This forms part of a series about why Hortense broke the law. Previous entries can be found here.
We last left off where the Pope’s military were commanding the Bonapartes to get out of Rome.
Cardinal Albani, with the lightness of a young man, maintained that it was a short journey of eight days which could only amuse the young men. He was, however, forced to retract the order concerning the son of the Prince de Montfort [Jerome]. My son was gone. My whole family very much blamed me for not having resisted the unjust order that could have harmed my son.
I remained convinced that there could be greater dangers for him by staying in Rome. Keeping him away was therefore essential, and as for the opinion of the rulers, I did not care much their thoughts. I was used to their injustices.
By their hatred, they had increased the popularity of this name which, rightly or wrongly, they always feared and which they sought to lower with all their power.
What does it matter to appear innocent or guilty in their eyes? As soon as I had a free moment, I ran to reassure the fugitive that I had promised to protect. He admitted to me that he had been compromised in the past, imprisoned for a long time, and he was so unhappy, that, although innocent, if he were to fall into the hands of the government, he would shoot himself instantly.
He was a former officer in the Italian army. Returning home one evening, he saw the gendarmes there, fled and came to ask my son for asylum. I promised to keep him until I could afford him the means to safely leave the Papal States. The difficult point was to hide it from everyone. Fortunately, my servants were all devoted and trustworthy. They looked after him. They brought him dinner from my table, and no one noticed.
The occupation that these events gave me did not make me forget that young sick man that a mother asked for. Again, that conformity of prayers and wishes made this request so interesting. I sent my doctor there. He came to tell me that it was very bad, that his misery was at its height. It was agreed that they would take everything from my place necessary from him. Then we would figure out what other help we could give him. This life matters to me -
To be continued.
The Napoleon memoirs so far are available here.