reshed by the
cool air, was about to descend, when the sound of voices in
the adjoining room, in earnest conversation, caught my
attention. Applying my ear to the partition, the name of
Bonaparte, and the discovery that Josephine and Madame
Tallien were the speakers, excited a real curiosity. 'I
assure you, my dear Theresina,' said Josephine, 'that I
have done all that friendship could dictate, but in vain. No
later than this morning I made a new effort. Bonaparte would
hear of nothing. I can not comprehend what can have
prejudiced him so strongly against you. You are the only
woman whose name he has effaced from the list of my
particular friends; and from fear lest he should manifest
his displeasure directly against us have I now come hither
alone with my son. At this moment they believe me sound
asleep in my bed at the Tuilleries; but I determined on
coming to see, to warn, and to console you and, above all,
to justify myself.'

"'My dear Josephine,' Madame Tallien replied, 'I have never
doubted either the goodness of your heart or the sincerity
of your affection. Heaven is my witness that the loss of
your friendship would be to me much more painful than any
dread of Bonaparte. In these difficult times, I have
maintained a conduct that might, perhaps, render my visits
an honor, but I will never importune you to receive me
without his consent. He was not consul when Tallien followed
him into Egypt, when I received you both into my house, when
I shared with you--' Here she burst into tears, and her
voice became inaudible.

"'Calm yourself, my dear Theresina,' Josephine rejoined; 'be
calm, and let the storm pass. I am paving the way for a
reconciliation, but we must not irritate him more. You know
that he does not love Ouvrard, and it is said that he often
sees you.'

"'What, then,' Madame Tallien replied, 'because he governs
France, does he expect to tyrannize over our hearts? Must we
sacrifice to him our private friendships?'

"At that moment some one knocked at the door, and Eugene
Beauharnais entered. 'Madame,' said he to his mother, 'you
have been now more than an hour absent. The council of
ministers is perhaps over. What will the first consul say,
should he not find you on his return?' The two ladies then