to　listen　to　to…day！　Oh；　Fouche；　it　was　God　Himself　who　impelled　me
  to　listen！　I　was　with　him　when　you　were　announced；　and　I　suspected
  that　your　visit　purported　something　unusual；　something　dreadful。　I
  have　heard　all；　Foucheall；　I　tell　you！　I　know　that　his　life　is
  threatened；　that　fifty　daggers　are　directed　toward　him。　0　God！　this
  perpetual　fear　and　excitement　will　kill　me！　I　have　no　peace　of　mind；
  no　rest　more！　Since　the　unhappy　day　when　we　left　our　dear　little
  house　to　live　in　the　Tuileries；　since　that　day　there　has　been　an　end
  to　all　joy！　Why　did　we　do　it？　why　did　we　not　remain　in　our　little
  Luxembourg？　why　have　we　been　persuaded　to　live　in　the　palace　of　the
  kings？〃
  〃It　is　proper　for　the　greatest　man　in　France　to　live　in　the　house
  where　the　departed　race　of　kings　once　had　their　home；〃　replied
  Fouche。
  〃Oh；　yes；〃　sighed　Josephine。　〃I　know　these　tricks　of　speech；　with
  which　you　have　turned　the　head　of　my　poor　Bonaparte。　Oh！　you；　you；
  his　flatterer；　you　who　urged　him　on；　will　bear　the　blame　if
  misfortune　breaks　in　upon　us！　You　have　intoxicated　him　with　the
  incense　of　adulation；　you　pour　into　his　veins　daily　and　hourly　the
  sweet　poison　which　is　to　destroy　our　happiness　and　our　peace！　He　was
  so　good；　so　cheerful；　so　happy；　my　Bonaparte！　He　was　contented　with
  the　laurels　which　victory　laid　upon　his　brow；　but　you　continued　to
  whisper　in　his　ear　that　a　crown　would　add　new　grace　to　his　laurels。
  You　flattered　his　ambition；　and　what　was　quietly　sleeping　at　the
  bottom　of　his　heart；　and　what　I　hushed　with　my　kisses　and　with　my
  hand；　that　you　took　all　efforts　to　bring　out　into　the　light：　his
  vanityhis　love　of　power！　Oh；　Fouche！　you　are　wicked；　cruel；　and
  pitiless！　I　hate；　I　abhor　you　all；　for　you　are　the　murderers　of　my
  Bonaparte！〃
  She　spoke　all　this　softly；　with　quick　breath；　while　the　tears　were
  streaming　over　her　beautiful　face；　and　her　whole　frame　trembled　with
  emotion。　She　then　sank；　wholly　overcome；　upon　a　lounge；　and　pressed
  her　small　hands；　sparkling　with　jewels；　over　her　eyes。
  〃Madame；　you　are　unjust；〃　replied　Fouche；　softly。　〃If　you　have
  overheard　my　conversation　with　the　First　Consul；　you　are　aware　that
  the　direct　object　of　my　coming　was　to　save　him　from　murderers；　and
  to　insure　his　precious　life。〃
  〃And；　moreover；　to　pour　into　his　ear　the　poison　of　a　future　imperial
  crown！〃　said　Josephine；　indignantly。　〃Oh；　I　know　it！　With　talk　of
  conspiracies　and　of　daggers　you　urged　him　on。　You　want　him　to　be　an
  emperor；　that　you　may　be　a　prince　or　duke！　I　see　it　all；　and　I
  cannot　prevent　it；　for　he　no　longer　listens　to　me；　he　no　longer
  heeds　the　voice　of　his　Josephine；　only　that　of　his　ambitious
  flatterers；　and　he　will　put　on　the　imperial　crown　and　complete　our
  misfortune！　Oh！　I　knew　it！　This　imperial　crown　will　ruin　us。　It　was
  prophesied　to　me　in　my　youth　that　I　should　be　an　empress；　but　it　was
  added　that　it　would　be　for　no　long　time。　And　yet　I　should　like　to
  live；　and　I　should　like　to　be　happy　still！〃
  〃You　will　be　so；　madame；〃　said　Fouche；　with　a　smile。　〃It　is　always
  good　fortune　to　wear　an　imperial　crown；　and　your　beautiful　head　is
