Napoleon and the Queen of Prussia

by L. Mühlbach

  CHAPTER XII.

  THE PRINCESS VON HATZFELD.

  Grand-Marshal Duroc was pacing his room in great agitation. Evening wasdrawing nigh, and still he had not received any intelligence from thePrincess von Hatzfeld. Yet her husband had been arrested in the courseof the forenoon and taken to the palace, in one of the rooms of which hewas locked up and kept under strict surveillance. The news of his arresthad spread rapidly through Berlin, and cast a gloom over the whole city.Everywhere in the streets groups of pale and grave men were to be seen,who whispered to each other this latest dreadful event, and vented theiranger in secret imprecations.

  All were convinced that the Prince von Hatzfeld must die; every one feltit to be a new humiliation inflicted upon himself personally, that oneof the most respected and distinguished men in Prussia was to be chargedwith felony, and tried as a common spy. No one doubted that thecourt-martial would pass sentence of death upon him; and that Napoleonwould show no mercy, nor feel any compassion, could be read in his sternand melancholy air when, followed by his suite, he rode through thestreets to Charlottenburg.

  All the reproaches heretofore uttered against the Prince von Hatzfeldwere forgotten; the people forgave his weakness, his cowardice, hispredilection for France. At this hour, when he was menaced by theuniversal enemy and oppressor they only remembered that he was a German,and that the anger of the conqueror ought to make him a martyr of theGerman cause. They whispered to each other that Napoleon had selectedthe prince merely for the purpose of intimidating the opposition by anexample of severity, and of frightening the royalists. "He is lost!"they said, mournfully. "The emperor will not pardon him, for he intendsto punish in the prince's person ourselves, who love the king and wouldlike to send him information concerning the enemy and his armies."

  "The Prince von Hatzfeld is lost!" said Duroc, also, as he was uneasilyand sadly pacing his room. "Yes! This time Talleyrand, in spite of allhis sagacity, has been mistaken. The emperor does not intend to pardonthe prince, for he has selected Davoust, Rapp, and Clarke as members ofthe court-martial, and they have no mercy on those whom their master hasaccused. The princess does not think of coming to me and of invoking myintercession. And even if she did, I should not be able to assist her.All my supplications would be in vain. The emperor has resolved on theprince's death from policy, not in auger; hence nothing can save him."

  Just then the door opened, and the footman hastily entered. "Grandmarshal," he said, "there is a veiled lady outside, who insists onseeing you. I have vainly requested her to give me her name; she willonly mention it to your excellency, and--"

  Duroc did not longer listen to him. He himself hastened into theanteroom, and, offering his arm to the lady, conducted her into hiscabinet.

  "Go down-stairs, Jean," he hurriedly said to his footman,"--down-stairs,hasten into the Palace Place, and when you see the emperor approachingin the distance, return and inform me of it."

  Jean slipped out of the door, and Duroc locked it after him. "Well,madame," he then said, "speak! We are alone."

  The lady hastily removed the veil from her face, and showed herbeautiful, pale features bathed in tears.

  "The Princess von Hatzfeld!" exclaimed Duroc, successfully feigning anair of great surprise.

  "Yes, it is I," she said, breathlessly and with quivering lips. "I cometo beseech you to assist me! You must do so--you must not desert me! Myhusband has been arrested! He is charged with having secretly informedthe king of the operations of the French army. He is accused of being aspy. Oh, merciful Heaven! he will die, for the emperor is bent on havinghim executed; he desires to crush and ruin us all! Do you understand itis my husband?--he whom others charged with being a traitor to hiscountry, because, in his generous exertions to avoid bloodshed, healways admonished the inhabitants to be patient and submissive--he ischarged now with having betrayed the emperor, and is to be executed as aspy! They have dragged him from my side and taken him away. I faintedwith grief and despair. Oh, I hoped--wished it were death thatprostrated me! But God would not let me die; He preserved my life, thatI might try to save my husband. The physician advised me to remain, andendeavor to take rest. Duroc, how can I take rest while the life of mybeloved husband is in danger? I rose from my couch, for the thoughtflashed through my mind, 'Duroc will assist me in saving him!' And now Iam here, and beseech you, have mercy on a wife's despair! Duroc, helpme, so that I may save the prince! You have a kind and generous heart,and the emperor loves you! Implore him to have mercy on my husband! Byall that is dear to you, I beseech you, beg for him!" And quite besideherself, pale and in tears, the young princess was about to kneel downbefore Duroc, but he quickly raised her up, and, bowing deeply, kissedher cold, trembling hands.

