ut again the young girl dwelt upon the feebleness of her health. The
sweetest and most reviving months in the year were just opening, and she
begged to be allowed to spend then in the country, for they were sure,
she said, to do her good.

Madame de Montrevel, always unable to deny Amelie anything, above all
where it concerned her health, granted her request.

On her return to Paris, Madame de Montrevel travelled as before, with
Sir John. Much to her surprise, during the two days' journey he did not
say anything to her about his marriage to Amelie. But Madame Bonaparte,
as soon as she saw her friend, asked the usual question: "Well, when
shall we marry Amelie and Sir John? You know how much the First Consul
desires it."

To which Madame de Montrevel replied: "It all depends on Sir John."

This response furnished Madame Bonaparte with much food for reflection.
Why should a man who had been so eager suddenly grow cold? Time alone
could explain the mystery.

Time went by, and the trial of the prisoners began. They were confronted
with all the travellers who had signed the various depositions, which,
as we have seen, were in the possession of the minister of police. No
one had recognized them, for no one had seen their faces uncovered.
Moreover, the travellers asserted that none of their property, either
money or jewels, had been taken. Jean Picot testified that the two
hundred louis which had been taken from him by accident had been
returned.

These preliminary inquiries lasted over two months. At the end of that
time the accused, against whom there was no evidence connecting them
with the pillage of the coaches, were under no accusation but that
of their own admissions; that is to say, of being affiliated with the
Breton and Vendean insurrection. They were simply one of the armed bands
roaming the Jura under the orders of M. de Teyssonnet.

The judges delayed the final trial as long as possible, hoping that some
more direct testimony might be discovered. This hope was balked. No one
had really suffered from the deeds imputed to these young men, except
the Treasury, whose misfortunes concerned no one. The trial could not be
delayed any longer.

The prisoners, on their side, had made the best of their time. By means,
as we have seen, of an exchange of passports, Morgan had travelled
sometimes as Ribier, and Ribier as Sainte-Hermine, and so with the
others. The result was a confusion in the testimony of the innkeepe