Bonaparte returned from Egypt covered with glory. By order of the Conqueror, all weapons were taken from the people, among the confiscated arms was the sword of General Beauharnais. Josephine, the widow of the famous commander, and her young son, Eugene, went to the austere general, asking the return of the sacred relic. At first he was firm against their entreaties, but, captivated by the charms of the young and beautiful widow, he at last acceded to their prayers. Josephine had done more than win the sword of her late husband from the "Little Corporal;" she had won his heart. Finally, after a passionate courtship, she gave him her hand, and they were married. Then followed the famous Italian campaign. From behind the Alps came many letters from Napoleon calling his wife. At last she set out to join him, but went no further than Milan, where her frivolous heart forgot her husband and she plunged into the revelries of the gay Italian city. In his impatience, Napoleon came to her there, in the Servandani Palace, where she was staying and found her gone to a ball. When she returned he seized her brutally, intending to rebuke her. One look from those wonderful eyes and he was like clay in her hands. When Bonaparte was crowned Napoleon, Emperor of the French, with his own hand he placed the crown of empress upon the brow of Josephine. The vast projects of conquests that filled his head extinguished the fire of passion and he began to neglect his wife. Napoleon wanted a son and his insatiable desire to pass his greatness and power to his progeny caused him to plan a divorce and a new marriage. At last the terrible hour for the signing of the paper came. Josephine, on her knees, begged and implored him not to cast her aside, but to no avail. Napoleon was unmoved by her tears. The decree was signed and the unhappy empress fell in a paroxysm of hysterical weeping. Then followed days and days of sadness at Malmaison. The emperor's victories were followed by his defeats. At last, in an outburst of love, perhaps the most sincere in her life. Josephine sacrificed herself before the portrait of the fallen giant.