“But is there none in the Guard’s chest?  Take what you require, and we will settle it, hereafter.”

Mistrusting nothing, Lannes went to the treasurer of the Guards, who made some objections at first to the advance required, but who soon yielded on learning that the demand was made with the consent of the First Consul.

Within twenty-four hours after Lannes had obtained the 400,000 francs the treasurer received from the head commissary an order to balance his accounts.  The receipt for the 400,000 francs advanced to Lannes, was not acknowledged as a voucher.  In vain the treasurer alleged the authority of the First Consul for the transaction.  Napoleon’s memory had suddenly failed him; he had entirely forgotten all about it.  In a word, it was incumbent on Lannes to refund the 400,000 francs to the Guards’ chest; and, as I have already said, he had no property on earth, but debts in abundance.  He repaired to General Lefebre, who loved him as his son, and to him he related all that had passed.  “Simpleton,” said Lefebvre, “why did you not come to me?  Why did you go and get into debt with that -----?  Well, here are the 400,000 francs; take them to him, and let him go to the devil!”

Lannes hastened to the First Consul.  “What!”—­he exclaimed, “is it possible you can be guilty of such baseness as this?  To treat me in such a manner!  To lay such a foul snare for me after all that I have done for you; after all the blood I have shed to promote your ambition!  Is this the recompense you had in store for me?  You forget the 13th Vendemiaire, to the success of which I contributed more than you!  You forget Millesimo:  I was colonel before you!  For whom did I fight at Bassano?  You were witness of what I did at Lodi and at Governolo, where I was wounded; and yet you play me such a trick as this!  But for me, Paris would have revolted on the 18th Brumaire.  But for me, you would have lost the battle of Marengo.  I alone, yes, I alone, passed the Po, at Montebello, with my whole division.  You gave the credit of that to Berthier, who was not there; and this is my reward—­humiliation.  This cannot, this shall not be.  I will——­” Bonaparte, pale with anger, listened without stirring, and Lannes was on the point of challenging him when Junot, who heard the uproar, hastily entered.  The unexpected presence of this general somewhat reassured the First Consul, and at the same time calmed, in some degree, the fury of Lannes.  “Well,” said Bonaparte, “go to Lisbon.  You will get money there; and when you return you will not want any one to pay your debts for you.”  Thus was Bonaparte’s object gained.  Lannes set out for Lisbon, and never afterwards annoyed the First Consul by his familiarities, for on his return he ceased to address him with thee and thou.

Having described Bonaparte’s ill-treatment of Lannes I may here subjoin a statement of the circumstances which led to a rupture between the First Consul and me.  So many false stories have been circulated on the subject that I am anxious to relate the facts as they really were.