I would not be flattered by obtaining a place in the Legislative Body or in the Tribunate?  I answered as I thought, that were I fit for a public life nothing could be more agreeable or suit me better; but, having hitherto declined all employments that might restrain that independence to which I had accustomed myself from my youth, I was now too old to enter upon a new career.  I added that, though the Revolution had reduced my circumstances, it had not entirely ruined me.  I was still independent, because my means were the boundaries of my wants.

A week after this conversation General Murat, the governor of this capital, and Bonaparte’s favourite-brother-in-law, invited me to a conversation in a note delivered to me by an aide-de-camp, who told me that he was ordered to wait for my company, or, which was the same, he had orders not to lose sight of me, as I was his prisoner.  Having nothing with which to reproach myself, and all my written remarks being deposited with a friend, whom none of the Imperial functionaries could suspect, I entered a hackney coach without any fear or apprehension; and we drove to the governor’s hotel.

From the manner in which Murat addressed me, I was soon convinced that if I had been accused of any error or indiscretion, the accusation could not be very grave in his eyes.  He entered with me into his closet and inquired whether I had any enemies at the police office.  I told him not to my knowledge.

“Is the Police Minister and Senator, Fouche, your friend?” continued he.

“Fouche,” said I, “has bought an estate that formerly belonged to me; may he enjoy it with the same peace of mind as I have lost it.  I have never spoken to him in my life.”

“Have you not complained at Madame de la Force’s of the execution of the ci-devant Duc d’Enghien, and agreed with the other members of her coterie to put on mourning for him?”

“I have never been at the house of that lady since the death of the Prince, nor more than once in my life.”

“Where did you pass the evening last Saturday?”—­“At the hotel, and in the assembly of Princesse Louis Bonaparte.”

“Did she see you?”

“I believe that she did, because she returned my salute.”

“You have known Her Imperial Highness a long time?”

“From her infancy.”

“Well, I congratulate you.  You have in her a generous protectress.  But for her you would now have been on the way to Cayenne.  Here you see the list of persons condemned yesterday, upon the report of Fouche, to transportation.  Your name is at the head of them.  You were not only accused of being an agent of the Bourbons, but of having intrigued to become a member of the Legislature, or the Tribunate, that you might have so much the better opportunity to serve them.  Fortunately for you, the Emperor remembered that the Princesse Louis had demanded such a favour for you, and he informed her