marie antoinette and her son-第98章

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unavoidable　necessity　for　your　constitution；　and　the　command　of　the
physician　must　be　obeyed　as　if　it　were　the　command　of　God。　You
cannot　endure　the　climate　of　Egypt；　so　says　Corvisart；　and　if　your
life　is　not　to　be　shortened　and　you　to　be　made　a　perpetual　invalid；
you　must　return　to　Europe　as　quickly　as　possible；　for　only　there
will　you　recover　and　grow　strong。　You　see　therefore；　Louis；　that　I
must　separate　from　you；　although　it　is　a　sore　thing　for　me　to　do；
for　I　love　you　as　my　own　son；　and　I　have　no　one　in　the　world　who　is
nearly　related　to　me。〃

〃And　I；　whom　else　have　I　in　the　world？〃　asked　Louis；　bitterly。　〃Who
has　interest　in　me　excepting　you？　Ah；　general；　do　not　drive　me　from
you。　Believe　me；　it　is　better　for　me　if　for　a　few　short　and　happy
years　I　live　at　your　side；　and　then　breathe　my　last　sigh　in　your
faithful　and　tender　arms；　than　if　I　have　to　wander　solitary　and
friendless　through　the　strange；　cold　world；　where　no　one　loves　me；
and　where　I　shall　always　be　surrounded　by　enemies；　or　by　those　who
are　indifferent。　It　may　be　that　my　body　will　gain　health　and
strength　in　the　air　of　Europe；　but　my　heart　will　always　be　sick
there；　for　it　will　lose　its　home　when　it　shall　have　lost　you；　my
fatherly　friend。〃

General　Kleber　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃In　youth　one　sorrows　and
forgets　it　quickly。〃

〃General；　do　you　say　that　to　me；　after　seeing　me　weep　in　the
hospital　because　the　word　of　a　dying　man　called　back　the
recollection　of　my　earliest　childhood？　Oh；　believe　me；　my　heart
forgets　its　sorrows　never；　and　if　I　must　return　to　France；　to　Paris；
it　will　seem　to　me　as　if　I　had　always　to　be　climbing　the　hill　of
Calvary　with　bloody　feet　to　reach　the　top　where　I　might　perish　on
the　cross。　For；　believe　me；　general；　my　whole　life　will　be　nothing
but　such　a　wandering　through　scenes　of　pain　if　you　drive　me　from　the
refuge　that　your　love　has　offered　me。　Leave　me　here；　let　me　live　in
secrecy　and　silence　beneath　the　pinions　of　your　love；　and　do　not
believe　what　the　physicians　tell　you。　Man's　life　lies　in　the　hands
of　God；　and　if　He　will　sustain　it；　it　is　as　safe　in　the　deserts　of
Egypt　as　in　Paris；　the　capital　of　the　world。〃

〃Because　God　will　sustain　your　life；　Louis；　for　that　very　reason；　He
instructs　me；　through　the　voice　of　the　physician；　what　my　duty　is；
bids　me　conquer　my　own　grief；　and　send　the　son　of　my　heart　to　his
distant　home。　No；　Louis；　it　is　a　decided　thing；　we　must　part；　you
must　return　to　France。〃

〃And　if　it　is　true；〃　asked　Louis；　bitterly；　〃if　I　am　then　really　to
return　to　France；　why　must　we　part？　Why　must　I　return　without　you？
Why；　if　you　really　love　me；　do　you　not　accompany　me？　I　heard　you　say
yesterday　that　several　ships；　with　a　part　of　our　troops；　were　to
return　to　France。　Why；　then；　can　you　not　go　back　with　me？〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Kleber；　sadly。　〃I　will　tell　you；　Louis：　because
Bonaparte　will　not　allow　it。　Listen；　my　son；　I　will　communicate　a
secret　to　you：　there　has　news　come　within　the　last　few　days；　the
first　that　we　have　received　for　ten　months。　The　newspapers　which
have　arrived　bring　very　unwelcome　intelligence；　they　inform　us　that
all　the　advantages　gained　in　Italy　by　the　French　army　have　been
lostthat　France　is　arrayed　against　Austria；　Spain；　and　all　the
European　powersthat　the　French　Government　is　threatened　by
internal　factions；　which　threaten　to　bring　back　the　reign　of　terror。
I　watched　Bonaparte's　face　as　he　read　these　papers；　and　I　saw　there
what　he　was　resolved　to　do。　He　will；　as　soon　as　he　shall　gain　one
more　great　victory；　leave　Egypt　and　return　to　France。〃

〃He　will　not　return　without　you；　the　faithfulest　and　boldest　of　his
generals。　You　know　well　that　you　are　called　the　right…hand　man　of
Bonaparte。〃

