374 JOSEPHINE, WIPE OP NAPOLEON I. self with passion, and would not listen to her. Josephine left the room, and was gone for half an hour. Then returning, she ordered Madame de R6musat to follow her into her chamber. " All is lost ! " cried the empress, as soon as they were alone ; " and what I suspected is only too true. I sought the emperor in his cabinet. He was not there ! Then I went by the secret staircase to the little suite of rooms above. I found the door shut, but through the keyhole I heard their voices. I knocked very loud, saying who I was. When the door was opened I burst into reproaches, and she began to cry. Bonaparte flew into a passion so violent that I scarcely had time to escape from his resent- ment. In truth, I am still trembling ; for I do not know to what excess he would have carried his fury. No doubt he will come here, and I expect a terrible scene." ■ " Do not commit a second fault," said Madame de Re*musat ; " for the emperor would never forgive your making a confidante of any one whatever in this matter. Let me leave you, madame. He must find you alone, and do try to soften him, and repair so great an imprudence." There was indeed a terrible scene between the most arbitrary of men and his jealous wife. As soon as he was gone, Josephine called Madame de R6musat to her and told her that Bonaparte in his anger had broken some of the furniture, and given her notice to prepare to leave Saint-Cloud, as he was tired of being watched by a jeal- ous woman. He was resolved, he said, to shake off such a yoke, and then do what his policy required — marry a woman who could give him children. Upon leaving her, he sent to Paris for her son Eugene to come and take charge of his mother's departure from the palace. " I am lost beyond resource," said Josephine. Eugene arrived. He behaved nobly, refusing all
