The news of the death of Kleber arrived shortly after our return to Paris.  Bonaparte was anxiously expecting accounts from Egypt, none having been received for a considerable time.  The arrival of the courier who brought the fatal intelligence gave rise to a scene which I may relate here.  It was two o’clock in the morning when the courier arrived at the Tuileries.  In his hurry the First Consul could not wait to rouse any one to call me up.  I had informed him some days before that if he should want me during the night he should send for me to the corridor, as I had changed my bedchamber on account of my wife’s accouchement.  He came up himself and instead of knocking at my door knocked at that of my secretary.  The latter immediately rose, and opening the door to his surprise saw the First Consul with a candle in his hand, a Madras handkerchief on his head, and having on his gray greatcoat.  Bonaparte, not knowing of the little step down into the room, slipped and nearly fell, “Where is Bourrienne?” asked he.  The surprise of my secretary at the apparition of the First Consul can be imagined.  “What; General, is it you?”—­“Where is Bourrienne?” Then my secretary, in his shirt, showed the First Consul my door.  After having told him that he was sorry at having called him up, Napoleon came to me.  I dressed in a hurry, and we went downstairs to my usual room.  We rang several times before they opened the door for us.  The guards were not asleep, but having heard so much running to and fro feared we were thieves.  At last they opened the door, and the First Consul threw on the table the immense packet of despatches which he had just received.  They had been fumigated and steeped in vinegar.  When he read the announcement of the death of Kleber the expression of his countenance sufficiently denoted the painful feelings which arose in his mind.  I read in his face; Egypt is lost!

CHAPTER III.

Bonaparte’s wish to negotiate with England and Austria—­ An emigrant’s letter—­Domestic details—­The bell—­Conspiracy of Ceracchi, Arena, Harrel, and others—­Bonaparte’s visit to the opera —­Arrests—­Rariel appointed commandant of Vincennes—­The Duc d’Enghien’s foster-sister—­The 3d Nivoise—­First performance of Haydn’s “Creation”—­The infernal machine—­Congratulatory addresses—­ Arbitrary condemnations—­M.  Tissot erased from the list of the banished—­M.  Truguet—­Bonapartes’ hatred of the Jacobins explained—­ The real criminals discovered—­Justification of Fouche—­Execution of St. Regent and Carbon—­Caesar, Cromwell, and Bonaparte—­Conversation between Bonaparte and Fouche—­Pretended anger—­Fouche’s dissimulation—­Lucien’s resignation—­His embassy to Spain—­War between Spain and Portugal—­Dinner at Fouche’s—­Treachery of Joseph Bonaparte—­A trick upon the First Consul—­A three days’ coolness—­ Reconciliation.

The happy events of the campaign of Italy had been