  "I thank you, princess, for having thought of and believed in me," hesaid. "But I am afraid that your faith will be in vain."

  "Pray for my husband," she said sobbing. "You see, I shall die if Ilose him. Have pity on my youth, and on my unborn child! Implore theemperor to have mercy on the prince!"

  "You believe the emperor would listen to me?" asked Duroc, sadly. "Thenyou do not know him; you do not know what he is when he is angry. I havebeen in more than twenty battles; bullets have hissed all around me;death was at my side, and I did not tremble, but I tremble when theemperor is angry. When I behold his marble face--his flashing eyes--whenhis voice resounds like the roll of thunder, I comprehend how womenfaint and flee. I myself feel then what I never felt in thebattle-field--I feel fear!"

  "Then you will not assist me!" exclaimed the princess, wringing herhands. "You will not do any thing for him? And yet he is innocent. Mynoble husband never committed the crime with which he is charged. He isno spy--no traitor--and yet he is to die! I have no friend, and the onlyman who I had hoped would aid me desert? me, because he is afraid of hismaster's frown!"

  "No," said Duroc, "I do not desert you, I only tell you what the emperoris in his wrath; I only tell you that the tempestuous ocean is pleasant,and the thunder mild, compared with him in such a mood. However, I wouldgladly expose myself to it if I could be useful to you and to yourhusband. But it is a vain hope. The emperor would not listen to me; hewould interrupt me, and order me to be silent. My intercession wouldirritate him even more, and, instead of delaying the terriblecatastrophe, I should be likely to accelerate it."

  "Well," exclaimed the princess, wringing her hands, "if you yourselfdare not speak and beg for him, let _me_. I am not afraid of theemperor's anger, and when a woman clasps his knees and implores hismercy, he will at least listen, and his heart may be softened. I beseechyou to grant me this favor--conduct me to the emperor! Let me implorehim to pardon my husband!"

  "You are right, it is perhaps the only way to save his life. Napoleonhas a generous heart; your tears, perhaps, will touch him, for he cannotbear the sight of a weeping woman, and genuine grief always moves hisheart. But just because he is conscious of his weakness, he will avoidseeing you, and give stringent orders not to admit any one. You must, atpresent forget your rank. You must not insist that the footmen announceyou, and open the folding-doors, but you must make up your mind toappear, without any regard to etiquette, before the emperor, and obligehim to grant you an audience."

  "Do you not see that I am nothing but a poor, unhappy woman, begging formercy?" said the princess, with a melancholy smile. "Would I have cometo you if I thought still of the rules of etiquette? Give me anopportunity to see the emperor, and, though it were in the open street,and thousands standing by, I should kneel down before him, and, like abeggar-woman, ask for the alms of his mercy--for my husband's life is inhis hands!"

  "Well, if such be your feelings, princess, I hope to be able to procureyou access to him. We must act as generals do in the field, and try tooutwit the enemy--we must deprive the emperor of the possibility ofavoiding an audience. After his return from Charlottenburg and when oncein his rooms, all will be in vain; he will admit no one, and close hisears against all supplications of mine. Hence you must meet him at themoment when he
enters the palace. You must--"

  A rapid knock at the door interrupted him, and Duroc hastened to openit. "Is it you, Jean?" he asked.

  "Yes, M. Grand marshal, it is I," said the footman, "I come to informyour excellency that the emperor is just riding up the Linden with hissuite. He will be here in a few minutes."

  "All right. Go now, Jean."

  "Let us go, too," said the princess, quickly approaching the door. "Giveme your arm, M. Grand marshal; I am trembling so, I might sink downbefore appearing in the presence of the emperor!"

