Si Paris n'avait pas été aussi infiltré, ils auraient pu se sauver.
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This is an excerpt from the memoirs of Hortense Bonaparte’s friend, Louise Parquin Cochelet. When we last left off, Louise stopped by to visit Napoleon’s little son who was then titled the King of Rome. He had been naughty and he was crying behind a chair. After visiting Napoleon’s child, Louise went to see Josephine at Malmaison.
Then Paris starts panicking over imminent invasion and, as always, Hortense believes in Napoleon’s pure motivation and strength.
Louise writes:
"Sire, say hello to Mademoiselle Cochelet, who is coming to see you," said Madame de Montesquiou.
“Does your Majesty not recognize me?” I added, trying to take his hand.
He withdrew it quickly, saying in a voice muffled by sobs: "She won't let me see Papa's soldiers."
And the torrents of tears started again. Madame de Montesquiou told me that the King's greatest pleasure was to see the appearance of the guard on the Place du Carrousel, having been a little mischievous, a few moments before, they had deprived him of it to punish him; but when he had heard the drums, his despair and his anger had become so great that they had had to use great means, a penance in a small corner, behind a large chair.
I asked for mercy for him; Madame de Montesquiou granted it in favor of the little cousins [Hortense’s boys], so well-bred, of whom I brought news, and who were always cited as an example.
I found the Empress [Josephine] delighted with the good news that her daughter had communicated to her the day before, and I left her confident in the hope that this victory would facilitate the negotiations then begun at Chatillon for Peace.
However, the days went by without realizing this hope; Allied troops marched on Paris. A thousand agitations of fear and waiting followed one after the other for us.
On March 28, 1814, I went in the morning to the Tivoli baths; a woman I knew and whom I met there told me that the enemy army was no longer but five leagues away from us.
This news, which was already circulating in Paris, spread confusion and terror there. We saw on all sides preparations for departure; carts loaded with effects cluttered the streets.
The poorest fled, carrying on their shoulders everything they had been able to carry.
On the boulevards, I heard it repeated several times that the barriers were closed and that the enemy army was very close.
As soon as I got back, I went to the Queen and told her about the hysteria that was going around.
She said to me: “No doubt these are maneuvers by the Emperor that we cannot know; he is not a man to be surprised. He will come, when we least expect him, to save his capital. The main thing is not to be afraid, and I think that we will have the energy necessary for the occasion here.”
She elevated herself with the calm that I have always seen in her on all extraordinary occasions.
She went to the Tuileries in the morning. "The Empress [Marie Louise]”, she said to me, on her return, “knew no more than I did. Tonight there is to be a council that will decide what everyone should do. I begged the Empress not to leave Paris; it would be a big mistake. I think I convinced her; but she is very young to dare to make a determination on her own, and if we lack energy, all is lost. In any case, my dear Louise, prepare all my things, pack my diamonds; so that I’ll be free to leave right away or to stay, either way will be okay with me.”
I went to give orders, I wrapped the diamonds myself, and waited impatiently for evening. My agitation of mind did not allow me to stay -
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Il s’agit d’un extrait des mémoires de l’amie d’Hortense Bonaparte, Louise Parquin Cochelet.
La dernière fois que nous nous sommes arrêtés, Louise s'est arrêtée pour rendre visite au fils de Napoléon qui était alors intitulé le roi de Rome.
Il avait été un peu mutin et pleurait derrière une chaise.
Après avoir rendu visite à l'enfant de Napoléon, Louise est allée voir Joséphine à Malmaison.
Paris commence alors à paniquer face à une invasion imminente et, comme toujours, Hortense croit en la pure motivation et force de Napoléon.
