This is part of a series about why Napoleon’s stepdaughter Hortense broke the law. When we last left off, the military forces of Austria were closing in on Hortense’s sons for daring to speak up for the rights of humanity.
Hortense writes:
[I was going to seek Swedish passports] for two young men of this nation, which my children could take advantage of after the defeat, and even cross the whole Austrian army to reach Switzerland.
I spoke about it to someone who could have the means of obtaining it, and I learned the next day from an Italian who had no relation with the one who took care of it that this hope of saving my sons had been communicated by several people.
Instantly, I understood that it was necessary to give up a means that had remained so little hidden, and that I had to keep for myself what I could undertake from now on.
Each day, each hour exhausted my strength and my courage. At night especially, where in calm I sought to rest from the assaults and discussions of the day, instead of rest I strove to weigh all possible means to save my children from so many enemies who were relentlessly set against them.
Suddenly an idea comes to me, bold, almost impractical; it doesn't matter, I indulge in it.
It’s only way, and I will save them. I will take them by the route where they are least expected, through France, by Paris.
A death decree is still in effect there against them; but it does not matter: the name of freedom, justice and humanity must have too much empire there so that I have nothing to fear.
I have made up my mind, my plan has been finalized, I just have to put it into effect.
The next morning, they announced to me a M. H .., a Genovese, who, with a noble sentiment, took the honor to serve an unhappy cause.
I came from Bologna, and was looking for the means to go to France to interest the government in favor of the Italians.
However, he told me that he had no hope, that he had heard the cannon in passing, that the Austrians were advancing, and had already taken over Modena.
Non-intervention is therefore not going to happen. I have no more time to waste in carrying out my plans. I am writing to an Englishman whose family I had welcomed a few years ago, and who, while in Florence, had come to me -
To be continued.
…
Cela fait partie d'une série expliquant pourquoi la belle-fille de Napoléon, Hortense, a enfreint la loi.
La dernière fois que nous nous sommes arrêtés, les forces militaires autrichiennes se sont rapprochées des fils de Hortense pour avoir osé défendre les droits de l’humanité.
