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that is something。 My next business will be to assure you your
fortune against all the uncertainties of the future； which are the
more to be guarded against； as we are soon to advance into Italy
again for the next campaign。 I can； therefore； not put your property
and your papers into your hands； for they constitute your future；
and we must deposit them with some one with whom they shall be safe；
and that must be with a man of peace。 Do you know who this man is？〃
〃I know no one； general； excepting yourself；〃 replied Louis； with a
shrug； 〃whom I should dare to trust。〃
〃But； fortunately； I know an entirely reliable man； shall I tell you
who he is？〃
〃Do so； I beg you； general。〃
〃His name is Fouche。〃
Louis started； and a deathly paleness covered his cheeks。
〃Fouche； the chief of police！ Fouche； the traitor； who gave his
voice in the Convention for the death of King Louisto him； the red
republican； a man of blood and treachery； do you want to convey my
papers and my property？〃
〃Yes； Louis； for with him alone are they secure。 Fouche will protect
you； and will stand by you with just as much zeal as he once
displayed in the persecution of the royal family。 I know him well；
and I vouch for him。 Men must not always be judged by their external
appearance。 He who shows himself our enemy to…day； lends us to…
morrow； it may be； a helpful arm； and becomes our friend； sometimes
because his heart has been changed； and sometimes because his
character is feeble。 I cannot with certainty say which of these
reasons has determined Fouche； but I am firmly convinced that he
will be a protector and a friend to you； and that in no hands will
your property and your papers be safer than in his。〃 ＇Footnote：
Desaix's own wordsSee 〃Memoires du Due de Nonuandie；〃 p。 61。＇
Louis made no reply； he dropped his head with a sigh； and submitted。
On； in the new century； rolled the victorious car of Bonaparte； down
the Alps； into the fertile plains of Italy。 The conqueror of Lodi
and Arcole meant to take revenge on the enemies who had snatched
back the bootyrevenge on Austria； who had broken the peace of
Campo Formio。 And he did take this revenge at Marengo； where； on the
14th of June； he gained a brilliant victory over Austria； and won
all Italy as the prize of the battle。
But the day was purchased at a sacrifice。 General Desaix paid with
his death for his impetuous onset。 In the very thick of the fight；
mortally wounded by a ball； he fell into the arms of his adjutant
Louis； and only with extreme peril could the latter； himself
wounded； bear the general away from the melee； and not。 be trampled
to death by the horses of his own soldiers。
Poor Louis Charles！ He now stood entirely alonethe last friend had
left him。 Death had taken away every thing； parents； crown； home；
name； friends。 He was alone； all alone in the worldno man to take
any interest in him； no one to know who he was。
Sunk in sadness； he remained in Alessandria after the battle of
Marengo； and allowed his external wound to heal； while the internal
one continued to bleed。 He cursed death； because it had not taken
him； while removing his last friend。
And when the wound was healed； what should he do？under what name
and title should he be enrolled in the army？ His only protector was
dead； and the adjutant was reported to have died with him。 He put
off the uniform which he had worn as the soldier of the republic
which had destroyed his throne and his inheritance； and； in simple；
unpretending garments； he returned to Paris； an unknown young man。
Desaix was right； it was； indeed； something to possess a million of
francs。 Poor as he was in love and happiness； this million of francs
made him at least a free and independent man； and therefore he would
demand his inheritance of him whom he formerly shunned because he
was one of the murderers of his father。
Fouche received the young man exactly as Desaix had expected。 He
showed himself in the light of a sympathizing protector； he was
touched with the view of this youth； whose countenance was the
evidence of his lineage； the living picture of the unfortunate Louis
XVI。； whom Fouche had brought to the scaffold。 Perhaps this man of
blood and the guillotine had compunctions of conscience； perhaps he
wanted to atone to the son for his injuries to the parents； perhaps
he was planning to make of the son of the Bourbons a check to the
ambitious consul of the republic； perhaps to humiliate the grasping
Count de Lille； who was intriguing at all the European courts for
the purpose of raising armies against the French republic。 The son
of Louis XVI。 could be employed as a useful foil to all these
political manoeuvres； and subsequently he could either be publicly
acknowledged； or denounced as an impostor； as circumstances might
determine。
At present it suited the plans of the crafty Fouche to acknowledge
him； and to assume the attitude of a protector。 He put on a very
respectful and sympathetic air to the poor solitary youth； with
gentle； tremulous voice he called him your Majesty； he begged his
pardon for the past； he spoke with such deep emotion and so solemn a
tone of the good； great； and gentle Louis XVI。； that the heart of
the son was powerfully touched。 And when Fouche； with flaming words
of enthusiasm； began to speak of the noble； unhappy Queen Marie
Antoinette； when with glowing eloquence he celebrated her beauty and
her gentleness in time of good…fortune； her greatness and
steadfastness in ill…fortune； all the anger of the young man melted
in the tears of love which he poured out as he remembered his
mother。
〃I forgive you； Fouche； yes； I forgive you；〃 he cried； extending
both his hands。 〃I see plainly the power of political faction
hurried you away； but your heart cannot be bad； for you love my
noble mother。 I forgive you； and I trust you。〃
Fouche； deeply moved； sank upon his knee before the dauphin； and
called himself one of his loyal subjects； and promised to take all
means to restore the young king to the throne of his fathers。 He
conjured Louis to trust him； and to enter upon no plan without
asking his counsel。
Louis promised this。 He told Fouche that he was the only man who had
talked with him about the past without using ambiguous language；
that he was surprised at this； and compelled to recognize as true
what formerly had been fettered on his tongue。 He told him that he
had promised his rescuer； with a solemn oath； never to acknowledge
himself as the son of Louis XVI。； and King of France； till this
rescuer and benefactor empowered him to do so； and released him from
his vow of silence。 He made it； therefore； the first condition of
his confidence that Fouche should disclose his secret to no one； but
carry it faithfully in his own breast。
Fouche promised all； and took a sacred oath that he would never
reveal the secret confided to him by the King of France。 But he
confessed at the same time that the First Consul knew very well that
the son of the king had been released from the Temple； and that
among the posthumous papers of Kleber there was a letter directed to
Bonaparte； stating that he； Kleber； knew very well that