The almost simultaneous arrest of the conspirators proves clearly that the police knew perfectly well where they could lay their hands upon them.

When Pichegru was required to sign his examination he refused.  He said it was unnecessary; that, knowing all the secret machinery of the police, he suspected that by some chemical process they would erase all the writing except the signature, and afterwards fill up the paper with statements which he had never made.  His refusal to sign the interrogatory, he added, would not prevent him from repeating before a court of justice the truth which he had stated in answer to the questions proposed to him.  Fear was entertained of the disclosures he might make respecting his connection with Moreau, whose destruction was sought for, and also with respect to the means employed by the agents of Fouche to urge the conspirators to effect a change which they desired.

On the evening of the 15th of February I heard of Moreau’s arrest, and early next morning I proceeded straight to the Rue St. Pierre, where M. Carbonnet resided with his nephew.  I was anxious to hear from him the particulars of the general’s arrest.  What was my surprise!  I had hardly time to address myself to the porter before he informed me that M. Carbonnet and his nephew were both arrested.  “I advise you, sir,” added the man, “to retire without more ado, for I can assure you that the persons who visit M. Carbonnet are watched.”—­“Is he still at home?” said I.  “Yes, Sir; they are examining his papers.”—­” Then,” said I, “I will go up.”  M. Carbonnet, of whose friendship I had reason to be proud, and whose memory will ever be dear to me, was more distressed by the arrest of his nephew and Moreau than by his own.  His nephew was, however, liberated after a few hours.  M. Carbonnet’s papers were sealed up, and he was placed in solitary confinement at St. Pelagic.

Thus the police, who previously knew nothing, were suddenly informed of all.  In spite of the numerous police agents scattered over France, it was only discovered by the declarations of Bouvet de Lozier that three successive landings had been effected, and that a fourth was expected, which, however, did not take place, because General Savary was despatched by the First Consul with orders to seize the persons whose arrival was looked for.  There cannot be a more convincing proof of the fidelity of the agents of the police to their old chief, and their combined determination of trifling with their new one,

CHAPTER XXII.

1804.

The events of 1804—­Death of the Due d’Enghien—­Napoleon’s arguments at St. Helena—­Comparison of dates—­Possibility of my having saved the Due d’Enghien’s life—­Advice given to the Duc d’Enghien—­Sir Charles Stuart—­Delay of the Austrian Cabinet—­Pichegru and the mysterious being—­M.  Massias—­The historians of St. Helena—­ Bonaparte’s