Speaker 1: Napoleon and the Specter by Charlotte Bronte. Well as I
was saying, the Emperor got into bed, Chevalier says he
to his valet, let down those window curtains and shut
the casement before you leave the room. Chevalier did as
he was told, and, then, taking up his candlestick, departed.
In a few minutes, the Emperor felt his pillow becoming
rather hard, and he got up to shake it. As
he did so, a slight rustling noise was heard near
the bed head. His Majesty listened, but all was silent
as he lay down again. Scarcely had he settled into
a peaceful attitude of repose when he was disturbed by
a sensation of thirst. Lifting himself on his elbow, he
took a glass of lemonade from the small stand which
was placed beside him. He refreshed himself by a deep draft.
As he returned the goblet to its station, a deep
groan burst from a kind of closet in one corner
the apartment. Who's there, cried the Emperor, seizing his pistols,
speak or I'll blow your brains out. This threat produced
no other effect than a short, sharp laugh and dead
silence followed. The Emperor started from his couch and, hastily,
throwing on a robe de chambre which hung over the
back of a chair, stepped courageously to the haunted closet.
As he opened the door, something rustled. He sprang forward,
sword in hand. No soul or even substance appeared, and
the rustling, it was evident, proceeded from the falling of
a cloak, which had been suspended by a peg from
the door. Half ashamed of himself, he returned to bed.
Just as he was about once more to close his eyes,
the light of the three wax tapers, which burned in
a silver branch over the mantelpiece, was suddenly darkened. He
looked up a black, opaque shadow obscured it. Sweating with terror,
the Emperor put out his hand to seize the bell rope,
but some invisible being snatched it rudely from his grasp,
and at the same instant the ominous shade vanished. Pooh, exclaimed, Napoleon,
it was but an ocular delusion? Was it? Whispered a
hollow voice, in deep, mysterious tones close to his ear?
Was it a delusion? Emperor of France, all thou hast
heard and seen his sad forewarning reality rise, lifter of
the eagle, standard, awake, swear of the lily scepter, follow me, Napoleon,
and thou shalt see more. As the voice ceased, a
form dawned on his astonished sight. It was that of
a tall, thin man, dressed in a blue curteau edged
with gold lace. It wore a black cravat very tightly
round its neck and confined by two little sticks placed
behind each ear. The countenance was livid, the tongue protruded
from between the teeth, and the eyes all glaze and
bloodshot started with frightful prominence from their sockets. Mon Dieux
exclaimed the Emperor, what do I see, specter? Whence comest thou?
The apparition spoke not but gliding forward, beckoned Napoleon with
uplifted fingers to follow. Controlled by a mysterious influence which
deprived him of the capability of either thinking or acting
for himself, he obeyed in silence. The solid wall of
the apartment fell open as they approached, and when both
had passed through, it closed behind them with a noise
like thunder. They would now have been in total darkness,
had it not been for a dim light which shone
round the ghost and revealed the damp walls of a
long vaulted passage. Down this they proceeded with mute rapidity,
ere long a cool, refreshing breeze, which rushed wailing up
the vault and caused the Emperor to wrap his loose
night dress closer round announced their approach to the open air.
This they soon reached, and Nap found himself in one
of the principal streets of Paris, were they spirit, said he,
shivering in the chill night air. Permit me to return
and put on some additional clothing. I will be with
you again presently, forward, replied his companion sternly. He felt
compelled in spite of the rising indignation, which almost choked
him to obey. On they went through the deserted streets
till they arrived at a lofty house built on the
banks of the sand. Here the specter stopped the gates
rolled back to receive them, and they entered a large
marble hall, which was partly concealed by a curtain drawn
across through the half transparent folds of which a bright
light might be seen burning with dazzling luster. A row
of fine female figures, richly attired, stood before this screen.
They wore on their heads garlands of the most beautiful flowers,
but their faces were concealed by ghastly masks representing death's heads.
What is all these mummerie, cried the emperor, making an
effort to shake off the metal shackles by which he
was so unwillingly restrained. Where am I and why have
I been brought here? Silence, said the guide, lolling out
still further his black and bloody tongue. Silence. If thou
wouldst escape instant death, the emperor would have replied, his
natural courage, overcoming the temporary awe which he had at
first been subjected. But just then a strain of wild,
supernatural music swelled behind the huge curtain, which waved to
and fro and bellied slowly out, as if agitated by
some internal commotion or battle of waving winds. At the
same moment, an overpowering mixture of the sense of mortal corruption,
blent with the richest Eastern odors, stole through the haunted hall.
A murmur of many voices was now heard at a distance,
and something grasped his arm eagerly. From behind, he turned
hastily round. His eyes met the well known countenance of
Marie Louise. What are you in this inferno place? Too?
Said he? What has brought to you here? Will your
majesty permit me to ask the same question of yourself,
said the Impress, smiling. He made no reply. Astonishment prevented him.
No curtain now intervened between him and the light. It
had been removed, as if by magic, and a splendid
chandelier appeared suspended over his head. Throngs of ladies, richly
dressed but without death had masks stood round, and a
due proportion of gay cavaliers was mingled with them. Music
was still sounding, but it was seen to proceed from
a band of mortal musicians stationed in an orchestra near
at hand. The air was yet releolent of incense, but
it was incense unblended with stench. Mon Dieu, cried the Emperor.
How is all this come about? Where in the world
is peach? Peach replied the Empress. What does your majesty mean?
Had you not better leave the apartment and retire to rest?
Leave the apartment? Why where am I in my private
drawing room, surrounded by a few particular persons of the court,
whom I had invited this evening to a ball. You
entered a few minutes cents in your night dress, with
your eyes fixed and wide open. I suppose from this
astonishment you now testify that you are walking in your sleep.
The Emperor immediately fell into a fit of catalepsy, in
which he continued during the whole of that night and
the greater part of the next day. End of Napoleon
and the Specter