"Bonaparte?"

Stendhal didn't know how long it had been since he had heard the surname.

In France, the surname has become almost a taboo that cannot be explicitly stated. Some people hate it to the core, and some people respect it like a god.

Stendhal clearly falls into the latter category.

He has relived in his dreams countless times the scenes of his expedition to Russia with Napoleon, recalling the scenes of the great retreat from Moscow.

As Napoleon famously said, "From the great and the sublime to the absurd, there is only one step in between." ”

And for Stendhal, who witnessed Napoleon's fall from the altar, the pain was even unstoppable.

His life was deeply tied to the rise and fall of Napoleon's empire, with both glory and humiliation.

When the news of Napoleon's death came from St. Helena in 1821, Stendhal felt as if the sky had fallen.

He was expelled from Italy because of his sympathy for the Charcoal Party, and returned to Paris where he was repeatedly questioned because of his Bonapartist identity.

The hard-working work, "Red and Black," was banned by the authorities, no publisher was willing to distribute it privately, and some of the savings he had saved back then were spent. By the time he came to London, he couldn't even afford to pay his rent.

If Arthur had only read Hugo's letter to The British, then his knowledge of Stendhal might have been limited to that.

A true Bonapartist and an ardent fan of the emperor can sum up his life.

However, is this really the case?

Unfortunately, Arthur also obtained from Mr. Vidocq a document describing Mr. Stendhal's early years.

Like Julien, the protagonist of his The Red and the Black, Stendhal was a rather contradictory man.

He was a Bonapartist, but he was not as pure as the other Bonapartists.

At heart, Stendhal identified himself as a Republican, seeing Napoleon as a tyrant who usurped state power and deprived citizens of their liberties.

But on the other hand, he also enjoyed the status, money and honor that he enjoyed during the Napoleonic period.

This is as contradictory as his view of the people at the bottom.

As early as the age of 11, he had attended a meeting of the revolutionary party, but the impression left on him was not entirely positive.

"In short, I loved the people then, as I do today, I hated their oppressors, but living with them would be never-ending torture. They are dirty and smelly, speak lewdly, and behave vulgarly. And my taste was very aristocratic, and it still is. I would do everything for the people and do my best to make them happy, but I would rather spend two weeks in prison a month than live with small shopkeepers. ”

Stendhal was very sympathetic to the Republicans, but was reluctant to live with them. He did not approve of Napoleon's actions from the beginning, but in order to get by, he still had to be tied to the Bonapartists.

At first, he wanted to be a famous playwright, so much so that when his cousin assigned him a position in the heavy cavalry regiment, he did not take up the post for half a year.

And when he realized that he had no talent in that area, he wished that he could become a baron of the Empire, a knight of the Medal of Honor, and a department chief with a salary comparable to that of a prince.

In 1804, when Stendhal found himself in dire need of a job, he even had the audacity to forge a letter of recommendation from General Michard, boasting about how brave he had fought in the cavalry regiment.

However, after Vidocq's investigation, Stendhal had been drunk in Milan for several years, so it was impossible for him to participate in those battles.

And in addition to becoming a baron of the Empire, Monsieur Stendhal had a rather grand ambition, he wanted to be a great lover.

But unfortunately, God did not give him an appearance that could charm thousands of young girls.

As far as the deity Arthur saw in the editorial office was concerned, this gentleman was a little short, slightly fat, short-legged and long-legged, with a big head and thick black hair, brown eyes and thin lips, which really had nothing to do with handsome guys.

If there's anything to be admired about his appearance, it's that his skin is as delicate as a woman's. Sadly, according to the documents provided by Mr. Vidocq, Mr. Stendhal was as shy as an ignorant maiden in terms of feelings.

But despite all the disadvantages, Mr. Stendhal is still well prepared for his goals.

He will ask those veterans in the love field for advice on his sister's skills, and he will solemnly record the advice given to him by the other party. and then chased women one by one according to the rules he recorded, and behaved in a rather academic style.

Regarding Stendhal's quirk, even Vidocq, the head of security, couldn't help but joke: "Because of his sensitive status, I was ordered to follow him for a while. I don't want to insult a person like that, but this gentleman is almost joking when he talks about love. He was courting an actress who found his behavior ridiculous, only to be insulted. The actress bluntly said that his words were insincere, but the guy was shocked because he didn't write it in his small notebook. Seeing his funny behavior, even I was embarrassed to find a crack in the ground to get into. ”

However, Vidocq's judgment of Stendhal is not only contemptuous, in terms of ability, Vidocq still approves of this fame and fortune chaseer.

Although his cousin, Count Pierre Darou, had secured his position in the quartermaster department, Stendhal himself did a decent job in the quartermaster's department. During the retreat from Moscow, the humiliation of Napoleon's life, Stendhal, who served as the quartermaster, showed unusual calmness and composure.

