[23] That Escoiquiz was a clever man, and not the mere intriguer that he is often called, is (I think) shown not only by the impression which he made upon Napoleon (who called him, in jest, le petit Ximénès) and on De Pradt at Bayonne, but still more by his work, the Conversation avec Napoléon. If he invented it, he must have been a genius, so well has he caught the Emperor’s style; if he only reproduced it he was at least an admirable and picturesque reporter.
[24] Observe ‘Papa Mio’ instead of ‘Padre Mio.’ The Spanish text I have printed as Appendix 3 of this volume. Some say that Godoy dictated the wording of the letter, and did not merely insist that a letter of some sort must be written to secure a pardon. In any case the terms were such as no self-respecting person could have signed. The sentence ‘pido à V. M. me perdone por haberle mentido la otra noche,’ the most vile in the whole composition, are omitted by the courtly De Pradt when he translates it into French.
[25] There is a very black underplot in the story of Baron Colli. When he was caught the French police sent a spy with his credentials to Valençay, to see how far the persons about Ferdinand could be induced to compromise themselves. But the prince’s terror, and abject delation of the supposed baron, stopped further proceedings.
[26] Godoy had the impudence to propose to the prince that he should marry Donna Luisa, the younger sister of his own unfortunate wife, and the cousin of the King. Ferdinand found courage to refuse this alliance.
[27] The intrigues of Escoiquiz had begun as early as March, 1807, the month in which the letters to the King against Godoy were drafted. The negotiation with Beauharnais began in June. These dates are strongly against the idea that Bonaparte was at the bottom of the whole affair; his hand does not appear till July-August. Indeed he was far away in Eastern Germany when Escoiquiz began his interviews with the ambassador.
[28] The manuscript of this decree was in the handwriting of Godoy himself.
[29] Cf. Foy and Toreño, who agree on this point. Napoleon insinuates as much in his letter to Ferdinand of April 16, 1808: ‘I flatter myself that I contributed by my representations to the happy ending of the affair of the Escurial’ (Nap. Corresp., 13,750).
[30] Las Cases, ii. 206.
[31] Composed of 6,500 men under General Taranco, marching from Vigo.
[32] Composed of 9,500 men under Solano, Captain-General of Andalusia, and marching from Badajoz.