第 15 节
作者:开了      更新:2021-04-30 17:21      字数:9322
  true object of Napoleons last journey to Boulogne。
  I had been some time at Hamburg when these events took place; and it was
  curious to observe the effect they produced。  But I must not forget one
  circumstance in which I am personally concerned; and which brings me back
  to the time when I was in Paris。  My new title of Minister
  Plenipotentiary obliged me to see a little more of society than during
  the period when prudence required me to live as it were in retirement。
  I had received sincere congratulations from Duroc; Rape; and Lauriston;
  the three friends who had shown the greatest readiness to serve my
  interests with the Emperor; and I had frequent occasion to see M。
  Talleyrand; as my functions belonged to his department。  The Emperor; on
  my farewell audience; having informed me that I was to correspond
  directly with the Minister of the General Police; I called on Fouche; who
  invited me to spend some days at his estate of Pont…Carre。  I accepted
  the invitation because I wanted to confer with him; and I spent Sunday
  and Monday; the 28th and 29th of April; at Pont…Carre。
  Fouche; like the Emperor; frequently revealed what he intended to
  conceal; but he had such a reputation for cunning that this sort of
  indiscretion was attended by no inconvenience to him。  He was supposed to
  be such a constant dissembler that those who did not know him well looked
  upon the truth when he spoke it merely as an artful snare laid to entrap
  them。  I; however; knew that celebrated person too well to confound his
  cunning with his indiscretion。  The best way to get out of him more than
  he was aware of was to let him talk on without interruption。  There were
  very few visitors at Pont…Carre; and during the two days I spent there I
  had several conversations with Fouche。  He told me a great deal about the
  events of 1804; and he congratulated himself on having advised Napoleon
  to declare himself Emperor 〃I have no preference;〃 says Fouche; 〃for
  one form of government more than another。  Forms signify nothing。  The
  first object of the Revolution was not the overthrow of the Bourbons; but
  merely the reform of abuses and the destruction of prejudices。  However;
  when it was discovered that Louis XVI。 had neither firmness to refuse
  what he did not wish to grant; nor good faith to grant what his weakness
  had led him to promise; it was evident that the Bourbons could no longer
  reign over France and things were carried to such a length that we were
  under the necessity of condemning Louis XVI。 and resorting to energetic
  measures。  You know all that passed up to the 18th Brumaire; and after。
  We all perceived that a Republic could not exist in France; the question;
  therefore; was to ensure the perpetual removal of the Bourbons; and I
  behaved the only means for so doing was to transfer the inheritance of
  their throne to another family。  Some time before the 18th Brumaire I had
  a conversation with Sieyes and Barras; in which it was proposed; in case
  of the Directory being threatened; to recall the Duke of Orleans; and I
  could see very well that Barras favoured that suggestion; although he
  alluded to it merely as a report that was circulated about; and
  recommended me to pay attention to it。  Sieyes said nothing; and I
  settled the question by observing; that if any such thing had been
  agitated I must have been informed of it through the reports of my
  agents。  I added; that the restoration of the throne to a collateral
  branch of the Bourbons would be an impolitic act; and would but
  temporarily change the position of those who had brought about the
  Revolution。  I rendered an account of this interview with Barras to
  General Bonaparte the first time I had an opportunity of conversing with
  him after your return from Egypt。  I sounded him; and I was perfectly
  convinced that in the state of decrepitude into which the Directory had
  fallen he was just the man we wanted。  I therefore adopted such measures
  with the police as tended to promote his elevation to the First
  Magistracy。  He soon showed himself ungrateful; and instead of giving me
  all his confidence he tried to outwit me。  He put into the hands of a
  number of persons various matters of police which were worse than
  useless。  Most of their agents; who were my creatures; obeyed my
  instructions in their reports; and it often happened that the First
  Consul  thought he had discovered; through the medium of others;
  information that came from me; and of the falsehood of which I easily
  convinced him。  I confess I was at fault on the 3d Nivoise; but are there
