t, but, convinced of her fickleness, to have become as
unfaithful as she. And yet the complexity of emotions--ambition,
self-interest, and physical attraction--which seems to have been
present in both, although in widely different degree, sustained
something like genuine ardor in him, and an affection sincere enough
often to awaken jealousy in her. The news of Bonaparte's successive
victories in Italy made his wife a heroine in Paris. In all the salons
of the capital, from that of the directors at the Luxembourg downward
through those of her more aristocratic but less powerful
acquaintances, she was feted and caressed. As early as April, 1796,
came the first summons of her husband to join him in Italy. Friends
explained to her willing ears that it was not a French custom for the
wives of generals to join the camp-train, and she refused. Resistance
but served to rouse the passions of the young conqueror, and his fiery
love-letters reached Paris by every courier. Josephine, however,
remained unmoved; for the traditions of her admirers, to whom she
showed them, made light of a conjugal affection such as that. She was
flattered, but, during the courtship, slightly frightened by such
addresses.

In due time there were symptoms which appeared to be those of
pregnancy. On receipt of this news the prospective father could not
contain himself for joy. The letter which he sent has been preserved.
It was written from Tortona, on June fifteenth, 1796. Life is but a
vain show because at such an hour he is absent from her. His passion
had clouded his faculties, but if she is in pain he will leave at any
hazard for her side. Without appetite, and sleepless; without thought
of friends, glory, or country, all the world is annihilated for him
except herself. "I care for honor because you do, for victory because
it gratifies you, otherwise I would have left all else to throw myself
at your feet. Dear friend, be sure and say you are persuaded that I
love you above all that can be imagined--persuaded that every moment
of my time is consecrated to you; that never an hour passes without
thought of you; that it never occurred to me to think of another
woman; that they are all in my eyes without grace, without beauty,
without wit; that you--you alone as I see you, as you are--could
please and absorb all the faculties of my soul; that you have fathomed
all its depths; that my heart has no fold unopened to you, no thoughts
which are not attendan