The Rose of Old St. Louis

by Mary Dillon

  CHAPTER XX

  BONAPARTE GIVES ENGLAND A RIVAL

  "Great let me call him, for he conquered me."

  The next morning was Easter, and, dressed in a new suit ofpuce-colored ferrandine, with fresh ruffles of finest lace, and a newplume in my hat, I walked decorously beside my aunt through thethronged streets, every one dressed in his best and every one goingthe same way--to the Church of the Madeleine, to see the First Consulattend service. The sun was shining, birds were singing, the air wassoft and warm and filled with the mingled perfume of flowers andincense, borne out through the open doors of all the churches.

  The world was happy, and so was I. I was greatly excited, too, for Iwas to behold, for the first time, the man who held in his hand thedestinies of nations, and before whose terrible word even our ownproud republic trembled.

  I had been three weeks in Paris and had not seen him. It seemed to bemy ill fortune never to be on the streets when he made one of hisdashing progresses through them, and though there had been severallevees my wardrobe had not been in condition to attend them. Atleast, so my aunt thought. I think I would have been willing to dononce more the old plum-colored velvets for the sake of seeing thegreat Bonaparte, but Madame Marbois thought otherwise.

  "Nobody is such a stickler for forms and ceremonies, or such a loverof magnificence, as the First Consul," said she, "and if you want tomake a good impression upon him, or do credit to your family at homeand to your uncle and to me, you must wait for your new costumes."

  So she had me to the tailor's, and more suits were ordered than Ithought I could wear in a lifetime. When they came home and my manCaesar (my own colored boy whom I had brought with me from home) hadlaid them all out for me in my room, I thought them well worth waitingfor. There were suits for church and suits for dinner, suits forriding and for walking, and, most resplendent of all, two courtcostumes. One especially of white satin with much gold lace andbullion quite took my breath away. Now I have always had a weaknessfor fine clothes that I secretly deprecated, for I feared it was awomanish weakness quite unbefitting a soldier of fortune, which wasthe career I had laid out for myself and was quite determined upon.Yet I have never found that my liking for fine clothes has made meless ready to draw my sword to help the innocent or weak, and so Ihope it may not be a sign in me of any lack of true manliness.

  Be this as it may, I was walking joyously beside my aunt thatbeautiful Easter morning, and part of the joy in my heart was for thebeautiful puce-colored ferrandine that sat so well and had an air ofdistinction I was sure no other clothes of mine had ever had, forthese were made in Paris.

  I have no very distinct recollection of the services; indeed, I hardlypaid enough attention to them to follow them decorously, for I wasconsumed with an eager desire for but one event--the entrance of theFirst Consul.

  A subdued murmur (almost, it seemed to me, like suppressed "Vive lerois") announced to me that he was just entering the door, and as Isat by the aisle down which he was coming, and far to the front, byturning in my seat and stretching my neck shamelessly I had time tosee him well.

  Could this little fellow, who might easily have stood under my armstretched level with my shoulder, could he be the hero of Marengo! theDictator of France who held all Europe trembling in his grasp! I thinkthat I had heretofore had an unconscious feeling that greatness ofstature meant greatness of heart and mind and courage, and I hadgloried in my inches. Now I was almost ashamed of them, for thislittle man coming rapidly down the aisle with a firm, quick stepseemed to breathe power from the chiseled curve of the nostril, fromthe haughty curl of the beautiful lips, but most of all from theimperial flash of the dark eyes under level brows. If his face had notbeen so full of power, yes, and of arrogance, it would have beenalmost too beautiful for a man's face, framed in silky brown hairthinning at the temples, but curling in one dark lock above the broadwhite brow.

  But if it humbled me to see so much greatness in such small stature,it comforted me not a little to observe that the great man was nodespiser of dress. He might have been molded into his small-clothesand waistcoat of white doeskin, so exactly did they fit every line andcurve of his perfect figure. His dark-blue military coat of finestcloth was set off by heavy epaulets of gold and by a broad azureribbon crossing his breast and bearing the jeweled insignia of theLegion of Honor. The crimson sword-sash which bore his sword sheathedin a scabbard of gold flashing with jewels, completed in his own dressthe tricolor of France. He wore high military boots, I think to carryout the military effect of his epaulets and sword, for it was in thecharacter of soldier, the hero of many battles, the winner of gloryfor France, that the people idolized him.

