“If you wish, no!  One of us will accompany Bonaparte to Genoa as his jailer.  You can relieve him there, and attend him to his prison.”

“I will do so.  But where will the prison be?”

“You will put him on some barren island in the ocean, which will serve as his dungeon.  Then you will return.  But you must name the place to which you conveyed him to no one except the heads of the society:  that is, to General Nugent and myself.  We will guard it as the most sacred secret of our lives, that no one may learn it—­no one can make the attempt to rescue him.”

“I thank you,” cried the count joyously.  “You assign me an honorable task, which proves that the heads of the society trust me.  What else have I to do?  Will not a meeting of the conspirators take place?  Will you not summon one?”

“No, for I shall go at once to Totis to make the most necessary additional arrangements with General Bubna, and through him with the Empress Ludovica, that, if the plot succeeds, the advantage will be ours and cannot be claimed by the French party.  But you, count, must manage to summon such an assembly of our friends in some unsuspected place.  I learn that Baroness de Simonie is to give an entertainment to which, without knowing it, she has invited a number of our friends.  You will recognize them by the black enamel ring which every member of our band must wear upon the little finger of his left hand.  You will name to each a place of meeting.

“Oh, I already know one,” cried the count, “it is—­”

“Mention no names,” Kraus interrupted quickly.  “I shall not be present, so it is not necessary for me to know.  Every secret is imperiled by needless communication, and we must compromise no one without cause.  Here, count, are some necessary papers in which you will find further instructions.  Make your preparations accordingly, and when you have read them and informed the persons concerned, burn them.”

“But you tell me nothing about the principal matter,” said the count.  “Who will accomplish the actual deed?  Who will have the heroic daring to take Napoleon captive?”

“Many will be active in that, count.  The names are not to be mentioned, but if you lay stress upon it, I will tell you that of the person who has undertaken to lie in ambush for Napoleon, gag him, and carry him away.  It is Baron von Moudenfels.”

“Von Moudenfels?  I don’t know him, but I have heard of him.  Was it not Baron von Moudenfels who arranged the secret connection with the conspirators in the French army, and negotiated with Oudet?”

“Yes, the same man.  He is a great patriot and a daring fellow.  He hates Napoleon, and if he once has him in his grasp, he will die rather than suffer him to escape, though Napoleon should offer a kingdom as a ransom.  Now farewell, count, and may God grant that we see each other again successful!  May the guardian angel of our native land protect us in the perils which we must bravely meet.”