The sun., 1895-05-26


loving him i? How can tear myself from him
How can ever think any other but him 2 Tell
him for me I have told you how deeply am
devoted to him. and that will never love but
him whatever happens TO me in this world. "
The aide c.de-cnnp further Informed Barrne
that. when the carriage reached Nine. tie
Beauhnrnais's house. they found Bonaparte
waiting for her ut the door. Embarrassed NJ be-
ing accompanied by the Directors aide-de-camp,
Nine. de Beauharnais hurriedly stepped out
of tho carriage, asked Ronapnrto to give her his
arm. and told him hastily, in the presence of the
aidc.dc-camp. that she had just had fainting
At at my house," that she hal so suffered that
would not hear OF her returning home alone:
that she had hardly recovered her strength.
Give Barras my best thanks" she added. on
dismissiDE tho aide-dc-camp. and tell him that
you left me with his best friend"
XI.
Why does the author cite on this occasion the
evidence OF two witnesses. valet and an aide
de camp2 Because ho wished to refute the ver-
sion which Josephine chose TO give Of the
samo interview. "As q consequence OF having
told Bonaparte OF her alleged indisposition, It
was necessary to assign some reason for 1t to
the man who was about to become her protector
for life. heard some time afterward OF the
story she had invented. According to her, l
had. for n long while, courted her without sue
cess. She had constantly repulsed my nd-
vances, because was not the man to appeal
to her delicate soul. In consequence OF her
harsh treatment Of me had sought to console
myself with Nine. Tallien whom had select
ed out OF spite only, and for whom l had really
cared SO little that had offered to give her up
at once for Nine. Beanharnais II the latter
would become my mistress. Were she to be be-
lieved. had been more pressing than ever on
this last occasion, and my violence had led to n
struggle. during the course of which she had
tainted; but the recollection of the ono she
loved. the mere thought of Bonaparte she said
had restored all her strength to her. and she
had come out of it well. desirous OF bringing
to the near bond, to which she had given her
consent, all tho purity Of widow faithful to the
memory OF her husband. and virginity more
precious than the first, since it represented tho
resolution Of the heart and of the will"
The account OF the manner in which Bona
parte received this story cannot easily be recon-
ciled with the shocking charge that he was
privy to the liaison Of Barras with Josephine.
The author rays that he listened with no small
emotion to this lying concoction, worthy, indeed,
Of the most artful of women. but whom he art
full as he was himself, looked upon as an angel
OF candor and truth. All this made such an i'm
preston on him that he flew into a passion
against me. ready in his fury to go to extremes.
even to call me out for having attempted an as
sault on tho virtue Of his future wife. Nine.
Beauharnais quieted him with caresses and
words which plainly showed that she dreaded
nothing SO much a scandal that would have re-
vealed the secret of the comedy played by her and
would have proved besides that, far from seek
ing to do violence to Nine Beauharnais. I was
long since tired OF and bored with her." 1t is
admitted that what Bonaparte said to J josephine
on this occasion was the following: " I am quite
sure from what you tell mo that Barras failed
in his attempts on your virtue. madame. in
spite of his not having the reputation of q senti-
mental lover in tho habit of signing at the feet
of cruel beauties. But have for so long seen
you on a certain intimate footing with him
that doubts might truly have arisen
In any other mind but mine. You will
acknowledge. madame that It is allow
able to think, without seeming too severe
that womon seeking to hold him at arms length
should take earlier steps. not to be exposed
to a scene like tho one you have just told me Of
There arc accidents for which a woman Is re.
sponsibe when she has not taken means to pre-.
vent them" very adroit reply is attributed
to Josephine but how could Barras have learned
Oft Either he must have heard 1t repeated by
her own lips. or he must have fabricated it. The
words put in her mouth these: "Why,
had she not called at Barras's house, would
she ever have been fortunate enough to meet
Bonaparte9 II she had of late gone there
moro frequently than before, had it not been
from desire to meet Bonaparte more often i?
If she had, perchance, overlooked many things
repugnant to the elegance and delicacy of her
morals. would she ever have done 80, had IL not
been for the consideration ever present to her
MIND OF rendering some service to her future
husband? For, when all is said and done, II the
mannera of Rarraa m are whnt
spoken, he is, on the other hand, a good sort of
fellow and very obliging; he Is n true friend.
and, II once he takes interest in you.
you may feel sure he will not desert
you, Dut give you warm support
Let M. then, take men and things as we
find them. Can Barras be useful to us in his
position2 Undoubtedly he can, and TO good
purpose Let u.s. therefore. get all we can out
OF him, and never mind the rest" "Ohw
Bonaparte Is said to have exclaimed with en-
III he will but give me the COM
mand Of the Army of Italy will forgive every
thing l Will be The first to show myself the
most grateful of men; will do honor to the ap-
pointment and our affairs will prosper. guar
anteo that ere long we shall be rolling In gold"
1t 10 well known that Barras secured for Bona.
parte the appointment that he desired.
XII.
"ouiu ~ oc oeiie'eu that Barras. the de-
scendant OF crusaders. and originally stepped in
the best as well as the worst traditions of
the ancien regime. was capable of writing |
the following passage1 IL have said as
much as n Frenchman, brought up accord
Ing to the principles of chivalry, may reveal |
of such matters. but had certainly enjoyed in
innate relations, bygone, 1t is true, but none
the less most real. with Mime. Beaubernals,
There 10 little pride on my part, some would saw
a great deal OF modcsty. in this revelation"
This Is bad enough, but he goes on to specify
y particular occasion when Josephine. he
sad persisted on going into his private
office while Bonaparte waited for her IN |
tho salon: Our interview lastod far
longer than suited me. Sho spoke 10 me with |
e1usion OF the tender feeling she said she had |
always experienced for me. ono which her pro-
ected union could not make her renounce,
Straining me TO her BOSOM she upbra ded me for