  To the right and the left, his eagle glance took in the whole greatcongregation, and as he passed it fell on me. His glances were neveridle ones; I knew he had seen me, and my pulses quivered and flutteredlike a young maiden's. From that moment I was as much his slave as anysoldier of La Vendee, and had he not himself disillusioned me mostbitterly, I should still have been regarding him as the hero of mydreams, _sans peur et sans reproche_, the greatest man and greatestsoldier of all time. I still believe the latter title belongs to him,but not the first, for a great man must be a good man too, like ourWashington, and that Bonaparte was not.

  It is no wonder, then, that I was quite beside myself with excitementwhen at dejeuner my uncle said to me:

  "Would you like to ride out to St. Cloud with me this afternoon? TheFirst Consul has summoned me to a conference with him, if I mistakenot, on the subject you heard discussed yesterday."

  "Oh, thank you, sir. And shall I be present at the conference?" Ispoke quickly and foolishly, for I was greatly excited.

  My uncle laughed.

  "Well, hardly, my boy, unless you find a way, as you did yesterday, ofcompelling the First Consul to invite you to be present."

  I liked not to be laughed at, but I knew it was but my uncle's teasingfashion, and all the way out through the beautiful Boulogne woods, thebirds singing, the sun shining, the soft spring airs blowing, thealders and willows pale pink and yellow in the distance, the greatbuds of the horse-chestnuts just bursting into leaf and everywhere thevivid green of the fresh turf; my heart beating high with happyexcitement to be in beautiful Paris and on my way to historic St.Cloud, where dwelt the most wonderful man of the world; and Fatimaprancing and curveting under me, her dainty hoofs scarce touching theearth as she danced along the green allees of St. Cloud's beautifulpark, sharing my happy excitement (though only, I suppose, for ahorse's natural joy in trees and grass and sunshine)--all that swiftand beautiful ride, galloping beside my uncle's coach, his words rangin my ears, and I longed with all my heart to be present at thatconference: not so much to hear what was said as to see the greatBonaparte saying it.

  I parted from my uncle at one of the great fountains, he riding up inhis coach to the palace doors, and Fatima and I starting off on anexploring tour around the park. He would not hear to my waiting forhim, for he said he might be detained for hours, and indeed it waspossible the Consul would keep him all night at St. Cloud, assometimes happened, to call upon at any hour of the night when somenew suggestion occurred to him.

  Riding fast, as was my custom when alone with Fatima, it did not takeus long to exhaust the beauties of the park, and my eyes began to turnlongingly toward the palace. Somewhere within its stately walls Isupposed the conference was going on. Verily, there were somecompensations in diplomacy when it gave a man like my uncle a chanceto hold close converse with a man like the First Consul. (And in thatI do not intend to speak slightingly of my Uncle Francois, for he wasever in my regard the most admirable of men. Only, it seemed to methen that to be able to talk familiarly with the great Bonaparte was aprivilege above the deserts of ordinary mortals.)

  I intended to remain at St. Cloud until toward evening, for if theconference should prove short I might still have the pleasure of myuncle's company on the homeward trip. But time began to hang heavilyon my hands, and it occurred to me that I woul
d ask the sentry, whom Ihad seen from a distance walking up and down in front of the mainentrance, whether it were possible to gain admission to the palace. Ithought it probable that it was not open to visitors, since the FirstConsul was occupying it, but it would do no harm to find out, and ifby chance I should be admitted, I would at least have the pleasure ofwandering through the rooms where he dwelt.

  It was necessary first to dispose of Fatima, and a thicket ofevergreen at one side of the palace caught my eye as affording agrateful shade from the warm afternoon sun (which so early in theseason could be found only under evergreens) and a hiding-place fromany prowling thief who might want to steal her, or from anytroublesome guard who might come upon her and carry her off to theConsul's stables.

  So into the thicket I rode, following a winding path that led towardthe upper end near the palace, and at the very upper edge I found justwhat I wanted--a clump of bushes so thick set that they formed analmost impenetrable screen. They were lower than the otherevergreens--not much higher than my horse's ears, but that was highenough. Into the midst of this clump I rode Fatima and dismounted.

