The Prince de Conde soon afterwards, he said, called me to Mulheim, and knowing the connections I had had in France, proposed that I should sound General Pichegru, whose headquarters were at Altkirch, where he then was, surrounded by four representatives of the Convention.

I immediately went to Neufchatel, taking with me four or five hundred Louis.  I cast my eyes on Fauche-Borel, the King’s printer at Neufchatel, and also yours and mine, as the instrument by which to make the first overture, and I selected as his colleague M. Courant, a native of Neufchatel.  I persuaded them to undertake the business:  I supplied them with instructions and passports.  They were foreigners:  so I furnished them with all the necessary documents to enable them to travel in France as foreign merchants and purchasers of national property.  I went to Bale to wait for news from them.

On the 13th of August Fauche and Courant set out for the headquarters at Altkirch.  They remained there eight days without finding an opportunity to speak to Pichegru, who was surrounded by representatives and generals.  Pichegru observed them, and seeing them continually wheresoever he went, he conjectured that they had something to say to him, and he called out in a loud voice, while passing them, “I am going to Huningen.”  Fauche contrived to throw himself in his way at the end of a corridor.  Pichegru observed him, and fixed his eyes upon him, and although it rained in torrents, he said aloud, “I am going to dine at the chateau of Madame Salomon.”  This chateau was three leagues from Huningen, and Madame Salomon was Pichegru’s mistress.

Fauche set off directly to the chateau, and begged to speak with General Pichegru.  He told the general that, being in the possession of some of J. J. Rousseau’s manuscripts, he wished to publish them and dedicate them to him.  “Very good,” said Pichegru; “but I should like to read them first; for Rousseau professed principles of liberty in which I do not concur, and with which I should not like to have my name connected.”—­“But,” said Fauche, “I have something else to speak to you about.”—­“What is it, and on whose behalf?”—­ “On behalf of the Prince de Conde.”—­“Be silent, then, and follow me.”

He conducted Fauche alone into a retired cabinet, and said to him, “Explain yourself; what does Monseigneur le Prince de Conde wish to communicate to me?” Fauche was embarrassed, and stammered out something unintelligible.  “Compose yourself.” said Pichegru; “my sentiments are the same, as the Prince de Conde’s.  What does he desire of me?” Fauche, encouraged by these words, replied, “The Prince wishes to join you.  He counts on you, and wishes to connect himself with you.”

“These are vague and unmeaning words,” observed Pichegru.  “All this amounts to nothing.  Go back, and ask for written instructions, and return in three days to my headquarters