The pearls being thus obtained, there was still another difficulty, which Madame Bonaparte did not at first think of.  How was she to wear a necklace purchased without her husband’s knowledge?  Indeed it was the more difficult for her to do so as the First Consul knew very well that his wife had no money, and being, if I may be allowed the expression, something of the busybody, he knew, or believed he knew, all Josephine’s jewels.  The pearls were therefore condemned to remain more than a fortnight in Madame Bonaparte’s casket without her daring to use them.  What a punishment for a woman!  At length her vanity overcame her prudence, and being unable to conceal the jewels any longer, she one day said to me, “Bourrienne, there is to be a large party here to-morrow, and I absolutely must wear my pearls.  But you know he will grumble if he notices them.  I beg, Bourrienne, that you will keep near me.  If he asks me where I got my pearls I must tell him, without hesitation, that I have had them a long time.”

Everything happened as Josephine feared and hoped.

Bonaparte, on seeing the pearls, did not fail to say to Madame, “What is it you have got there?  How fine you are to-day!  Where did you get these pearls?  I think I never saw them before.”—­“Oh! ‘mon Dieu’! you have seen them a dozen times!  It is the necklace which the Cisalpine Republic gave me, and which I now wear in my hair.”—­“But I think—­“—­“Stay:  ask Bourrienne, he will tell you.”—­“Well, Bourrienne, what do you say to it?  Do you recollect the necklace?”—­“Yes, General, I recollect very well seeing it before.”  This was not untrue, for Madame Bonaparte had previously shown me the pearls.  Besides, she had received a pearl necklace from the Cisalpine Republic, but of incomparably less value than that purchased from Fancier.  Josephine performed her part with charming dexterity, and I did not act amiss the character of accomplice assigned me in this little comedy.  Bonaparte had no suspicions.  When I saw the easy confidence with which Madame Bonaparte got through this scene, I could not help recollecting Suzanne’s reflection on the readiness with which well-bred ladies can tell falsehoods without seeming to do so.

CHAPTER XXXI.

1800.

Police on police—­False information—­Dexterity of Fouche—­Police agents deceived—­Money ill applied—­Inutility of political police—­ Bonaparte’s opinion—­General considerations—­My appointment to the Prefecture of police.

Before taking up his quarters in the Tuileries the First Consul organised his secret police, which was intended, at the same time, to be the rival or check upon Fouche’s police.  Duroc and Moncey were at first the Director of this police; afterwards Davonst and Junot.  Madame Bonaparte called this business a vile system of espionage.  My remarks on the inutility of the measure were made in vain.  Bonaparte