  "Come, princess," said Duroc, compassionately, "lean firmly on me.Heaven will give you strength, for you have a noble and fearless heart.Come! I will conduct you to the foot of the staircase, which the emperorwill have to ascend in order to reach his rooms. You may accost himthere. God and love will impart strength to your words!"

  With rapid steps they crossed the suite of rooms and stepped into theso-called Swiss hall, where the orderlies and soldiers of the guard onduty that day were assembled. The bearded warriors looked surprised atthe grand marshal--whose face was graver than they had ever seen it inbattle--and at this lady, hanging on his arm, as beautiful and pale as alily. Duroc, who generally had a smile and a pleasant word for thesoldiers of the guard, the faithful companions of so many battles, tookno notice of them. He hastened with the princess through the hall intothe corridor, and down the broad winding stairs opening immediately intothe second court-yard of the palace. He then conducted her acrossthrough the inside portal to the splendidly-carpeted principal staircasein the rear of the vestibule.

  "Await the emperor here," said Duroc, drawing a deep breath. "He will goup this staircase, and he cannot, therefore, avoid meeting you. But hehas a sharp eye, and if he should see you from afar, he might, diviningyour intention, turn around and go the other way. Ascend as far as thefirst landing. The emperor cannot see you there before he mounts thefirst steps, and then he will not turn hack."

  The princess hastily ascended the steps, which she had so often donewith a joyous heart, and in a brilliant toilet, when repairing to thefestivals of the royal court. Duroc followed her, and told the sentinelposted at the staircase and presenting arms to the grand marshal, thatthe lady had received orders to wait there for the emperor, who--

  Just then the drums rolled, and the guard in the court-yard was calledout.

  "The emperor!" whispered the princess, sinking down on her knees,clasping her hands and praying silently.

  "The emperor!" said Duroc, hastening down-stairs into the secondcourt-yard.

  Napoleon rode in at that moment, and Duroc, glancing uneasily at him,saw that his mien was even gloomier than previous to his ride; he sawthat flashes of anger darted from his eyes, ready to wither the firstbeing that should come near them. On riding up the Linden to-day, he hadagain missed the wonted music of "_Vive l'Empereur_!" and noticed thatthe people, standing here and there in groups in the street, when hepassed them, had frowned instead of greeting him with the usual cheers.This want of respect, this visible defiance had darkened his countenanceand embittered his soul. Just as he alighted from his horse, and threwthe bridle to Koustan, the Mameluke, the grand marshal, pale, panting,and in visible emotion, stepped up to him. Napoleon noticed it, and hisangry glance intimidated Duroc.

  "You want to inform me that Berlin is seditious?" he asked, in a stern,hard voice. "I am not astonished at it. This city seems to be inclinedto such movements. But I am about to set it a terrible example; I willshow Berlin in what manner I punish rebels, and will cure its seditioustendency." Striking his boots with his riding-whip, as was his habitwhen out of humor, he crossed the court-yard in the direction of thestaircase.

  "No, sire," said Duroc. "Berlin is not seditious. I only intended toimplore your majesty's noble and generous heart to grant me a favor."

  The emperor looked at him with some surprise, and, advancing rapidly, heset foot on the first step of the staircase, his eyes directed to thegrand marshal. "Well, what is it?" he asked, ascending the second step,and turning to Duroc, who was walking behind him.

  "Sire, have mercy on the unhappy Princess von Hatzfeld! I beseech yourmajesty to grant her an audience."

  "No, no," exclaimed the emperor, "do not say a word about that! I do notwish to see her, I--But what is this?" he interrupted himself, for hehad now reached the first landing, and beheld the princess. She hadknelt down, and, stretching out her clasped hands, fixed her large azureeyes on him with a most heart-rending, suppliant air.

  Napoleon's brow grew darker than before, and with an angry air he asked,"What does this mean, M. Grand marshal? Who is this lady?"

  "Sire, it is the Princess von Hatzfeld," replied Duroc, in a low voice."She implored me to procure her an interview with your majesty. Sire,pardon me for having conducted her hither, that she herself might begyour majesty for this audience. I counted on your generous heart, whichwill forgive the wife who conies to implore your mercy for her husband."