  worthy　to　bear　one。〃
  〃No；　no；〃　she　cried；　angrily。　〃Do　not　try　me　with　your　flatteries！　I
  am　contented　with　being　a　beloved　and　happy　wife；　I　desire　no　crown。
  The　crowned　heads　that　have　dwelt　in　the　Tuileries　have　become　the
  prey　of　destruction；　and　the　pearls　of　their　diadems　have　been
  changed　to　tears！　But　what　advantage　is　it　that　I　should　say　all
  this　to　you？　It　is　all　in　vain；　in　vain！　I　did　not　bring　you　to　talk
  of　this。　It　was　something　entirely　different。　Listen；　Fouche；　I
  cannot　prevent　Bonaparte's　becoming　an　emperor；　but　you　shall　not
  make　him　a　regicide！　I　will　not　suffer　it！　By　Heaven；　and　all　the
  holy　angels；　I　will　not　suffer　it！〃
  〃I　do　not　understand　you；　madame。　I　do　not　know　what　you　mean。〃
  〃Oh；　you　understand　me　very　well；　Fouche。　You　know　that　I　am
  speaking　of　King　Louis　XVII。〃
  〃Ah；　madame；　you　are　speaking　of　the　impostor；　who　gives　himself　out
  to　be　the　'orphan　of　the　Temple。'　〃
  〃He　is　it；　Fouche。　I　know　it；　I　am　acquainted　with　the　history　of
  his　flight。　I　was　a　prisoner　in　the　Conciergerie　at　the　same　time
  with　Toulan；　the　queen's　loyal　servant。　He　knew　my　devotion　to　the
  unhappy　Marie　Antoinette；　he　intrusted　to　me　his　secret　of　the
  dauphin's　escape。　Later；　when　I　was　released；　Tallien　and　Barras
  confirmed　the　story　of　his　flight；　and　informed　me　that　he　was
  secreted　by　the　Prince　de　Conde。　I　have　known　it　all；　and　I　tell　you
  I　knew　who　Kleber's　adjutant　was；　I　inquired　for　him　after　he
  disappeared　at　the　battle　of　Marengo；　and　when　my　agents　told　me
  that　the　young　king　died　there；　I　wore　mourning　and　prayed　for　him。
  And；　now　that　I　learn　that　the　son　of　my　beautiful　queen　is　still
  alive；　shall　I　suffer　him　to　die　like　a　traitor？　No；　never！　Fouche；
  I　tell　you　I　will　never　suffer　it；　I　will　not　have　this　unfortunate
  young　man　sacrificed！　You　must　save　himI　will　have　it　so！〃
  〃I！〃　cried　Fouche；　in　amazement。　〃But　you　know　that　it　is
  impossible；　for　you　have　heard　my　conversation　with　the　consul。　He
  himself　said；　'The　republic　demands　a　royal　victim。　If　it　is　not
  this　so…called　King　Louis；　let　it　be　the　Duke　d'Enghien；　for　a
  victim　must　fall；　in　order　to　intimidate　the　royalists；　and　bring
  peace　at　last。〃
  〃But　I　will　not　have　you　bring　human　victims；〃　cried　Josephine；　〃the
  republic　shall　no　longer　be　a　cruel　Moloch；　as　it　was　in　the　days　of
  the　guillotine。　You　shall；　and　you　must；　save　the　son　of　Queen　Marie
  Antoinette。　I　desire　to　have　peace　in　my　conscience；　that　I　may　live
  without　reproach；　and　be　happier　perhaps　than　now。〃
  〃But　it　is　impossible；〃　insisted　Fouche。　〃You　have　heard　yourself
  that　if；　before　the　sun　goes　down；　Louis　be　not　imprisoned；　the　sun
  of　my　good　fortune　will　have　set。〃
  〃And　I　told　you；　Fouche；　that　if　you　do　thisif　you　become　a
  regicide　a　second　timeI　will　be　your　unappeasable　enemy　your　whole
  life　long；　I　will　undertake　to　avenge　on　you　the　death　of　the　queen
  and　her　son；　I　will　follow　your　every　step　with　my　hate；　and　will
  not　rest　till　I　have　overthrown　you。　And　you　know　well　that
  Bonaparte　loves　me；　that　I　have　influence　with　him；　and　that　what　I
