“I have sent for the courier; he says he was at your residence, and that you had nothing to say, nothing to order!  Fie! wicked, hateful, cruel tyrant!—­pretty little monster!  You laugh at my threats and my madness; ah, you know very well that if I could shut you up in my heart, I would keep you there a prisoner.”

“Let me know that you are cheerful, right well, and loving!”

“Bonaparte.”

But Josephine seems not to have answered this letter as Napoleon desired.  She knew that it was nothing but unfounded jealousy which had induced him to read the letters sent to her, and to punish him for this jealousy she forbade him to read her letters in the future.

But while she reproached him in a jesting manner, and punished him for this jealousy, she, herself, with all the inconsistency of a lover, fell into the same fault, and could not hide from him the jealous fears which the ladies from Brescia, especially the beautiful Madame de Te——­, had created within her mind.  Bonaparte answered this letter as general, lover, and husband; he gives an account of his war operations, submits to her will as a lover, and commands her as a husband to come to him in Brescia.

“Castiglione, the 4th Thermidor, Year iv. (July 22, 1796).

“The wants of the army require my presence in these parts; it is impossible for me to go so far away as Milan; it would require for that purpose five or six days, and during that time circumstances might arise which would make my presence here absolutely necessary.

“You assure me that your health is now good; consequently, I pray you to come to Brescia.  At this moment I am sending Murat into the city to prepare you such a house as you wish.

“I believe that you can very well sleep in Cassano on the 6th, if you leave Milan late, so as to be in Brescia on the 7th, where the most tender of lovers awaits you.  I am in despair that you can believe, my dear friend, that my heart can be drawn toward any one but yourself; it belongs to you by right of conquest, and will be enduring and ever-lasting.  I do not understand why you speak of Madame de Te——.  I trouble myself no more about her than any other woman in Brescia.  Since it annoys you that I open your letters, the enclosed one will be the last that I open; your letter did not reach me till after I had opened this.

“Farewell, my tender one; send me often your news.  Break up at once and come to me, and be happy without disquietude; all is well, and my heart belongs to you for life.

“Be sure to return to the Adjutant Miollis the box of medallions which, as he writes, he has given you.  There are so many babbling and bad tongues, that it is necessary to be always on one’s guard.

“Health, love, and speedy arrival in Brescia!

“I have in Milan a carriage which is suited for city and country; use it on your journey.  Bring your silver and a few necessary things.  Travel by short stages, and during the cool of the morning and evening, so as not to weary you too much.  The troops need only three days to reach Brescia, a distance of fourteen miles.  I beg of you to pass the night of the 6th in Cassano; on the 7th I will come to meet you as far as possible.