CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

1807

PROJECTS OF DIVORCE

The Question of Divorce First Seriously Considered--Napoleon Asks Joséphine to Take the Initiative--She Refuses--Fouché’s Letter to the Empress--Napoleon Pretends Ignorance--He Writes Fouché to Cease Meddling--Talleyrand’s Attitude--Fouché Influences Public Opinion--End of the Fêtes--Death of Joséphine’s Mother--Napoleon’s Trip to Italy--His Interview with Lucien--He Adopts Eugène--His Letters to Joséphine 249