〃Bonaparte　means　to　show　the　world　that　he　is　not　only　the　head；　but
the　right　arm　too；　the　heart；　the　foot；　the　soul　of　the　French　army！
And　because　he　means　to　show　this；　he　will　return　alone　to　France；
only　a　few　of　his　faithful　subordinates　will　accompany　him；　the　men
who　might　even　oppose　him；　and　put　hinderances　in　the　path　of　his
growing　ambition；　will　remain　here。　Now　do　you　believe　that
Bonaparte　will　select　me　to　accompany　him？〃

The　young　man　let　his　head　fall　slowly　on　his　breast。　〃No；〃　he　said；
softly；　〃no；　I　do　not　believe　he　will。〃

〃And　I　know　he　will　not；〃　replied　Kleber。　〃I　shall　remain　here　in
Egypt；　and　die　here！　Hush！　Do　not　contradict　me；　there　are
presentiments　which　do　not　mislead　us；　and　which　God　sends　to　us；
that　we　may　shape　our　course　by　them；　and　set　our　house　in　order。　My
house　is　set　in　ordermy　will　is　made；　I　have　given　it　to
Bonaparte；　and　he　has　solemnly　sworn　to　carry　it　into　execution　in
all　respects。　Only　one　care　is　left　meto　provide　for　your
immediate　future；　and　to　arrange　that　yon　may　reach　France。〃

〃You　adhere　to　this？〃　asked　Louis；　sadly。

〃Yes；　I　abide　by　this；　you　must　not　run　away　from　your　own　future；
and　this　will；　I　trust；　be　a　brilliant　one。　All　tokens　indicate　that
France　is　wearied　with　the　republic；　and　that　it　is　perhaps　nearly
ready　to　restore　the　throne　of　the　Lilies。　Young　man；　shall　this
reestablished　throne　fall　into　the　hands　of　that　man　who　contributed
so　much　to　its　downfallwho　was　the　calumniator；　the　secret　enemy
of　Queen　Marie　Antoinette？　Would　you　consent　that　the　Count　de
Provence　should　be　King　of　France？〃

〃No；　never！〃　cried　Louis；　with　blazing　eyes　and　naming　face。　〃That
never　can　be；　for；　before　the　brother　of　Louis　XVI。　can　ascend　the
throne　as　Louis　XVIII。；　his　rightful　predecessor；　Louis　XVII。；　must
have　died。〃

〃He　has　died；　and　the　French　government　has　placed　in　its　archives
the　certificate　of　the　death　of　Louis　Charles　Capet；　signed　by　the
physicians　and　the　servants　of　the　Temple。　My　son；　in　order　to
prevent　the　Count　de　Provence　acknowledging　this　certificate　as
genuine；　you　must　be　prepared　to　place　before　him　and　the　world
other　testimonials　that　Louis　XVII。　is　not　dead。　This　is　a　sacred
offering　which　you　must　make　to　the　manes　of　the　unfortunate　Marie
Antoinette；　even　if　the　stake　were　not　a　throne　and　a　crown！〃

〃You　are　right；〃　cried　Louis；　with　enthusiasm；　〃my　whole　life　shall
be　devoted　to　this　sacred　trust；　it　shall　have　no　other　aim　than
this：　to　avenge　Marie　Antoinette　of　the　most　cruel　of　her　enemies；
the　Count　de　Provence；　and　to　place　the　son；　whom；　after　the　death
of　her　husband；　she　acknowledged　as　King　of　France；　on　the　throne
which　really　belongs　to　him；　and　not　to　the　Count　de　Provence！　You
are　right；　general；　I　must　return　to　Europe；　I　must　carry　to　Prance
the　papers　which　show　that　Louis　XVII。　did　not　die　in　the　Temple；
but　was　released。　I　am　ready　to　go；　and　to　endure　the　pain　of
parting　from　you。〃

〃May　God　grant　that　we　may　both　be　compensated　for　this　pain！〃
replied　Kleber；　embracing　the　young　man　tenderly。　〃There　remain　to
us　a　few　weeks　to　be　together。　Let　us　use　them　so　that　they　shall
afford　us　many　cheerful　recollections。　Bonaparte　will　not　leave
Egypt　before　adding　one　more　glory　to　his　reputation。　He　does　not
mean　to　return　to　France　as　the　conquered；　but　as　the　conqueror！〃

General　Kleber　was　right。　He　knew　Bonaparte　sufficiently　well　to　be
able　to　read　his　countenance；　he　understood　the　dumb　speech　of　the
Caesar　of　the　age。

Bonaparte　wanted　to　gain　one　great　battle；　in　order　to　return　to
Europe　with　glory。　He　gained　it　at　Aboukir；　winning　the　day　in　a
contest　with　the　united　Turks　and　Englishone　of　the　most　signal
victories　that　he　had　ever　won。　Eight　thousand　prisoners　were　taken
on　that　21st　of　July；　1799。　Four　thousand　lay　dead　upon　the　battle…
field；　and　as　many　were　sunk　in　the　captured　and　destroyed　ships　of
the　English。　On　the　day　after　the　battle　the　foam　of　the　waves　was
tipped　with　blood　along　the　shore。

