was with him, that she humiliated 
 herself.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 WHEN, on March 20th, 1811, the first cannon-shot at 
 the Hotel des Invahdes was fired in Paris, the inhabit- 
 ants of the capital of France trembled, stopped their conversa- 
 tion, and began to count the shots. . . . 
 
 The emotion Avas great and general, as if Paris of those times 
 had not been for long years the centre from which war cries 
 sounded throughout the world, from which vast armies poured 
 and overthrew thrones, destroyed kmgdoms, tore away the 
 boundaries of states, decided the lot of nations. 
 
 "^One, two, three, four !" counted Paris with apprehension, for 
 the number of shots was going to decide whether its future 
 was to be quiet or disturbed. 
 
 " Ten, eleven, twelve ! " repeated the inhabitants of the 
 palaces in the Faubourg St. Germain, as well as of the modest 
 dwelling-houses in Montmartre. 
 
 The official announcement of Mary Louise's confinement was 
 short ; if the newborn babe were a son, not twenty-one, but a 
 hundred and one cannon-shots would be fired. 
 
 " Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen ! " counted Paris, with in- 
 creasing emotion. 
 
 Eastern Europe had given up the desire of fighting Napoleon 
 any more ; Spain was going to lay down its arms at any 
 moment ; England, ruined by the custom-house blockade, was 
 waiting for an opportunity to stretch out her hand for reconcilia- 
 tion — there would be a glorious peace for France. But in order 
 that this peace should be durable France needed an heir, for 
 only in that case would her lot cease to depend on a ball, on 
 a piece of shell, or on the thrust of a criminal hand, for only 
 then there would be an answer to the question ; What would 
 happen should Napoleon be at hand no longer ? 
 
 416
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 417 
 
 "Twenty, twenty-one ! " whispered Bonaparte's followers^ and 
 their hearts stopped beating. And that moment between the 
 last and the following cannon-shot made the hopes of revolu- 
 tionists waiting for disorder more sure, while the men who 
 had grown up under Napoleon's eagles became gloomy. That 
 moment quenched in some people all joy, and kindled it in 
 others. To the capital that moment was torture, grief, doubt, 
 prayer, and curse. It made the people think over the past and 
 look into the future. 
 
 Suddenly the cannon roared louder, longer. . . . 
 
 " Twenty- two ! " shouted hundreds of thousands, and Paris 
 trembled. 
 
 Crowds of people rushed into streets and squares, crowds avid 
 for news, united in one shout, in one song. 
 
 The cannons continued firing on the shores of the Seine, but 
 the Parisians did not need to count any longer, the twenty- 
 second shot told them everything. 
 
 The ci'owds increased like an enormous grey wave, and 
 rushed to the Tuileries in order to greet the future ruler, king 
 of kings, emperor. 
 
 While the streets round the Tuileries were packed with 
 people and resounded with joyful shouts, the other streets grew 
 quieter, emptier. Among those, perhaps the quietest at that 
 moment was the Rue de la Victoire, although here also there 
 was some animation, especially in a small but elegant mansion, 
 marked with the number 48. 
 
 The direct cause of the movement was an elderly lady, who, 
 at the moment the cannons began to fire, alighted from a 
 carriage in front of the mansion. That lady was so much 
 moved by the cannonading that, notwithstanding her advanced 
 age, she cried: "They ai-e firing!" and rushed to the stairs 
 and then to the vestibule, arousing a surprise in her coachman 
 and in the servants of the little palace. 
 
 In the ante-chamber, without taking off her cloak, she rushed 
 to the old, bent servant wearing the imperial livery. 
 
 "Where is Pani Walewska ? " asked the lady in Polish. 
 
 " Shall I announce ? " 
 
 " No ! Take me ! Three ! . . . fom- ! . . ." 
 
 The old man did not budge. 
 2 £
 
 418 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " I must announce you. Your grace knows ..." 
 
 " No ! They are firing ! Eighty nine ! " 
 
 '^Such are my orders ! I am going to announce ! " 
 
 The lackey disappeared at the turn of the hall, while the 
 lady rushed into the drawing-room to the right, calling and 
 counting by turns. 
 
 " Suzanne ! Eighteen ! " 
 
 "Your grace ! " 
 
 " Ah ! Twenty ! Help me to take off my cloak ! Lord ! 
 Twenty-one ! Hasten ! Twenty-two ! I am fainting ! Salts ! 
 Or no ! Wait ... I may be mistaken ! They are still firing ! " 
 
 The Princess fell on the sofa. The maid did not pay any 
 attention to the lady's emotion, and was taking care of the 
 cloak. The lady, with half-closed eyes, listened to the booming 
 of cannons, and whispered to herself, evidently unable to control 
 the imperative need of expressing her thoughts. 
 
 " It is done ! All is lost ! My bad presentiments are realised ! 
 Until now he endured her as the mother of his son ! Talley- 
 rand warned her ! She did not know how to take advantage, 
 she did not assure her future ! If noAv, at the decisive moment, 
 she will not dictate her demands — but no, I cannot permit 
 this ! . . . A family has its rights, its claims ! Suzanne ! Give 
 me some water ! They are still firing ? " 
 
 " Yes, your grace." 
 
 " Were there any callers to-day } " 
 
 " No, your grace. Only some flowers were brought." 
 
 "Flowers ! " repeated the Princess, with an outburst. "They 
 make one dizzy ! " 
 
 " Her ladyship is very fond of them." 
 
 " Enough ! It is no concern of yours ! She is fond of 
 flowers ! And . . . naturally the Prince of Friul did not call .'' " 
 
 " No, your grace." 
 
 " Of course ! And how is the Count ? " 
 
 " I don't know. I have not seen the nurse this morning." 
 
 Her ladyship is waiting for your grace in the blue drawing- 
 room ! " resounded a lackey's voice. 
 
 The Princess smiled ironically. 
 
 "She is waiting ! Much obliged ! " she said through her set 
 teeth, rising slowly from the sofa ; but suddenly, prompted l>y
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 419 
 
 a thought, she went quickly to the other side of the mansion, 
 and rushed into the drawing-room in which Pani Walewska 
 was sitting with her son on her knees. 
 
 " Mary, my dearest ! " began the Princess in her trembling 
 voice, "1 wished so much to be with you at this moment. 
 Permit me to kiss you . . . and this poor boy also ! Ah, how 
 sweet he is to-day ! He laughs ! Poor child, he does not 
 know anything ! But you must not give in. Courage, my dear 
 child ! If you only trust me ! One might have expected this. 
 You have no idea how deeply I feel ! But I am with you . . . 
 I . . . I . . .!" 
 
 "I am much obliged," said Pani Walewska quietly, looking 
 at her son's fair head, "although I do not understand your 
 commiseration. Alexandre is quite well." 
 
 The Princess lifted her painted eyebrows. 
 
 " Then you have not heard cannon-shots ? Do you not hear 
 them? Listen! a hundred and one ! ..." 
 
 " Yes, I did notice." 
 
 " The Emperor has a successor." 
 
 Pani Walewska bent over her son's head. 
 
 "■And you receive this news so indifferently ?" 
 
 An imperceptible blush passed across Pani Walewska's face. 
 
 " Princess, you are mistaken — not indifferently, I am very 
 glad ! The Emperor wished so much to have a legitimate 
 son ! " 
 
 The Princess cried in despair. 
 
 " Par exemple ! C' est incomprehensible ! hiexplicable ! Then 
 you cannot comprehend the situation if you are not excited at 
 the thought of what will become of your child ! " 
 
 " My child ? " 
 
 "Well, it is clear. Until now it had a great, undeniable 
 influence. It united you with the Emperor, it assured your 
 position, it permitted one to hope for the most splendid future. 
 Simply, my dear, even Mary Louise was obliged to count with 
 you. Do not say no ! The best proof was the Empress Josephine. 
 If it had not been for Alexandre, would she have cared so much 
 for your friendship .-* To-day you ai-e the vanquished. The 
 Emperor will not be longing any more for Alexandre, for he 
 has another son. . . . Even, in some respects, Alexandre will be
 
 420 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 an obstacle to him. Yes, my dearest . . . now is the time to 
 ask for something, not to forget anything, for to-morrow 3'ou 
 will not be allowed to ask for anything." 
 
 " But neither to-day nor to-morrow am I going to ask for 
 anything." 
 
 Princess Jabłonowska made an angry movement. 
 
 " Mary, think it over. Remember your child. You must not 
 decide not to ask for anything, not to make your conditions." 
 
 " What conditions ? " 
 
 *'Well ... of your withdrawing." 
 
 Pani Walewska lifted her big blue eyes to the Princess. 
 
 " Yes, yes," affirmed the Princess emphatically. " You have 
 a right. It is your duty. Above all you must get a title. 
 Alexandre was made a count, but that is not enough. You 
 must ask for the Principality of Łowicz. They can take it from 
 Davoust and give him something else. ... I must insist ! " 
 
 " Princess, you trouble yourself uselessly." 
 
 '' Ah, if you have no confidence in me^ if you do not care for 
 your son's future ..." 
 
 " I understand it quite differently." 
 
 "As you like. I wash my hands. I am awfully sorry you 
 are imprudent, that you forget that that little estate of yours 
 would not suffice for you all, for there is your brother Paul, and 
 your sister Pani Rychlowska. I do not know how I could con- 
 vince you, for I know that my attachment to you does not carry 
 any weight." Here the Princess put her handkerchief to her 
 eyes. " It is so painful, so painful ! " 
 
 " If you would leave that matter alone it would be best for 
 both of us. Pray, remember that I yield where I can. Recollect 
 M. de Flahaut's affair." 
 
 "It was Anetka Tyszkiewicz's faiblesse." 
 
 " But you wished me to intercede. . . . Then remember the 
 Lubienskis. ..." 
 
 " I did not expect you to make me any reproaches." 
 
