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every morning and every evening。 But his lips never uttered them； he
never gave the slightest indication that he was any thing else than
the nephew of General Kleber。 The French garrison of Mayence
considered him to be so and no one thought of asking whether he bore
any other name。 It sufficed that he was the nephew of the noble；
valiant； and heroic General Kleber。 That was the name and rank of
the little prince。
CHAPTER XXX。
THE BARON DE EICHEMONT。
Thus passed weeks； months； and even years； and on the gloomy horizon
of France arose a new constellation； and from the blood…spotted；
corpse…strewn soil of the French republic sprang an armed warriora
solitary one！but one to whom millions were soon to bow； and who；
like the divinity of battles； was to control the destinies of
nations and of princes。 This one solitary man was General Bonaparte；
the same young man who in the first bloody days of the French
Revolution beheld the storm at the Tuileries； and expressed his
regret to his companionthe actor Talmathat the king did not
command his soldiers to mow down the canaille with grape…shot。 The
young lieutenant of that day； who had been the friend of the actor；
dividing his loaf and his dinner with him； had now become General
Bonaparte。 And this general was serving the same people which as a
lieutenant he had wanted to mow down with grape…shot。 At the siege
of Toulon； in the close contests with the allies against the
republic and in the Italian campaign of 1794； Bonaparte has so
distinguished himself that the eyes of the French government were
already directed to him； and no one could be surprised at the action
of General Beauharnais' widow； the fair Josephine； in giving her
hand to the young and extraordinary man。 This marriage had not only
brought happiness to Bonaparte； but it satisfied his ambition。
Josephine was the friend of Barras and Tallien； the chief
magistrates of the republic at that time； and through her influence
the young Bonaparte was sent to Italy to assume the chief command of
the French army there。 A general of twenty…six years to have the
direction of an army； whose four corps were commanded by Generals
Massena； Augereau； Serrurier； and La Harpe！ The father of Junot； the
late Duke de Abrantes； wrote at that time to his son； who was with
the French army in Italy： 〃Who is this General Bonaparte？ Where has
he served？ Does anybody know any thing about him？〃 And Junot； who
was then the faithful friend and the admirer of Bonaparte； replied
to his father： 〃You ask me who General Bonaparte is。 I might answer；
in order to know who he is； you must be he。 I can only say to you
that； so far as I am able to judge him； he is one of those men with
whom Nature groans； and only brings forth in a century。〃
Had Junot not replied to his father； the deeds of the young general
would soon have done so。 Presently； in all France； in all Italy；
yes； in all Europe； there was not a man who could ask； 〃Who is
General Bonaparte？〃 His name was in every mouth； and the soldiers
adored the man who had stood victoriously at their head at Lodi and
Milan； and borne the banner forward amid the murderous shower of
balls at the bridge of Arcoli。 Diplomatists and statesmen wondered
at him who had taken Venice； and compelled proud and hated Austria
to make peace with the French republic； which had brought Marie
Antoinette to the scaffold。 The republicans and the Directory of the
republic feared Bonaparte； because they recognized an enemy of the
republic in him； and dreaded his growing power and increasing
renown。
On this account General Bonaparte was recalled from the Italian army
after peace had been made with Austria； and he returned to Paris。
Still he was so feared that the Directory of the republic； in order
to remove him； and at the same time to give occupation to his active
spirit and his splendid abilities； proposed to Bonaparte to go with
an army to Egypt； and extend the glory of France to the distant
East。
Bonaparte entered with all his fiery nature into this idea which
Barras and Talleyrand had sought to inveigle him into； and all his
time； his thoughts； and his energies were directed to the one
purpose； to fit himself out with every thing that should be needful
to bring to a victorious end a long and stubborn war in a foreign
land。 A strong fleet was collected； and Bonaparte； as the commander
of the many thousands who were to go to Egypt under him； called to
his aid the most skilful； valiant； and renowned generals of the
French army。
It could not fail that one of the first and most eminent of these
was General Kleber； and； of course； his young adjutant and nephew
Louis accompanied him。
On the 19th of April； 1798； the French fleet left the harbor of
Toulon； and sailed toward the East； for； as Bonaparte said； 〃Only in
the Orient are great realms and great deedsin the Orient； where
six hundred millions of men live。〃
But these six hundred millions have no army such as the French is；
no commander like Bonaparte； no generals like Murat； Junot； Desaix；
and； above all； Kleber。
Kleber was the second in command。 He shared his perils； he shared
his victories； and with him was united his nephew Louis； a youth of
fourteen years； who； from his tall； slim figure； his gravity； and
his ready understanding； would have passed at least for a youth of
eighteen； and who； trained in the school of misfortune； belonged to
those early…matured natures which destiny has steeled； that they may
courageously contend with and gain the victory over destruction。
It was on the morning of the 3d of July。 The French army had
disembarked； and stood not far from Alexandria； on the ancient
sacred soil of Egypt。 Whatever was done must be done quickly； for
Nelson was approaching with a fleet； prepared to contend with the
French for the possession of Alexandria。 Should the city not be
taken before the arrival of the English fleet； the victory would be
doubtful。 Bonaparte knew this well。 〃Fortune gives us three days'
time at the most；〃 cried he； 〃and if we do not use them we are
lost！〃
But he did use them！ With fearful rapidity the disembarkation of the
troops was effected； with fearful rapidity the French army arranged
itself on Egyptian soil in three divisions； under Morand； Bon； and
Kleber。 Above them all was he whose head had conceived the gigantic
undertaking； he whose heroic spirit comprehended the whole。 This was
Bonaparte。
After inspecting all the army and issuing his orders； he rode up the
hill in company with his staff to the pillar of Pompey； in order to
observe from that point the course of events。 The army was advancing
impetuously； and soon the city built by Alexander the Great must
open its gates to his successor； Bonaparte the Great。
After a short respite； the army advanced farther into the land of
the pyramids。 〃Remember；〃 cried Bonaparte to his soldiers； pointing
to those monuments〃remember that forty centuries look down upon
you。〃
And the pyramids of the great plain of Cairo beheld the glorious
deeds and victories of the French army； beheld the overthrow of the
Egyptian host。 The Nile murmured with its blood…red waves the