The cabinet of the Tuileries was not the only place in which the question of hereditary succession was discussed.  It was the constant subject of conversation in the salons of Paris, where a new dynasty was already spoken of.  This was by no means displeasing to the First Consul; but he saw clearly that he had committed a mistake in agitating the question prematurely; for this reason he waged war against the Parallel, as he would not be suspected of having had any share in a design that had failed.  One day he said to me, “I believe I have been a little too precipitate.  The pear is not quite ripe!” The Consulate for life was accordingly postponed till 1802, and the hereditary empire till 1804.

After the failure of the artful publication of the pamphlet Fouche invited me to dine with him.  As the First Consul wished me to dine out as seldom as possible, I informed him of the invitation I had received.  He was, however, aware of it before, and he very readily gave me leave to go.  At dinner Joseph was placed on the right of Fouche, and I next to Joseph, who talked of nothing but his brother, his designs, the pamphlet, and the bad effect produced by it.  In all that fell from him there was a tone of blame and disapproval I told him my opinion, but with greater reserve than I had used towards his brother.  He seemed to approve of what I said; his confidence encouraged me, and I saw with pleasure that he entertained sentiments entirely similar to my own.  His unreserved manner so imposed upon me that, notwithstanding the experience I had acquired, I was far from suspecting myself to be in the company of a spy.  Next day the First Consul said to me very coldly, “Leave my letters in the basket, I will open them myself.”  This unexpected direction surprised me exceedingly, and I determined to play him a trick in revenge for his unfounded distrust.  For three mornings I laid at the bottom of the basket all the letters which I knew came from the Ministers, and all the reports which were addressed to me for the First Consul.  I then covered them over with those which; judging from their envelopes and seals, appeared to be of that trifling kind with which the First Consul was daily overwhelmed:  these usually consisted of requests that he would name the number of a lottery ticket, so, that the writer might have the benefit of his good luck—­solicitations that he would stand godfather to a child—­petitions for places—­announcements of marriages and births—­ absurd eulogies, etc.  Unaccustomed to open the letters, he became impatient at their number, and he opened very few.  Often on the same day, but always on the morrow, came a fresh letter from a Minister, who asked for an answer to his former one, and who complained of not having received one.  The First Consul unsealed some twenty letters and left the rest.