Desiree's Diary(Book One) 精彩片段：
Chapter 14 November 9, 1799: Napoleon Governs Fran
Napoleon did come back, without permission. He went straight to his house in Paris. Joseph and Lucien joined him there.
When Josephine appeared, he looked at her coldly. "Madame," he said, "I shall divorce you tomorrow. Please leave this house at once, and go to Malmaison."
She was crying like a child when Lucien lead her out of the room. Then Talleyrand arrived, and the four men talked all night. At last Napoleon went to his bedroom; and Josephine was still there.
Julie told me that. And she added: "Napoleon said to me: If I divorce her, all Paris will laugh at me. So I wont divorce her. He has strange ideas, hasnt he, Desiree?"
Next day we had a surprise. Jean and I were upstairs with Oscar. I heard Marie open the front door. Then a familiar voice said: "I want to see Desirees son!"
It was Napoleon, and Josephine was with him. I ran down and welcomed them. Napoleon was looking well. His face was brown and his hair was short; long hair had been too hot in the desert.
Jean appeared, with Oscar in his arms. I ran into the kitchen and asked Marie for coffee. When I returned, Napoleon was making baby noises. Oscar didnt like them. He started to scream. So I took him upstairs again.
Then Josephine told me about her rose garden while Napoleon talked to Jean. There was an unusual smile on his face. Suddenly I heard him say:
"If you were still Minister of War, you would have me shot. Joseph told me so. Im glad that youve left the government. But why do you blame me?"
Before Jean could reply, he went on: "France needs me here. Our government is too weak. All honest French leaders think so. They want someone to form a strong new government. If all honest leaders ask me to accept this duty, I must do so. But will you help me, Bernadotte? Will you save France with me?"
A strange light was burning in Napoleons eyes. What wild dreams of power lay behind that look?
"Listen, Bonaparte," Jean answered slowly. "While you were enjoying the Egyptian sun, all your honest leaders came to me. They came three or four times, in different groups. They wanted me to become a dictator. I refused. You can persuade parliament to make changes, if you like. But it isnt a generals business. And I wont help you to do it."
The light in Napoleons eyes went out. His smile remained, but it was cold and hard. He stood up, and he held his hands together behind his back.
"Perhaps guns will persuade them, if words will not do so. What will you do then, Bernadotte?"