necessary to obtain the promised
information. He knew something of my ability to fulfil what I promised, and
therefore did not doubt me, but gave his imperial word to fulfil his part
of the compact. I then led him a few paces beyond the camp, and bade him be
seated on a large stone, a fragment of an old heathen altar-stone. He had
hardly taken his seat before a phantom-like being, in the garb of an
officer in the Austrian army, was seen kneeling before him with a portfolio
in his hand. Napoleon opened it, and found there all the information he
desired. He complied strictly with his promise, and returned the portfolio
as soon as he had taken his notes, and the officer disappeared like a vapor
of the night. I then turned to the surprised monarch, and offered to repeat
this specimen of my skill before every subsequent battle, if he would
moderate his ambition and be content to be the first among his equals, the
father of a wide-spread patriarchal family. But he angrily refused to
listen to such a proposal, and, having somewhat recovered from his
surprise, called for his guards to seize me. Fool! He stood upon a spot
where I could have killed him without the danger of its ever becoming known
to any one. While he turned to look for his myrmidons, the ground opened
beneath my feet, and I disappeared before he had time to see by what means
I escaped.

"Twice have I thus visited Alexander of Russia, but with like results. Fate
has decreed it otherwise. Freedom cannot come to mankind from a throne.
But, from what my friend Develour has told you already, you may be
astonished that we should have engaged, and still engage, in fruitless
efforts, when we have gained from nature powers by which the sage is able
to glance at the decrees. Alas! this earthly frame loads us with physical
clogs that weigh us down, and throw frequently a film before the eyes which
make even the clearest dim and short-sighted."'

Here they were interrupted by a few raps at the inner door, which M.
Delevert seemed to count with great attention; and then rising from his
seat, he continued, without any change in the tone of his voice--

"The reporters are coming in. If you will accompany me to my
reception-room, you will have an opportunity, shared by no other foreigner,
to become acquainted with the mainsprings of this revolution; for such I am
determined it shall become. Alas! would that it were of a nature to be the
last one! But their haste prevents that