r truly loved.
That he did love her at times most passionately there can be no doubt.

Josephine, however, had many misgivings respecting the expediency of the
union. She stated to her friends that he was the most fascinating man
that she had ever met; that she admired his courage, the quickness of
his judgment, the extent of his information. She, however, confessed
that she did not really love him--that she stood in awe of him. "His
searching glance," she says, "mysterious and inexplicable, imposes even
upon our Directors--judge if it may not intimidate a woman."

"Being now past the heyday of youth," she writes in a letter
to a friend, "can I hope long to preserve that ardor of
attachment which, in the general, resembles a fit of
delirium? If, after our union, he should cease to love me,
will he not reproach me with what he will have sacrificed
for my sake? Will he not regret a more brilliant marriage
which he might have contracted? What shall I then reply?
What shall I do? I shall weep. Excellent resource! you will
say. Alas! I know that all this can serve no end; but it has
ever been thus; tears are the only resource left me when
this poor heart, so easily chilled, has suffered. Write
quickly, and do not fear to scold me, should you judge that
I am wrong. You know that whatever comes from your pen will
be taken in good part.

"Barras gives assurance that if I marry the general, he will
so contrive as to have him appointed to the command of the
army of Italy. Yesterday, Bonaparte, speaking of this favor,
which already excites murmuring among his fellow-soldiers,
though it be as yet only a promise, said to me, 'Think they,
then, I have need of their protection to arrive at power?
Egregious mistake! They will all be but too happy one day
should I grant them mine. My sword is by my side, and with
it I will go far.'

"What say you to this security of success? Is it not a proof
of confidence springing from an excess of vanity? A general
of brigade protect the heads of government! that, truly, is
an event highly probable! I know not how it is, but
sometimes this waywardness gains upon me to such a degree
that almost I believe possible whatever this singular man
may take it in his head to attempt; and, with his
imagination, who can calculate what he will not underta