It was a calm, clear night:  one could see the whole shore.  He looked for Campana’s grave.  Two dogs scratching the sand showed him the spot.

The king shut the window violently, and without undressing threw himself onto his bed.  At last, fearing that his agitation would be attributed to personal alarm, he undressed and went to bed, to sleep, or seem to sleep all night.

On the morning of the 9th the tailors whom Murat had asked for arrived.  He ordered a great many clothes, taking the trouble to explain all the details suggested by his fastidious taste.  He was thus employed when General Nunziante came in.  He listened sadly to the king’s commands.  He had just received telegraphic despatches ordering him to try the King of Naples by court-martial as a public enemy.  But he found the king so confident, so tranquil, almost cheerful indeed, that he had not the heart to announce his trial to him, and took upon himself to delay the opening of operation until he received written instructions.  These arrived on the evening of the 12th.  They were couched in the following terms: 

Naples, October 9, 1815

“Ferdinand, by the grace of God, etc . . . . wills and decrees
the following: 

“Art. 1.  General Murat is to be tried by court-martial, the members
whereof are to be nominated by our Minister of War.

“Art. 2.  Only half an hour is to be accorded to the condemned for
the exercises of religion.

    “(Signed) Ferdinand.”

Another despatch from the minister contained the names of the members of the commission.  They were:—­

Giuseppe Fosculo, adjutant, commander-in-chief of the staff, president.

Laffaello Scalfaro, chief of the legion of Lower Calabria.

Latereo Natali, lieutenant-colonel of the Royal Marines.

Gennaro Lanzetta, lieutenant-colonel of the Engineers.

W. T. captain of Artillery.

Francois de Venge, ditto.

Francesco Martellari, lieutenant of Artillery.

Francesco Froio, lieutenant in the 3rd regiment of the line.

Giovanni delta Camera, Public Prosecutor to the Criminal Courts of Lower
Calabria.

Francesco Papavassi, registrar.

The commission assembled that night.

On the 13th October, at six o’clock in the morning, Captain Stratti came into the king’s prison; he was sound asleep.  Stratti was going away again, when he stumbled against a chair; the noise awoke Murat.

“What do you want with me, captain?” asked the king.

Stratti tried to speak, but his voice failed him.

“Ah ha!” said Murat, “you must have had news from Naples.”

“Yes, sire,” muttered Stratti.

“What are they?” said Murat.

“Your trial, sire.”

“And by whose order will sentence be pronounced, if you please?  Where will they find peers to judge me?  If they consider me as a king, I must have a tribunal of kings; if I am a marshal of France, I must have a court of marshals; if I am a general, and that is the least I can be, I must have a jury of generals.”