Bonaparte　himself　conducted　the　whole　battle；　and　personally　gained
the　victory。　At　the　moment　when　the　contest　seemed　doubtful；　he
assumed　command　of　a　cavalry　regiment；　advanced　upon　the　Turkish
pacha；　and　by　his　heroic　courage　kindled　all　the　army　afresh。　Even
General　Kleber　could　not　disguise　his　admiration　of　the　hero　of
Aboukir；　and　when；　at　the　close　of　the　battle；　he　met　Bonaparte　on
the　field；　he　embraced　him　with　passionate　tenderness。　〃General；〃　he
cried；　with　enthusiasm；　〃you　are　as　great　as　the　world；　but　the
world　is　not　great　enough　for　you！〃　＇Footnote：　Denon；　Mtooires；　vol。
i。；　p。　349。＇

The　victory　that　Bonaparte　desired　was　thus　won；　and　he　could　return
with　honor　to　Prance。　He　made　secret　preparations　for　his　journey
thither；　fitting　up　two　ships；　which　were　to　carry　him　and　his
companions。　The　army　was　to　hear　of　his　departure　only　after　he　had
gone；　but；　much　as　he　desired　to　keep　the　thing　secret；　there　were
some　who　had　to　know　of　it；　and　among　them；　happily；　was　General
Kleber。　Bonaparte　had　chosen　him　as　his　successor；　and　therefore　he
must　be　informed　respecting　the　condition　of　affairs　before　the　head
of　the　army　should　withdraw。　On　the　same　day　when　this　communication
took　place；　Kleber　repaired　to　General　Desaix；　who　was　his　intimate
friend；　and　from　whom　he　learned　that　he　was　to　be　one　of
Bonaparte's　companions　on　the　return。　The　two　generals　had　a
prolonged　secret　interview；　and　at　the　close　of　it　they　both　went　to
Kleber's　house；　and　entered　the　room　of　his　adjutant　Louis。　General
Desaix　bowed　with　great　deference　to　the　young　man；　who；　blushing　at
the　honor　which　so　distinguished　a　general　paid　him；　extended　his
hand　to　him。　Desaix　pressed　a　kiss　upon　it；　and　from　his　eyes；
unused　to　tears；　there　fell　a　drop　upon　the　young　man's　hand。

〃General；〃　cried　Louis；　in　amazement；　〃what　are　you　doing？〃

〃I　am　paying　my　homage　to　misfortune　and　to　the　past；〃　said　Desaix；
solemnly；　〃and　the　tear　which　I　drop　on　your　hand　is　the　seal　of　my
fidelity　and　silence　in　the　future。　Young　man；　I　swear　to　you　that　I
will　cherish　your　secret　in　my　heart　as　a　hallowed　treasure；　and
will　defend　with　my　life's　blood　the　papers　which　your　uncle；
General　Kleber；　has　intrusted　to　my　care　this　day。　I　am　a　soldier　of
the　republic；　I　have　pledged　my　fidelity　to　her；　and　must　and　shall
keep　it。　I　cannot　become　a　partisan；　but　I　shall　always　be　the
protector　of　misfortune；　and　a　helper　in　time　of　need。　Trust　me　in
this；　and　accept　me　as　your　friend。〃

〃I　do　accept　you；　general；〃　said　Louis；　gently；　〃and　if　I　do　not
promise　to　love　you　just　as　tenderly　as　I　love　my　uncle；　General
Kleber；　who　has　been　to　me　father；　brother；　and　protector；　and　to
whom　I　owe　every　thing；　yet；　I　can　assure　you；　that；　after　him；
there　is　no　one　whom　I　will　love　as　I　shall　you；　and　there　is　no　one
in　Europe　who　can　contend　with　you　for　my　love。　I　am　very　poor　in
friends；　and　yet　I　feel　that　my　heart　is　rich　in　love　that　no　one
desires　now。〃

〃Preserve　that　possession　well；　my　son；〃　said　Kleber；　as　he　took
leave　of　his　son；　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　head　of　the　young　man。
〃Preserve　your　heart　tender　and　loving；　for　if　Fate　is　just；　it　may
one　day　be　for　the　advantage　of　a　whole　nation　that　you　are　so；　and
the　heart　of　the　man　be　the　mediator　between　the　people　and　its
king！　Farewell；　my　son；　we　see　each　other　to…day　for　the　last　time；
for　in　this　very　hour　you　will　go　to　your　ship　with　Desaix。　It　may
be　that　the　ships　will　sail　th