 " I do not reproach ; I only wish to prove to you that I do 
 what you Avish me to do when the question is not about myself. 
 Here I decide alone. Let me not speak any more about this." 
 
 " Very well." 
 
 " Have you been out } "
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 421 
 
 " Yes, I went to Leroy ; he is making twenty new dresses for 
 the Empress." 
 
 " I am sure they will be pretty." 
 
 " Undoubtedly," answered the Princess drily. " Are you not 
 going out to-day ? " 
 
 " Where could I go ? " 
 
 " Of course, with your way of living. As for me, I am going 
 to dress." 
 
 " Do you intend to make calls } " 
 
 " I must go to the Tuileries to present my congratulations at 
 least to the Princess Montebello." 
 
 " Then, this evening . . . .'' " 
 
 " If your servants will allow . . . .f* " 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled sadly. 
 
 " You know veiy well that those orders are not mine. Duroc 
 asked for him. . . . And then I need so often to be alone. . . ." 
 
 The Princess kissed Pani Walewska noisily, touched little 
 Alexandre's face, and went out. 
 
 Pani Walewska remained motionless, thoughtful, looking into 
 the grey space of a March day. Suddenly, the corners of her 
 shapely mouth quivered, the bosom heaved with quiet pain 
 that ended in a spasmodic sigh ; tears fell on the child's fair 
 head. 
 
 The nursery governess entered the drawing-room and began 
 to relate the latest news that had already reached the Rue de la 
 Victoire. 
 
 The Empress had been ill since the day before, but everything 
 was only over towards morning. 
 
 The Emperor spent the whole night in the Empress's room. 
 Corvisart and Dubois did not leave her for one minute. 
 
 Pani Walewska made a movement ; the child woke up. 
 
 The governess rang for the nurse, and when Pani Walewska 
 handed her the child the governess gave vent to her talkative- 
 ness. 
 
 "The whole Court was up. A battalion of grenadiers watched 
 all the doors ; nobody was permitted to go out. Mme. de 
 Montesquiou was appointed governess of the children of France. 
 A fine position, to have charge of the heir to the throne ! Not 
 everyone is as lucky as Mme. de Montesquiou."
 
 422 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 " Where have you all this news from ? " interrupted Pani 
 Walewska, displeased, " You know I do not like street gossip." 
 
 " But it is not gossip ! The whole of Paris is talking about 
 it. In the morning the whole Imperial family was called to 
 the Tuileries, as well as all the officials of the Court — Marshals, 
 Generals, Ministers, and Ambassadors. The secret was so well 
 kept that they did not know why they were called. . . . Then 
 the Emperor himself brought in his son. . . . They say he had 
 tears in his eyes. . . . To-morrow there is to be a gala, festivi- 
 ties, solemn prayers, a banquet for the army ! The Tuileries 
 are surrounded by thousands of people. The whole town is 
 rushing to congratulate His Majesty ! " 
 
 " The whole town I Ah ! I am glad you told me all this ! 
 Pray bring me my jewellery-box, writing-papei', pen and ink." 
 
 " Some one to take a letter .'' " 
 
 " John, as usual." 
 
 The govei-ness did as she was told. Pani Walewska wrote a 
 letter. It was a short one : — 
 
 "I am happy in your happiness. Little Alexandre sends a 
 kiss to his future Emperor. — Mary." 
 
 Having written this letter. Pani Walewska opened the jewel- 
 box and took out a gold ring with a sphjaix's head engraved 
 on it; inside the ring one could read the following words: 
 " Quand tu cessera de maimer, 7i'oublie pas quejc t'aiine." 
 
 She wrapped the ring in the letter, sealed it, and ordered 
 John to be called to her. 
 
 "To the palace ?" asked the old servant confidentially. 
 
 " Yes. You will give it to Constant personally." 
 
 " I understand ! " 
 
 " Only I wonder if they will let you in ? . . ." 
 
 The old man glanced at the Court livery he wore. 
 
 " In this green they would let me in to Lucifer himself. A 
 very strong colour ! Sometimes a big officer might be turned 
 out from the Tuileries, but nobody touches me ! " 
 
 John was going to say more about the privileges he enjoyed, 
 but having glanced at his mistress, he became suddenly silent, 
 and withdrew on tiptoe. 
 
 The dusk came. Pani Walewska in her quiet boudoir was
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 423 
 
 sitting at the spinet^ bringing out sad melodies from it. It 
 seemed that in the strings of the instrument she was seeking 
 for a tone which could express her thoughts and relieve her 
 of them. 
 
 The maid brought lighted candles. 
 
 Pani Walewska turned her head as if wishing not to betray 
 the emotions which she let loose in the dusk of day. 
 
 "Light already ! " said Pani Walewska with regret. 
 
 " Yes, my lady," answered the maid. " Some lady begs to 
 be permitted to see her ladyship." 
 
 " Who is she ? " 
 
 " I don't know. I have never seen her before." 
 
 " I have told you so many times that I do not receive any- 
 body. ... If she is poor . . . give her some money. . . ." 
 
 " I told her . . . but she gave me her visiting-card and this 
 letter." 
 
 Pani Walewska took the card. 
 
 "Eleonorę Augier ! I do not know her ! Ah, a letter . . . ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska tore the envelope and read : — 
 
 " I shall be greatly obliged if you would not refuse your help 
 to the bearer of this note, Mme. Eleonorę Augier, wife of my 
 former army companion, Captain Pierre Augier. I humbly 
 apologise for my daring. — Philippe, Cte. Ornano." 
 
 Pani Walewska blushed slightly. 
 
 "Somebody I know recommends the lady to me," said Pani 
 Walewska, making an effort to be indifferent. " I must receive 
 her. Ask her in." 
 
 " The boy also .'' She came with a child." 
 
 " Naturally ! " 
 
 The maid went out, and after a while a young woman, lead- 
 ing by the hand a little boy, entered the boudoir. 
 
 " Mme. Eleonorę Augier ? " said Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Yes, Madame," whispered the stranger. 
 
 "Pray be seated."' 
 
 Mme. Augier sat on the chair nearest to the door. The boy 
 hid his head in the folds of her skirt. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked inquisitively at the stranger. The 
 woman appeared to be very attractive. She was tall, her
 
 424 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 figure was graceful; her pale face contrasted with her black 
 silky hair, while good temper shone in her longish eyes. 
 
 *' What brought you to me ? " asked Pani Walewska. 
 
 " Madame, you must be very good . . . one who is so beauti- 
 ful !.. . Ah, how beautiful you are, mon Dieu J " 
 
 Pani Walewska Avas near smiling ironically at such an awk- 
 ward compliment, but Mme. Augier's voice was so sincere that 
 she refrained. 
 
 "I permit myself to repeat my question, the rather as I 
 should like to do something for you because of the recommenda- 
 tion which you bring me." 
 
 " I do not know myself ! I would not have dared ! But I 
 have seen your portrait, painted by Gćrard, and having seen 
 how beautiful you are, I thought you must be as good as you 
 are beautiful. . . ." 
 
 " Then you know the painter, Gerard ? " 
 
 " Yes, he is a great artist, but only now I see that he is not 
 as great as they say, for he could not render your beauty ..." 
 
 "Thank you," interrupted Pani Walewska. "Then, what 
 can I do for you ? Pray tell me. I am listening." 
 
 Mme. Augier became confused, and spoke only after a while. 
 
 " Madame, have you never heard of me .'' " 
 
 " No, I have not." 
 
 " My former name was Revel . . . my first husband's. . . . 
 My maiden name is Denuelle de la Plaigne ! " 
 
 " Denuelle .'' Denuelle ? It seems to me I have heard . . . 
 but I do not remember in v.-hat circumstances." 
 
 " I was at Mme. Campan's boarding-school. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska did not listen very attentively to that preface, 
 having understood that she would be obliged to listen to many 
 details for which she did not care ; she looked at the boy, who 
 now became more courageous, and was peeping from behind his 
 mother's chair, and she was surprised. 
 
 "My parents were quite rich ..." continued Mme. Augier. 
 
 " Is this your son ? " asked suddenly Pani Walewska, who was 
 attracted by the child's features. 
 
 " Yes, Madame ! His name is Leon." 
 
 "Leon ! What a remarkable likeness!" said Pani Walewska, 
 speaking as if to herself.
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 425 
 
 Mme Augier grew animated. 
 
 " Is it not ? Even in his movements ! Exactly like . . ." 
 
 " Like who ? " 
 
 " Well . . . Madame . . ." mumbled Mme. Augier^ " like . . . 
 like the Emperor." Pani Walewska paled, and asked quietly — 
 
 " Then this boy is . . . his son } " 
 
 "Yes . . ." answered Mme. Augier in a whisper. 
 
 Pani Walewska drew herself up^ her ej'es became icy. Now 
 she understood who that woman was . . . she v/as that 
 Eleonorę who frightened her like an evil spirit, with whom they 
 threatened her so often, whom, not long since, they wished to 
 use as a tool against her, whose name was mentioned in every 
 intrigue against Pani Walewska. . . . Well, they repeated 
 to her again and again that the Emperor wished to adopt her 
 son and make him his successor. . . . 
 
 Pani Walewska's icy look froze Mme. Augier. 
 
 " I was mad ... I should not have done it. . . . You will be 
 so kind as to excuse me. ... In my position ... I wished 
 to find some help. It is impossible to reach the Tuileries ! 
 They forbade me long ago. ... I have written to M. 
 Constant. . . . He was always very kind to me. . . . Yes, 
 formerly. . . . But now everything is changed. . , . You 
 know . . . ! " 
 
 Mme. Augier drew the child to her and began to cry. 
 
 f'Poor child . . . !" 
 
 Pani Walewska remembered little Alexandre ; her hands 
 shivered, she dropped her head sadly. 
 
