“You see,” he said, “what the Neapolitans will do for me by the way the Corsicans receive me.”

It was the first mention which had escaped him of his plans for the future, and from that very day he began to give orders for his departure.

They collected ten little feluccas:  a Maltese, named Barbara, former captain of a frigate of the Neapolitan navy, was appointed commander-in-chief of the expedition; two hundred and fifty men were recruited and ordered to hold themselves in readiness for the first signal.

Murat was only waiting for the answers to Othello’s letters:  they arrived on the afternoon of the 28th.  Murat invited all his officers to a grand dinner, and ordered double pay and double rations to the men.

The king was at dessert when the arrival of M. Maceroni was announced to him:  he was the envoy of the foreign powers who brought Murat the answer which he had been awaiting so long at Toulon.  Murat left the table and went into another room.  M. Maceroni introduced himself as charged with an official mission, and handed the king the Emperor of Austria’s ultimatum.  It was couched in the following terms: 

   “Monsieur Maceroni is authorised by these presents to announce to
    King Joachim that His Majesty the Emperor of Austria will afford him
    shelter in his States on the following terms:—­

    “1.  The king is to take a private name.  The queen having adopted
    that of Lipano, it is proposed that the king should do likewise.

“2.  It will be permitted to the king to choose a town in Bohemia, Moravia, or the Tyrol, as a place of residence.  He could even inhabit a country house in one of these same provinces without inconvenience.

“3.  The king is to give his word of honour to His Imperial and Royal Majesty that he will never leave the States of Austria without the express-permission of the Emperor, and that he is to live like a private gentleman of distinction, but submitting to the laws in force in the States of Austria.

“In attestation whereof, and to guard against abuse, the undersigned
has received the order of the Emperor to sign the present
declaration.

                             “(Signed) Prince of Metternich
    “Paris, 1st Sept. 1815.”

Murat smiled as he finished reading, then he signed to M. Maceroni to follow him: 

He led him on to the terrace of the house, which looked over the whole town, and over which a banner floated as it might on a royal castle.  From thence they could see Ajaccio all gay and illuminated, the port with its little fleet, and the streets crowded with people, as if it were a fete-day.

Hardly had the crowd set eyes on Murat before a universal cry arose, “Long live Joachim, brother of Napoleon!  Long live the King of Naples!”

Murat bowed, and the shouts were redoubled, and the garrison band played the national airs.