ughly frightened at the thought
of losing his means of support. But though menaced with arrest, he was
sufficiently insignificant to escape for the time.

Napoleon was kept in captivity but thirteen days. Salicetti apparently
found it easier than he had supposed to exculpate himself from the
charge either of participating in Robespierre's conspiracy or of
having brought about the Corsican insurrection. More than this, he
found himself firm in the good graces of the Thermidorians, among whom
his old friends Barras and Freron were held in high esteem. It would
therefore be a simple thing to liberate General Buonaparte, if only a
proper expression of opinion could be secured from him. The clever
prisoner had it ready before it was needed. To the faithful Junot he
wrote a kindly note declining to be rescued by a body of friends
organized to storm the prison or scale its walls.[42] Such a course
would have compromised him further. But to the "representatives of the
people" he wrote in language which finally committed him for life. He
explained that in a revolutionary epoch there are but two classes of
men, patriots and suspects. It could easily be seen to which class a
man belonged who had fought both intestine and foreign foes. "I have
sacrificed residence in my department, I have abandoned all my goods,
I have lost all for the republic. Since then I have served at Toulon
with some distinction, and I have deserved a share with the Army of
Italy in the laurels it earned at the taking of Saorgio, Oneglia, and
Tanaro. On the discovery of Robespierre's conspiracy, my conduct was
that of a man accustomed to regard nothing but principle." The letter
concludes with a passionate appeal to each one of the controlling
officials separately and by name, that is, to both Salicetti and
Albitte, for justice and restoration. "An hour later, if the wicked
want my life, I will gladly give it to them, I care so little for it,
I weary so often of it! Yes; the idea that it may be still useful to
my country is all that makes me bear the burden with courage." The
word for country which he employed, _patrie_, could only be
interpreted as referring to France.

[Footnote 42: Correspondance de Napoleon, I, No. 35.]

Salicetti in person went through the form of examining the papers
offered in proof of Buonaparte's statements; found them, as a matter
of course, satisfactory; and the commissioners restored the suppliant
to partial liber