 " Be assured," said Pani Walewska, with an effort, " if I could 
 do anything ..." 
 
 " Would you be so kind ! Do I deserve it .'' Only now I 
 see my levity. . . . But to-day, when I heard the twenty- 
 second cannon-shot, I did not know what had become of 
 me. ... It seemed that an abyss had opened in front of 
 me . . . that I was falling into it. ... I rushed to the 
 Tuileries. I fought my way through the crowd, and when I 
 was about exhausted, I was pushed by the human wave to the 
 gate of the palace. I noticed a Prefect that I knew, and 
 begged him to let me in to see M. Constant. . . . The Prefect 
 knew me well from the time I used to 2:0 with Leon to see the
 
 426 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Emperor, who was very fond of him, and liked to see him during 
 his kinch. . . . But the Prefect frowned, shrugged his shoulders, 
 and when I insisted he told the sentry to drive me away. . . . 
 The crowd laughed at me. ... I was furious. ... I seized the 
 boy by the hand and wished to shout that he was his first- 
 boi'n son ! Fortunately a woman, whom I knew, was there, 
 and she induced me to go home, otherwise I might have found 
 myself in the prison of Mazas. . . . When I came to myself I 
 remembered you, Madame, and I came. Do you see this blue 
 mark on my hand .'' I got it at the Tuileries. . . ." 
 
 Mme. Augier bent as if under a weight pressing her down. 
 
 Pani Walewska was awestricken. She forgot her involuntary 
 dislike for Eleonore's name, she forgot all wicked gossip told 
 her about Mile. Denuelle de la Plaigne, and she saw herself in 
 her. She felt Eleonore's every word — she lived that dreadful 
 morning with her. Pani WaleM'ska's pride gave way to the 
 thought that perhaps she herself was only the Eleonorę of 
 to-morrow, and she shivered. 
 
 " But why am I telling you all this ? " said Mme. Augier, 
 sighing painfully. 
 
 " I must know everything ; I am listening to you." 
 
 "Precisely speaking, that is all," said Eleonorę simply. 
 
 " And what would you have done had they let you into the 
 palace .'' " 
 
 "Ah, mon Dieu ! . . . I had besought M. Constant to help us, 
 to say a word while dressing the Emperor. . . . Ah, if I only 
 could speak with M. Constant . . . ! " 
 
 " Then really you cared so much to see the valet .'' " asked 
 Pani Walewska, to whom the desire to see the valet seemed 
 very strange, as it was expressed by the mother of the Emperor's 
 son. 
 
 " Naturally, Madame ! M. Constant can do much. More than 
 M. Meneval ! I would have told him about my misfortune, 
 and he would have helped me." 
 
 " You counted only on him ? " 
 
 " Ah ! on whom else could I count ? " 
 
 " Perhaps you are right ! W^hat, then, do you wish from me ? 
 If I could not do anything by myself, if not, I promise you to 
 see Constant."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 427 
 
 "The question is about my husband. You know, Madame^ 
 about my first husband ? No ? Nor about my second marriage ? 
 Then I shall be obliged to tell you about . . . Only Leon . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska rang for her maid and told her to take the 
 boy and amuse him. He was taken away, notwithstanding his 
 energetic protestations. 
 
 "My father was a rich manufacturer. I was brought up in 
 luxury. I was sent to Mme. Campan's boarding-school. The 
 difficulties were great, but my mother overcame them all. At 
 Mme. Campan's was the Emperor's sister, Caroline — later, the 
 Queen of Naples. She took a fancy to me. Having finished 
 my studies at the school I returned home. My mother was 
 fond of luxury — my father was ruined. M. de Revel, a captain, 
 used to visit us ; he was thought to be very rich. I married 
 him. Three months after the wedding I lost all my illusions. 
 M. de Revel was an accomplished rascal, but I loved him just 
 the same. He did something wrong ; he was degraded, dis- 
 missed from the regiment, and then arrested and imprisoned 
 for theft. My father died ; my mother and I were left almost 
 in misery. Then I remembered Queen Caroline. I wrote to 
 her. She took care of me, obtained a divorce from de Revel, 
 and appointed me as her reader. Then I met the Emperor . . ." 
 
 "When was it ? " 
 
 "On the twenty-sixth of January in I8O6 — the day he came 
 back to Paris after the victory of Austerlitz. It lasted until 
 April. Queen Caroline, then only Princess of Berg, was kind 
 to me, even when I could not continue my duties as her 
 reader. Leon was born in December. I was proud of him. 
 The Emperor was in Warsaw, but they took good care of me 
 here. I had a house in this street. . . ." 
 
 " Rue de la Victoire } " 
 
 "Yes. The Emperor came back — it was 1807, the most 
 happy year in my life." 
 
 " Eighteen hundred and seven ! " repeated Pani Walewska in 
 a hollow voice, feeling in the meanwhile that the edifice of her 
 own dearest memories was crumbling. 
 
 " The happiest ! I was feasted and respected. People 
 predicted a crown for Leon. Every day I was obliged to be 
 at the Tuileries. I had influence ; Talleyrand visited me
 
 428 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 frequently. . . . The Spanish war began. . , . They began to 
 talk about yoUj Madame, then about Mme. Gazzozii. I wished to 
 be jealous. Gazzoni insulted me, M. Savary scolded me. I had 
 still some illusions. In the meanwhile the Emperor fell in love 
 with Mile. Guillebeau at Bayonne. I was neglected. My 
 mother died. Lieutenant Pierre Augier proposed to me. I 
 was fond of him ; my equivocal position was impleasant.. I 
 married. Pierre was the best of husbands to me ; he loved 
 Leon. We were remembered at Court ; Pierre's superior officer 
 was attentive to him. But little by little everything was 
 forgotten. About two years since M. Talleyrand called on us 
 unexpectedly and told me about some fresh plans in regard to 
 me, and even sent me an invitation to Queen Caroline's Court. 
 I did not believe him much, but I yielded to my husband's 
 persuasions. Pierre, at the beginning, very much liked all 
 those honours. But then he became jealous of me ; he loaded 
 me with bitter reproaches about my past ; he would not leave 
 me alone for one minute ; he ruined himself for costly frocks for 
 me, for he wished to surround me with luxury so as not to 
 make me long for Imperial drawing-rooms. ... I had forgotten 
 about them long ago. . . . But that odd thought did not leave 
 my husljand. We had quite a property — it was spent ! My 
 husband began to gamble, and was lucky. ... It amused me 
 when he would bring piles of gold and throw it at my feet 
 every day. . . . Suddenly the luck changed ... he made 
 debts ... we had sold almost everything. To-morrow he will 
 be tried by a military court for not having paid debts of honour 
 and . . . cheating at cards. . . . To-moiTow we shall be in 
 misery and covered with shame. Yesterday I went to Count 
 Ornano. He was very fond of Pierre when they served in the 
 same regiment. He gave me some money for the most urgent 
 necessities, but he cannot stop the trial. I told him I intended 
 to call on you. He gave me a note. . . . Pierre could not 
 remain in his regiment, but if they would send him to Spain to 
 the battlefield ... I would go with him. But impossible to 
 see anybody. It all happened so suddenly. They took Pierre's 
 sword, they put him in the guard-house, and to-morrow . . . 
 to-morrow. He is guilty, but his service was without any 
 reproach. ..."
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 429 
 
 Mme. Augier breathed deeply. 
 
 " And he does not care about your son ? " 
 
 " Who knows ? In the beginnmg, especially when the Queen 
 Hortense's son died^ as you know they called him hereditary 
 prince^ the Empress Josephine herself took a great interest in 
 Leon. The nurse of Queen Hortense's son^ Mme. Loir, was 
 then appointed my son's nurse, and she reported to the Marshal 
 of the Court. She was very good, but when they told her 
 reports were no longer required, and when she noticed that 
 everything was over, she was obliged to think of herself. . . . 
 But perhaps I bore you, Madame ? " 
 
 Pani Walewska rose with an effort. 
 
 " What you have told me will do. I know what the question 
 is about. . . ." 
 
 " The trial is to-morrow, in the afternoon." 
 
 "Very well." 
 
 "The best time to see Constant is in the morning, after ten." 
 
 Pani Walewska nodded and left the boudoir. 
 
 Eleonorę looked with astonishment, not knowing what meant 
 that sudden departure. Only when the maid brought her son 
 she understood that it was a cold, haughty dismissal. 
 
 Mme. Augier began to cry. 
 
 The next day the porter on duty at the Pavilion de Flore at the 
 Tuileries was much surprised when, after a string of carriages 
 of the Court dignitaries well knov/n to him, he noticed a dark 
 green coupe coming to the portico as swiftly as the equipage of 
 the King of Naples, or of that of the Prince Eugene. That 
 surprise, however, increased still more when from the carriage, 
 instead of some frightened officer or high official, there alighted 
 a lady dressed in black, who advanced with assured steps to the 
 stairs. 
 
 The porter was embarrassed. 
 
 The lady wore a thick veil over her face. It was impossible 
 to recognise her. The porter recollected that, according to his 
 orders, he should have asked the lady whom she wished to see, 
 but before he could do so the carriage went into the courtyard 
 to wait there with other carriages, while the lady passed the 
 halberdiers standing at the top of the stairs, entered the ante- 
 chamber boldly, and went on to the guard-room.
 
 430 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The pages sitting on the benches rushed up when the glass 
 door openedj ready to execute the prescribed bow, but seeing 
 only a veiled lady they looked at each other and neglected the 
 Court rules. 
 
 The lady walked to the other door, guarded by a palace 
 commissary clad in rich uniform and with a chain on his neck. 
 
 The commissary barred the lady's further progress with a 
 deep bow. 
 
 "I wish to see the chamberlain on duty/' explained the 
 lady. 
 
 " First door to the left, in the pavilion to the right . . . here 
 the chamberlain does not receive." 
 
