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revolution； nor does it arm itself with daggers and pistols。〃
〃I should be curious to know the name of your fourth society；〃 cried
Bonaparte； impatiently。
〃I will satisfy your curiosity； general。 This fourth secret society
bears the name 'the Bonapartists；' orallow me to approach you
closer； that the walls of the old palace may not hear the wordor
'the Imperialists。' 〃
Bonaparte shrank back； and a glow of red passed for a moment over
his cheeks。 〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃I mean by that； general； what I have already said： your brow is
made not to wear laurels alone； but a crown； and there is only one
way to destroy the other three conspiraciesthe way proposed by the
fourth secret society。 In order to make the efforts of the
republicans and royalists ineffective； and to tread them under your
feet； France needs an emperor。〃
〃And do you want to make your manikin； Louis XVII。； Emperor of
France？〃
〃No； general；〃 answered Fouche； solemnly〃no； I want to make Consul
Bonaparte Emperor of the French！〃
The consul trembled； and his eyes flashed through the apartment； the
former cabinet of Louis XVI。； as if he wanted to convince himself
that no one had heard this dangerous word of the future。 Then he
slowly bent forward without meeting Fouche's looks； which were
intently fixed upon him。
A pause ensueda long； anxious pause。 Then Bonaparte slowly raised
his eye again； and now it was filled as with sunlight。
〃Is your fourth secret society numerous？〃 he asked； with that
magical smile which won all hearts。
〃It comprises artists； poets； scholars； and above every thing else；
officers and generals；〃 replied Fouche。 〃It grows more numerous
every day； and as fortunately I have only been deposed from my place
of minister of police； but still remain a member of the senate of
the republic； it has been my effort to gain over in the senate
influential members for my secret society of imperialists。 If my
hopes are crowned with success； the secret society will soon become
an open one； and the senate will apply to you with a public request
to put an end to all these conspiracies and intrigues； to place
yourself at the head of France； and accept the imperial crown which
the senate offers you。 But〃
〃I comprehend your 'but；' Fouche；〃 interrupted Bonaparte； eagerly。
〃You want to make your conditions。 An imperial crown does not fall
direct from heaven upon the head of a man； there must be hands there
to take it； and it might happen that they would be crushed by the
falling crown。 They must be paid for their heroism； therefore。 Let
us suppose； then； that I give credence to all your stories； even
that about the empire of the futuretell me； now； what you demand。〃
〃General； if I show you and all France by facts that the country is
rent by conspiracies； that the cancer of secret societies is eating
into the very marrow of the land； and imperilling all its
institutions； will you confess to me then that I am better adapted
to be the head of the police than M。 Regnier d'Angely； who insists
and dares to say to you that there are no secret societies in
France？〃
〃Prove to me by facts the existence of your conspiracies； and I will
commission you to help me destroy this hydra's head。 Give me the
proofs； and you shall be head of police again。〃
Fouche bowed。 〃You shall have the proofs； general； to…dayat once；
provided that we thoroughly understand each other。 I am ambitious；
general； and I have no wish to be driven back for a single day into
nothingness； as I should be； if my enemies withdraw their confidence
in me。 Now I am； at least； a member of the senate； but if the senate
is dissolved； and I should subsequently be deposed again from the
head of the police； I should be nothing but FoucheFouche fallen
out of favor。 Voila tout！〃
〃No； not so；〃 said Bonaparte； with a smile。 〃You will always be
known as the murderer of the king； that is a fine title for a
republican； is it not？〃
〃Ah； general； I see that you understand me；〃 cried Fouche。 〃We are
now talking about a name； a position； a title for me。 Provided that
here in the Tuileries a throne is reestablished； we must have a
court again； men with orders； titles； and dignities。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Bonaparte； thoughtfully。 〃The world continues to
revolve in the same circles of folly and vanity； and after making an
effort to withdraw from them； it falls back again into the old ruts。
Men are nothing but actors； and every one wants to adorn himself
with glistening rags； in order to take the first part； and have his
name go upon the poster of history。 Well； how would you be called；
Fouche； if the drama of an empire should really be brought forward
upon the great stage of the world？ 〃
〃I should like the title of a prince or duke； sire。〃 Bonaparte could
scarcely suppress the smile of satisfaction that played over his
face。 It was the first time that he had ever been addressed as king
or emperor； and this 〃sire〃 which Fouche dropped into the ear of
Bonaparte like a sweet poison； flattered his senses and soothed him
like delightful music。 But the strength of his genius soon resumed
its sway； and he broke out into a loud； merry laugh。
〃Confess； Fouche；〃 he cried； 〃that it is comical to hear the consul
talking with a senator of the republic about an empire and ducal
titles。 Truly； if the strict republicans of your conspiracy number
one should hear this； they would be justified in accusing us as
traitors and conspirators。〃
〃We must get the start of themwe must accuse them。〃
〃If we possess secure means to do so。〃
〃I possess them； and I will give them to you； Consul Bonaparte； as
soon as the emperor of the future assures me of a princely title； in
addition to the chieftaincy of police。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Bonaparte； laughing； 〃the emperor of the future
promises you that as soon as he is able to bake a batch of these
delicacies； he will put his chief of police in the oven and draw him
out as a prince or a duke。 The emperor of the future gives you his
word of honor that he will do it。 Are you satisfied now； my lord
republican？〃
〃Sire； completely satisfied；〃 said Fouche； bowing low。
〃And now let us talk together seriously；〃 said Bonaparte。 〃You have
spoken of conspiracies； you assert that they exist； but do not
forget that you have promised me tangible proofsunderstand me
well； tangible proofs； that is； it is not enough for me to see the
papers and the lists of conspirators who have escaped into foreign
landsI want persons； men of flesh and bloodtraitors whom I may
hang； not in effigy； but in reality； and who may serve as a warning
example to the whole herd of conspirators； and put an end forever to
this nonsense。 I am wearied of being perpetually threatened by
traitors； poisoned daggers； air…guns； plots； and intrigues； of all
kinds。 It is time to hunt down the chief men of these bravoes who
have been sent here from England； Germany； Russia； and Italy； and I
have had enough of illustrating the old proverb； 'Hang the little
thief and let the great one run。' I mean to have the great thief and
to hang him； for that is the only way of intimidating these fellows
and inspiring them with res