  any human means of preventing two men; who have no accomplices; from
  bringing a plot to execution?  You saw the First Consul on his return
  from the opera; you heard all his declamations。  I felt assured that the
  infernal machine was the work of the Royalists。  I told the Emperor this;
  and he was; I am sure; convinced of it; but he; nevertheless; proscribes
  a number of men on the mere pretence of their old opinions。  Do you
  suppose I am ignorant of what he said of me and of my vote at the
  National Convention?  Most assuredly it ill becomes him to reproach the
  Conventionists。  It was that vote which placed the crown upon his head。
  But for the situation in which we were placed by that event; which
  circumstances had rendered inevitable; what should we have cared for the
  chance of seeing the Bourbons return?  You must have remarked that the
  Republicans; who were not Conventionists; were in general more averse
  than we to the proceedings of the 18th Brumaire; as; for example;
  Bernadotte and Moreau。  I know positively that Moreau was averse to the
  Consulate; and that it was only from irresolution that he accepted the
  custody of the Directory。  I know also that he excused himself to his
  prisoners for the duty which had devolved upon him。  They themselves told
  me this。
  Fouche entered further into many details respecting his conduct; and the
  motives which had urged him to do what he did in favour of the First
  Consul。  My memory does not enable me to report all he told me; but I
  distinctly recollect that the impression made on my mind by what fell
  from him was; that he had acted merely with a view to his own interests。
  He did not conceal his satisfaction at having outwitted Regnier; and
  obliged Bonaparte to recall him; that he set in motion every spring
  calculated to unite the conspirators; or rather to convert the
  discontented into conspirators; is evident from the following remarks
  which fell from him: 〃With the information I possessed; had I remained in
  office it is probable that I might have prevented the conspiracy; but
  Bonaparte would still have had to fear the rivalry of Moreau。  He would
  not have been Emperor; and we should still have had to dread the return
  of the Bourbons; of which; thank God; there is now no fear。〃
  During my stay at Pont…Carry I said but little to Fouche about my long
  audience with the Emperor。  However; I thought I might inform him that I
  was authorised to correspond directly with his Majesty。  I thought it
  useless to conceal this fact; since he would soon learn it through his
  agents。  I also said a few words about Bonaparte's regret at not having
  children。  My object was to learn Fouche's opinion on this subject; and
  it was not without a feeling of indignation that I heard him say; 〃It is
  to be hoped the Empress will soon die。  Her death will remove many
  difficulties。  Sooner or later he must take a wife who will bear him a
  child; for as long as he has no direct heir there is every chance that
  his death will be the signal for a Revolution。  His brothers are
  perfectly incapable of filling his place; and a new party would rise up
  in favour of the Bourbons; which must be prevented above all things。  At
  present they are not dangerous; though they still have active and devoted
  agents。  Altona is full of them; and you will be surrounded by them。
  I beg of you to keep a watchful eye upon them; and render me a strict
  account of all their movements; and even of their most trivial actions。
  As they have recourse to all sorts of disguises; you cannot be too
  vigilant; therefore it will be advisable; in the first place; to
  establish a good system of espionage; but have a care of the spies who
  serve both sides; for they swarm in Germany。〃
  This is all I recollect of my; conversations with Fouche at Pont…Carre。
  I returned to Paris to make preparations for my journey to Hamburg。
  CHAPTER XXXII。
  1805。
  Capitulation of SublingenPreparations for warUtility of
  commercial informationMy instructionsInspection of the emigrants
  and the journalsA pamphlet by KotzebueOffers from the Emperor of
  Russia to MoreauPortrait of Gustavus Adolphus by one of his
  ministersFouche's denunciationsDuels at HamburgM。 de Gimel
  The Hamburg CorrespondentLetter from Bernadotte。
  I left Paris on the 20th of May 1805。  On the 5th of June following I
  delivered my credentials to the Senate of Hamburg; which was represented
  by the Syndic Doormann and the Senator Schutte。  M。 Reinhart; my
  predecessor; left Hamburg on the 12th of June。
  The reigning Dukes of Mecklenburg…Schwerin and Brunswick; to whom I had
  announced my arrival as accredited Min