 " I have come for an audience." 
 
 " Is it fixed } " 
 
 " I have come for an audience, I said ! " 
 
 The commissary bowed respectfully. 
 
 "Such being the case, you will be kind enough to give me 
 your visiting-card, that I may send it to the chamberlain." 
 
 The lady handed her card with an impatient movement. 
 
 The commissary glanced at it. 
 
 " You have not an audience ! But I will announce you at 
 once to the chamberlain on duty ! " 
 
 The commissary called a page, told him something, let him 
 into the next room, and stood at the door. 
 
 The lady withdrew a little, trying hard to stop her nervous 
 trembling. 
 
 After a while the page returned, whispered something to the 
 commissary, who turned to the lady and said bowing : " The 
 chamberlain on duty is at your disposition, Madame. Pray, this 
 way ! " 
 
 The commissary opened the door. The lady passed the 
 threshold, and having found herself in a room full of army, 
 court, and state uniforms, hesitated for a moment. The page, 
 however, invited her, by bowing to her, to go to the left, towards 
 a window, where he brought her a chair. 
 
 The room was filled with whispers, but the men present were 
 so preoccupied that they did not notice the lady. 
 
 Only when, from the next room, the chamberlain on duty, 
 clad in a red velvet coat, white vest and white breeches, rushed
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 431 
 
 out, the gathered dignitaries wished to bar his way ; but when 
 the latter, not answering their question, directed himself to the 
 lady, his steps were followed by inquisitive looks. 
 
 The Chamberlam greeted the lady with some embarrassment. 
 
 " Madame, pray excuse me for keeping you waiting. Grctjule 
 entree is just over. ... If I had expected ! Thousand par- 
 dons ! " 
 
 '' Do not excuse yourself. I was very much amused here." 
 
 " Ah, Madame, I have so much to do. I cannot move without 
 hearing here and there ' M. de Remusat ! M. de Rćmusat ! ' 
 Oh . . . what a long list ! And only Cambaceres is with the 
 Emperor. I have not a moment . . . ! " 
 
 " I shall not take much of your time. Pray, put me at the 
 head of that list, that is all I want." 
 
 '*' What, Madame ? " asked M. de Remusat, moving his eye- 
 brows as if wishing to make them help him to understand. 
 
 "I must see the Emperor on important business." 
 
 " Ah ! h'm ! . . . only the thing is . . . Pray, Madame, I do 
 not find your name on the list. ..." 
 
 " It does not matter," answered the lady proudly. 
 
 " Naturally ! Only the rules, the rules . . . His Majesty 
 looks every morning through the list of the people to whom an 
 audience is granted, and one could not let anybody in without 
 bis approval. . . ." 
 
 The lady arranged her veil nervously. M. de Remusat smiled 
 stupidly, and continued : " A very heavy responsibility. The 
 Emperor is in a good humour and it must not be spoiled. . . ." 
 
 "But, M. de Remusat," said the lady bitterly, "I must have 
 something of importance if I come here, and I think it will not 
 be difficult for you to mention my name to the Emperor." 
 
 The Chamberlain became confused. 
 
 " Naturally ... it will suffice to say ' Mme. Walewska.' Pray 
 forgive me, but it is my duty to observe the rules strictly. They 
 are very strict since the marriage. . . . But if you command, 
 Madame, we yield at once. Yes, at once ! When introducing 
 the Turkish Ambassador, I shall have the honour to mention 
 about the agreeable surprise." 
 
 Pani Walewska nodded approvingly. M. de Remusat bowed 
 and disappeared in the crowd of uniforms.
 
 432 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 Pani Walewska, who was now persecuted with intrusive looks, 
 tightened the veil over her face and sank deep into the chair, as 
 if wishing to be seen as little as possible. Her presence, how- 
 ever, was noticed by a young colonel of dragoons, who, at 
 sight of her, interru})ted his conversation with General Mon- 
 thion, and came to her. 
 
 Pani Walewska made a movement of surprise at the coloners 
 bow. 
 
 " You have recognised me .'' " 
 
 "Yes. I even permit myself to guess the purpose of your 
 presence here." 
 
 " I could not postpone ..." 
 
 " I understand, and, so much more, I appreciate your readi- 
 ness. In the meanwhile, I crave your forgiveness for having 
 addressed myself to your good-heartedness. I must tell you 
 frankly that ..." 
 
 " That you had not confidence in me. ..." 
 
 "No, Madame, I doubted whether you remember that an 
 Ornano existed. ..." 
 
 " You judge by the Corsicans . . . they forget easily, 
 then . . .?" 
 
 "A Corsican, Madame," replied the colonel enthusiastically, 
 "never forgets." 
 
 " But only when he hates. . . ." 
 
 " Or when . . ." 
 
 "It is about two years since I saw you last," interrupted Pani 
 Walewska. 
 
 "The time has not seemed so short to everybody. ... To 
 me it was very long. ..." 
 
 " I must congratulate you at your rapid advancement. You 
 are already a colonel ! " 
 
 "And on what shall I congratulate you, Madame .-'" 
 
 "You — me .''" said Pani Walewska hesitatingly. "Only . . ." 
 
 " Precisely, Madame," responded M. de Remusat's voice at 
 that moment from the side. 
 
 Ornano withdrew discreetly. Pani Walewska rose. 
 
 "Is it my turn.''" 
 
 "Precisely, Madame," mumbled M. de Remusat. "I do not 
 know whether I shall have an opportunity. ... I would like to
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 433 
 
 make you wait. . . . Such a crowd ! ... I do not know when 
 it will be over. . . . His Majesty will be tired. ... I would 
 suggest that you should postpone till to-morrow. ..." 
 
 "Excuse me, sir! I asked you to tell his Majesty that I came 
 on an urgent affair. ..." 
 
 " Yes, but I cannot ; I have no opportunity . . . rules . . . 
 etiquette ! I can only put your name on the list for to-morrow, 
 and submit it to the Marshal's approval. . . ." 
 
 " Then I shall wait for the Prince of Friul ! " 
 
 M. de Remsuat perspired. 
 
 " Yes, Madame, undoubtedly. ... It is very painful for me, so 
 much more that my respect for you . . . But in this case the 
 Prince of Friul will not be able. . . . Etiquette ! We cannot 
 make exceptions, even for kings ! There are no exceptions ! 
 His Majesty was kind enough to tell me that there are no 
 exceptions. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska leaned on the chair and asked suddenly : 
 "Then you have announced me.''" 
 
 " Yes, certainly ! The Chancellor is my witness ! " muttered 
 the Chamberlain. " But precisely there are no exceptions ! " 
 
 "The Emperor told you that for me . . . ! " 
 
 " Not at all, but as a rule there are no exceptions. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska laughed nervously. 
 
 M. de Remusat wished to better the situation. 
 
 " On the contrary ! He himself, in my presence, said to the 
 Chancellor : ' I must wrong Davoust, and give the Principality 
 of Łowicz to Walewski, who sustained great losses during the 
 Prussian campaign, and I am under an obligation towards him, 
 since his reconciliation Avith his wife.' So said his Majesty." 
 
 Pani Walewska bit her lips till they bled. 
 
 " You see, Madame, de Remusat is always ready . . ." 
 
 "To do something awkward!" said a sneering voice from 
 beside him. 
 
 M. de Rćmusat turned, and perceived M. de Talleyrand 
 smiling negligently. 
 
 The Chamberlain looked proudly at the ex-minister, who was 
 in temporary disgrace. 
 
 " Sir, what do you mean ? " 
 
 Talleyrand smiled contemptuously. 
 9 F
 
 434 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 " That }^ou have hurt Mme. Walewska, and that you did not 
 excuse the Emperor. . . ." 
 
 " It is my concern ! " 
 
 " ISIadame/' said Talleyrand to Pani Walewska, not paying 
 an}' attention to de Remusat's angry looks, " I would be very 
 happy to do anything for you." 
 
 " Precisely ! " rejoined the Chamberlain. " Be so kind as to 
 tell me what the question is about." 
 
 Pani Walewska shook ofF her surprise, looked proudly at the 
 courtiers, and said — 
 
 " I am obliged to you, sirs, the affair is of too great im- 
 portance. . . ." 
 
 ^'Anything in my power ! " said Talleyrand. 
 
 " Pray command me ! " rejoined Ilemusat. 
 
 Pani Walewska shook her head negatively. 
 
 " The affair is so important that nobody can do anything but 
 either the Emperor himself, or his lackey. Constant. ..." 
 
 Remusat opened his mouth in surprise ; Talleyrand wished to 
 parry the blow with a witticism, but Pani Walewska nodded to 
 them, and went to the door. 
 
 In the guard-room Ornano offered her his arm ; she hesitated, 
 but then accepted it. 
 
 In the portico Pani Walewska stopped suddenly, looked round 
 her, and said, endeavouring to be quiet : " Then this is the 
 Pavilion de Flore ? " 
 
 " Do you see it for the first time ? " 
 
 " For the last ! Ah, you asked me on what you should 
 congratulate me. You have seen by yourself . . . great 
 honours. . . ." 
 
 " And I was the cause of . . ." 
 
 " That I have learned to-day what would have happened to 
 me to-morrow ! I am thankful to you ; less illusions, sadder, 
 but quieter it is ! Poor Augier ! Are j'ou now at the Court for 
 good.? " 
 
 " No, Madame . , . only momentarily. I am going again 
 into the world, where it is easier not to think, easier to . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at him with her burning eyes. 
 
 "The future is wide open to you." 
 
 " Yes, just at this moment ! " whispered Ornano.
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 435 
 
 Pani Walewska pressed his hand, entered the carriage, and 
 departed. 
 