  "Stand here, Sweetheart," I said softly, "and budge not a step for anyman but your master."

  She rubbed her nose against my shoulder in token that she understood,and I whispered again in her ear:

  "Not a whinny, not a sound, my Beauty," and left her, feeling sure noman could steal her and no guard could lead her away by guile orforce, nor would she betray her presence there by any noise.

  As I left the evergreens, intending to go around to the front of thebuilding and speak to the sentry, I saw, coming down the path towardme, a young and pretty woman, who, I recognized by her dress, must bein service at the palace.

  "I will inquire from her," I said to myself promptly, "for she willknow as well as the sentry whether there is any admission, and shewill no doubt have a much pleasanter way of saying either yes or no."

  So, as she was about to pass me with a little curtsy and a prettysmile, I stopped her.

  "Mademoiselle," I said, and doffed my hat, "is it permitted to see thepalace to-day?"

  "No, Monsieur," she answered, "unless one is invited or has businessof importance with the First Consul."

  Now I have ever had great faith in woman's wit, and especially aFrenchwoman's, and it suddenly struck me if this one should prove asquick-witted as most of her kind, she would know how to secure myadmission into the palace; and if she should prove as kindly disposedas I believed the sight of gold and a pleasant word might make her,then was my success assured.

  "Mademoiselle," I said, and my manner was as deferential as it mighthave been to her mistress. "I am not invited, and I have no businessof importance with the First Consul; but I am from America, and itwould please me greatly to see the rooms where the famous generallives. Cannot Mademoiselle think of a way?" and I slipped into herhand a louis d'or.

  She curtsied again and smiled again, and then she answered:

  "It is difficult, Monsieur, but I have a friend on guard in the uppercorridor. If I can arrange with him to let us pass, I can showMonsieur the grand salon, the little salon, and the state dining-room.Would that please Monsieur?"

  "Vastly," I answered, for though it might not be seeing all I wouldlike to see, it would be doing something to while away the tedium ofwaiting, and there seemed a little of the spice of adventure about itthat pleased my restless spirit.

  "I will go and consult Gaston," said Mademoiselle Felice (for that,she told me, was her pretty name, and I took it as a felicitous omen),"and I will return in five minutes. If Monsieur will await me by thepines, he will not have to wait long."

  Yet it seemed long. I am sure many five minutes had passed, and I hadbegun to think I would never see again either my gold piece or mypretty Felice, when she came tripping up in an entirely differentdirection from the one in which she had left me.

  She had had trouble. Gaston had scruples. Suppose harm were intendedhis general? Women were easily deceived. Her "American" might be aBritish assassin in disguise. She had had to make herselfresponsible--she, Felice!--for my innocence and honor. She had alsobeen obliged to show Gaston the piece of gold I had given her and toassure him there would be another for him if he were complaisant. Ijudged, also, that she had found it necessary to offer him a bribequite as tangible as the gold piece but less mercenary, for her facewas rosier and her eyes brighter and her hair a little more disheveledthan when I had first seen her.

  And now began a real adventure, for Felice assured me much cautionwould be necessary. How we both slipped out of the pine thicket, shesome distance ahead, I strolling carelessly behind, how by almostinsensible little signs she indicated to me when to advance and whento stay my steps; how she finally guided me through a narrow rearentrance and by dark corridors and winding staircases to the verycorridor Gaston was guarding; and how I slipped another gold pieceinto Gaston's hand as we passed him, would be too long in the telling.

  Gaston was doing sentry duty before two doors some twenty paces apart.One of them opened into a dark side corridor (where we had passed himand I had slipped the gold into his hand), and the other into the headof the main corridor. We had just entered the main corridor, andFelice was leading the way into the grand salon, when she turnedquickly:

  "Go back, Monsieur," she said in an excited whisper, "here comes anofficer!"

  I had caught sight of him, too, and I was the more ready to turn backquickly, because in my hasty glimpse the officer had looked to me verymuch like the Chevalier Le Moyne. I thought it was more than likely Iwas mistaken, but I did not wish to run any possible risk of beingseen by him, and I hoped that in the semi-obscurity of that part ofthe corridor he had either not seen us at all or at least notrecognized us.