It is worth noting, however, that Stendhal's claim that after Napoleon's abdication in 1814 and his own decline in the restored Bourbon dynasty offered him an important position, does not correspond to the official documents in Vidocq's possession.

In official records, Stendhal did not refuse any position, but betrayed Napoleon at the first time, and immediately swore allegiance to the restored Louis XVIII.

The reason why he did not stay in France was only because Louis XVIII did not take a fancy to him.

And when Stendhal left Paris for Milan, he actually saved a lot of money, after all, this guy has worked in an oil and water department like the Quartermaster Department for many years, and it is impossible to have no savings.

As to why he ended up destitute in Milan, it is necessary to mention the failure of Mr. Stendhal's creative career and his usual poor emotional line.

Before The Red and the Black, Stendhal had already published a number of monographs. One of the most successful of these is On Love, published in 1822.

How successful has this book been?

According to Vidocq's meticulous investigation, "On Love" sold a total of 17 copies in the ten years it was published.

One of the seventeen had already arrived in Arthur's possession along with Vidocq's letter.

However, despite the dismal sales of the publications, Mr. Stendhal did not lower his consumption.

As soon as he arrived in Milan, an old lover of his in Milan got into trouble with him.

The lady told Stendhal that her husband was jealous of her relationship with Stendhal and that she wanted him to leave Milan.

And Stendhal, in order to prove himself, gave his old lover three thousand francs to go on a trip in one go.

Later, Stendhal also bribed the maid beside Madame, hoping that she would help him to say good things.

But the maid told Stendhal that what Madame had said to him was false, and that Madame's husband was not jealous of these things at all, and that Madame said that she was afraid that Stendhal would bump into some of her new lovers.

Stendhal, who did not believe in evil, hid in the wardrobe of one of his wife's makeshift houses in the countryside that night, and confirmed through the keyhole the woman's plot against him.

When Arthur saw this, he could almost imagine Vidocq's smiling face in his mind.

"If you want to get something out of this gentleman's mouth, just ask him to drink. As long as you drink to the position, he can tell you anything. Don't be fooled by his reserved appearance, this guy and Yu Lian in his works are simply carved out of the same mold. But he didn't have Yu Lian's handsome face, nor did he have the courage to give up everything. I don't have any conclusive proof, but I've heard that he tried to seduce his sister-in-law, the wife of his cousin, Count Daru, who had helped him secure the position of quartermaster. Unfortunately, he failed to solve the problem.

By the way, intellectually, Mr. Stendhal hated clericalism. But when he was in Milan, he was always helping the Pope. The Pope sent him to work at the consulate in Trieste, but the Austrians who controlled the area were reluctant to accept him because of his support for liberals and the fact that he could not control his mouth. In a fit of rage, the gentleman ran back to Paris, intending to pick up his pen again and continue his dream of being a great playwright.

If you can keep this gentleman in London, the security department will be happy to do so. Although he posed no threat to our work in Paris, his mouth was too annoying. I know he doesn't have the courage to be revolutionary, but he likes to associate with revolutionaries, which makes us have to send people to monitor him. I have already told you all the methods to control him in my letter, and it is your business to choose what to do.

Finally, my dear friend, for the sake of all the convenience I have done for you, do not let Monsieur Dumas and the boys of the Bonapartes back to Paris at this juncture. If you must let it go, please say hello to me in advance, and preferably include the time and place of their landing in France, and I will send a car to pick it up. ”

Arthur was still thinking about what to do with Stendhal's problem, and as soon as he came back to his senses, he saw that the man had fallen on one knee and kissed Louis the Great.

"I ...... I really didn't expect to see you in London. France has been far from the glory of Napoleon for a long time, and you don't know how many people in Paris are thinking all the time that Bonaparte of the purest of times like you will lead France forward. ”

The Red Devil looked at Stendhal, who was full of excitement but not the slightest emotion, patted his thigh and laughed: "I can be regarded as seeing Yu Lian himself today, Arthur, you should learn more from him." ”

Arthur didn't pay attention to the Red Devil, he just glanced at the flattered Louie, then lit his pipe and pushed the door open and walked out.

He was not interested in participating in such a burlesque, although he did it occasionally, but it was still a little uncomfortable to see someone who was better than himself.

But Stendhal's experience was not without effect on him, at least it helped Arthur to see more clearly the subtleties of the French Revolution.

Everything has changed, but it doesn't seem to have changed, it's just a simple change of people.

Of course, it is important that the slogan sounds, but as long as the price is right, most people, whether they are republicans or Bonapartists, can flexibly switch sides.

A guy like Alexandre Dumas has become a very few.

He leaned against the wall and lowered his head to smoke, wanting to be alone, but before he could sort out his thoughts, he saw a white dress in his sight.

