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for in this very hour you will go to your ship with Desaix。 It may
be that the ships will sail this very night； and if so； well！ A
quick and unlooked…for separation mitigates the pains of parting。
You will soon have overcome them； and when you reach Paris； the past
will sink behind you into the sea。〃
〃Never； oh； never！〃 cried Louis； with emotion。 〃I shall never forget
my benefactor； my second father！〃
〃My son； one easily forgets in Paris； and especially when he goes
thither for the purpose of creating a new future out of the ruins of
the past！ But I shall never forget you； and if my presentiment
should not deceive me； and I should soon die； you will learn after
my death that I have loved you as a son。 Now go； and I say to you；
as another loved voice once said to you； and as the sick and the
dying once repeated it to you； 'God bless you！ All saints and angels
protect you！'〃
They remained locked in their tender embrace； and then partednever
to meet again！
That very night； before the morning began to dawn； General Desaix
started； accompanied by his adjutant Louis； and a few servants。
Their first goal was Alexandria； whither the command of General
Bonaparte summoned them and a few others。
The proposed journey of the commanding general was still a carefully
concealed secret； and the divan in Cairo had merely been informed
that Bonaparte was planning to undertake a short journey in the
Delta。
On the 22d of August； 1799； an hour after midnight； two French
frigates left the harbor of Alexandria。 On board of one of them was
Bonaparte； the emperor of the future；on the other was Louis
Charles； the king of the past。 Nameless and unknown； the descendant
of the monarchs of France； with his sixteen years； returned to
France to France； that seemed no longer to remember its past； its
kings； and to have no thoughts； no love； no admiration for aught
excepting that new； brilliant constellation which had arisen over
France…Bonaparte。
He had returned from Egypt to regain Italy； but he found other work
awaiting him in Paris。 This he brought to completion with the energy
and boldness which characterized all his dealings。 By a prompt
stroke he put an end to the constitution which had prevailed till
then； abrogated the Convention and the Council of Five Hundred； and
gave the French republic a new constitution； putting at the head of
the government three consuls； Sieyes； Roger Ducos； and himself。 But
these three consuls were intended to be a mere transition； a mere
step forward in the victorious march of Bonaparte。 After a few weeks
they were superseded； and Bonaparte became the First Consul and the
head of France。
On the 25th of December； 1799； France hailed General Bonaparte as
the First Consul of the French republic。 A new century was dawning；
and with the beginning of this new century the gates of the
Tuileries； the deserted palace of kings； opened to a new possessor。
Bonaparte； the First Consul； took up his residence there； and in the
first spring of the new century the consul； accompanied by
Josephine； removed to St。 Cloud for summer quarters。 The park of
Queen Marie Antoinette was given by the French nation to the First
Consul； and in the apartments where the queen with her son Louis
Charles and her daughter Theresa once dwelt； Josephine； with her son
Eugene and her daughter Hortense； now abode。
〃I would I had remained in Egypt；〃 sighed the dauphin often； when in
the silence and solitude of his apartment he surrendered himself to
his recollections and dreams。 〃It had been better to die young in a
foreign land； while all the stars of hope were beaming above me；
than to protract a miserable； obscure life here； and see all the
stars fade out one by one！〃
Yes； the stars of hope were paling one by one for the son of King
Louis。 No one thought of him； no one believed in him。 He had died in
the Temple； that was all that any one wanted to know。 The dead was
lamented by all； the living would have been unwelcome to any。 He had
died and been buried； little King Louis XVII。； and no one spoke of
him more。
The only subject of men's talk was the glory and greatness of the
First Consul。 The beauty and grace of Josephine were celebrated in
the same halls which had once resounded with the praises of fair
Queen Marie Antoinette。 The half million lovers who had once bowed
to Marie were now devoted to Josephine； and paid their homage to her
with the same enthusiasm with which they had before worshipped the
queen。 The son of the general who once had given the oath of
fidelity to King Louis XVI。； the son of General Beauharnais； is now
the adopted son of the ruler of France； while the son of the king
must secrete himself and remain without name； rank； and title。 It is
his good fortune that Desaix is there to pity the forsaken one； and
to give him a place in his home and his heart。 No one else knows
him； he is the adjutant of General Desaix； that is his only rank and
title。
But he still remained the nephew of General Kleber； who had been
left in Egypt； and who； at the end of the century； gained a decisive
victory at Heliopolis over the Turks and Mamelukes。 He remained the
nephew of General Kleber； and at the end of the year 1800 the
frigate l'Aigle； on its return from Egypt； brought a great packet
for General Desaix。 It contained many papers of value； many rolls of
gold…pieces； besides gems and pearls。 But； it also contained a
sealed black document directed to the adjutant of General Desaix。
This document contained the will of Kleber； commander…in…chief of
the French army in Egypt。 He had given it to General Menou； together
with his papers and valuables； with the intimation that directly
after his death they should all be sent to General Desaix in France。
General Menou followed this instruction； for Kleber was dead。 The
murderous bullet of a Mameluke killed him on the 14th of June； 1800。
His will was the last evidence of his love for his nephew Louis；
whom he designated as his only heir； and Kleber was rich through
inherited wealth as well as the spoils of war。
But Louis Charles took no satisfaction； and it made no impression on
him； when Desaix informed him that he was the possessor of a
million。 〃A million！ What shall I do with it？〃 answered Louis；
sadly。 〃Were it a million soldiers； and I might put myself at their
head and with them storm the Tuileries and make my entrance into St。
Cloud； I should consider myself fortunate。 But what advantage to me
are a million of francs？ I can begin nothing with them； I should
have to establish a store and perhaps have the custom of the First
Consul of the republic！〃
〃Hush！ young man； hush！〃 replied Desaix； 〃you are bitter and sad；
and I understand it； for the horizon is dark for you； and offers you
no cheerful prospect； but a million francs is a good thing
notwithstanding； and one day you will know how to prize it。 This
million of francs makes you a rich man； and a rich man is a free and
independent man。 If you do not wish to live longer as a soldier； you
have the power to give up your commission and live without care； and
that is something。 My next business will be to assure you your
fortune a