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forsaken me！ He conferred upon me the vain title of Empress only to
render my fall the more marked。 Ah！ we judged him rightly！ I knew the
destiny that awaited me； for what would he not sacrifice to his
ambition！〃 As she finished these words one of Queen Hortense's ladies
entered with a message to her； Hortense stayed a few moments； apparently
to recover from the emotion under which she was labouring； and then
withdrew； so that I was left alone with Josephine。 She seemed to wish
for the relief of disclosing her sorrows； which I was curious to hear
from her own lips； women have such a striking way of telling their
distresses。 Josephine confirmed what Duroc had told me respecting the
two apartments at Fontainebleau； then； coming to the period when
Bonaparte had declared to her the necessity of a separation； she said； 鞍
My dear Bourrienne； during all the years you were with us you know I made
you the confidant of my thoughts； and kept you acquainted with my sad
forebodings。 They are now cruelly fulfilled。 I acted the part of a good
wife to the very last。 I have suffered all； and I am resigned！ 。 。 。
What fortitude did it require latterly to endure my situation； when；
though no longer his wife； I was obliged to seem so in the eyes of the
world！ With what eyes do courtiers look upon a repudiated wife！ I was
in a state of vague uncertainty worse than death until the fatal day when
he at length avowed to me what I had long before read in his looks！ On
the 30th of November 1809 we were dining together as usual； I had not
uttered a word during that sad dinner； and he had broken silence only to
ask one of the servants what o'clock it was。 As soon as Bonaparte had
taken his coffee he dismissed all the attendants； and I remained alone
with him。 I saw in the expression of his countenance what was passing in
his mind； and I knew that my hour was come。 He stepped up to mehe was
trembling； and I shuddered； he took my hand； pressed it to his heart； and
after gazing at me for a few moments in silence he uttered these fatal
words： 'Josephine！ my dear Josephine！ You know how I have loved you！ 。
。 。 To you； to you alone； I owe the only moments of happiness I have
tasted in this world。 But； Josephine； my destiny is not to be controlled
by my will。 My dearest affections must yield to the interests of
France。''Say no more；' I exclaimed； 'I understand you； I expected this；
but the blow is not the less mortal。' I could not say another word；〃
continued Josephine； 〃I know not what happened after I seemed to lose my
reason； I became insensible； and when I recovered I found myself in my
chamber。 Your friend Corvisart and my poor daughter were with me。
Bonaparte came to see me in the evening； and oh！ Bourrienne； how can I
describe to you what I felt at the sight of him； even the interest he
evinced for me seemed an additional cruelty。 Alas！ I had good reason to
fear ever becoming an Empress！〃
I knew not what consolation to offer： to Josephine； and knowing as I did
the natural lightness of her character； I should have been surprised to
find her grief so acute； after the lapse of a year； had I not been aware
that there are certain chords which； when struck； do not speedily cease
to vibrate in the heart of a woman。 I sincerely pitied Josephine； and
among all the things I said to assuage her sorrow； the consolation to
which she appeared most sensible was the reprobation which public opinion
had pronounced on Bonaparte's divorce； and on this subject I said nothing
but the truth； for Josephine was generally beloved。 I reminded her of a
prediction I had made under happier circumstances； viz。 on the day that
she came to visit us in our little house at Ruel。 〃My dear friend；〃 said
she； 〃I have not forgotten it； and I have often thought of all you then
said。 For my part； I knew he was lost from the day he made himself
Emperor。 Adieu！ Bourrienne； come and see me soon again； come often； for
we have a great deal to talk about； you know how happy I always am to see
you。〃 Such was； to the best of my recollection； what passed at my first
interview with Josephine after my return from Hamburg。
CHAPTER XXIV
1811
Arrest of La SahlaMy visit to himHis confinement at Vincennes
Subsequent history of La SahlaHis second journey to France
Detonating powderPlot hatched against me by the Prince of Eckmuhl
Friendly offices of the Due de RovigoBugbears of the police
Savary； Minister of Police。
I had been in Paris about two months when a young man of the name of La
Sahla was arrested on the suspicion of having come from Saxony to attempt
the life of the Emperor。 La Sahla informed the Duo de Rovigo； then
Minister of the Police； that he wished to see me； assigning as a reason
for this the reputation I had left behind me in Germany。 The Emperor； I
presume； had no objection to the interview； for I received an invitation
to visit the prisoner。 I accordingly repaired to the branch office of
the Minister of the Police； in the Rue des St。 Peres； where I was
introduced to a young man between seventeen and eighteen years of age。
My conversation with the young man； whose uncle was； I believe； Minister
to the King of Saxony； interested me greatly in his behalf； I determined；
if possible； to save La Sahla； and I succeeded。 I proceeded immediately
to the Duo de Rovigo； and I convinced him that under the circumstances of
the case it was important to make it be believed that the young man was
insane。 I observed that if he were brought before a court he would
repeat all that he had stated to me； and probably enter into disclosures
which might instigate fresh attempts at assassination。 Perhaps an
avenger of La Sahla might rise up amongst the students of Leipzig； at
which university he had spent his youth。 These reasons； together with
others； had the success I hoped for。 The Emperor afterwards acknowledged
the prudent course which had been adopted respecting La Sahla； when
speaking at St。 Helena of the conspiracies against his life he said；
〃I carefully concealed all that I could。〃
In conformity with my advice La Sahla was sent to Vincennes； where he
remained until the end of March 1814； He was then removed to the castle
of Saumur； from which he was liberated at the beginning of April。 I had
heard nothing of him for three years； when one day； shortly after the
Restoration； whilst sitting at breakfast with my family at my house in
the Rue Hauteville； I heard an extraordinary noise in the antechamber；
and before I had time to ascertain its cause I found myself in the arms。
of a young man； who embraced me with extraordinary ardour。 It was La
Sahla。 He was in a transport of gratitude and joy at his liberation； and
at the accomplishment of the events which he had wished to accelerate by
assassination。 La Sahla returned to Saxony and I saw no more of him； but
while I was in Hamburg in 1815； whither I was seat by Louis XVIII。； I
learned that on the 5th of June a violent explosion was heard in the
Chamber of Representatives at Paris； which was at first supposed to be a
clap of thunder； but was soon ascertained to have been occ