’Mademoiselle Clary; but with all his economy these supplies were insufficient.  Bonaparte was therefore in absolute distress.  Junot often used to speak of the six months they passed together in Paris at this time.  When they took an evening stroll on the Boulevard, which used to be the resort of young men, mounted on fine horses, and displaying ell the luxury which they were permitted to show at that time, Bonaparte would declaim against fate, and express his contempt for the dandies with their whiskers and their ‘orielles de chiene’, who, as they rode Past, were eulogising in ecstasy the manner in which Madame Scio sang.  And it is on such beings as these,’ he would say, ’that Fortune confers her favours.  Grand Dieu! how contemptible is human nature!’” (Memoirs of the Duchesse d’Abrantes, vol. i. p. 80, edit. 1883.)]—­

I could, easily perceive that our young friend either was or wished to be initiated in some political intrigue; and I moreover suspected that Salicetti had bound him by an oath not to disclose the plans that were hatching.

He became pensive, melancholy, and anxious; and he always looked with impatience for Salicetti’s daily visit.

     —­[Salicetti was implicated in the insurrection of the 20th May
     1795, 1st Prairial, Year iii., and was obliged to fly to Venice.]—­

Sometimes, withdrawing his mind from political affairs, he would envy the happiness of his brother Joseph, who had just then married Mademoiselle Clary, the daughter of a rich and respectable merchant of Marseilles.  He would often say, “That Joseph is a lucky rogue.”

Meanwhile time passed away, and none of his projects succeeded—­none of his applications were listened to.  He was vexed by the injustice with which he was treated, and tormented by the desire of entering upon some active pursuit.  He could not endure the thought of remaining buried in the crowd.  He determined to quit France; and the favourite idea, which he never afterwards relinquished, that the East is a fine field for glory, inspired him with the wish to proceed to Constantinople, and to enter the service of the Grand Seignior.  What romantic plans, what stupendous projects he conceived!  He asked me whether I would go with him?  I replied in the negative.  I looked upon him as a half-crazy young fellow, who was driven to extravagant enterprises and desperate resolutions by his restless activity of mind, joined to the irritating treatment he had experienced, and, perhaps, it may be added, his want of money.  He did not blame me for my refusal to accompany him; and he told me that Junot, Marmont, and some other young officers whom he had known at Toulon, would be willing to follow his fortunes.

He drew up a note which commenced with the words ‘Note for . . .’  It was addressed to no one, and was merely a plan.  Some days after he wrote out another, which, however, did not differ very materially from the first, and which he addressed to Aubert and Coni.  I made him a fair copy of it, and it was regularly for forwarded.  It was as follows:—­