the republic conquered the cities El Arish and Gaza； he took part by
the side of Kleber in the storming of Jaffa。 He was there when the
captured Jaffa had to open its gates to the victors。 He was there
when； in the great caravansary； four thousand Turkish soldiers
grounded their arms and surrendered themselves as prisoners； after
receiving the promise that their lives should be spared。 He was
there； too； the son of Marie Antoinette； when the unfortunates were
driven down to the sea…coast and shot； in order that their enemies
might be rid of them。 He was there； the son of Louis XVI。； when
Bonaparte visited the pest…house in Jaffa； he walked through the
sick…rooms at the side of his uncle Kleber； who noticed how the face
of the young man； which had so often been calm in meeting death on
the battle…field or in the storm of assault； now quivered； and the
paleness of death swept over his cheeks。
〃What was the matter； my son？〃 asked Kleber； as he returned home
from this celebrated visit to the pest…house。 〃Why did you turn pale
all at once； Louis？〃
〃General；〃 responded Louis； perplexed； 〃I know not how to answer。〃
〃You ought not to have gone with me to the hospital；〃 said Kleber；
shaking his head。 〃You know I did not want you to go at first； but
you insisted on it； and begged and implored so long that at last I
had to yield and let you accompany us。 But； I confess it myself； it
was a dreadful sight； these sick people with their swollen bodies
covered with blood and running sores。 I understand now why you
trembled and turned paleyou were afraid of this dreadful
sickness？〃
〃No； general；〃 answered Louis； softly〃no； I have no fear。 Did you
not notice that I sprang forward and assisted General Bonaparte；
when he lifted up the poor sick man who lay on the floor before the
door； and that I helped carry him into the room？〃
〃I saw it； Louis； and I was much pleased with your courage； and was
therefore surprised afterward when you turned pale and trembled； and
I saw tears in your eyes。 What agitated you all at once so much？〃
The young man slowly raised his head and looked at Kleber with his
great blue eyes。 〃General；〃 he said； softly； 〃I myself do not know
what agitated me so much。 We were both standing before the bed of a
sick man； to whom I handed a pitcher of water which he begged for
earnestly。 He fixed his great eyes upon me； and his quivering lips
murmured： 'God bless you！ all saints and angels protect you！' As he
spoke these words； there resounded in my heart the echo of a time
long since past。 It seemed to me as if suddenly a dark curtain
parted； and I looked as in a dream at a wondrous； brilliant
spectacle。 I saw a beautiful and dignified woman of princely figure；
of noble； majestic nature。 With her I saw two children； a girl and a
boy； whom she led by the hand； and with whom she walked through a
long hall which was filled with rows of beds。 And as she walked
there； it seemed as if the sun lightened up the dismal hall； and
illumined the pale faces of the sick ones。 They raised themselves up
in their beds and extended their thin； emaciated hands to the tall
lady； and thanked her with earnest blessings for her visit and her
comforting words。 There was only one of the patients who did not
rise； but lay stiff upon his bed and moaned and sighed and whispered
unintelligible words； which no one heeded； because the attention of
all was fixed upon the great visitor。 But the boy who was walking by
the side of the tall lady had understood the sobs of the sick one。
He left his mother； took the jug which stood upon a table between
two beds； filled a glass with water from it； and held it to the dry；
quivering lips of the sick one。 He drank greedily； and then fixed
his eyes upon the boy and lisped the words： 'God bless you！ all
saints and angels protect you！' And all the people repeated aloud：
'God bless you； all saints and angels protect you！' The dignified
lady stooped with a heavenly smile to her son； pressed a tender kiss
upon his golden locks； and repeated the same words aloud。 This；
general； was the fantasy which suddenly appeared before my eyes when
the patient spoke those words to…day。 It seemed to me as if I
perceived all at once a long…silent song of home。 I heard the
wonderful voice of the exalted lady who spoke those words。 It seemed
to me as if I felt the kiss which she then imprinted on the head of
the five…year…old boy； felt it to my inmost heart； and it glowed
there with the fire of an undying love； and shook my whole being；
and filled my eyes with tears。 You will not chide me for that；
general； for those were the lips of my mother who pressed that kiss
of blessing on her unhappy son。〃
He ceased； tears choked his utterance； and； as if ashamed of his
deep emotion； he hid his face in his hands。
General Kleber turned away too； and put his hand over his eyes； as
though a film had come over them。 Then； after a long pause he gently
laid his hand upon the shoulder of the young man； who was still
sitting with covered face。
〃Such memories are holy；〃 he said； 〃and I honor them； my dear；
