im. It must then be her task to obtain the most
complete influence over Moreau. She must affect the deepest interest
in the Royalist cause--I'll furnish her with all the watchwords of the
party--and Moreau, who never trusts a man, will open all his confidence
to a woman.'

'Very good; go on!' cried Fouche, gathering fresh interest as the plot
began to reveal itself before him.

He hates writing; she will be his secretary, embodying all his thoughts
and suggestions, and, now and then, for her own guidance, obtaining
little scraps in his hand. If he be too cautious here, I will advise her
to remove to Geneva for change of air; he likes Switzerland, and will
follow her immediately.

'This will do; at least it looks practicable,' said Fouche thoughtfully.
'Is she equal to the part you would assign her?'

'Ay, sir, and to a higher one, too! She has considerable ability, and
great ambition. Her present narrow fortune has irritated and disgusted
her; the moment is most favourable for us.'

'If she should play us false,' said Fouche, half aloud.

'From all I can learn, there is no risk of this; there is a headlong
determination in her, when once she has conceived a plan, from which
nothing turns her; overlooking all but her object, she will brave
anything, do anything, to attain it.'

'Bonaparte was right in what he said of Necker's daughter,' said Fouche
musingly, 'and there is no doubt it adds wonderfully to a woman's head
that she has no heart. And now, the price, Monsieur Lajolais? Remember
that our treasury received some deadly wounds lately--what is to be the
price?'

'It may be a smart one; she is not likely to be a cheap purchase.'

'In the event of success--I mean of such proof as may enable us to
arrest Moreau, and commit him to prison----'

He stopped as he got thus far, and paused for some seconds--' Bethink
you, then, Lajolais,' said he, 'what a grand step this would be, and how
terrible the consequences if undertaken on rash or insufficient grounds.
Moreau's popularity with the army is only second to one man's! His
unambitious character has made him many friends; he has few, very few,
enemies.'

'But you need not push matters to the last--an implied, but not a proven
guilt, would be enough; and you can pardon him!'

'Ay, Lajolais, but who would pardon us?' cried Fouche, carried beyond
all the bounds of his prudence by the thought of a danger so imminent.
'Well, well, let us come back; the price--wil