I got angry and said to Joseph: "Tell him to stop it. If he doesnt, Ill go back to Mama in France."

I went with her so as to forget Napoleon. But Napoleon didnt allow me to forget him. Three times he sent good-looking young generals to Rome. They asked me to marry them. When I refused, they said: "Forgive me, mademoiselle. It was Napoleons order!"

Napoleon came into the room, and saw me. "Desirre!" he cried. "How beautiful you look! We havent met for a long time, have we? Then he laughed very loud and called: "Josephine! You must meet Julies sister Desiree. Ive told you about her."

He looked at me strangely. Then he led me into the garden. "Well, Desiree? What is it?" he asked.

During lunch he talked about Egypt. When we had finished our soup, he hadnt started his. Josephine tried to interrupt him. He didnt listen to her. At last Madame Letitias deep voice called across the table:

"And he has been a wise ambassador in Vienna," Talleyrand added. "when the Austrians tore out flag down, he left Vienna at once. Now their government are ashamed. Theyre begging us to send him back."

"I---Id like to throw this flowerpot at you," I said. And I nearly did so.

"Bernadotte is a clever general. Dont you think so Bonaparte? When your army in Italy needed help quickly, Berbadotte supplied it. He crossed the Alps with ten thousand men in the middle九*九*藏*书*网 of winter. He did it in ten hours; six hours up, and four hours down. Even you were surprised."

Now they were talking about Napoleons fellow generals. Barras said:

What was he really thinking? He has strange ideas, this general. He once told me that Id be the wife of Frances greatest man. Those words brought fear to my heart. But this dream is worse. A crown rolled into the mud--- and he wants to pick it up!

Napoleon was married in the spring. Two days later, he became commander of the French army in Italy. He won six battles against the Austrians and drove them out of the country. The he gave the Italians the Rights of Man. In return they had to give him their most beautiful works of art, and a lot of money. He sent some of the money to Paris; but first he paid his soldiers. These soldiers were never paid before. So of course they loved their new commander.

Then another man came up to them. He had a bag leg, and he walked with difficulty. Fouche jumped up and said: "My dear Talleyrand, wont you join us on this sofa? Theres room for three."

Joseph and Julie brought Madame Letitia to our house. Napoleon had told her about Josephine. He had also sent a message for me. He hoped that he and I would always be friends.

The French people loved him too. Shops were selling special cups; they had Napoleons head on one side, and the French flag on the other side. Foreign newspapers said that he was "t九九藏书网he strong man of France". Barras and his fellow ministers didnt like this at all.

There was silence for a moment. Then he spoke like someone who talks in a dream: "We, the generals, saved the republic. Why dont we form our own government? Without us, these ministers wouldnt last for a week. They cut the Kings head off, and his crown rolled into the mud. I could easily pick it up."

Two and a half years have passed, and Ive written nothing in my diary. But now Im back in Paris, and Ive met Napoleon again. What has happened since that terrible day in September 1795?

I remembered Fouches words: "Bernadotte would never shoot at the people. But perhaps Josephines new friend would do it."

Now I knew why Barras had given his favourite woman to Napoleon. Barras was afraid of the people. He needed a general for his National Guard. He needed a general who would dare to shoot at angry crowds.

When I got home, I was ill. I remember that. Mama had to come back early from her holiday. But she never discovered my secret. My family still dont know that I went to Paris.

And I? I quickly dried my tears. They all thought that I was very brave.

Julie begged me to go with them. We lived first in Parma, then in Genoa, then in Rome. But ambassadors have to live in big uncomfortable houses. Julie hates them. So do I.

Mama cried: "Oh God! My poor child!"

This was the reason for the party. Napoleon wanted to九九藏书网 say goodbye before he sailed to Egypt with his army. Why Egypt? I dont understand these things. Joseph says: "He wants to take India from the English. And Egypt is on the way."

Joseph smiled. "Were all going back to France," he replied. "Im tired of Rome. Theres always trouble here. Napoleon can give me a comfortable job in Paris. Will you go there with us?"

"And thats my sister Hortense," he said. He pointed to a thin girl across the room. She too had fair hair, like their mother. "Shes still all school, but Im sixteen. Im going to Egypt tomorrow with General Bonaparte."

"Please general," I said, "dont send me any more officers. Im tired of their offers of marriage."

A few days later we had news of Napoleon. A business friend wrote to Etienne:

Julies eyes shone with surprise and pleasure. "Paris!" she cried. "Yes, Desirre, you must come. Well have a wonderful time together. Of course, youve never been there. So you dont know how beautiful it is. Those shop windows! And the lights on the Seine at night!"

Madame Letitia said angrily: "That woman is six years older than my boy. She already has two children. And he dares to tell me that hes going to marry her."

"Yes," said barras, and he looked straight at Napoleon. "The republic of France trusts Bernadotte. He is ready to destroy the republics enemies--- eithe九*九*藏*书*网r outside France or inside it! His next job, I think, ought to be War Minister."

When the other guests had gone, I said to Napoleon: "May I speak to you alone for a moment?"

So we came back. And today Napoleon invited us to lunch. I was very excited. "Shall I still love him when I see him again?" I wondered. "And will Josephine recognize me?"

"Napoleon, you talk too much, my boy. Drink your soup. More guests are coming after lunch."

Alleyrand? Joseph has told me about him. Hes our foreign Minister. Like Fouche, hes clever; but theres a difference between them. Talleyrand is not only clever. He is also wise. Most people trust him, and nobody trusts Fouche.

She came and stood beside him. Did she recognize me? I wasnt sure. "Im glad that you could come. Mademoiselle," she said.

"An angry crowd was marching through the city. They were going to attack the House of Parliament. Barras quickly put Napoleon in charge of the national guard; and parliament told him to shoot at the crowd if this was necessary. He did shoot at them. Just once. With a heavy gun. And they ran away. Then parliament thanked him, of course. They said that he had saved France from another revolution. And they gave him a new job--- hes Governor of Paris!"

Napoleon didnt look pleased. But he said nothing.

"But a woman cannot enjoy a full life without marriage," he replied.

Later I noticed thwww.99lib.netat Josephine was watching me. Our eyes met. She smiled and raised her glass. Then she slowly closed and opened one eye. Yes. She had recognized me.

Yesterday I bought a new dress. It has a low front.

Yes. She was angry. But her hand was full of bank notes. The new Governor of Paris had not been too busy to remember his mothers needs.

We went to another room for coffee. A lot of people were there. They all wanted to say goodbye to Napoleon. I recognized Barras at once, and Fouche. Joseph and Napoleon sat down with them.

At last Napoleon had power. And he didnt forget his family. He invited Joseph and Julie to Paris. Then Joseph got a good job. He became an ambassador in Italy.

The house was full of Bonapartes when we arrived. Madame Letitia and all her children live in Paris now. She kissed me. Then a fair-haired boy introduced himself to me. He was Josephines son, Eugene. He looked too young to wear an officers uniform.

While he drank it, Hortense was watching him. "Poor girl!" I thought. "I know that look."

But who were these crowds? They were poor. They were cold and hungry. They couldnt afford the price of bread. They were ordinary people like Napoleons own poor mother.

He smiled at me. "Were still friends, arent we. Desiree?" then his face changed. "Did you hear what Barras said? The republics enemies---outside France or inside it. He was talking about me, Desiree. He was talking about me."