Chapter 44 March 29, 1814: Jean Has Disappeared

Today, for the first time, Paris heard the thunder of heavy guns. They began before it was light. They get nearer every hour.

Im waiting for Jean; but I dont know where he is. After the battle of Leipzig, his armies drove Napoleon back to the river Rhine. Jean stopped there. He refused to attack France. He begged the Tsar and Austrian Emperor not to do so either. He hoped that Napoleon would ask for peace. But Napoleon will never ask for peace till his last soldier is dead.

Jean left his allies on the Rhine and went north with his Swedish army. He was ready to deal with Napoleons ally, the King of Denmark.

He wrote to the King: "If you want peace, you must give me Norway. Ill pay you a lot of money for it, but I must have it."

The Danish King agreed to give him Norway but angrily refused the money. We got all this news in a secret letter from Brahe to Rosen.

"Youre Crown Princess of Sweden and Norway now, Your Highness," Rosen said.

That was three weeks ago. Weve heard nothing since then. Reports say that Jean brought his army back to the Rhine; then he suddenly disappeared. He and Brahe got into a carriage together and drove away. They just disappeared.

The French newspapers all give different reasons. Bernadotte has quarreled with his allies. "Napoleon has persuaded Bernadotte to defend France against the Russians." "Bernadotee has gone mad and is locked in a castle somewhere."

Soon after the guns had woken me this morning. Marie came into my room. It was only six oclock. I thought she must have had news of Jean. But she said: "Youre wanted at once at the Tuilleries. King Joseph has sent a carriage for you. Your sister needs you."

I dressed quickly and drove to the palace. Dozens of carts and carriages and coaches stood outside. Soldiers on horses were guarding them. "The imperial family are leaving," I thought. "Theyre taking all their treasures with them."

An officer took me to the empresss drawing room. It was full of Bonapartes. Joseph was standing in front of the fire. He was trying to look like Napoleon --- with his hands behind his back. The empress and Madame Letitia were sitting on a sofa. The empress was ready for a journey; she was dressed in her warmest clothes.

Joseph was reading a letter from Napoleon:

"Dont let the enemy take my son," it said. " I would rather let him drown in the Seine. Defend the city with every soldier that you have."

Joseph paused. "But our soldiers have no guns," he complained "How can they defend the city?"

There was silence. Then the Empress asked: "Well? What have you decided? Shall I leave with the King of Rome, or shall stay?"

Jerome, King of Westphalia, stood in front of her. "Madame, the palace guards have guns. They will never surrender while you are here."

"Yes," Joseph agreed. "If you leave, Paris will quickly surrender. But while you are here, the people will fight. They will fight till they are all killed. So perhaps----"

"Perhaps what? " asked the Empress.

Joseph stopped trying to look like Napoleon. He was himself again --- a fat, tired, helpless man whose hair was going grey.

"Your Majesty must decide this for yourself." He said weakly.

"I beg you to stay," said Jerome. "If you run away with your son, all France will be ashamed."

"Very well, Ill say," said the Empress, and she took her hat off.

"But, madame," Joseph objected, "if you stay, the enemy will take your son. The emperor would rather let him drown in the Seine."

Till then I had been standing in the doorway. They had all been too busy to notice me. But I couldnt keep quiet any longer.

"Dont repeat those terrible words!" I cried.

They all turned and looked at me. Jerome shouted something rude and wanted to drive me out. But Joseph explained that he had invited me. So I sat down on a sofa, with Julie and her daughters.

"If the empress goes, I must go with her," said Joseph. "but my wife refuses to leave the city. Dont you, Julie?"

"Youll be running from castle to castle till the Russians catch you," Julie said wildly. "Id rather stay here with Desiree. Her house will be safe."

I smiled at Joseph. "You can stay too, if you like," I said.

He refused the offer. But he thanked me for helping his family.

At that moment Talleyrand arrived. He wasted no time with his usual pleasant remarks. "I have a message from Marshal Marmont," he told the empress. "The enemy have blocked every road except one. He cant keep that road open for you unless you leave at once."

The Empress put her hat on again, but she still looked uncertain. "I only want to do my duty," she said. "I dont want anyone to blame me afterwards."

Madame Letitia had said nothing yet. I could see that she was angry with Jerome and Joseph. Now she put a hand on the Empresss arm and said: "Come on, madame. Were going!"

We all stood up and bowed to the Empress. The little King of Rome screamed as a nurse carried him out of the room.

"Thats the end of Napoleon the Second," a voice whispered into my ear. Talleyrands voice, of course. But what did he mean? He added: "Im going now. a Russian officer is waiting for me at one of the gates. Ive decided to be the prisoner of His Majesty the Tsar of Russia. Thats a secret between you and me, Your Highness. Please dont tell anyone else. "

He had gone before I could ask him for news of Jean.