Let’s have another look at Hortense’s Memoirs. If you want to read the book it is available for free at the side bar in English and French. Use the widget on the sidebar to translate the text below into pretty much any language.
Here we see details pertaining to the endless conflict between the spy system and the champions of populism. It’s up to you which side wins this time.
Hortense’s memoirs continues:
In the second part he did not venture to try to explain my character or go into detail regarding my conduct, but he claimed not to be able to understand my fondness for my favorite flower, violets, which I always wore and which now served as an emblem for the supporters of the Empire.
I did not at first see how an intelligent man could establish any connection between such an important event as the Emperor's return and a modest flower that I wore every spring; but on second thoughts I did understand it on the part of a royalist, since these men who had imagined they could make a revolution by adopting a white ribbon as an emblem could imagine others had done the same with a flower.
Meanwhile the enthusiasm of the public had gradually become less marked. Certain laws had been passed not in accordance with the ideas which were popular just then.
People demanded unrestrained liberty, and it was necessary to take steps to defend the country against enemies both abroad and at home. Then too the refusal of the foreign governments to accept peace terms made people anticipate another war in the near future and this still further altered those favorable sentiments which the nation had at first entertained.
It was necessary to take measures for defense, and on all sides, everyone demanded liberty. Doubtless the Emperor had realized that the first results of that liberty would be harmful to him and would interfere with his plans, but yielding to public opinion he drew up an additional clause in the statutes of the Empire.
This clause provided for certain rights for which people had been asking a long time, but the manner in which they were accorded displeased everyone. People considered that this combination of an old and a new regime was merely a concession that existing circumstances made necessary, and was a means by which Napoleon later would reestablish absolute power.
At the same time the venomous and vehement criticism of certain men of letters provoked a movement of violent hostility toward the Emperor. The hopes of the royalists revived. Some of them relinquished the idea of obtaining the posts at court they had already asked for and withdrew to their country estates, there to await future events; others made up their minds to go to Ghent to explain to the King as best they might the reasons for their somewhat tardy devotion.
Still others remained in Paris to try to influence public opinion and help the enemies of France and of the Emperor by all means in their power. The return to Paris of the two kings, Jerome and Joseph, aroused a certain amount of uneasiness. People feared that they might still claim their former dominions and that France would be obliged to undertake the reconquest of those territories. The whole tendency on the part of the public opinion was toward peace and constitutional freedom under a popular sovereign such as the Emperor.
These sentiments were practically unanimous. Any plans for war or conquests would have deprived the Emperor of the affection of his subjects.
The anxiety which the sight of his brothers had aroused promptly vanished when the Emperor, so as to dissipate the least doubt as to his intentions, commanded all his brothers to resume their titles of Prince and Imperial Highness.
The Emperor, who had had so much difficulty in persuading his brothers to leave France in order to occupy foreign thrones, and had placed them there only that they might help maintain a vast system of international alliances, now realized that he would be obliged to keep his enemies as neighbors. But he counted on the fact that their subjects, who for ten years had lived under a system of government similar to ours, would remain the friends of France.
When nations have the same needs and aspirations the personality of the person who governs them becomes less important. The first time I met Prince Joseph he was very distant toward me. He did not come to call until a long time after he had returned to Paris and he called then only because the Emperor had asked him several times if he had been to see me.
Jerome came but once to my house. For a long while there had not been any intimacy whatsoever between us. The arrival of Prince Lucien produced an effect contrary to that of his brothers.
The fact that he was constantly opposed to the Emperor's wishes and the manner in which he had always declined to accept any high rank had caused people to form a high opinion of his character. It was well known that he had always proclaimed his liberal tendencies, and this was looked upon as a favorable sign.
He came to see me, was most polite, talked a great deal about my husband and urged a reconciliation between us. This I assured him was quite impossible. One evening when we were all gathered about the Emperor the question of the allowance of the various members of his family came up.
“France is not rich," he declared "economy is necessary. A million a year is all that a French prince should have. As far as you are concerned," he went on looking at me, "you will be allowed only 500,000 francs if you insist on refusing to live with your husband. It is simply a foolish idea of yours. You must make up your differences. Louis is getting old; he has become more reasonable."
“Sire," I replied, "no reconciliation is possible any longer. Since I did not rejoin my husband when you had disgraced him, I proved to the world that there was an insurmountable barrier between us."
“Nonsense, nonsense," replied the Emperor, "those were just silly fancies."
This conversation discouraged me profoundly. I recalled all that I had been through and foresaw that my misfortunes were about to begin again. I decided to ask for a private interview with the Emperor. He granted me one but hardly had I begun to explain the reasons which rendered it impossible for me to reconcile myself with my husband, when he dismissed me, saying he had work to do and that he would hear what I had to say that evening. I called several days in succession but with no success. Next, I wrote him and his reply was that we should have to await my husband's arrival.
The original French is available below:
