“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.

M. Maceroni did not know how to believe his own eyes and ears.

When the king had enjoyed his astonishment, he invited him to go down to the drawing-room.  His staff were there, all in full uniform:  one might have been at Caserte or at Capo di Monte.  At last, after a moment’s hesitation, Maceroni approached Murat.

“Sir,” he said, “what is my answer to be to His Majesty the Emperor of Austria?”

“Sir,” answered Murat, with the lofty dignity which sat so well on his fine face, “tell my brother Francis what you have seen and heard, and add that I am setting out this very night to reconquer my kingdom of Naples.”

III—­PIZZO

The letters which had made Murat resolve to leave Corsica had been brought to him by a Calabrian named Luidgi.  He had presented himself to the king as the envoy of the Arab, Othello, who had been thrown into prison in Naples, as we have related, as well as the seven recipients of the letters.

The answers, written by the head of the Neapolitan police, indicated the port of Salerno as the best place for Joachim to land; for King Ferdinand had assembled three thousand Austrian troops at that point, not daring to trust the Neapolitan soldiers, who cherished a brilliant and enthusiastic memory of Murat.