think his conduct suspicious.  I observed that he kept his right hand in the breast pocket of his coat; out of which a piece of paper appeared.  I know not how it was, but at that moment my eyes met his, and I was struck with his peculiar look and air of fixed determination.  Seeing an officer of gendarmerie on the spot, I desired him to seize the young man, but without treating him with any severity, and to convey him to the castle until the parade was ended.

“All this passed in less time than I have taken to tell it, and as every one’s attention was fixed on the parade the scene passed unnoticed.  I was shortly afterwards told that a large carving-knife had been found on the young man, whose name was Staps.  I immediately went to find Duroc, and we proceeded together to the apartment to which Staps had been taken.  We found him sitting on a bed, apparently in deep thought, but betraying no symptoms of fear.  He had beside him the portrait of a young female, his pocket-book, and purse containing only two pieces of gold.  I asked him his name, but he replied that he would tell it to no one but Napoleon.  I then asked him what he intended to do with the knife which had been found upon him?  But he answered again, ’I shall tell only Napoleon.’—­’Did you mean to attempt his life?’—­’Yes.’—­’Why?’—­’I can tell no one but Napoleon.’

“This appeared to me so strange that I thought right to inform the Emperor of it.  When I told him what had passed he appeared a little agitated, for you know how he was haunted with the idea of assassination.  He desired that the young man should be taken into his cabinet; whither he was accordingly conducted by two gens d’armes.  Notwithstanding his criminal intention there was something exceedingly prepossessing in his countenance.  I wished that he would deny the attempt; but how was it possible to save a man who was determined to sacrifice himself?  The Emperor asked Staps whether he could speak French, and he answered that he could speak it very imperfectly, and as you know (continued Rapp) that next to you I am the best German scholar in Napoleon’s Court, I was appointed interpreter on this occasion.  The Emperor put the following questions to Staps, which I translated, together with the answers: 

“‘Where do you come from?’—­’From Narremburgh.’—­’What is your father?’ —­’A Protestant minister.’—­’How old are you?’—­’Eighteen.’—­’What did you intend to do with your knife?’—­’To kill you.’—­’You are mad, young man; you are one of the illuminati?’—­’I am not mad; I know not what is meant by the illuminati!’—­’You are ill, then?’—­’I am not; I am very well.’—­’Why did you wish to kill me?’—­’Because you have ruined my country.’—­’Have I done you any harm?’—­’Yes, you have harmed me as well as all Germans.’—­’By whom were you sent?  Who urged you to this crime?’ —­’No one; I was urged to it by the sincere conviction that by killing you I should render the greatest service to my country.’—­’Is