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among the posthumous papers of Kleber there was a letter directed to
Bonaparte； stating that he； Kleber； knew very well that the little
Capet was still living； and imploring Bonaparte to restore the
orphan to the throne of the Lilies。 The consul had； therefore；
quietly； made investigations； and learned that Louis had taken part
as the adjutant of General Desaix in the battle of Marengo； that he
had been wounded there； and remained in the hospital of Alessandria
till his recovery。 Since then all trace of the young man had been
lost； and he had commissioned Fouche to discover the adjutant of
Kleber and Desaix and bring him to him。
〃You will not do that？〃 cried Louis； eagerly； 〃you will not disclose
me？〃
〃Are you afraid of him？〃 asked Fouche； with a suspicious smile。
The young man blushed； and a cloud passed over his clear forehead。
〃Fear！〃 he replied with a shrug。 〃The sons of my ancestors have no
fear； and I have shown on the battle…fields of Aboukir and Marongo；
and in the pest…houses of Jaffa； that I know not the word。 But when
one meets a blood…thirsty lion in his path he turns out of the way；
and when a tiger extends its talons at one he flies； that is the
duty of self…preservation； and not the flight of a coward。〃
〃Do you believe； then； that this lion thirsts for royal blood？〃
〃I believe that he thirsts for royal rank； and that he will neglect
no means to vanquish all hinderances that might intervene between
himself and the throne。 Do you believe； sir； that the man who； after
the battle of Aboukir； sentenced five thousand prisoners to death；
would hesitate a moment to take the life of a poor； defenceless
young man such as I am？ He would beat me into the dust as the lion
does the flea which dares to play with his mane。〃
〃It appears you know this aon very well；〃 said Fouche with a smile；
〃and I really believe you judge him rightly。 But be without concern。
He shall not know from me that I am aware of you and your abiding…
place。 In order that Bonaparte shall not take me to be a bad
detective； I shall show him in all other things that I am on the
alert。 In case of necessity； it may be that I shall have to resort
to deception； and； in order to save your life； inform the consul
that you are dead。 There were a great many young officers who fell
at Marengo； or afterward died as the result of their wounds。 Why
should not the adjutant of General Desaix have met this fate？ Yes； I
believe this will be the best。 I will give you out as dead； in order
to save your life。 I will cause a paper to be prepared which shall
testify that the adjutant of General Desaix； who lay there in the
hospital； died there of his wounds and was buried。〃
〃And so I shall disappear from life a second time？〃 asked Louis；
sadly。
〃Yes； sire； in order to enter anew upon it with greater splendor；〃
replied Fouche； eagerly。
〃Who knows whether this shall ever be？〃 sighed Louis。 〃How shall I
be able to establish my identity if I die and am buried twice？ Who
will be my pledge that I shall be able to convince men that I am not
a deceiver； and that my whole existence is not an idle tale？ There
are only a few who know and believe that little Capet escaped from
the Temple； and went to Egypt as Kleber's adjutant。 If； now； these
few learn that the adjutant fell in battle； if the paper that
testifies to his death is laid before them； how shall I subsequently
be believed if I announce that I am alive； and that I am the one for
whom I give myself out？ The seal of royalty is impressed on no man's
brow； and we know from history that there have been false
pretenders。〃
〃You shall show with your papers that you are none such；〃 said
Fouche； eagerly； 〃and God will grant that I； too； shall be living
when the time shall be in which you may come forward with raised
voice and demand your inheritance and your throne。 Hope for that
time； and meanwhile preserve your papers well。 Carry them always
with you； part with them neither day nor night； for in these papers
rest your future and your c rown。 No other man besides yourself can
take care of them These papers are worth more to you than a million
of fras； although oven that should not be scorned。 Here are the
documents that give you possession of your wealth。 I have deposited
your funds in the Bank of France； and you can draw out money at any
time by presenting these checks that I give you； simply writing your
name upon them。〃
〃By simply writing my name upon them！〃 cried Louis； bitterly。 〃But；
sir； what is my name？ How shall I be called？ I was formerly
designated as the nephew of Kleber； Colonel Louis； the adjutant of
Desaix。 But Colonel Louis can no longer acknowledge that he is
alive； and you propose to convince the First Consul that the nephew
of Kleber is dead。 Who； then； am I？ What name shall I subscribe to
those papers？ By what name shall the nameless； the dead and buried；
the resurrected； the again dead and buried oneby what name shall
he draw money from the bank？〃
〃Very true；〃 said Fouche。 〃A name； or rather the mask of a citizen's
or nobleman's name； must be your disguise； and it is imperatively
necessary that we give you such； and provide you with papers that
cannot be forged； which shall prove your existence； and secure you
against every assault。〃
〃Very good； then tell me how I shall be called；〃 said Louis； sadly。
〃Be the godfather of the solitary and nameless。〃
〃Well； I will；〃 cried Fouche。 〃In the glamour of political passions
I have raised my voice against the life of your father； full of
regret I will raise my voice for the life of the son； and assist him
to enter afresh upon life and into the society of men。 Young man； I
will give you a name and rank； till the French nation restore to you
your true name and rank。 You shall henceforth be called the Baron de
Richemont。 Will you accept it？〃
〃Yes； I will accept it；〃 said Louis； gently。 〃To be the Baron de
Richemont is better than to be a dead and buried person without any
name。〃
〃Very good； my lord baron；〃 cried Fouche； 〃I will have the necessary
certificates and papers made out； and enter your property in the
Bank of France under the name of the Baron de Richemont。 If you
please； come to…morrow to me； and I will deliver to you the papers
of Monsieur de Richemont。〃
〃I shall come； be sure of that；〃 said Louis； giving him his hand；
〃it seems to me my fate to go incognito through life； and God alone
knows whether I shall ever abandon this incognito。〃
He saluted Fouche with a sad smile； and went out。 The minister
listened to the resounding footstep； and then broke out into loud；
mocking laughter。
〃Foolish boy！〃 he said； raising his hand threateningly； 〃foolish
boy！ You suppose that only God knows whether you will ever come out
of your incognito。 You mistakebesides God； Fouche knows it。 Yes；
Fouche knows that this incognito extends over you like a net； from
which you never will escape。 No； the Baron de Richemont shall never
be transformed into King Louis XVII。 But he shall be an instrument
with which I will hold in check this ambitious Consul Bonaparte； who
is striving； for the throne； and this grasping Count de Lille； who
in his exile c