第24章 Chapter 24 June 1810: What Did those Swedish offic

The Empress Marie Louise has been in Paris for three months now. at first, Napoleon refused to hold any public ceremony for her. "They would tire her," he told Joseph. "then perhaps she wouldnt have a child." A strange idea! But yesterday we were all invited to a dance at the Tuleries. The marshals, the ambassadors, the heads of noble families--- all the important people in Pairs were there. It was like the coronation dance. The great hall was gay with lights and music, and beautiful dresses and uniforms.

Then the Emperor and Empress came in, and the band played the Marseillaise. Marie Louis is taller than Napoleon. She certainly has a full figure, and she smiles all the time. Of course, shes the daughter of a real emperor. She has learnt to smile at two thousand people together. It doesnt worry her at all.

When I was introduced to her, I noticed her face. Her skin was fresh and clear. The French women around her were painted like toys. But Maire Louiss young face had its own warm colcour. It needed no paint. I sat down with Julie in one of the smaller rooms. She was dressed in dark red velvet, and she wore the crown of Spain. It wasnt straight. Julies crown never sits properly on her head. We drank champagne and we listened to the music.

"Her fathers aunt use to live in this palace," I said. "I wonder whether she remembers that." Julie looked at me in surprise. "whose fathers aunt? What are talking about?" "Marie Louis. He grandfathers sister was Queen Marie Antoinette." "Marie Antoinette!" Julie repeated. The thought of the guillotined queen filled her eyes with a sudden fear.

"Yes, Julie Clary," I said. "She too was a queen. Drink your champagne, and forget her. Then tell me something. Does the new Empress smile all day?" Julie nodded. "Yes. All day. I shall train my daughters to do the same. It seems to be the right thing for princesses." She got up. "I must leave you now. The emperor asked his family to sit around his throne."

Jean was standing by a window. He was tired of the party already. "Can we go home now?" I asked him. He nodded and took my army. At that moment a figure appeared in the doorway. It was Talleyrand. "Ive been looking for you, prince," he said. "these Swedish gentlemen want me to introduce them to you."

Some tall officers in foreign uniforms were standing behind him. Now they came forward into the room. "this is count Brahe," said Talleyrand. "he helps their ambassador here in Paris. This is colonel Wrede. He has brought his Kings good wishes to your Emperor and Empress. And this is Baron Morner. His cousin was your prisoner in Liibeck. The baron has just arrived from Stockholm this evening. He brings bad news."

Jean smiled politely at the count and the colonel. Then he turned to Morner. "What is your news?" he asked. "Prince Christian of Schleswig Holstein has lost his life in an accident. As you know, he was our Crown Prince---he was going to be the next King of Sweden." Jeans hand was on my arm. Now he suddenly held me so tightly that I nearly screamed. It lasted foe only a second. Then he answered quietly: "That is terrible news. Im very sorry to hear it."

At that moment I noticed something. The three Swedish gentlemen were staring strangely at Jean. They were trying to give him a secret message that they couldnt say aloud. Then Baron Morner said: "The Swedish parliament will meet on august the twenty-first. It will choose a new Crown Prince."

There was silence after that. No one seemed to have anything to say. So I said to Jean: "we must say goodbye to these gentlemen." They understood, and they bowed. But Morner asked: "Have you no special message for His Majesty the King of Sweden?" Jean looked from one face to another. Then his eyes rested on count Brahe. He was a good-looking young man, about nineteen years old.

"Count Brahe," he said. "You belong to a noble family. Please tell your friends that I havent always been the Prince of Ponte Corvo. My mother and father were poor, and I was once an ordinary soldier. I want you all to remember that now. because later," he took a deep breath, and he held my arm tightly again. "later you will have to forget it. Goodbye, gentlemen." Outside the palace we met Talleyrand again. His carriage was standing next to ours. "My dear prince," he said. "God gave us tongues so that we could hide our thoughts. But you didnt hide your thoughts from the Swedes." "My dear Talleyrand," jean replied. "Before the revolution you were a bishop in the Church of Rome. The Church teaches men to speak honestly, doesnt it? Is that a fault?" Talleyrand bit his lip and looked uncomfortable. Then he said: "I wonder who will be the next crown Prince. I have heard several possible names. There is Prince Christians younger brother. There is the King of Denmark; his sister was Prince Christians wife. And in Switzerland theres a son of King Gustav, the last King of Sweden. But hes only a boy." He looked hard at Jean. "Perhaps the Swedish parliament wont choose any of these people. It may have other idea. Good night, dear friend." After we reached home, I said to Jean: "That uniform looks uncomfortable. Its getting too tight for you. Youll soon need a new one." "A new uniform?" he answered with a smile. "Sometimes your ideas are strangely correct, my little girl. Yes. Soon I may need a new uniform." Hes writing a letter now. Im writing my diary. Im wondering what those Swedish officers really wanted. I cant write my secret thoughts; they fill my heart with fear. And I cant ask Jean one terrible question. But before I write my diary again, I shall know the answer.