Page 738 - the-idiot

next room—that fellow slept like a pig. ‘But he’s loyal to me
and my dynasty,’ said Napoleon of him.
‘Sometimes it was very painful to me, and once he caught
me with tears in my eyes. He looked at me kindly. ‘You are
sorry for me,’ he said, ‘you, my child, and perhaps one other
child—my son, the King of Rome—may grieve for me. All
the rest hate me; and my brothers are the first to betray me
in misfortune.’ I sobbed and threw myself into his arms. He
could not resist me—he burst into tears, and our tears min-
gled as we folded each other in a close embrace.
‘Write, oh, write a letter to the Empress Josephine!’ I
cried, sobbing. Napoleon started, reflected, and said, ‘You
remind me of a third heart which loves me. Thank you, my
friend;’ and then and there he sat down and wrote that letter
to Josephine, with which Constant was sent off next day.’
‘You did a good action,’ said the prince, ‘for in the midst
of his angry feelings you insinuated a kind thought into his
heart.’
‘Just so, prince, just so. How well you bring out that fact!
Because your own heart is good!’ cried the ecstatic old gen-
tleman, and, strangely enough, real tears glistened in his
eyes.’ Yes, prince, it was a wonderful spectacle. And, do you
know, I all but went off to Paris, and should assuredly have
shared his solitary exile with him; but, alas, our destinies
were otherwise ordered! We parted, he to his island, where I
am sure he thought of the weeping child who had embraced
him so affectionately at parting in Moscow; and I was sent
off to the cadet corps, where I found nothing but roughness
and harsh discipline. Alas, my happy days were done!