 The Grand Marshal of the Court, Duroc, was sitting in the 
 drawing-room of Pani Walewska's little palace in the Rue de 
 la Victoire, and looking round him with increasing uneasiness. 
 It was half an hour since he had come there, sincerely sorrow- 
 ful on account of an errand he had received, and till now 
 neither Pani Walewska nor Princess Jabłonowska had come 
 to meet him. He was hurt, for he used to come here often, 
 and was always a welcome guest, and to-day they made him 
 wait. . . . 
 
 Duroc looked at the clock, and then rang the bell. 
 
 A lackey appeared at the door. 
 
 " Have you announced me to her ladyship ? " 
 
 " Yes, your grace." 
 
 "Perhaps the maid did not tell her ..." 
 
 '^'She did," resovmded the sonorous voice of Pani Walewska 
 from the side. " Pray excuse me ; I made you wait, but I had 
 very urgent letters to finish." 
 
 "■ It is I who should ask your forgiveness for importuning you, 
 but I could not come yesterday, and to-day all news is precious. 
 How is the Count } " 
 
 " You are asking about my little boy .'' Thank you, he is 
 very well." 
 
 " Corvisart was commanded to call to-day." 
 
 " It will be useless. I shall not let him see my son." 
 
 Duroc looked surprised at Pani Walewska, not being able to 
 make out what her ceremonious tone meant. 
 
 "It is always better for a physician to have charge." 
 
 " You are right. I have sent for an experienced one. ..." 
 
 " And how is your health ? " 
 
 " As you see, I am very well." 
 
 Duroc became abashed, but having understood that it would 
 be best to speak straight out, he asked : '' You have been at 
 the Tuileries to-day } " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " And do you know why the audience . . ." 
 
 " But it is so clear ! I was not put on the list ; I had not 
 presented my request to the Marshal of the Court ; I had for-
 
 436 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 gotten the etiquette — in a word, it is my fault that I have been 
 sent away ! " 
 
 Duroc could hardly conceal his embarrassment. 
 
 " You are rights Madame ; but notwithstanding all that, the 
 Emperor regretted much that he could not receive you." 
 
 Pani Walewska curtseyed to Duroc. 
 
 "Marshal, I hope you will not refuse my request that you 
 will express my warmest gratitude to his Majesty for his most 
 kind words . . . ? " 
 
 " Madame . . . ! " 
 
 " The honour done me. . . ." 
 
 " But, Madame," interrupted Duroc, " do I really deserve to 
 be sneered at ? " 
 
 « You, Marshal } " 
 
 " Yes, I, Madame ! " said Duroc with emphasis. " I was 
 always very respectful towards you, and — I must be frank in 
 telling you — I was proud of the confidence you had in me . . . 
 and I swear that I should not like to lose it. I will say more, 
 I do not know of any circumstance which would change my 
 sentiments towards you." 
 
 Pani Walewska's eyes met Duroc's clear, noble looks. 
 
 "For my part I never neglected, and I should not like to 
 lose an opportunity of acknowledging your kindness of heart ; 
 but at this moment you were not speaking to me in your own 
 name, therefore do not take to yourself what I said. . . ." 
 
 " Madame, if we are to talk, one way or another, let us talk 
 frankly." 
 
 " But only with you." 
 
 " Very well, then, with me ! You feel hurt, and I guess why. 
 But permit me to explain to you. The Emperor must very 
 often be ruled by apparently trifling reasons. You have suffered 
 . . . but were you alone .'' Do you think that it is very easy 
 to send away a person whom one would like to welcome 
 heartily ? '' 
 
 " Not at all ! And the best proof is that I never accepted 
 any invitations to the Tuileries, that I refused to become a 
 lady-in-waiting to the Court, that I have never been present at 
 any Court ceremony, except as a mere spectator among the 
 crowd! To-day, however, I dared to think that I too might
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 437 
 
 come to the throne to beg . . . His Majesty could not doubt 
 that an affair of the greatest importance had prompted me to 
 take that step. . . ." 
 
 " Therefore he sent me here at once in order to do what you 
 wished for, ..." 
 
 " A great favour ! This morning I was disposed to beheve 
 it. . . ." 
 
 " Madame, if I might beg of you to be cooler. . . ." 
 
 " Am I not so ? " 
 
 " The Emperor could not grant you that audience. Such an 
 unexpected audience in particular would have had an official 
 character, which, in presence of yesterday's event, of the 
 Empress Marie Louise's illness, of the blossoming of paternal 
 sentiments, would give occasion to gossip, conjectures and mali- 
 cious remarks throughout the whole of Europe — it would have 
 made a bad impression at the Court of Austria — in a word, it 
 would have lessened the solemnity of the moment of the birth 
 of the heir to the throne. His Majesty is obliged to pay atten- 
 tion to appearances, and he cannot allow there to be any doubt 
 about the Empress's influence— especially now, when she is not 
 only a consort, but a mother too. These are, Madame, the 
 real reasons. ... To all that I should add that your message 
 of yesterday moved the Emperor very much, but in the mean- 
 while it made him fear, the Emperor sometimes listens to his 
 advisers . . . that your impulsiveness, Madame, would not 
 permit you to keep within the limits of an audience. That 
 is all. Do you still doubt .'' Do you think there are other 
 reasons .'' . . ." 
 
 " No, I even believe that you speak from the depth of your 
 conviction, that you believe your reasoning to be right." 
 
 " Certainly, I do believe so. I must tell you something more, 
 in order to convince you how the Emperor remembers you. The 
 moment is a very important one, and it requires concentra- 
 tion in the family circle, requires that he, as well as the 
 millions of his subjects, should familiarise himself with the 
 idea of his future heir. . . . This moment must not be dis- 
 turbed by any discord. For that reason the Empress Josephine 
 was told to go to Switzerland. I am sure that your name was 
 pronounced also, but the Emperor repulsed the idea, and that
 
 438 NArOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 because he is sure of the dehcacy of your sentiments. . . . This 
 is not all. Although he had a right to be happy with his son, 
 and might well have forgotten about everything and everybody, 
 he summoned me last night, very late, for he had learned about 
 some of your wishes. . . . Well, then . . . the Principality of 
 Łowicz will be taken from Davoust and given to you. . . ." 
 
 " As an indemnity for the losses of my ex-husband, sustained 
 during the Prussian campaign, and because that husband recon- 
 ciled himself with me." 
 
 " I do not understand." 
 
 "That is strange, for I have repeated the Emperor's own 
 words said to-day to Cambaceres." 
 
 "This is new to me." 
 
 " I am sure you will not refuse M. de Rćmusat the only quality 
 he has, of being exact in repeating what he hears ! Then those 
 words, probably, are whispered already throughout Paris." 
 
 " And you are so much hurt by this ? " 
 
 " I do not care one whit for it, only I am surprised at such ill- 
 directed munificence. Yes, my former husband sustained a great 
 loss during that memorable campaign, but that loss could not be 
 repaid even by the Emperor. As for me, I do not accept the 
 present. What I have will suffice for me and my son." 
 
 " But it is permitted to his Majesty ..." 
 
 " I do not accept. I am very sorry that this morning I nearly 
 disturbed the blossoming of paternal sentiment, as you put it." 
 
 "Madame !" exhorted Duroc in a tone of persuasion, having 
 noticed a sudden change in Pani Walewska's face. 
 
 " I am sorry . . . Yes. But as you came to do what I was 
 going to ask, then you must learn that at this moment of the 
 blossoming of paternal sentiments I thought it would be right 
 to ask that the son of Eleonorę Denuelle de la Plaigne should 
 not be ashamed of his adoptive father, Captain Augier ; that 
 Eleonorę and her husband should not be exposed to the conse- 
 quences of rolling down from the heights, where they were put 
 by a caprice, and in the same way pushed from them so that a 
 curse might not hang over the head of the King of Rome." 
 
 Duroc turned pale. 
 
 " Madame ! What do you mean .'' I do not understand ! " 
 
 " Nothing more or less than this : that Eleonorę Augier has
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 439 
 
 no means of livelihood ; that her husband is being tried to-day^ 
 and perhaps is already sentenced to be dismissed from the army ; 
 that little Leon, once the Benjamin of the Court, was turned 
 away from the Tuileries by a sentry, and this was at the 
 moment Avhen his only wish was to kiss Constant's hand." 
 
 " But this is a real fatality ! I assure you that this affair will 
 be arranged at once in the most satisfactory way for the Augiers. 
 You know that the Emperor would not neglect this." 
 
 " Then he will fulfil my most heartfelt request ! " 
 
 Duroc took Pani Walewska's hand and kissed it. 
 
 " Always most noble, and remembering only others, not her- 
 self ! The Emperor will be deeply moved. He will do any- 
 thing to be forgiven ! By the way, I hope you will be kind 
 enough not to refuse to see him to-day ? . . . " 
 
 " You forget where I have come from but a little while 
 since ! " 
 
 "Ah, not there . . . but as usual. . . ." 
 
 "No, I cannot see him." 
 
 " Are you hurt, then, so much ? . . ." 
 
 " I do not delude myself. . . . Until to-day, when I went 
 through the Rue de Rivoli and took my way to the Diana Gallery, 
 I was comforted by the illusion that, if I chose, I might at any 
 moment drive up to the Pavilion de Flore. To-day I no longer 
 entertain that illusion. ... I shall not set foot in the 
 Tuileries. . . ." 
 
 Duroc was frightened, and tried to persuade Pani Walewska 
 that her resolution had no real ground. Pani Walewska was 
 unmoved. Duroc became sad. 
 
 " It is too bad. I shall not dare to repeat what you have said 
 to me. And I hope you will change your mind, if the culprit 
 himself asks your forgiveness. I undertake that, if so, the 
 Emperor will be here personally to-night. ..." 
 
 " You may be assured that he will be received with all the 
 honours due to him." 
 
 Duroc opened his eyes wide. 
 
 "I shall at once order all the lights in the house to be 
 lighted." 
 