Arthur subconsciously took off his pipe and was about to extinguish it, but before he could make a move, he heard the other party say, "Mr. Hastings, you don't have to worry about this, I don't hate the smell of tobacco that much." I'm probably not like most women, I smell smoke and I just feel at ease. ”

It was Mrs. Shelley who spoke, and Arthur looked up at the strange woman of London.

A high-waisted snow-white dress, a loose blouse with lace trims, a simple little floppy hat on her head, and simple accessories, except for a silver ring on the ring finger of her right hand.

Arthur smiled and asked, "Mr. Shelley, did he smoke when he was alive?" ”

Mrs. Shelley only nodded slightly: "Occasionally, but let's not mention him today." Actually, I don't really want to talk to people about his past, because memories are not always happy. ”

Arthur didn't continue to insist: "I'm glad you can keep looking forward, to be honest, when our editors found your confession letter in Prometheus Liberated, everyone was worried about your mental state. More than anything, you are able to come out of your grief and focus on publishing and writing, focusing on your child's education. Anyway, I think I've met your son before. ”

Mrs. Shelley was surprised when she heard this, "Have you seen my little Percy?" ”

Arthur nodded, "Your son seems to go to the same school as the two children of Officer Tom in our hall, and I went to pick them both up from school when Officer Tom was out on business." The two furry children told me that the father of a child in their next class was the great writer Shelley, and they pointed out the child to me. ”

When Mrs. Shelley heard this, a smile appeared in the corners of her eyes: "What do you think of him?" ”

Arthur smiled and complimented: "I studied very hard and worked hard, and I happened to see him asking the teacher when I went." I am very sure that he will become an extraordinary man in the future, a poet as brilliant as his father. ”

Arthur thought that this would make Mrs. Shelley happy, but when she heard this, her smile immediately faded, and even her tone became quite stiff.

"You must have lost sight. I asked God to grow into an ordinary person. Even if he wants to get ahead, he should be a police officer like you, reliable, upright, and steady, not a poet. ”

When Arthur heard this, he immediately sensed that something was wrong, as if he had heard something like that somewhere.

His brow furrowed slightly, but it quickly eased.

Byron! That's right, Byron's wife, Mrs. Millbank, seems to have said the same.

Not only that, but her biggest request for her daughter's husband is not to be a poet.

Linked to Byron's intimate relationship with Shelley, the mystery of why Mrs. Shelley would say such things is almost unanswered.

Shelley is also a carrot?

Although Arthur has no evidence for the time being, there is only such a possibility at present.

Mrs. Shelley was stunned when she saw Arthur being scolded by her, and then she realized that she had lost her temper, and she hurriedly apologized.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hastings, I ...... I didn't mean to throw a tantrum at you. I understand your blessings to the child, but for a mother, the most important thing is that the child can grow up to be a decent, kind, and responsible gentleman, and I don't care how many fans he has and how successful he is in the worldly sense. ”

Arthur didn't dare to continue to ask what was wrong with the Shelleys, he usually asked someone else to inquire about this kind of thing. If you want to blame Held, you can only blame Elder for not being here, or he wouldn't have stepped into the minefield with one foot.

Arthur joked, "You don't care how many fans your child has, but it's too much to let him be a police officer, and we face the hatred of thousands of people every day." If you can, I suggest you can arrange for him to be a company clerk, or a banker, a stockbroker, or something. ”

Mrs. Shelley shook her head and said, "If I have that ability, of course I hope that he can have a good future." But...... As you may not know, my little Percy has been burdened with the sin of my union with his father, who has neither the support of his mother's family nor his father's family, and I am the only one who supports him. ”

"Oh......" Arthur laughed, "then he could indeed consider becoming a police officer, because I don't even have my mother's support, and I just got to this point by luck." What I can do, with his cleverness, I can certainly do. ”

Mrs. Shelley also smiled when she heard this: "It was because I heard about your experience that I thought he might be able to become a policeman in the future." All the ladies of the Blue Sox Club are full of praise for you, and everyone regrets that you have not been attending our reading salon lately, but we all understand that you have more important things to attend to.

Rest assured, no matter what the newspapers say, we, the ladies, have your back. Only those who have been with you know what a good quality young man you are. If I didn't know your personality, I would never have had the cheekiness to ask you to meet Elizabeth. ”

"Elizabeth?"

Arthur then remembered that there seemed to be such a thing, and he smiled and asked, "Is that the name of my ardent reader?" I happen to be free today, and if it's appropriate, we can go see her now. ”

"Hmmm......"

Mrs. Shelley seemed a little embarrassed to say this: "It is rude to say this, but I hope you will not be too surprised when you see her later." Because she ......"

"What's wrong with her?" Arthur removed the hat from the coat rack and buckled it over his head.

Mrs. Shelley tugged at the hem of her skirt and said as if with great courage, "She is a girl who cannot walk. ”

(End of chapter)