  We fled precipitately back through the dark side corridor, I with akeen feeling of elation (for a sense of risk or peril of any kindalways sends my spirits to the highest point), but Felice, I believe,beginning to repent of her bargain.

  "Monsieur," she whispered, "we will go back the way we came--" butwhat further she was about to say I know not, for at that moment adoor opened at the farther end of the side corridor. It was a door wemust pass in finding our way out, and through it now we heard muchloud laughing and loud talking of men. Evidently a party at cards wasbreaking up, and through that open door some of the players were aboutto pass. Our retreat was cut off.

  Felice clutched her hair in desperation.

  "Ah, mon Dieu!" she moaned, "I will lose my place! I will lose mylife!"

  I had hardly time to think of my own plight, I was so sorry for herdistress, and so remorseful to think I had brought her into suchstraits for the sake of a silly adventure.

  But an idea struck Felice. We had come to a stand beside Gaston andthe one of the two doors he was guarding which opened into the sidecorridor. He had himself stopped a moment in his pacing to and fro,perplexed by our dilemma.

  "Quick, Gaston," Felice whispered eagerly, "let Monsieur into thedressing-room closet; it is the only place!"

  Gaston seemed to demur, but Felice overruled him imperiously.

  "You must, Gaston! And be quick! Would you have Monsieur Fouche throwus both into prison? I will be back for him in a few minutes, as soonas all is quiet."

  Gaston hesitated no longer. He threw open the door before which wewere standing, and together they hurried me into a room which I saw atonce was a dressing-room belonging to a gentleman.

  "You must be very still, Monsieur," whispered Felice; then she openeda door and thrust me into a dark closet, closing the door noiselesslybehind me as she whispered, "I will return in a few minutes."

  I was but as wax in her hands, for having led her into such distressand peril, I felt that I must submit to any means that would save herfrom disastrous results. Yet I liked not being shut up in a darkcloset in a gentleman's dressing-room. I began, too, to think of myown peril, and for a full minute after finding myself in myhiding-place my knees did so shake beneath me, and my heart did sopound within
me, I was as one deaf and unconscious to allsurroundings.

  But as my excitement began to calm itself I became aware that I hadfor some time been hearing several voices: one, which did most of thetalking, high, rasping, vehement, passionate; the other two, makingbrief or monosyllabic replies, low-toned and restrained. I began toperceive, too, that I was not entirely in the dark. A faint light wascoming through between slightly parted curtains which seemed toseparate my closet from some other apartment than the dressing-room. Ilooked through this aperture, barely wide enough for the line ofvision, not wide enough to betray me to any one in the room beyond,especially since I was in the dark and the Easter sun was flooding therichly furnished apartment.

  Standing in an attitude of respect on either side of a low marblemantel bearing a wonderful golden clock stood two gentlemen. One ofthem was my uncle, Monsieur Marbois, and the other, whom I did notknow, I learned later was Minister Decres. Gesticulating vehementlyand speaking with great excitement, through the center of the roomback and forth strode rapidly the First Consul!

  I was overwhelmed at the sight. By what trick of fate had I beenthrust into the very midst of this conference at which I had so longedto be present? My blood rushed through my veins at such tumultuouspace as carried my reason with it. No thought of listening to what wasnot intended for me to hear entered my mind, only a great joy that Iwas in the midst of some strange adventure such as I had read of inbooks, where wonderful things happen to the hero who hides behind anarras. And no more wonderful thing could happen to me than to beseeing and hearing the great Bonaparte!

  And this is what he was saying:

  "I know the full value of Louisiana, and I have been desirous ofrepairing the fault of the French negotiator who abandoned it in1763. A few lines of a treaty have restored it to me, and I havescarcely recovered it when I must expect to lose it. But if it escapesfrom me," he stopped and turned suddenly to the two ministers, liftinga threatening hand, "it shall one day cost dearer to those who obligeme to strip myself of it than to those to whom I wish to deliver it."

