Bonaparte's suffering and anger at this news were unbounded; a
terrible restlessness and anxiety took possession of him, and, to
obtain speedy and reliable news from Josephine, he sent from Milan
to Paris a special courier, whose only business it was to carry a
letter to Josephine.
The general had nothing to communicate to the Directory; it was only
the lover writing to his beloved! What fire, what energy of passion,
penetrated him, is evident from the following letter:
IV.
"TORTONA, at noon, the 27th Prairial,
"In the Year IV. of the Republic (15th June, 1796).
"To Josephine: My life is a ceaseless Alpine burden. An oppressive
foreboding prevents me from breathing. I live no more, I have lost
more than life, more than happiness, more than rest! I am without
hope. I send you a courier. He will remain only four hours in Paris,
and return with your answer. Write me only ten lines; they will be
some comfort to me. ... You are sick, you love me, I have troubled
you; you are pregnant, and I cannot see you. This thought bewilders
me. I have done you so much wrong, that I know not how to make
amends for it.
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