 "But it must be incognito ! Nobody must know . . . just as 
 it used to be. . . ."
 
 440 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 "It is impossible ! The Rue de la Victoire deserves such an 
 honour for having offered hospitality so many times to the 
 Emperor, at Number 20, and then at 48 . . . and, expecting a 
 similar honour for other houses, it has a right to pay homage to 
 his Majesty, and to boast of that honour ! " 
 
 Duroc clasped his hands. 
 
 " Madame, consider ! " 
 
 " Yes, I do consider, but too late ! " 
 
 ''Then you intend . . . ?" 
 
 "To leave Paris to-morrow." 
 
 " To depart from this house, where his heart attracts him . . ." 
 
 " Mme. Gazzoni might be put here, so that the street should 
 not be false to the name of victory." 
 
 " You know him so little . . . you do not distinguish between 
 a deep affection and momentary fancies. . . ." 
 
 " Unfortunately, I do not," answered Pani Walewska, sup- 
 pressing the trembling of her voice. "There are so many 
 names, so many gradations, that I cannot see the diff'erence. 
 As for me, my account is only from the time of his return after 
 the victory at Pułtusk." 
 
 " Such great people must not be measured by ordinary rules." 
 
 "Therefore, I neither measure nor judge. I withdraw in 
 order not to stop the blossoming of paternal sentiments, and 
 not to stay in the way of the Empress Marie Louise, who, as it 
 seems, loves her husband and is loved by him." 
 
 " No, no ! I cannot listen to all this ! I know only that you 
 must receive the Emperor to-day, that you must have a talk 
 with him. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska rang the bell. A lackey appeared at the 
 door. 
 
 " Light all the lights ! Put a scarlet carpet at the entrance 
 stairs, gala livery for everybody ! I expect the Emperor at any 
 moment ! Every Oiie of you must be at his post. Be quick ! " 
 
 The lackey, frightened at the energy with which the order 
 was given, disappeared. 
 
 Duroc pressed his head with his hands, and looked with pain- 
 ful astonishment at Pani Walewska's face flushed with energy. 
 
 " It would have been better if I had not come here. But . . . 
 you must remain . . . consider . . . you will not allow yourself
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 441 
 
 to be carried away by anger . . . for the sake of your son . . . 
 of the Emperor. ..." 
 
 "This time I shall think only of myself." 
 
 " But you forget that I can stop you by force, and I shall use 
 it for your own sake." 
 
 Pani Walewska smiled sadly. 
 
 " No^ Marshal ! I shall not remain willingly, and you will 
 not employ force, for you would produce what he wishes so 
 much to avoid : gossip and conjectures ! It must be so ! I 
 thank you for the kindness which you have shown me. Do not 
 be frightened — remember my words — my departure will be 
 easily borne. Ingratitude, with which I shall be branded, will 
 brighten the sorrowful forehead. It is time for me to go. You 
 are happy. Marshal, you love the Emperor and you may remain ; 
 for the same reason I must depart."
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 A GLOOMY December night held the park of Walewice 
 Castle in its frosty embrace, covered silvery lawns and 
 the icy branches of elms, limes, and oaks with its dark veil, 
 unitmg the earth and the heavens in one awful bottomless 
 darkness. 
 
 Walewice Castle was silent. Its shutters were closed, its 
 doors were bolted ; only the grey smoke of the chimneys 
 showed that it was inhabited. 
 
 In fact, notwithstanding this apparent lack of life, the lower 
 part of the castle was full of light. All the servants were up, 
 even Baptiste, so powerful and so careful of himself, was not yet 
 asleep. 
 
 The servants' quarters were filled with many voices in lively 
 discussion, while near the master's apartment only whispers 
 could be heard ; significant looks and eloquent gestures were 
 exchanged. 
 
 The attention of the servants was concentrated on the 
 entrance to the Chamberlain's apartment. Here every opening 
 of the door, every new order given either by Baptiste or by 
 John, was earnestly commented on. 
 
 For a week the Chamberlain had been fighting with death ; 
 for a week the end had been expected every minute ; for a 
 week two physicians had not left the sick man ; for a week 
 Pani Walewska had spent days and nights either at the 
 Chamberlain's bedside or in a little room adjacent to his 
 chamber. 
 
 The physicians had twice announced the end as near ; twice 
 they had been obliged to state their ignorance ; twice they had 
 been surprised that the weak body of the old man had refused 
 to obey the expectations of science, and dared to live still. 
 
 442
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 443 
 
 That unexpected resistance of the sick man hurt the 
 physicians' pride, who, deceived in their judgment, noticed 
 with pleasure that the Chamberlain grew weaker, that the fever 
 increased, that the breathing was shorter, heavier. . . . 
 
 At last they announced a crisis, but being afraid to meet 
 with a disappointment they agreed that improvement was 
 possible. 
 
 That night precisely the Chamberlain lost consciousness and 
 grew rigid. 
 
 Pani Walewska was informed. She was frightened at the 
 lugubrious faces of the physicians, and still more at her 
 ex-husband's condition. She did not dare to have an}?^ hope. 
 
 They took her out of the room and made her sit in an arm- 
 chair in the Chamberlain's dressing-room. 
 
 Pani Walewska did not try to play the part of a despairing 
 consort — she neither would nor could cry. 
 
 But nevertheless she was torn by sincere sorrow. She was 
 ready to redeem the Chamberlain's health and strength with 
 her own life. Yes, for Pani Walev/ska's ideas had long since 
 undergone a great change with regard to the Chamberlain, 
 because that old man, that grumbling husband who was 
 ridiculous, who insulted her, who destroyed her ideals, who shut 
 her up in Walewice, that wearied, repulsive man, had become 
 her only friend — the only one who never asked her why she 
 came to his house which sJie had left, why she sought a shelter 
 here, why she had rushed from Walewice to Warsaw, Wilna, 
 Vienna, and Paris, and why she returned unexpectedly to his 
 castle. 
 
 The Chamberlain was even so careful in his isolation from 
 her, he saw her so seldom and with refined elegancy only for a 
 few moments, that one could easily believe he despised her. 
 
 In the meanwhile, however, the same Chamberlain was un- 
 wearied in finding means, when it was a question of remember- 
 ing his ex-wife's necessities, and the solicitude he showed about 
 the little Alexandre was admirable. 
 
 Pani Walewska often noticed how mysterious hands fore- 
 saw her wishes, remembered the smallest expense, removed 
 every sorrow. At the beginning she attributed that mysterious 
 care to some one else, and having found its true source wished
 
 444 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 to ascribe it to her ex-husband's ridiculously ambitious plans, 
 till she was convinced that the Chamberlain's only thought and 
 desire and happiness was to look at little Alexandre, to caress 
 him and call him his Imperial Highness. 
 
 Pani Walewska appreciated the Chamberlain's behaviour, and 
 wished to show him her gratitude. And although in Walewice 
 Castle there was the same separation between the Chamber- 
 lain's and Pani Walewska's apartments, although ex-husband 
 and ex-wife did not see each other and did not speak to each 
 other, they never had been united more tightly, never had 
 mutual affection been more sincere. 
 
 And now Pani Walewska was going to lose that friend ! . . . 
 She was looking at the door leading to the Chamberlain's bed- 
 room, ex2:)ecting at any moment to hear the gloomy news, 
 which might deprive her even of this shelter and throw her 
 on the billows of a precarious life ! 
 
 For in Walewice she was only a guest on whom the Chamber- 
 lain's family looked angrily. She did not have any right there 
 — the shelter was given to her through kindness. 
 
 She left Paris poorer than she was when she went there. 
 She had taken nothing from the little palace in the Rue de la 
 Victoire, except that which she brought with her, she refused 
 the principality offered to her, and she had wilfully become 
 the modest ex-wife of a Chamberlain, without any influence, 
 without any remains of the brilliant career, without the crumbs 
 from the lordly table. 
 
 Perchance such a disinterestedness was imprudent, but even 
 now Pani Walewska did not regret it ; on the contrary, the 
 consciousness that she had never asked for anything for herself, 
 made her satisfied, it tranquillised her, it attenuated her fault, 
 and lessened the bitterness that flew from the thought she was 
 forgotten. 
 
 It is true that she left Paris wilfully, that she did not listen 
 to Duroc's persuasions, but she could not remain there, she 
 could not bear indifferently that which she had learned, viz. 
 that she was one of Napoleon's several love intrigues, she did 
 not wish to bring up her son near to the heir to the throne 
 and to Eleonorę Augier's child ; and then she could not bear 
 humbly the insult she had received at the Tuileries. There-
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 445 
 
 fore she had left Paris. She had left without the hope that 
 happy moments should return, moments when it seemed to her 
 that she was the star of the king of kings. But she left look- 
 ing at his Majesty, with a prayer on her lips, with a wish that 
 her sorrow should not reach even Bonaparte's feet. Pani 
 Walewska could not expect that the Emperor, about whom 
 it was said that he had become the kindest father and the best 
 husband, should take his thoughts from his family and preserve 
 any feeling for Pani Walewska. Pani Walewska neither desired 
 his affection nor would she have dared to respond to it. But 
 she hoped that from time to time some friendly news would 
 reach her from Paris, that some reminiscences of her would 
 prompt a kind word to be sent to the quiet of Walewice, that 
 at least there would be some inquiries about her son. . . . 
 
 Unfortunately, since she left the capital of France her name 
 was not repeated even by an echo ; nobody cared what had 
 become of the woman whom formerly they worshipped like an 
 idol. 
 
 It is true that a few months ago Pani Walewska had gone to 
 Warsaw, and there had heard with a throbbing heart of the 
 Emperor's unconquerable power ; it is true that the French 
 Ambassador, Pradt, was exceedingly kind and respectful towards 
 her, offering her his services. He said something about the 
 Emperor's official inquiries. 
 