  I thought at first this threat was uttered against the United States,and so terrible did he look, so like an avenging fury, that Ishuddered as I thought of my country the object of his vindictivewrath. But his next words enlightened me. He resumed his rapid strideand went on speaking with the same excitement:

  "The English have successively taken from France Canada, Cape Breton,Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and India. They are engaged in excitingtroubles in San Domingo. _They shall not have the Mississippi, whichthey covet._

  "Louisiana is nothing in comparison with their conquests in all partsof the globe, and yet the jealousy they feel at the restoration ofthis colony to the sovereignty of France acquaints me with their wishto take possession of it, and it is thus they will begin the war.

  "They have twenty ships of war in the Gulf of Mexico; they sail overthose seas as sovereigns! The conquest of Louisiana would be easy, ifthey only took the trouble to make a descent there. I have not amoment to lose in putting it out of their reach! I know not whetherthey are not already there. It is their usual course, and if I hadbeen in their place, I would not have waited. I wish, if there isstill time, to take away from them any idea that they may have of everpossessing that colony."

  "He stopped and turned suddenly to the two ministers"]

  Once more he stopped and faced the two ministers, and gazed at themsteadily for a moment, first one, then the other, before he utteredhis next words. I know not whether he paused because he hesitated toutter them, or because he wished to make them more forcible. Then hesaid slowly and impressively, with no trace of the excitement that hadcharacterized his former words:

  "I think of ceding it to the United States."

  If he had expected to create a sensation he was not disappointed; theirrepressible start of each, the glowing eyes, the eager desire tospeak expressed in both countenances were abundant evidences of it,and I in my dark closet was far more excited than either: for here wasmore than my wildest dreams to be realized. But Bonaparte had notfinished his speech; with a gesture restraining them from givingutterance to the words that were hurrying to their lips, he went on:

  "You will say that I can scarcely cede it to them, for it is not yetin our possession. If, however, I leave the least time to our enemies,I shall transmit only an empty title to those republicans whosefriendship I seek. They ask of me only one town in Louisiana; but Ialready consider the colony as entirely lost, and it appears to methat in the hands of this growing power it will be more useful to thepolicy of France, and even to its commerce, than if I should attemptto keep it. Citizen Minister," looking at my uncle, "what is youropinion?"

  My uncle, who had been all eagerness to speak at first, seemed tohesitate now that the opportunity was given him.

  "I believe, Citizen First Consul," he said slowly, "that we should nothesitate to make a sacrifice of that which is about slipping away fromus. War with England is inevitable. Shall we be able with inferiornaval forces to defend Louisiana against that power? At the time ofthe discovery of Louisiana the neighboring provinces were as feeble asherself. They are now powerful and Louisiana is still in her infancy.The country is scarcely at all inhabited; you have not fifty soldiersthere. Where are your means of sending garrisons thither? Can werestore fortifications that are in ruins, and construct a long chainof forts upon a frontier of four hundred leagues? If England lets youundertake these things, it is because they will drain your resources,and she will feel a secret joy in seeing you exhaust yourself inefforts of which she alone will derive the profit. You will send out asquadron; but while it is crossing the oceans, the colony will fall,and the squadron will in its turn be in great danger. Louisiana isopen to the English from the north by the Great Lakes, and if, to thesouth, they show themselves at the mouth of the Mississippi, NewOrleans will immediately fall into their hands. This conquest would bestill easier to the Americans: they can reach the Mississippi byseveral navigable rivers, and to be masters of the country it will besufficient for them to enter it. The colony has existed for a century,and, in spite of efforts and sacrifices of every kind, the lastaccount of its population and resources attests its weakness. If itbecomes a French colony and acquires increased importance, there willbe in its very prosperity a germ of independence which will not belong in developing itself. The more it nourishes the less chance shallwe have of preserving it.

  "The French have attempted to form colonies in several parts of thecontinent of North America. Their efforts have everywhere provedabortive. The English are patient and laborious; they do not fear thesolitude and silence of newly settled countries. The Frenchman, livelyand active, requires society; he is fond of conversing with neighbors.He willingly enters on the experiment of cultivating the soil, but atthe first disappointment quits the spade and ax for the chase."

