but he had resigned the portfolio to Dubois-Crance three weeks before Bonaparte’s return to France.  Some partisans of the old Minister were endeavouring to get him recalled, and it was very important to Bonaparte’s interests that he should prevent the success of this design.  I recollect that on the second day of our arrival Bonaparte said to me, “I have learned many things; but we shall see what will happen.  Bernadotte is a singular man.  When he was War Minister Augereau, Salicetti, and some others informed him that the Constitution was in danger, and that it was necessary to get rid of Sieyes, Barras, and Fouche, who were at the head of a plot.  What did Bernadotte do?  Nothing.  He asked for proofs.  None could be produced.  He asked for powers.  Who could grant them?  Nobody.  He should have taken them; but he would not venture on that.  He wavered.  He said he could not enter into the schemes which were proposed to him.  He only promised to be silent on condition that they were renounced.  Bernadotte is not a help; he is an obstacle, I have heard from good authority that a great number of influential persons wished to invest him with extensive power for the public good; but he was obstinate, and would listen to nothing.”

After a brief interval of silence, during which Bonaparte rubbed his forehead with his right hand, he then resumed: 

“I believe I shall have Bernadotte and Moreau against me.  But I do not fear Moreau.  He is devoid of energy.  I know he would prefer military to political power.  The promise of the command of an army would gain him over.  But Bernadotte has Moorish blood in his veins.  He is bold and enterprising.  He is allied to my brothers.

—­[Joseph Bonaparte and Bernadotte had married sisters.  Mario-Julie and Eugenie Bernardine-Desiree Clary.  The feeling of Bourrienne for Bernadotte makes this passage doubtful.  It is to be noticed that in the same conversation he makes Napoleon describe Bernadotte as not venturing to act without powers and as enterprising.  The stern republican becoming Prince de Monte Carlo and King of Sweden, in a way compatible with his fidelity to the Constitution of the year iii., is good.  Lanfrey attributes Bernadotte’s refusal to join more to rivalry than to principle (Lanfrey, tome i. p. 440).  But in any case Napoleon did not dread Bernadotte, and was soon threatening to shoot him; see Lucien, tome ii. p. 107.]—­

“He does not like me, and I am almost certain that he will oppose me.  If he should become ambitious he will venture anything.  And yet, you recollect in what a lukewarm way he acted on the 18th Fructidor, when I sent him to second Augereau.  This devil of a fellow is not to be seduced.  He is disinterested and clever.  But; after all, we have but just arrived, and know not what may happen.”