  "Have you not been told that I have expressly forbidden this affair tobe mentioned to me?" exclaimed the emperor, in a threatening voice. "Thecourt-martial alone has to judge the prince and I will and must notinfluence its verdict."

  "Oh, sire," exclaimed the princess who was still on her knees, "havemercy on me!--have mercy on my unhappy husband!" Tears choked her voice,and ran in torrents over her pale face.

  Napoleon seemed to be moved by this piteous spectacle; his eye becamemilder, and his frown disappeared. "Madame," he said, bending over her,"rise. A lady in your circumstances ought to kneel before God only. Inconsideration of your condition, I grant you an interview. Grandmarshal, follow me, with the princess." He quickly ascended thestaircase, and, without looking round, walked across the halls and roomsto his cabinet. Breathless, scarcely touching the floor with her feet,and strengthened by her profound emotion, the princess walked behind himby the side of Duroc.

  "The emperor now enters his cabinet," whispered Duroc. "You have reachedyour destination."

  "My God, have mercy on me!" sighed the princess, and raised her eyesimploringly to heaven. She was now in the cabinet, and Duroc withdrew tothe door. Napoleon stood in the middle of the room; the brightly-burningfire shed a light over his whole figure, and rendered prominent hisstern features.

  "Sire," exclaimed the princess, falling on her knees, "I beseech youhave mercy on my husband! Mercy, sire, mercy!"

  "Mercy!" ejaculated Napoleon, harshly. "Do you know the crime of whichyour husband stands accused?"

  "Sire, I know only that he worships your majesty; I therefore do notbelieve in his guilt," exclaimed the princess.

  "He has acted the part of a miserable spy," added Napoleon, raising hisvoice. "After he had already sworn to me the oath of obedience andfealty, he mailed a letter to the King of Prussia, in which he reportedto him the number, the spirit, and movements of the French troops. Thatis the act of a traitor and a spy, and as such he will be found guiltyby the court-martial to-morrow."

  "Sire, it is impossible! My husband cannot have done any thingof the kind. Oh, believe me, your majesty, he is innocent! Hehas been slandered in order to bring about his ruin; but he isinnocent--assuredly he is innocent! He never wrote such a letter; hecannot have written it!" The emperor quickly walked to his desk, andtook from it a paper, which he handed to her. "Here is the letter," hesaid. "Do you know your husband's handwriting?"

  The princess fixed her eyes, dimmed by tears, on the paper she held inher trembling hands. She then uttered a cry, so piercing andheart-rending, that Duroc, who was standing at the door, felt the tearsstarting into his eyes. Napoleon himself could not help shuddering.

  "It is his handwriting!" muttered the princess, dropping the paper uponthe floor. Her quivering lips had now no longer the strength and courageto repeat her prayer--her head fell on her breast, and she uttered onlylow groans and sobbed.

  The emperor seemed to be touched by her wordless yet eloquent grief. Hismanner, which had hitherto been stern, became gentle and kind, and helooked d
own with an expression of compassion on that kneeling,despairing form. He stooped, picked up the letter, and placed it in thehands of the princess. "Madame," he said, "here is the letter. Do withit what you please. For this letter is the only thing proving hisguilt."

  The princess looked up to him with a joyous, surprised glance. Theemperor smiled, and pointed silently to the fire-place. She rose hastilyfrom her knees, rushed toward the fire, and threw the paper into it.

  "It is burning! It is burning!" she joyfully shouted. "My husband issaved! My husband is free!" and uttering a scream, she tottered back,and fell in a swoon at the emperor's feet.

  Duroc rushed to her aid, and, raising her in his arms, was about tocarry her out of the room; but the emperor himself rolled an easy-chairtoward her, and assisted Duroc in placing her on it.

  "Now, call Roustan," said Napoleon, "he will help you to remove thefainting lady. But quick, lest she awake and thank me! Conduct her toher husband, who is here at the palace. Let her personally announce tohim that he is free, and tell him that he is indebted for his releasesolely to her intercession. Make haste!"