  Bonaparte, as my uncle ceased talking, had thrown himself into afauteuil and signed to the others to sit down. He had listened withkeen attention to my uncle's long speech, but now he interrupted himabruptly and harshly.

  "How does it happen that the French, who are incapable of succeedingin a continental colony, have always made great progress in the WestIndies?"

  "Because," replied Monsieur Marbois, "the slaves perform all thelabors. The whites, who would soon be exhausted by the heat of theclimate, have, however, the vigor of mind necessary to direct theiroperations."

  "By whom is the land cultivated in Louisiana?" asked the First Consul.

  "Slavery," answered my uncle, "has given Louisiana half herpopulation. An inexcusable imprudence was committed in suddenlygranting to the slaves of San Domingo a liberty for which they had notbeen prepared. The blacks and whites both have been victims of thisgreat fault."

  "I am undecided," said Bonaparte, "whether it would be better tomaintain or abolish slavery in Louisiana."

  "Of all the scourges that have afflicted the human race," responded myuncle, "slavery is the most detestable! But even humanity requiresgreat prec
autions in the application of the remedy, and you cannotapply it if Louisiana should again become French. Governments stillhalf resist emancipation: they tolerate in secret what they ostensiblycondemn, and they themselves are embarrassed by their false position.The general sentiment of the world is in favor of emancipation; it isin vain that the colonists and planters wish to arrest a movementwhich public opinion approves. The occupation of Louisiana--a colonywith slaves--will occasion us more expense than it will afford usprofit."

  As my uncle ceased speaking, Bonaparte turned to Minister Decres andwith a motion of his hand indicated that he was ready to hear hisopinion. The minister began eagerly:

  "We are still at peace with England," said he; "the colony has justbeen ceded to us; it depends on the First Consul to preserve it. Itwould not be wise in him to abandon, for fear of a doubtful danger,the most important establishment that we can form out of France, anddespoil ourselves of it for no other reason than the possibility of awar; it would be as well, if not better, that it should be taken fromus by force of arms.

  "You will not acknowledge, by a resignation of Louisiana, that Englandis sovereign mistress of the seas, that she is there invulnerable, andthat no one can possess colonies except at her good pleasure! It doesnot become you to fear the kings of England! If they should seizeLouisiana, as some would have you fear, Hanover would be immediatelyin your hands, as a certain pledge of its restoration. France,deprived of her navy and her colonies, is stripped of half hersplendor and of a great part of her strength. Louisiana can indemnifyus for all our losses. There does not exist on the globe a singleport, a single city, susceptible of becoming as important as NewOrleans, and the neighborhood of the American States already makes itone of the most commercial in the world. The Mississippi does notreach there until it has received twenty other rivers, most of whichsurpass in size the finest rivers of Europe.

  "The navigation to the Indies, by doubling the Cape of Good Hope, haschanged the course of European trade and ruined Venice and Genoa. Whatwill be its direction if, at the Isthmus of Panama, a simple canalshould be opened to connect the one ocean with the other? Therevolution which navigation will then experience will be still moreconsiderable, and the circumnavigation of the globe will become easierthan the long voyages that are now made in going to and returning fromIndia. Louisiana will be on this new route, and it will then beacknowledged that this possession is of inestimable value.

  "Finally, France, after her long troubles, requires such a colony forher internal pacification; it will be for our country what a centuryago were for England the settlements which the emigrants from thethree kingdoms have raised to so high a degree of prosperity. It willbe the asylum of our religious and political dissenters; it will curea part of the maladies which the Revolution has caused, and be thesupreme conciliator of all the parties into which we are divided. Youwill there find the remedies for which you search with so muchsolicitude!"

  I thought this a very bold speech, and it was uttered with much fireand enthusiasm. I could not be sure how the Consul took it, for hesaid not a word through it all. When the minister had finishedspeaking he dismissed them both with a few words, but telling them heshould expect them to remain all night.

  As the door closed behind the two ministers, Bonaparte threw himselfback in his chair, his arms folded across his breast, his headdrooping forward, in an attitude of deep thought. It seemed to me morethan likely that Minister Decres's words had touched his pride and hispatriotism, and he was hesitating now at the thought of getting ridof France's last important colony.

