ty and animated gestures. These men were the First Consul, Bonaparte,
and Cadoudal.

Cadoudal, impelled by the misery that might be entailed by a prolonged
struggle in Brittany, had just signed a peace with Brune. It was after
this signing of the peace that he had released the Companions of Jehu
from their obligations. Unhappily, this release had reached them, as we
have seen, twenty-four hours too late.

When treating with Brune, Cadoudal had asked nothing for himself
save the liberty to go immediately to England. But Brune had been so
insistent, that he had consented to an interview with the First Consul.
He had, in consequence, come to Paris. The very morning of his arrival
he went to the Tuileries, sent in his name, and had been received. It
was Rapp who, in Roland's absence, introduced him. As the aide-de-camp
withdrew, he left both doors open, so as to see everything from
Bourrienne's room, and to be able to go to the assistance of the First
Consul if necessary.

But Bonaparte, who perfectly understood Rapp's motive, closed the door.
Then, returning hastily to Cadoudal's side, he said: "Ah! so it is you
at last! One of your enemies, my aide-de-camp, Roland de Montrevel, has
told me fine things of you."

"That does not surprise me," replied Cadoudal. "During the short time I
saw M. de Montrevel, I recognized in him a most chivalrous nature."

"Yes; and that touched you?" asked the First Consul, fixing his falcon
eye on the royalist chief. "Listen, Georges. I need energetic men like
you to accomplish the work I have undertaken. Will you be one of them?
I have already offered you the rank of colonel, but you are worth more
than that. I now offer you the rank of general of division."

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart, citizen First Consul," replied
Cadoudal; "but you would despise me if I accepted."

"Why so?" queried Bonaparte, hastily.

"Because I have pledged myself to the House of Bourbon; and I shall
remain faithful to it under all circumstances."

"Let us discuss the matter," resumed the First Consul. "Is there no way
to bind you?"

"General," replied the royalist leader, "may I be permitted to repeat to
you what has been said to me?"

"Why not?"

"Because it touches upon the deepest political interests."

"Pooh! some nonsense," said the First Consul, smiling uneasily.

Cadoudal stopped short and looked fixedly at his companion.

"It is said that an agreement was made between you and Co