faithful son。 May the blessing which then fell from the lips of a
woman whom I too knew and honored； but whose name may never be
spoken between us； may it be fulfilled to you！ May angels and saints
protect you when men shall no longer have the power； and when fate
shall separate you from those who have devoted their love and
fidelity to you！〃
The youth let his hands fall from his face； and looked at the
general with a startled； searching glance。
〃What do you mean； uncle？ You do not mean to say that〃
〃That we must part？ Yes； my dear nephew； that is what I must say；〃
interrupted Kleber； sadly。 〃This word has long been burning in my
soul； and it is necessary that I speak it。 Yes； we must part；
Louis。〃
〃Why； oh why？〃 asked Louis； bitterly。 〃Why will you too drive me
away？ You； the only one who loves me a little！〃
〃Exactly because I love youexactly for that reason must I separate
myself from you。 Since we came to Egypt you have been sickly； your
cheeks have become pale。 The fulness of your limbs has gone； and the
dry and hard cough that troubles you every morning has long made me
anxious； as you know。 On that account； after all the appliances of
my physician failed； I applied； as you know； to the physician of the
commanding general； to Corvisart； and he has subjected you to a
thorough examination。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Louis； thoughtfully； 〃he has investigated me with
the carefulness of a merchant who is about to buy a slave and means
to test him。 He made a hearing…trumpet of his ear and laid it on my
breast； and listened while I had to breathe as if I were a volcano。
He put his ear to my heart； he told me that his father had been
physician at the French court； and that the murdered queen had a
great deal of confidence in him； and then he wondered that my heart
beat so violently while he told me this。〃
〃And the result of all these investigations is； that you must return
to Europe； Louis；〃 said Kleber； sadly。 〃Corvisart had declared it an
unavoidable necessity for your constitution； and the command of the
physician must be obeyed as if it were the command of God。 You
cannot endure the climate of Egypt； so says Corvisart； and if your
life is not to be shortened and you to be made a perpetual invalid；
you must return to Europe as quickly as possible； for only there
will you recover and grow strong。 You see therefore； Louis； that I
must separate from you； although it is a sore thing for me to do；
for I love you as my own son； and I have no one in the world who is
nearly related to me。〃
〃And I； whom else have I in the world？〃 asked Louis； bitterly。 〃Who
has interest in me excepting you？ Ah； general； do not drive me from
you。 Believe me； it is better for me if for a few short and happy
years I live at your side； and then breathe my last sigh in your
faithful and tender arms； than if I have to wander solitary and
friendless through the strange； cold world； where no one loves me；
and where I shall always be surrounded by enemies； or by those who
are indifferent。 It may be that my body will gain health and
strength in the air of Europe； but my heart will always be sick
there； for it will lose its home when it shall have lost you； my
fatherly friend。〃
General Kleber slowly shook his head。 〃In youth one sorrows and
forgets it quickly。〃
〃General； do you say that to me； after seeing me weep in the
hospital because the word of a dying man called back the
recollection of my earliest childhood？ Oh； believe me； my heart
forgets its sorrows never； and if I must return to France； to Paris；
it will seem to me as if I had always to be climbing the hill of
Calvary with bloody feet to reach the top where I might perish on
the cross。 For； believe me； general； my whole life will be nothing
but such a wandering through scenes of pain if you drive me from the
refuge that your love has offered me。 Leave me here； let me live in
secrecy and silence beneath the pinions of your love； and do not
believe what the physicians tell you。 Man's life lies in the hands
of God； and if He will sustain it； it is as safe in the deserts of
Egypt as in Paris； the capital of the world。〃
〃Because God will sustain your life； Louis； for that very reason； He
instructs me； through the voice of the physician； what my duty is；
bids me conquer my own grief； and send the son of my heart to his
distant home。 No； Louis； it is a decided thing； we must part； you
must return to France。〃
〃And if it is true；〃 asked Louis； bitterly； 〃if I am then really to
return to France； why must we part？ Why must I return without you？
Why； if you really love me； do you not accompany me？ I heard you say
yesterday that several ships； with a part of our troops； were to
return to France。 Why； then； can you not go back with me？〃
〃Why？〃 asked Kleber； sadly。 〃I will tell you； Louis： because
Bonaparte will not allow it。 Listen； my son； I will communicate a
secret to you： there has news come within the last few days； the
first that we have received for ten months。 The newspapers which
have arrived bring very unwelcome intelligence； they inform us that
all the advant