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In one of my first interviews with that Minister after my return to Paris he thus addressed me: "The Emperor has entrusted me with a commission to you which I am obliged to execute: 'When you see Bourrienne, said the Emperor, 'tell him I wish him to pay 6,000,000 into your chest to defray the expense of building the new Office for Foreign Affairs." I was so astonished at this unfeeling and inconsiderate demand that I was utterly unable to make airy reply.
But the moment he saw the young man, Bonaparte's gloomy, or rather meditative, eye emitted a flash of joy. "Ah, here you are, Roland!" he said. "True as steel! Called, you come. Welcome, my dear fellow." And he offered Roland his hand. Then he asked, with an imperceptible smile, "What were you doing with Bourrienne?" "Waiting for you, general." "And in the meantime gossiping like two old women."
M. de Rovigo thus expresses himself: Ever since the First Consul was invested with the supreme power his life had been a continued scene of personal exertion. He had for his private secretary M. de Bourrienne, a friend and companion of his youth, whom he now made the sharer of all his labours.
When we were alone I said to him, "General, here is a fine victory! You recollect what you said the other day about the pleasure with which you would return to France after striking a grand blow in Italy; surely you must be satisfied now?" "Yes, Bourrienne, I am satisfied. But Desaix! . . . Ah, what a triumph would this have been if I could have embraced him to-night on the field of battle!"
I was ushered into a well-lighted room, and when I entered I found Savary waiting for me. He was in full costume, from which I concluded he had just come from the Emperor. Advancing towards me with an air which showed he had no bad news to communicate, he thus addressed me: "Bourrienne, I have just come from the Emperor, who asked me where you were?
Fox, after which you said to me, 'Bourrienne, I am very happy at having heard from the mouth of a man of honour that the British Government is incapable of seeking my life; I always wish to esteem my enemies." "Bah! you are a fool! Parbleu!
I subjoin Madame de Bourrienne's notes, word for word: On the day after our second return from Germany, which was in May 1795, we mat Bonaparte in the Palais Royal, near a shop kept by a man named Girardin. Bonaparte embraced Bourrienne as a friend whom he loved and was glad to see. We went that evening to the Theatre Francais.
Then, either from memory, or offhand Bonaparte never admitted any one to such secrets instead of the proclamation he had dictated to Bourrienne two days earlier, he pronounced these words: "Soldiers The Council of Ancients has given me the command of the city and the army. "I have accepted it, to second the measures to be adopted for the good of the people.
"Do you know, Bourrienne," said he, "that I have been performing the duties of professor?" "you, General!" "Yes! and I did not acquit myself badly. I examined the pupils in the mathematical class; and I recollected enough of my Bezout to make some demonstrations before them. I went everywhere, into the bedrooms and the dining-room.
I would not conceal, however, that I was painfully affected by reading this, so greatly would I have desired that Bourrienne should overcome his resentment against his Majesty, who in the depths of his heart really loved him.
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