By other articles of the same decree the Council instituted a provisional commission, similar to that which the Ancients had proposed to appoint, resolved that the said commission should consist of three members, who should assume the title of Consuls; and nominated as Consuls Sieyes, Roger Ducos, and Bonaparte.  The other provisions of the nocturnal decree of St. Cloud had for their object merely the carrying into effect those already described.  This nocturnal sitting was very calm, and indeed it would have been strange had it been otherwise, for no opposition could be feared from the members of the Five Hundred, who were prepared to concur with Lucien.  All knew beforehand what they would have to do.  Everything was concluded by three o’clock in the morning; and the palace of St. Cloud, which had been so agitated since the previous evening, resumed in the morning its wonted stillness, and presented the appearance of a vast solitude.

All the hurrying about, the brief notes which I had to write to many friends, and the conversations in which I was compelled to take part, prevented me from dining before one o’clock in the morning.  It was not till then that Bonaparte, having gone to take the oath as Consul before the Five Hundred, afforded me an opportunity of taking some refreshment with Admires Bruix and some other officers.

At three o’clock in the morning I accompanied Bonaparte, in his carriage to Paris.  He was extremely fatigued after so many trials and fatigues.  A new future was opened before him.  He was completely absorbed in thought, and did not utter a single word during the journey.  But when he arrived at his house in the Rue de la Victoire, he had no sooner entered his chamber and wished good morning to Josephine, who was in bed, and in a state of the greatest anxiety on account of his absence, than he said before her, “Bourrienne, I said many ridiculous things?”—­“Not so very bad, General”—­“I like better to speak to soldiers than to lawyers.  Those fellows disconcerted me.  I have not been used to public assemblies; but that will come in time.”

We then began, all three, to converse.  Madame Bonaparte became calm, and Bonaparte resumed his wonted confidence.  The events of the day naturally formed the subject of our conversation.  Josephine, who was much attached to the Gohier family, mentioned the name of that Director in a tone of kindness.  “What would you have, my dear?” said Bonaparte to her.  “It is not my fault.  He is a respectable man, but a simpleton.  He does not understand me!—­I ought, perhaps, to have him transported.  He wrote against me to the Council of the Ancients; but I have his letter, and they know nothing about it.  Poor man! he expected me to dinner yesterday.  And this man thinks himself a statesman!—­Speak no more of him.”