tantiate it, the
hard-headed officials of the war department evidently did not believe
a syllable of his representations,--which, in fact, were
untruthful,--and, the central committee having again lost a third of
its members by rotation, among them Doulcet, there was no one now in
it to plead Buonaparte's cause. Accordingly there was no little talk
about the matter in very influential circles, and almost
simultaneously was issued the report concerning his formal request
for restoration, which had been delayed by the routine prescribed in
such cases, and was only now completed. It was not only adverse in
itself, but contained a confidential inclosure animadverting severely
on the irregularities of the petitioner's conduct, and in particular
on his stubborn refusal to obey orders and join the Army of the West.
Thus it happened that on September fifteenth the name of Buonaparte
was officially struck from the list of general officers on duty, "in
view of his refusal to proceed to the post assigned him." It really
appeared as if the name of Napoleon might almost have been substituted
for that of Tantalus in the fable. But it was the irony of fate that
on this very day the subcommittee on foreign affairs submitted to the
full meeting a proposition to send the man who was now a disgraced
culprit in great state and with a full suite to take service at
Constantinople in the army of the Grand Turk!

No one had ever understood better than Buonaparte the possibilities of
political influence in a military career. Not only could he bend the
bow of Achilles, but he always had ready an extra string. Thus far in
his ten years of service he had been promoted only once according to
routine; the other steps of the height which he had reached had been
secured either by some startling exhibition of ability or by influence
or chicane. He had been first Corsican and then French, first a
politician and then a soldier. Such a veteran was not to be dismayed
even by the most stunning blow; had he not even now three powerful
protectors--Barras, Tallien, and Freron? He turned his back,
therefore, with ready adaptability on the unsympathetic officials of
the army, the mere soldiers with cool heads and merciless judgment.
The evident short cut to restoration was to carry through the project
of employment at Constantinople; it had been formally recommended,
and to secure its adoption he renewed his importunate solicitations.
His rank he still held; he