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the illustrious group as they assembled in front of the chateau, previous to each run. Napoleon, as usual, fell, the only once, as he was running for Josephine. Being thus taken captive, he was placed in ban, which he broke, as soon as he recovered breath, set again to running, and released the empress amid loud huzzas from his own, and shouts of 'fair play' from the opposite party. Thus ended the last repetition of youthful sport."
From what we have seen of the domestic life of Napoleon and Josephine, no doubt can be entertained of his attachment to that lady. But his mind was constantly haunted by dreams of ambition. He panted for an heir, and wished that the mothers should be eminently illustrious in point of birth so that mankind might be inspired with respect both for himself and his progeny. Accordingly, in an evil hour, he pitched on a daughter of the emperor of Austria, and resolved on divorcing a consort whose marriage had been “secretly blessed by the pope," who had been crowned by his holiness, who had been the wife of Napoleon during fourteen whole years, and who could not be separated from him without a breach of his own express law, prohibiting every thing of this kind in the imperial family.
No sooner was this design resolved upon, that the necessity for communicating the painful fact to Josephine became apparent. The 30th of November, 1809, arrived, which Napoleon appears to have destined for declaring his final determination to Josephine. She had wept all day; they were to dine together as usual, and, to conceal her tears the empress wore a large white hat, fastened under the chin which with its deep front shaded the whole of the upper part of the face. Napoleon, also, had shown marks of the strongest