  Roustan entered as soon as Duroc called him, and both of them carriedthe princess on the easy-chair out of the room. The emperor gazedmusingly after them, and a sarcastic smile played on his lips. "Well,"he said to himself, "I believe this scene will be an excellent match tothe oath at the grave of Frederick the Great. It will form a glorioussubject for an engraving--one that will be more honorable to me than wasthe oath to the beautiful queen. Artists will be delighted to publishsuch an engraving, and the good city of Berlin will say that I am agreat man, and know how to forgive injuries."

  Just then Talleyrand, who had the right to enter the emperor's cabinetat any time, without being announced, appeared on the threshold.

  "Ah, Talleyrand," exclaimed Napoleon, "if you had come a little earlier,you would have witnessed a very touching scene. The Princess vonHatzfeld was here."

  "I know it, sire. I have just met the poor fainting lady in theanteroom, and Duroc described to me in a few words what had taken place.How lucky it was that there was a fire in the room!"

  The emperor bent a piercing glance upon Talleyrand, but the minister'sface was perfectly calm and impenetrable. Not the slightest approach toa sneer was visible in it.

  "This proof of generosity will win the hearts of all to your majesty,"added Talleyrand. "People will forget Palm; they will only think ofHatzfeld, and praise you as a modern Caesar. When the letters his enemieshad written to Pompey were shown to Caesar, he refused to read them, andthrew them into the fire (there is always a fire burning in the rightplace and at the right moment), saying, 'Although I am sure to master myanger, yet it is safer to destroy its cause.' Your majesty has followedCaesar's example, and, if you have no objection, sire, I shall induceProfessor Lange to give an enthusiastic and eloquent account of thissublime scene to the inhabitants of Berlin."

  "Then you have already gained him over to our side?" asked Napoleon."The ardent champion of the queen has been converted?"

  "He has, sire, thanks to his fear of death, and to the five thousandfrancs which I offered him, and which had the same effect upon him as abasilisk's eye on the bird. These German journalists, it seems, are evenmore needy than ours, for they can be had for less."

  "Five thousand francs," said Napoleon, musingly, "and for that sum hesells his honor, his fealty, and his conscience! Ah, what miserablecreatures men are, after all, and how right are those who despise them!"

  "Sire, will you permit me to enter and make my report?" asked Duroc,looking in at the door.

  "Come in, grand marshal. And now tell me, how is the poor princess? Hasshe recovered from her swoon?"

  "Yes, sire, she was still unconscious when we carried her into herhusband's room. He uttered a loud cry, rushed to her, and clasped her inhis arms. She was awakened by his kisses and his anxious and tenderejaculations. A torrent of tears burst forth, and, encircling his neckwith her arms, she exclaimed, 'You are saved! You are mine again! theemperor has had mercy on me!'"

  "Poor woman! She was really in despair, but behaved very nobly and witha great deal of tact, and I am pleased with her."

  Talleyrand scarcely smiled, as he muttered to himself:

  "Yes, the emperor is right in being pleased with her, for the poorlittle lady really took the sentimental farce for a tragedy, and neithershe nor Duroc looked behind the scenes."[21]

  [Footnote 21: This occurrence is strictly historical, but it iscommented upon by the French and German historians in a widely differentsense. The French historians, without exception, treat it as a touchingproof of the emperor's generosity. So does Thiers in his "Histoire duConsulat et de l'Empire," vol. vii., p. 148; and the Duchess d'Abrantes,in her "Memoires," vol. xi., p. 340; as well as Constant, in his"Memoires," vol. iii., p. 380. But the German historians treat it as awell-calculated intrigue, in order to intimidate the nobility by an actof severity, and to conciliate them by the subsequent generositydisplayed by the emperor.--Vide "Memoires d'un Homme d'Etat," vol. ix.,p. 316; Schlosser's "History of the Nineteenth Century," vol. vi., p.232; Haeusser's "History of Germany," vol iii., p. 42. The view taken bythe German historians is supported by the letter of the Prince vonHatzfeld, which formed the sole basis of the charges preferred againsthim, and which the French take care not to lay before their readers. Theincriminated passage was as follows: "Officially I know nothing of theFrench army, but that I saw yesterday a requisition upon themunicipality of Potsdam, signed by D'Aultanne. The French say their armyis eighty thousand strong. Others state the number at only fiftythousand. The horses of the cavalry are said to be greatly exhausted."]