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still closed。 But Josephine beckoned the officer of the guard to her
carriage； and； fortunately； he knew the wife of the First Consul。
〃It is not necessary；〃 said Josephine； with a charming smile； 〃it is
not necessary that I should procure a permit from the First Consul
to allow myself and my escort to pass the gate？ You do not suppose
that I and my secretary； who sits in the next carriage； belong to
the villains who threaten the life of my husband？〃
The officer； enchanted with the grace of Josephine； bowed low； and
commanded the guard instantly to open the gate and allow the two
carriages to pass。
And so the son of the queen was saved。 For the second time he left
Paris； to go forth as an exile and an adventurer to meet his fate。
CHAPTER XXXIII。
AFTER LONG WANDERINGS。
For the city of Paris the 16th of February； 1804； was a day of
terror。 The gates remained closed the whole day； military patrols
passed through the streets； at whose corners the proclamations were
posted； by which Murat； the governor of Paris； announced to the city
that fifty assassins were within the walls； intent on taking the
life of the First Consul。
The condemned surgeon； Querolle； had； meantime； made his confession；
and named the heads of the conspiracy and their accomplices； and；
only after all the persons mentioned by him were arrested； were the
gates of the city opened。
A great trial then commenced of the men who had been sent by the
Bourbons for this nefarious purpose。 Among the accused were General
Pichegru； the abettor of Georges； and General Moreau； the most
prominent of all。
The history of this trial was enveloped in obscurity； and it was
faintly whispered that Pichegru had taken his own life in prison；
and more faintly yet was it rumored that he was secretly dispatched
in prison。 And then； on one of these days； there were to be seen
through all Paris only pale； sad faces； and a murmur of horror ran
through all the streets and all the houses。
The story was current that the Duke d'Enghien； the grandson of the
Prince de Conde； had been arrested by French soldiers at Baden；
beyond the frontier； and had been brought to Vincennes； that he was
accused there that same night of being an accomplice in a plot to
take the life of the First Consul； and to disturb the peace of the
republic； that he was quickly condemned by a court…martial； and shot
before morning within the fortress of Vincennes。
The report was only too true。 Bonaparte had kept his word； he had
sacrificed a royal victim to the threatened cause of the republic；
he would； by one deed of horror； fill the conspirators with fear；
and cause them to abandon their bloody plans。
The means employed were cruel； but the end was reached which
Bonaparte hoped to attain； and thenceforth there were no more
conspiracies against the life of the First Consul； who； on the 18th
of May； that same year； declared himself emperor。
A few days after this； the public trial of the accused began； which
Fouche attended as the reinstalled minister of police； and over
which Regnier presided in his new capacity of chief judge。
Seventeen of those indicted were condemned to death； others to years
of imprisonment； and among these was General Moreau。 But the popular
voice declared itself so loudly and energetically for the brave
general of the republic； that it was considered expedient to heed
it。 Moreau was released from prison； and went to the Spanish
frontier； whence he sailed to North America。
On the 25th of June； twelve of the conspirators； Georges at their
head； were executed； the other five； who had been condemned to
death； had their sentence commuted to banishment。
The gentle； kind…hearted Josephine viewed all these things with
sadness； for her power over the heart of her husband was waning； and
the sun of her glory had set。 Her prayers and tears had no longer a
prevailing influence over Bonaparte； and she had not been able to
avert the death of the Duke d'Enghien。
〃I have tried all means；〃 she said； with tears； to Bourrienne； the
chief secretary of the emperor； 〃I wanted at any cost to turn him
aside from his dreadful intention。 He had not apprised me of it； but
you know in what way I learned it。 At my request he confessed to me
his purpose； but he was steeled against my prayers。 I clang to him；
I fell on my knees before him。 'Do not meddle with what is none of
your business！' he cried； angrily； as he pushed me away from him。
'These are not women's affairsleave me in peace。' And so I had to
let the worst come； and could do nothing to hinder it。 But
afterward； when all was over； Bonaparte was deeply affected； and for
several days he remained sad and silent； and scolded me no more when
he found me in tears。〃 ＇Footnote： Bourrienne； 〃Memoires du Consulat
et de l'Empire。〃＇
The days passed by； the days of splendor； and then followed for
Josephine the days of misery and grief。 Repelled by Napoleon； she
mourned four years over her spurned love and her ruined fortunes；
but then； when Napoleon's star went down； when he was robbed of his
imperial crown and compelled to leave France； Josephine's heart
broke； and she hid herself in her grave； in order not to witness
Napoleon's humiliation。
And thus the empire was abolished； and the Count de Lille called
back by foreign potentates； and not by the French nation； in order；
as Louis XVIII。； to reerect the throne of the Lilies。
And where； all this time； was the son of Queen Marie Antoinette？
Where was Louis XVII。？
He had kept his word which he gave to Josephine。 He had gone to the
primeval forests and to the savages； and they had given him a crown
of feathers and made him their king。＇Footnote： 〃Memoires du Due de
Normandie；〃 pp。 89…102。＇ For years he lived among them； honored as
their king； loved as their hero。 Then a longing for his country
seized him； and going to Brazil in the service of his people； he
made use of the opportunity to enter into a contract with Don Juan；
and not return to his copper…colored tribe。 The precious treasure
which he possessed； his papers； he had been able to preserve during
all the journeys and amid all the perils of his life； and these
papers procured him a hospitable and honorable reception with Don
Juan。 From him the king without name or inheritance learned the
changes that had meanwhile taken place in France； and； at the first
opportunity which offered； he returned to Europe； arriving at Paris
in the middle of the year 1816。
The Prince de Conde； now the Duke de Bourbon； received the wanderer
with tenderness； but with deep regret； for now it was too late； and
his hope for a restoration of the returning prince could rest on no
basis。 The Count de Provence was now King Louis XVIII。； and never
would he descend from his throne to give back to the son of Marie
Antoinette that crown which he wore with so much satisfaction and
pride。
Much more simple and easy was it to treat the pretender as a lunatic
or as an adventurer； and to set his claims aside forever。 Useless
were all the letters which the Baron de Richemont； the name that
Louis still bore； addressed to his uncle the king； to his sister the
Duch