Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 11 | Page 9

much as I do.'--'But if I were to pardon you would you be grateful for
my mercy?'--'I would nevertheless kill you if I could.'
"I never," continued Rapp, "saw Napoleon look so confounded. The
replies of Staps and his immovable resolution perfectly astonished him.
He ordered the prisoner to be removed; and when he was gone
Napoleon said, 'This is the result of the secret societies which infest
Germany. This is the effect of fine principles and the light of reason.
They make young men assassins. But what can be done against
illuminism? A sect cannot be destroyed by cannon-balls.'
"This event, though pains were taken to keep it secret, became the
subject of conversation in the castle of Schoenbrunn. In the evening the
Emperor sent for me and said, 'Rapp, the affair of this morning is very
extraordinary. I cannot believe that this young man of himself
conceived the design of assassinating me. There is something under it. I
shall never be persuaded that the intriguers of Berlin and Weimar are
strangers to the affair.'--'Sire, allow me to say that your suspicions

appear unfounded. Staps has had no accomplice; his placid
countenance, and even his fanaticism, are easiest proofs of that.'--'I tell
you that he has been instigated by women: furies thirsting for revenge.
If I could only obtain proof of it I would have them seized in the midst
of their Court.'--'Ah, Sire, it is impossible that either man or woman in
the Courts of Berlin or Weimar could have conceived so atrocious a
design.'-- 'I am not sure of that. Did not those women excite Schill
against us while we were at peace with Prussia; but stay a little; we
shall see.'-- 'Schill's enterprise; Sire, bears no resemblance to this
attempt.' You know how the Emperor likes every one to yield to his
opinion when he has adopted one which he does not choose to give up;
so he said, rather changing his tone of good-humoured familiarity, 'All
you say is in vain, Monsieur le General: I am not liked either at Berlin
or Weimar.' There is no doubt of that, Sire; but because you are not
liked in these two Courts, is it to be inferred that they would assassinate
you?'--'I know the fury of those women; but patience. Write to General
Lauer: direct him to interrogate Staps. Tell him to bring him to a
confession.'
"I wrote conformably with the Emperor's orders, but no confession was
obtained from Staps. In his examination by General Lauer he repeated
nearly what he had said in the presence of Napoleon. His resignation
and firmness never forsook him for a moment; and he persisted in
saying that he was the sole author of the attempt, and that no one else
was aware of it. Staps' enterprise made a deep impression on the
Emperor. On the day when we left Schoenbrunn we happened to be
alone, and he said to me, 'I cannot get this unfortunate Staps out of my
mind. The more I think on the subject the more I am perplexed. I never
can believe that a young man of his age, a German, one who has
received a good education, a Protestant too, could have conceived and
attempted such a crime. The Italians are said to be a nation of assassins,
but no Italian ever attempted my life. This affair is beyond my
comprehension. Inquire how Staps died, and let me know.'
"I obtained from General Lauer the information which the Emperor
desired. I learned that Staps, whose attempt on the Emperor's life was
made on the 23d of October; was executed at seven o'clock in the

morning of the 27th, having refused to take any sustenance since the
24th. When any food was brought to him he rejected it, saying, 'I shall
be strong enough to walk to the scaffold.' When he was told that peace
was concluded he evinced extreme sorrow, and was seized with
trembling. On reaching the place of execution he exclaimed loudly,
'Liberty for ever! Germany for ever! Death to the tyrant!'"
Such are the notes which I committed to paper after conversing with
Rapp, as we were walking together in the garden of the former hotel of
Montmorin, in which Rapp resided. I recollect his showing me the
knife taken from Staps, which the Emperor had given him; it was
merely a common carving-knife, such as is used in kitchens. To these
details may be added a very remarkable circumstance, which I received
from another but not less authentic source. I have been assured that the
attempt of the German Mutius Scaevola had a marked influence on the
concessions which the Emperor made, because he feared that Staps,
like him who attempted the life of Porsenna, might have imitators
among the illuminati of