 And Pani Walewska tried to deceive herself by believing 
 that from among the numerous armies, from among camp fires, 
 from Bonaparte's tent over which floated the Imperial standard, 
 a kind thought was directed to her. That illusion was so 
 intoxicating that Pani Walewska, excited to the extreme, 
 rushed to Wilna, where she expected to meet the man to whom 
 some mysterious, irresistible force attracted her. And she went 
 not because she dared to think that past happiness would 
 return, not because she wanted to impose her sentiment on 
 Napoleon — no — but because she wished to be intoxicated with 
 his glory ; she did not wish to see in him the brutal lover, but 
 the dreamed-of hero, who challenged the immortality of 
 Alexander the Great and Caesar. 
 
 In Wilna, however. Pani Walewska met with only the rear of 
 the army, and the anxious governor, Hogendorp, who did not
 
 446 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 fear to take such care of her that on the fourth day he had 
 obtained from headquarters all mstructions concerning her. 
 General Hogendorp followed those instructions exactly. There- 
 fore he came to see her in full uniform and advised her to 
 return to Warsaw, for the journey after the army would be very 
 fatiguing for her, and would cause some conjectures. 
 
 But when Pani Walewska wished to carry out her former 
 plans, the honest face of the Dutch General twisted maUciously, 
 and from his mouth fell a sharp remark : '' I am authorised to 
 tell you, Madame, that there are already too many actrices at 
 headquarters." 
 
 Pani Walewska returned to the calm of Walewice — again 
 wounded, and full of bitterness that her enthusiasm was treated 
 so roughly, so brutally. 
 
 The months passed away. The joyful news about the great 
 army reached even Walewice, and Pani Walewska learned that 
 Napoleon had taken Moscow, from whence he dated his 
 bulletins. . . . All at once everything became quiet, silent. . . . 
 
 Notwithstanding the bitterness which continued its destruc- 
 tive work in Pani V/alewska's heart, she did not cease to worship 
 Napoleon. She accused herself of being too bold, of being too 
 capricious ; for how was it possible that he, who was carrying 
 out his vast plans, who perhaps was now following the tracks of 
 Alexander the Great's cohorts, who perhaps had already left 
 Moscow and conducted his eagles to the shores of the Ganges 
 and looked at the Himalaj-as, how could he remember her? 
 Could he neglect his historic mission for her .^ Could he lower 
 his soaring to her .'' 
 
 Thus thought Pani Walewska as she looked at the door of the 
 Chamberlain's bedroom. 
 
 All at once the door opened. A physician stood before Pani 
 Walewska, who shivered, and asked quietly : " What news } " 
 
 The physician made a helpless movement. 
 
 "Well, the fever has disappeared . . . the respiration is even 
 . . . the Chamberlain sleeps soundly ! . . ." 
 
 ''Then the danger ? " 
 
 " It is over, Madame. Difficult to believe ! For where from ? 
 what ? They would not believe ! He was already stiff, and 
 t . , nothing ! He is snoring now ! . , ,"
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 447 
 
 ''Is it certain ?" 
 
 '' Upon my honour, Madame. To-day, two hours since, I 
 would have wagered my hand that it was the end. ..." 
 
 Pani Walewska entered the bedroom, shook the physician by 
 the hand, made him promise to do all he could, and returned 
 tranquil to her apartment on the first floor. 
 
 But hardly had she had time to kiss her sleeping son, v/hen 
 the maid rushed into the bedroom with a letter. 
 
 Pani Walewska looked at her in surprise. 
 
 " What is the matter ? What is it .^ " 
 
 "A letter from Warsaw, brought by a special messenger 
 from the Princess ! He was told it was very urgent ! " 
 
 Pani Walewska took the letter slowly and put it on the table, 
 feeling certain that it contained some tedious condolences for 
 the Chamberlain and a handful of gossip from Warsaw. 
 
 But the maid, having noticed her mistress's indifference, said 
 confidentially : " The messenger said it was awfully urgent, and 
 the Princess promised him a piece of land if he came in good 
 time." 
 
 " Very well ! Tell him to rest. I will write that he came in 
 good time." 
 
 " But ... he says that the Emperor Napoleon himself has 
 come to Warsaw." 
 
 Pani Walewska trembled, and, not paying any attention to 
 the maid's improper familiarity, broke the seal, and began to 
 read : — 
 
 " Marie ! The French army does not exist ! The Emperor 
 arrived to-day at Warsaw with only Roustan and Caulin- 
 court. He starts to-night, by way of Łowicz and Dresden, 
 for Paris, to collect a fresh army. I remembered you. Go at 
 once to Łowicz — wait at the post office, the horses will be 
 changed. I am sure you will come in time. I beseech you ! 
 You have an opportunity. My hand trembles as I write this. 
 Kind Anetka told me about it. Pradt is running away from 
 his embassy. Dress in black. Greet Anastazy. The best way 
 will be to take Alexandre with you. I am awfully afraid for 
 my Antony, whether he has met with some accident. He 
 deserved the Legion. It is late — I am going to make calls. 
 Half killed and half dead — the rest drowned on some bridge.
 
 448 NArOLEON"S LOVE STORY 
 
 AAvful ! They must apply mustard to Anastazy's feet. My 
 mother used it up to her death. Matthew's wife will know 
 something more, for her husband was in the Hotel d' Angleterre, 
 where the Emperor stopped. What an idea for a crowned head 
 to stop in a hotel ! Do not believe what they say about that 
 aclrice, it was said only connne ca. The Emperor was speaking 
 of you yesterday to Wonsowich — who took a fancy to Anetka. 
 He may try, for ever}i:hing is over with de Flahaut. I applied 
 salts twice. All this is dreadful ! Therefore go at once. 
 Hearty kisses from yours for ever, "Jabłonowska. 
 
 " P.S. — The Emperor said yesterday to Pradt : 'Du sublime au 
 ridicitle il ny a qiinn pas ! ' Very just. Remember, for one forgets 
 such things," 
 
 Pani Walewska had finished the letter, put it quietly aside, 
 and looked with her eyes full of stupefaction at the inquisitive 
 maid's face. Then she took the letter again and glanced at it. 
 
 In the meanwhile her cheeks became scarlet, her hands 
 trembled, her bosom began to heave, her mouth quivered. All 
 at once some power shook her ; she lifted her white forehead 
 proudly ; her eyes brightened. 
 
 Pani Walewska began to give orders. They were short, 
 precise, embracing all details, not permitting any hesitation, 
 even for one second. 
 
 The castle became feverishly animated. 
 
 The servants packed boxes, grooms were getting ready 
 sledges, lackeys were bringing to Pani Walewska overseers, 
 housekeepers, and even Baptiste was called. Pani Walewska 
 gave orders what should be done during her absence and 
 the Chamberlain's illness. 
 
 Having done with the servants. Pani Walewska went down 
 to the physicians. There she assured herself that the Chamber- 
 lain was really better, made them promise her that they would 
 not leave the invalid, mentioned something about the urgent 
 necessity of departure, that she would be back very soon, and 
 returned to her apartments. 
 
 Here she found that the nurse had dressed little Alexandre, 
 wrapped him in a fur, and was ready for the journey. 
 
 When before the portico of the castle the sledge-bell re-
 
 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 449 
 
 sounded, Pani Walewska donned her fur cloak, put on fur 
 overshoes, and listened to John's report, that although the road 
 was good to Lov/icz, an outrider had gone ahead just the same 
 to see if there were not heavy snowdrifts. After that she took 
 the Princess's letter, glanced at the postscript, folded it, and 
 put it in her bosom, 
 
 " Shall we be going ? " asked the nurse. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Pani Walewska looked round as if to see whether she had 
 not forgotten an}i;hing, and went towards the door thinking 
 that she would go. She must go — she must see him. She was 
 going, for she must persuade herself that it v/as all false — lies, 
 base intrigues ! Yes, for he could only conquer, for conquest 
 v/as his life, his right, his destiny ! There was no power that 
 could resist him, there was no army which his genius could not 
 break and crush. He commanded the world ; there was nobody 
 more powerful than he. Neither seas, nor mountains, nor pre- 
 cipices, nor rivers dared to stop him. He went on, and would 
 go on further and further ; he would gather new laurels and 
 annoimce his will, till everything was fulfilled. There were not 
 two roads, two destinies for him — he had but one war cry : 
 Forward ! The man who carried such a burden on his shoulders, 
 who aroused in his countrymen such ambition, confidence, and 
 pride, must be conscious of his might. He reached beyond the 
 clouds with his eagle-like eyes, over the horizons of the future, 
 beyond the mist of destiny ! 
 
 He . . . Napoleon ! . . . defeated . . . crushed . . . humili- 
 ated . . . Napoleon ! ... As if it could be possible that the 
 sun could be quenched ! ... as if heat could drink out the 
 ocean ! ... as if a thunderbolt could strike where it origi- 
 nated ! . . . 
 
 But suppose . . . suppose the great army does not exist ? . . . 
 suppose ? . . . No, never ! It is false, base joking, blasphemous 
 wickedness. She looks at him, beholds him ! . . . Amongst the 
 crowd covered with gold and silver, on the background of fierce 
 grenadiers' bearskins, shining shakoes and armour, showy hats 
 and tall plumes, on the field bristling with iron, steel, and brass, 
 he stands thoughtful, neither moved by new laurels nor over- 
 whelmed by the great deeds accomplished . . . already makhig 
 2 G
 
 450 NAPOLEON^S LOVE STORY 
 
 new plans. . . . And the field shivers froni the firing of salutes, 
 and thousands of people are intoxicated with joyful exclamations ! 
 Half a million soldiers, half a million heroes, half a million strong 
 arms and broad chests would have to be torn to pieces, half a 
 million blows to be parried, half a million hearts to be pierced, 
 half a million heads to be crushed before he could be reached ! 
 
