第5章 Chapter 4 A Day Later: I Have Met Napoleon

This afternoon I went into the garden. There was a smell of spring in the air. I thought: "Ill clean the seats in the summer-house(some building to avoid hot). Julie may want to go there." Later I found Julie by the kitchen fire. She had made a special cake for our guests. Her face was red, and her hair looked terrible.

"go and look at yourself in a mirror, Julie," I said. "Our guests will be here very soon. Marie will take care of the cake for you." She went up to her bedroom. I sat by the sitting room window and watched the road. Then suddenly I saw them coming. I recognized Joseph at once. But this other man --- was he really a general? He was even shorter than Joseph; and Joseph isnt tall. I was hoping to see a gay uniform, but his uniform was just dark green. How could a general look so ordinary?

Maire led them into the sitting room, and they introduced themselves to Mama. Julie and I had to sit between Mama and Etienne. Our guests sat opposite us. The poor general had the most uncomfortable chair in the house. Mama gave the gentemen some wine, and she cut Julies special cake. She and Julie were talking to Joseph. Etienne was talking to the general. No one spoke to me; so I was able to watch the generals face.

It wasnt a good-looking face. It wasnt ordinary either. It was a strong face--- a soldiers face. But when he laughed, he looked just like a boy. "Our army have no proper uniforms," he was saying to Etienne. "Their shoes are made of wood. Their guns are too old. But I have an answer to all these problems."

"What is that, general?" Etienne asked. "We shall drive the Austrians out of Italy," Napoleon told him. "that will be easy. Then our men will supply themselves in Italy. Its a rich country. Next month----" "But what will the Italians say?" Etienne interrupted. "will they welcome you? Do they want to conquer their country?"

"Of course. We are going to free them. We are going to free all Europe. And when we conquer each country, we shall give it the Rights of Man." He smiled at Etienne, and there was a mystery in that smile. My brother is a quiet businessman. He hates the thought of war. But now, suddenly, he was excited as a schoolboy. "Thats a great idea, general," he said. "A wonderful idea!"

Joseph was looking through the window. "You have a beautiful garden," he said to Mama. "Perhaps the young ladies will show it to us?" Two minutes later we were in the garden. Without Etienne, and without Mama. Joseph was walling with Julie. Napoleon was walking with me. He walked so slowly that the others were soon out of sight. Suddenly he said; "How soon can my brother marry your sister? I think that theyll be very happy together. You think so too."

I felt my face going red. "Do I?" I said. "You surprise me. He cant marry a girl that he has only just met." Napoleon looked straight into my eyes. "You cant hide your secrets from me, Mademoiselle Desirre. I can see inside the hearts of young ladies. You promised to introduce Joseph to your sister. You told him that she was very pretty. That is not true. You lied to him because you want a husband for Julie!"

He gently took my arm, and we walked on. "Your family has money. You even keep a servant," he said. "we are poor. But when I have conquered Italy, we shall be rich. Then I shall look after all my family. I shall take good care of them." Julie had taken Joseph to the summer-house. I took Napoleon to my favourite seat under the apple trees. The moon was full. Above us, a bird sang softly. Everything else was quiet.

I thought: "Dear God, I want this evening to last for ever. I want to stay here, with Napoleons arm around me." The leaders of our revolution say that there is no God. But I always think Dear God when Im very sad or very happy. When I came up to bed, I looked in the mirror. My eyes were shining, and my face was full of colour. Im too excited to sleep. Joseph will certainly ask Julie to marry him. That is one reason. The other is this: My heart is burning with love.

(to be coninued)