"The day we talked of marriage."

"Ah, yes! My sister's marriage. That has probably taken place by this
time, general."

"I don't mean your sister's marriage; I mean yours."

"Good!" said Roland, with a bitter smile. "I thought that had been
disposed of, general." And he made a motion as if to rise. Bonaparte
caught him by the arm.

"Do you know whom I meant you to marry at that time, Roland?" he said,
with a gravity that showed he was determined to be heard.

"No, general."

"Well, my sister Caroline."

"Your sister?"

"Yes. Does that astonish you?"

"I had no idea you had ever thought of doing me that honor."

"Either you are ungrateful, Roland, or you are saying what you do not
mean. You know that I love you."

"Oh! my general!"

He took the First Consul's two hands and pressed them with the deepest
gratitude.

"Yes, I should have liked you for my brother-in-law."

"Your sister and Murat love each other, general," said Roland. "It is
much better that the plan should have gone no further. Besides," he
added, in muffled tones, "I thought I told you that I did not care to
marry."

Bonaparte smiled. "Why don't you say offhand that you intend becoming a
Trappist father?"

"Faith, general, re-establish the cloisters and remove these
opportunities for me to try to get myself killed, which, thank God! are
not lacking, and you have guessed what my end will be."

"Are you in love? Is this the result of some woman's faithlessness?"

"Good!" said Roland, "so you think I am in love! That is the last
straw!"

"Do you complain of my affection when I wished to marry you to my
sister?"

"But the thing is impossible now! Your three sisters are all
married--one to General Leduc, one to Prince Bacciocchi, and the third
to Murat."

"In short," said Bonaparte, laughing, "you feel easy and settled in your
mind. You think yourself rid of my alliance."

"Oh, general!" exclaimed Roland.

"You are not ambitious, it seems?"

"General, let me love you for all the good you have done to me, and not
for what you seek to do."

"But suppose it is for my own interests that I seek to bind you to me,
not by the ties of friendship alone, but also by those of matrimony.
Suppose I say to you: In my plans for the future I cannot rely upon my
two brothers, whereas I could never for one instant doubt you?"

"In heart, yes, you are right."

"In all respects! What can I do with Leclerc--a commonplace man;
with Bacciocc