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I advise you to bring me； before the sun goes down； the tidings that
this fabled King Louis is arrested； or the sun of your good fortune
is set forever！ Now away！ Go out through the little corridor； and
then through the secret gate…you know the way。 Go！〃
Fouche did not dare to contradict the imperative order； but softly
and hastily moved toward the curtain which led to the gloomy
anteroom； and thence through a door； which only those initiated knew
how to open； and which led to the little corridor。
But scarcely had Fouche entered this little dismal room； when a hand
was laid upon his arm； and a woman's voice whispered to him：
〃I must speak to youat once！ Come！ this way！〃
The hand drew him forward to the wall； a door sprang open without
sound； and the voice whispered： 〃Four stairs down。 Be careful！〃
CHAPTER XXXII。
JOSEPHINE。
Fouche did not hesitate； he followed his guide down the little
staircase； along the dark corridor； and up another short staircase。
He had recognized the voice； and knew that his leader was no other
than Josephine； the wife of the First Consul。
Through the secret door at the end of the corridor they entered a
small and gloomy antechamber； exactly like the one which adjoined
the cabinet of the consul； and from it Josephine ushered Fouche into
her cabinet。
〃You will say nothing to Bonaparte about this secret way； Fouche；〃
said Josephine； with a gentle； supplicatory tone。 〃He does not know
of it。 I have had it made without his knowledge while he was in
Boulogne last year。 Will you swear to me that you will not reveal
it？〃
〃I do swear； madame。〃
〃God knows that I have not had it made out of curiosity to overhear
Bonaparte；〃 continued Josephine。 〃But it is necessary sometimes for
me to know what is going on； and that when the general is angry I
should hasten to him to calm him and turn aside his wrath。 I have
warded off many a calamity since this private way was opened； and I
have been able to overhear Bonaparte。 But what have I been compelled
to listen to to…day！ Oh； Fouche； it was God Himself who impelled me
to listen！ I was with him when you were announced； and I suspected
that your visit purported something unusual； something dreadful。 I
have heard all； Foucheall； I tell you！ I know that his life is
threatened； that fifty daggers are directed toward him。 0 God！ this
perpetual fear and excitement will kill me！ I have no peace of mind；
no rest more！ Since the unhappy day when we left our dear little
house to live in the Tuileries； since that day there has been an end
to all joy！ Why did we do it？ why did we not remain in our little
Luxembourg？ why have we been persuaded to live in the palace of the
kings？〃
〃It is proper for the greatest man in France to live in the house
where the departed race of kings once had their home；〃 replied
Fouche。
〃Oh； yes；〃 sighed Josephine。 〃I know these tricks of speech； with
which you have turned the head of my poor Bonaparte。 Oh！ you； you；
his flatterer； you who urged him on； will bear the blame if
misfortune breaks in upon us！ You have intoxicated him with the
incense of adulation； you pour into his veins daily and hourly the
sweet poison which is to destroy our happiness and our peace！ He was
so good； so cheerful； so happy； my Bonaparte！ He was contented with
the laurels which victory laid upon his brow； but you continued to
whisper in his ear that a crown would add new grace to his laurels。
You flattered his ambition； and what was quietly sleeping at the
bottom of his heart； and what I hushed with my kisses and with my
hand； that you took all efforts to bring out into the light： his
vanityhis love of power！ Oh； Fouche！ you are wicked； cruel； and
pitiless！ I hate； I abhor you all； for you are the murderers of my
Bonaparte！〃
She spoke all this softly； with quick breath； while the tears were
streaming over her beautiful face； and her whole frame trembled with
emotion。 She then sank； wholly overcome； upon a lounge； and pressed
her small hands； sparkling with jewels； over her eyes。
〃Madame； you are unjust；〃 replied Fouche； softly。 〃If you have
overheard my conversation with the First Consul； you are aware that
the direct object of my coming was to save him from murderers； and
to insure his precious life。〃
〃And； moreover； to pour into his ear the poison of a future imperial
crown！〃 said Josephine； indignantly。 〃Oh； I know it！ With talk of
conspiracies and of daggers you urged him on。 You want him to be an
emperor； that you may be a prince or duke！ I see it all； and I
cannot prevent it； for he no longer listens to me； he no longer
heeds the voice of his Josephine； only that of his ambitious
flatterers； and he will put on the imperial crown and complete our
misfortune！ Oh！ I knew it！ This imperial crown will ruin us。 It was
prophesied to me in my youth that I should be an empress； but it was
added that it would be for no long time。 And yet I should like to
live； and I should like to be happy still！〃
〃You will be so； madame；〃 said Fouche； with a smile。 〃It is always
good fortune to wear an imperial crown； and your beautiful head is
worthy to bear one。〃
〃No； no；〃 she cried； angrily。 〃Do not try me with your flatteries！ I
am contented with being a beloved and happy wife； I desire no crown。
The crowned heads that have dwelt in the Tuileries have become the
prey of destruction； and the pearls of their diadems have been
changed to tears！ But what advantage is it that I should say all
this to you？ It is all in vain； in vain！ I did not bring you to talk
of this。 It was something entirely different。 Listen； Fouche； I
cannot prevent Bonaparte's becoming an emperor； but you shall not
make him a regicide！ I will not suffer it！ By Heaven； and all the
holy angels； I will not suffer it！〃
〃I do not understand you； madame。 I do not know what you mean。〃
〃Oh； you understand me very well； Fouche。 You know that I am
speaking of King Louis XVII。〃
〃Ah； madame； you are speaking of the impostor； who gives himself out
to be the 'orphan of the Temple。' 〃
〃He is it； Fouche。 I know it； I am acquainted with the history of
his flight。 I was a prisoner in the Conciergerie at the same time
with Toulan； the queen's loyal servant。 He knew my devotion to the
unhappy Marie Antoinette； he intrusted to me his secret of the
dauphin's escape。 Later； when I was released； Tallien and Barras
confirmed the story of his flight； and informed me that he was
secreted by the Prince de Conde。 I have known it all； and I tell you
I knew who Kleber's adjutant was； I inquired for him after he
disappeared at the battle of Marengo； and when my agents told me
that the young king died there； I wore mourning and prayed for him。
And； now that I learn that the son of my beautiful queen is still
alive； shall I suffer him to die like a traitor？ No； never！ Fouche；
I tell you I will never suffer it； I will not have this unfortunate
young man sacrificed！ You must save himI will have it so！〃
〃I！〃 cried Fouche； in amazement。 〃But you know that it is
impossible； for you have heard my conversation with the consul。 He
himself said； 'The republic demands a royal victim。 If it is not
this so…