  He was interrupted in his reverie by an officer bringing in thedespatches from London which had just arrived, and he sent word by theofficer to have Minister Marbois sent to him immediately.

  It was only a few moments until the return of my uncle, but in theinterval I could see that Bonaparte was glancing through thedespatches with such lightning rapidity that to me, for whom allreading is slow work, it seemed impossible he should have graspedtheir meaning. As Monsieur Marbois entered the apartment Bonapartegreeted him.

  "Citizen Minister," he said, "the despatches from London have arrived.Have you seen them?"

  "I was just reading them," replied my uncle, "when you sent for me."

  "Did you see that England is preparing for war? That both naval andmilitary preparations are going forward with extraordinary rapidity?"

  "Yes," said the minister, "so I understand."

  "Perhaps you saw, too, that in the American Congress Mr. Ross proposedthat the President should raise fifty thousand troops and capture NewOrleans?"

  "Yes," repeated my uncle, "I saw it, and I regret greatly that anycause of difference should arise between our countries."

  The Consul sprang to his feet and resumed his rapid striding up anddown the room without uttering a word for full two minutes, but with adeep frown between his eyes, as I could see whenever he faced me inhis hurried pacing to and fro.

  Suddenly he stopped and turned to my uncle.

  "Irresolution and deliberation are no longer in season," he saidslowly, and then added with sudden fire:

  "I renounce Louisiana! It is not only New Orleans I will cede, it isthe whole colony without reservation. I renounce it with the greatestregret! To attempt obstinately to retain it would be the greatestfolly. I direct you to negotiate this affair with the envoys of theUnited States. Do not even await the arrival of Mr. Monroe; have aninterview to-morrow with Mr. Livingston. But I require a great deal ofmoney for this war with England, and I would not like to commence itwith new contributions. I will be moderate, in consideration of thenecessity in which I am of making a sale; but keep this to yourself. Iwant fifty millions, and for less than that sum I will not treat; Iwould rather make a desperate attempt to keep these fine countries.To-morrow you shall have full power."

  I think my uncle was somewhat aghast at the suddenness of the decisionto sell the whole country, though he had himself advised it, and stillmore at the great responsibility thrust upon him of conducting thenegotiations in place of the Minister of Foreign Relations. Perhaps,too, now that the sale was fully determined upon, he was touched withregrets and misgivings. At any rate, he said, somewhat hesitatingly:

  "You feel sure, Citizen Consul, that we have a right to cede thesovereignty of a people without consulting the people themselves? Havewe a right to abandon what the Germans call the _souls_? Can they bethe subject of a contract of sale or exchange?"

  Now I really think from what I had seen of Bonaparte's reverie whilethe minister was out of the room, of his frowning cogitations in thatrapid walk to and fro, and of the solemnity of his manner when hefinally announced his determination to sell, that he had been troubledby the same misgivings. But none the less did his lip curl satiricallyas he listened to my uncle, and his eyes narrow and glow with amalevolent fire. He hardly waited for him to finish till he burstforth bitterly:

  "You are giving me, in all its perfection, the ideology of the law ofnature and nations! But I require money to make war on the richestnation of the world. Send your maxims to the London market! I am surethey will be greatly admired there; and yet no great attention is paidto them when the question is the occupation of the finest regions ofAsia!"

  I thought my uncle would have wilted under such bitter sarcasm, fornever have I seen anything more malevolent than Bonaparte's wholeaspect, and I trembled for him. But he seemed not greatly afraid ofthe great man's bluster, and persisted in his argument when it seemedto me the part of wisdom would have been to keep silence.

  "But, Citizen Consul," he urged, "are you not afraid by ceding suchgreat possessions to America you may make her in the course of two orthree centuries too powerful for Europe--the mistress of the world?"

  The Consul's lip curled again. He answered in a harsh voice:

  "My foresight does not embrace such remote fears. I have no children;after me the deluge! Besides, we may hereafter expect rivalries amongthe members of the Union. The confederations that are called perpetualonly last till
one of the contracting parties finds it to his interestto break them."