 And he stands thoughtful ! He looks on helplessly crowded 
 enemies, on burned towns, on crushed bastions, on ruined 
 strongholds, on veils of smoke, where the fire of cannons has 
 torn the bodies of those who dared to oppose him, on stubborn 
 foes who attempted to fight a Titan ! He looks thoughtful . . . 
 and his lips mutter kind words of pardon ! . . . 
 
 Over a village a storm rages. Zigzags of lightning cut the 
 clouds, unbridled wind carries devastation, nourishes fires, 
 crushes, twists, scatters, tears, overturns. . . . 
 
 But hardly has it passed away, hardly does it withdraw its 
 thunderbolts, hardly does it show a scrap of blue sky, when a 
 sad smile comes on the village from the height of the firma- 
 ment — a sunbeam searches which wound it may heal, which 
 bent stem it may raise. . . . 
 
 It is the same with him. Napoleon ! 
 
 And she rushes to him and looks at him, and breathes his 
 triumphs, and is intoxicated with his glory . . . and thus for 
 ever ! . . r 
 
 Pani Walewska's servants, headed by the housekeeper and 
 Baptiste, waited for her at the sledge for a long while, till at 
 last, not able to understand the cause of her delaying after such 
 haste, they began to steal quietly to the door of her apartment, 
 expecting that new orders would come. But the first recon- 
 naissances were without any result. At last the nurse, en- 
 couraged by the boy's crying, alighted from the sledge, handed 
 the child to the maid, and went to Pani Walewska's apart- 
 ment. 
 
 She found it empty. She looked in this and that room, till at 
 last, supposing that Pani Walewska had gone to see the 
 physicians, she turned to the part of the castle occupied by the 
 Chamberlain. 
 
 Hardly had the nurse passed the threshold of the boudoir
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 451 
 
 connected with the Chamberlain's dressing-room than she 
 uttered a cry of horror. Pani Walewska Avas lying on the floor 
 senseless. 
 
 At the nurse's scream the servants rushed into the room and 
 the two physicians followed them. 
 
 Pani Walewska was put on the sofa and brought to her 
 senses. 
 
 The physicians having ordered some potion returned to the 
 Chamberlain. The nurse rushed to them. 
 
 " O Lord ! What could be the matter with my lady ? " 
 
 "Nothing of importance just now," said the elder physician 
 qiuetly. " In an hour she will be quite well." 
 
 " Is it possible ? What a strange illness ! . . ." 
 
 " There is no illness whatever. Understand ? It is the heart ; 
 that is all." 
 
 " The heart } " 
 
 " Yes, if it does not kill you at once, then . . . nothing for 
 the present. . , ."
 
 EPILOGUE 
 
 THE Rue de la Victoire was in the habit, not long ago, of 
 retiring earlier than its neighbours. Like a former 
 beauty borne down by age, not only was it the first to put out 
 its lights and lock its doors, but also, having forgotten about 
 former sleepless nights, would look askance and address re- 
 proaches to others less inclined to go to bed early. 
 
 Therefore the nearest neighbours of the Rue de la Victoire 
 must have been very much sui'prised when one December 
 evening they not only perceived lights in the elegant little 
 palace marked with number 48, but also noticed several 
 carriages standing in front of it. This time the Rue de la 
 Victoire itself must have been wondering, for that little palace 
 had lately been full of surprises — it would become suddenly 
 silent, and then also suddenly animated. . . . Sometimes the 
 whole of Paris would shout, shiver, roar, and the little palace 
 would seem dead ; and on the contrary, while there was nothing 
 going on and everything was quiet, when there was no reason 
 for animation— the little palace would resound with the music 
 of a spinet, would assume a holiday appearance. 
 
 There had been many such changes. Till about a year ago 
 the little palace had become quiet, its lights were put out 
 regularly, its doors were locked at the same hour. Suddenly it 
 seemed that the former habits had returned. 
 
 The Rue de la Victoire stoj){)ed its breathing, looked inquisi- 
 tively at the palace, and listened attentively. 
 
 If, however, the carriages at the door, lighted vestibule and 
 circulating servants, gave a good opportunity to the sight, hear- 
 ing was very disappointed, for the little palace was silent. . . . 
 
 Hours passed away . . . the coachmen were slumbering on 
 
 452
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 453 
 
 their boxes, the horses dropped their heads sleepily, the palace 
 was still shining with lights, but it was silent. . . . 
 
 Midnight came. . . . On the background of the lighted hall a 
 man appeared. He rushed out, shouted to the nearest coach- 
 man, jumped into the carriage ; the vehicle rolled noisily, and 
 disappeared m the street. 
 
 After these signs of life, which drew from stupor the other 
 coachmen, the former quiet returned. 
 
 Suddenly, at the other end of the street resounded the 
 rattling of a carriage, and with it the same hollow sound that 
 was heard a while ago. The vehicle was returning at double 
 speed, its wheels producing shining sparks, and it stopped 
 short. 
 
 This time two lackeys rushed out from the palace and 
 approached the carriage door, from which alighted a tall man, 
 wrapped in a cloak, and, not paying any attention to the 
 servants, put out his hand to a priest and helped him to alight ; 
 they both entered the hall. 
 
 The man threw his cloak to a lackey, while the priest was 
 taking off his cloak slowly. 
 
 " Have you informed the Countess ? " asked the priest quietly. 
 
 "She wished it herself . . ." answered the man. . . . 
 
 The priest pointed at a little bimdle w^hich he had brought 
 in with him. 
 
 " Count, you be so kind as to show me to a room." 
 
 " Pray, this way . . ." answered the Count, and conducted 
 the priest to a small drawing-room. The priest donned a 
 surplice, a stole, and put on the table a couple of small silver 
 vessels. 
 
 The Count went out for a moment, and came back with an 
 old, bent servant. 
 
 He was quick to understand. The servant went ahead, and 
 the silence of the palace was broken by the trembling tintin- 
 abulation of a silver bell. 
 
 The Count accompanied the priest to the door of a room, and 
 entered the adjacent boudoir, hardly lighted by logs of wood 
 burning in the fireplace. Here he sat in a chair, and covered 
 his face with his hands. 
 
 " What now ? " asked a voice near the Count.
 
 454 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 
 
 The Count took his hands from his face, looked at the man 
 sitting near by, and answered : " He is there . . ." 
 
 The man moaned, and pkmged his looks into the fireplace. 
 
 For a while nothing was heard but the crackling of burning 
 ■wood. 
 
 " Where is Alexandre ? " asked the Count in his turn. 
 
 " He is with the Princess." 
 
 " And Corvisart ? " 
 
 Instead of an answer small quick steps were heard at the 
 other end of the boudoir, and they were followed by the 
 apj)earance of a gentleman in dark brown swallow-tail coat and 
 white necktie ; his bald head was surrounded by a crown of 
 white hair. 
 
 The Count rushed to the gentleman. 
 
 " Doctor, what is your opinion ? " 
 
 The physician stopped, and looked at "his snuff-box, Avhich he 
 held in his hand. 
 
 " I have nothing to say. . . . Nature may get the better. . . ." 
 
 " For God's sake, sir, yesterday you said . . ." 
 
 The physician took the Count ])y the hand, and shook it 
 heartily. 
 
 " Monsieur Ornano, General ! Have courage ! Yesterday it 
 seemed to myself ... I had charge of the Countess's health 
 formerly also ! I was not afraid of the inflammation of the 
 lungs, but I did not suppose that the heart . . ." 
 
 " Heart ! " repeated General Ornano, in a hollow voice. 
 
 " Yes, Count, God is my witness that never before did the 
 helplessness of our knowledge weigh on me as heavily as 
 to-day ! " 
 
 " Then, you think . . ." 
 
 Corvisart bent over his snuff-box. 
 
 " That, perhaps, there above, she will find a better 
 physician. . . ." 
 
 Pani Walewska breathed with difficulty, opened her half- 
 closed eyes, pushed aside a lock of hair from her shajiely face, 
 and looked round with failing eyes. 
 
 " Are you round me ? " whispered Pani Walewska's white 
 lips. " You are all . . . very well ... I must take farewell of
 
 NAPOLEON'S LOVE STORY 455 
 
 you. ... It is hard, very hard to die ! And I hved so much, 
 so miic]i. . . . Love Alexandre ... do not abandon him. . . ." 
 
 " Mary ! " moaned a man at Pani Walewska's bed head. 
 
 "Paul! My dear brother! Take from my jewel-box 
 Gorayski's ring ! Wear it. And you, Philippe, forgive me for 
 having brought you so many sorrows. . . . What month is it 
 now ? " 
 
 " December." 
 
 " December !^ Awful, cruel month ! You know that Decem- 
 ber took from me that with which I wanted to live, with which 
 I wished to defend my name ! But it is my pain, my own ! 
 . . . You have nothing to do with it ! You must be always 
 with the Emperor, for I shall be with him ! You think . . . 
 that island.^ There is no power that could overthrow him, 
 crush him — he will come back — he will return. ... He must ! 
 Understand ! For he took an oath to me ! And in return he 
 has taken all I had— he has taken blood from thousands of our 
 people ! Lord ! . . . They are playing ! Retraite .' ... He is 
 coming . . . our blood flows again, the insatiable earth drinks 
 it ! . . . Flames once more— misery once more. Death ! Con- 
 fusion I O Lord, and I loved the man who was going not to 
 destroy, but to build ! ..." 
 
 In the cemetery in Kiernosia the Avillows move their heads 
 sadly, the pines look thoughtfully on the grave mounds over- 
 grown with green. 
 
 Quiet ! . . . Oblivion ! . . . 
 
 And the story of the beautiful Pani Walewska falls into for- 
 getfulness. . . . The Polish land absorbs it. . . . 
 
 On the cemetery of Kiernosia the plough cuts its furrov/s, and 
 returns to life the harvest of death. . . . 
 
 THE END
 
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