  mean　to　do；　I　accomplish　at　last　by　prayers；　tears；　and　frowns。　So
  do　not　exasperate　me；　Fouche；　do　not　make　me　your　irreconcilable
  enemy。　Save　the　son　of　the　king　whom　you　killed；　conciliate　the
  shades　of　his　unhappy　parents。　Fouche；　we　are　in　the　cabinet　of　the
  queen！　Here　she　often　tarried；　here　she　often　pressed　her　son　to　her
  heart；　and　asked　God's　blessing　on　him。　Fouche；　the　spirit　of　Marie
  Antoinette　is　with　us；　and　she　will　know　it　if　you　in　pity　spare　the
  life　of　her　son。　Marie　Antoinette　will　accuse　you　at　the　throne　of
  God；　and　plead　with　God　to　show　you　no　compassion；　if　you　refuse　to
  be　merciful　to　her　son。　Fouche；　in　the　name　of　the　queenon　my
  kneesI　implore　you；　save　her　son！〃
  And　Josephine；　her　face　bathed　in　tears；　sank　before　him　and　raised
  her　folded　hands　suppliantly　to　Fouche。　The　minister；　deeply　moved；
  pale　with　the　recollections　which　Josephine　awakened　within　him；
  stooped　down　to　her；　and　bade　her　arise；　and　when　she　refused；　and
  begged　and　threatened；　and　wept；　his　obstinacy　was　at　last　touched；
  or　perhaps　his　prudence；　which　counselled　him　to　make　a　friend；
  rather　than　an　enemy；　out　of　the　all…powerful　wife　of　the　future
  emperor。
  〃Rise；　madame；〃　he　said。　〃What　mortal　is　able　to　resist　your
  requests；　since　Bonaparte　himself　cannot？　I　will　save　your　protege；
  whatever　shall　come　to　me　afterward　from　it。〃
  She　sprang　up；　and　in　the　wildness　of　her　joy　threw　her　beautiful
  arms　around　Fouche's　neck；　and　kissed　him。
  〃Fouche；〃　she　said；　〃I　give　you　this　kiss　in　the　name　of　Queen　Marie
  Antoinette。　It　is　a　kiss　of　forgiveness；　and　of　blessing。　You　swear
  to　me　that　you　will　save　him？〃
  〃I　swear　it；　madame！〃
  〃And　I　swear　to　you　that　as　soon　as　he　is　saved；　and　Bonaparte's
  anger　can　no　longer　reach　him；　I　will　confess　all　to　my　husband；　and
  put　it　in　such　a　Light　that　Bonaparte　shall　thank　and　reward　you。
  Now　tell　me；　how　you　will　save　him。〃
  〃I　shall　only　be　able　if　you　will　help　me；　madame。〃
  〃I　am　ready　for　any　thingthat　you　know　well。　Tell　me　what　I　shall
  do。〃
  〃You　must　yourself　direct　a　few　lines　to　the　young　man；　conjuring
  him　in　the　name　of　his　mother　to　fly；　to　save　himself　from　the　anger
  of　the　First　Consulto　leave　Europe。〃
  〃Oh！　Fouche；　how　sly　you　are！〃　said　Josephine；　sadly。
  〃You　want　my　handwriting；　in　order　to　justify　yourself　to　the　First
  Consul　in　case　of　emergency；　very　good。　I　will　write　the　billet。〃
  She　hastened　to　her　table；　dashed　a　few　words　upon　paper；　and　then
  passed　the　note　to　Fouche。　〃Read　it；〃　she　said；　〃it　contains　all
  that　is　necessary；　does　it　not？〃
  〃Yes；　madame；　and　you　have　written　in　such　beautiful　and　moving
  words；　that　the　young　man　will　be　melted；　and　will　obey　you。　Will
  you　now　have　the　goodness　to　put　the　note　in　an　envelope　and　to
  address　it？〃
  She　folded　it；　and　put　it　into　an　envelope。　〃To　whom　shall　I　address
  it？〃　she　then　asked。
  〃Address　it　to　King　Louis　XVII。〃
  She　did　so　with　a　quick　stroke　of　the　pen　and　handed　the　letter　to
  Fouche。　〃Take　it；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　your