  The minister made no reply, though Bonaparte waited a moment as ifexpecting one. Then he went on:

  "Mr. Monroe is on the point of arriving. To this minister, going athousand leagues from his constituents, the President must have givensecret instructions for the stipulation of the payments to be made,more extensive than the ostensible authorization of Congress. Neitherthis minister nor his colleague is prepared for a decision which goesinfinitely beyond anything they are about to ask us. Begin by makingthe overture without any subterfuge. You will acquaint me, day by day,hour by hour, of your progress. The cabinet of London is informed ofthe measures adopted at Washington, but it can have no suspicion ofthose I am now taking. Observe the greatest secrecy, and recommend itto the American ministers: they have not a less interest than yourselfin conforming to this counsel. You will correspond with Monsieur deTalleyrand, who alone knows my intentions. Keep him informed of theprogress of this affair."

  All this was uttered in a sharp clipping tone of voice, at times harshand rasping, that carried with it an inconceivable effect ofautocratic power. As he finished he made a gesture of dismissal, butas the minister was about to withdraw he called him back again.

  "Monsieur Marbois," he said in a far gentler tone than he had used atall heretofore, "there will be a treaty drawn up between you and theAmerican ministers, of course, and I would like to write one articleof that treaty. If you will sit down a few moments I will not detainyou long."

  My uncle bowed and seated himself, and with marvelous rapidityBonaparte's pen flew over the sheet before him. In scarcely more thana minute's time he looked up from his paper.

  "This is the article, Monsieur Marbois, that I wish you to make ityour business to see embodied somewhere in the treaty." And then heread slowly, in a firm, clear voice, with no longer any rasping tones:

  "The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in theUnion of the United States, and admitted as soon as possible,according to the principles of the Federal Constitution, to theenjoyment of all the rights, advantages, and immunities of citizens ofthe United States. And in the meantime they shall be maintained andprotected in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property, and thereligion which they profess."

  The Consul rose to his feet as he finished reading and extended thepaper toward my uncle.

  "Citizen Minister," he said (and I almost thought there was a ring ofsadness in his tone, but that I could not believe such an emotionpossible to the imperious conqueror), "let the Louisianians know thatwe separate ourselves from them with regret; that we stipulate intheir favor everything that they can desire; and let them hereafter,happy in their independence, recollect that they have been Frenchmen,and that France, in ceding them, has secured for them advantages whichthey could not have obtained from a European power, however paternalit might have been. Let them retain for us sentiments of affection;and may their common origin, descent, language, and customs perpetuatethe friendship."

  He finished speaking, and turned his back abruptly upon my uncle, whobowed silently and withdrew. I could not see the face of either, but Ibelieve both were too deeply moved to utter another word. As my uncleleft the room, Bonaparte threw himself once more into his deep-armedchair in the same attitude of reverie he had before maintained in theinterval of the minister's absence--arms folded, chin sunk deep on hisbreast.

  It seemed to me a long time that he sat thus, for I was growing everymoment more anxious for my own safe escape from my hiding-place.Felice had promised to return for me in a few moments if the way wasopen, and I was sure it must have been more nearly hours than momentsthat I had been watching the foremost man of all the world decide thefate of a people and the future of my own proud nation. I had been sointensely interested that I had not noted the flight of time, but nowthat the First Consul sat wrapped in thought, I, too, began to think,to wonder, and to grow every moment more anxious. What had become ofmy little guide? Had she forsaken me and left me to my fate? Andshould she come for me now, would I be able, with my clumsy movements,to escape unheard, when the room was no longer ringing with therasping tones of Bonaparte?

  There was a deep-drawn sigh from the chair of the First Consul. Heunfolded his arms, flung back his head, and sprang to his feet, oncemore pacing rapidly back and forth. Suddenly he stopped, lifted onehand as if calling on Heaven to witness, and exclaimed aloud:

  "This accession of territory strengthens forever the power of theUnited States! I have just given to England a maritime rival that willsooner or later humble her pride!"

  His hand dropped upon a bell which he rang violently. Instantly therewas a little sound of scratching on the panel of a door leading intoan apartment beyond.

  "Enter!" said Bonaparte, and there glided silently into the roomRustan, the famous Mameluke attendant of whom I had heard much.

  "I will dress for dinner, Rustan," said the First Consul; "call myvalet and tell him to prepare my bath."