his wife to breakfast on the 17th Brumaire. Gohier wonders why
they should be asked so early as six in the morning. He thinks he
smells a rat, excuses himself, but sends his wife, who is ushered into
the presence of a houseful of officers of the National Guard, and the
hostess does not lose time in conveying to Gohier's former cook the
meaning of their being there. Bonaparte, be it known, is determined to
form a Government, and it grieves her that so good a friend as the
President of Directors should have been so thoughtless of his own
interests as not to accompany his wife on such an auspicious occasion.

"The inevitable is at hand, Madame Gohier," says Josephine in effect,
"and at this very moment Barras is being pressed to resign, and if he
disobeys his fate is sealed." Madame Gohier is aghast, stiffens her
back, and with as much dignity as her nature will allow, she bows,
withdraws, and hastens to the side of her husband, to convey all she
has seen and heard.

Meanwhile, events travel swiftly under the direction of the intrepid
General. He walks into the Council of Ancients and jerks out with
vivid flashes of oratory the object of his visit. The members see at a
glance its meaning. They become inarticulate with rage begotten of
fear. He thunders out, "I am here to demand a Republic founded on
true liberty," and swears that he will have it. In the Hall of the
Five Hundred he is met with cries of "Down with the Cromwell!" "No
Dictator!" "Outlaw him!" and so forth.

But these are mere futile belchings of exasperated gasbags, on whom he
darts a look of withering scorn, which they discern means trouble if
they do not conduct themselves with decorum. His guards are close at
hand, and he is daring enough to make use of them if there is any
resistance to that which he has undertaken. To the Directory, through
their envoy Dottot, he says in substance, and not without vigour, "Do
not sicken me with your imbecile arguments and lame, impotent
conclusions. What I want to know is: What have you done with this
France which I left you so glorious? I left you peace; I return and
find war! I left you victories; I find reverses! I left you the
millions of Italy; I find despoiling laws and misery throughout!" But
ere this terrific indictment had been thrust at them, they had become
conscious that their dissolute and chaotic regime was at an end, and
that Napoleon had become the ruler of the France he had left
prosperous and found to