posted； by which Murat； the governor of Paris； announced to the city
that fifty assassins were within the walls； intent on taking the
life of the First Consul。
The condemned surgeon； Querolle； had； meantime； made his confession；
and named the heads of the conspiracy and their accomplices； and；
only after all the persons mentioned by him were arrested； were the
gates of the city opened。
A great trial then commenced of the men who had been sent by the
Bourbons for this nefarious purpose。 Among the accused were General
Pichegru； the abettor of Georges； and General Moreau； the most
prominent of all。
The history of this trial was enveloped in obscurity； and it was
faintly whispered that Pichegru had taken his own life in prison；
and more faintly yet was it rumored that he was secretly dispatched
in prison。 And then； on one of these days； there were to be seen
through all Paris only pale； sad faces； and a murmur of horror ran
through all the streets and all the houses。
The story was current that the Duke d'Enghien； the grandson of the
Prince de Conde； had been arrested by French soldiers at Baden；
beyond the frontier； and had been brought to Vincennes； that he was
accused there that same night of being an accomplice in a plot to
take the life of the First Consul； and to disturb the peace of the
republic； that he was quickly condemned by a court…martial； and shot
before morning within the fortress of Vincennes。
The report was only too true。 Bonaparte had kept his word； he had
sacrificed a royal victim to the threatened cause of the republic；
he would； by one deed of horror； fill the conspirators with fear；
and cause them to abandon their bloody plans。
The means employed were cruel； but the end was reached which
Bonaparte hoped to attain； and thenceforth there were no more
conspiracies against the life of the First Consul； who； on the 18th
of May； that same year； declared himself emperor。
A few days after this； the public trial of the accused began； which
Fouche attended as the reinstalled minister of police； and over
which Regnier presided in his new capacity of chief judge。
Seventeen of those indicted were condemned to death； others to years
of imprisonment； and among these was General Moreau。 But the popular
voice declared itself so loudly and energetically for the brave
general of the republic； that it was considered expedient to heed
it。 Moreau was released from prison； and went to the Spanish
frontier； whence he sailed to North America。
On the 25th of June； twelve of the conspirators； Georges at their
head； were executed； the other five； who had been condemned to
death； had their sentence commuted to banishment。
The gentle； kind…hearted Josephine viewed all these things with
sadness； for her power over the heart of her husband was waning； and
the sun of her glory had set。 Her prayers and tears had no longer a
prevailing influence over Bonaparte； and she had not been able to
avert the death of the Duke d'Enghien。
〃I have tried all means；〃 she said； with tears； to Bourrienne； the
chief secretary of the emperor； 〃I wanted at any cost to turn him
aside from his dreadful intention。 He had not apprised me of it； but
you know in what way I learned it。 At my request he confessed to me
his purpose； but he was steeled against my prayers。 I clang to him；
I fell on my knees before him。 'Do not meddle with what is none of
your business！' he cried； angrily； as he pushed me away from him。
'These are not women's affairsleave me in peace。' And so I had to
let the worst come； and could do nothing to hinder it。 But
afterward； when all was over； Bonaparte was deeply affected； and for
several days he remained sad and silent； and scolded me no more when
he found me in tears。〃 ＇Footnote： Bourrienne； 〃Memoires du Consulat
et de l'Empire。〃＇
The days passed by； the days of splendor； and then followed for
Josephine the days of misery and grief。 Repelled by Napoleon； she
mourned four years over her spurned love and her ruined fortunes；
but then； when Napoleon's star went down； when he was robbed of his
imperial crown and compelled to leave France； Josephine's heart
broke； and she hid herself in her grave； in order not to witness
Napoleon's humiliation。
And thus the empire was abolished； and the Count de Lille called
back by foreign potentates； and not by the French nation； in order；
as Louis XVIII。； to reerect the throne of the Lilies。
And where； all this time； was the son of Queen Marie Antoinette？
Where was Louis XVII。？
He had kept his word which he gave to Josephine。 He had gone to the
primeval forests and to the savages； and they had given him a crown
of feathers and made him their king。＇Footnote： 〃Memoires du Due de
Normandie；〃 pp。 89…102。＇ For years he lived among them； honored as
their king； loved as their hero。 Then a longing for his country
seized him； and going to Brazil in the service of his people； he
made use of the opportunity to enter into a contract with Don Juan；
and not return to his copper…colored tribe。 The precious treasure
which he possessed； his papers； he had been able to preserve during
all the journeys and amid all the perils of his life； and these
papers procured him a hospitable and honorable reception with Don
Juan。 From him the king without name or inheritance learned the
changes that had meanwhile taken place in France； and； at the first
opportunity which offered； he returned to Europe； arriving at Paris
in the middle of the year 1816。
The Prince de Conde； now the Duke de Bourbon； received the wanderer
with tenderness； but with deep regret； for now it was too late； and
his hope for a restoration of the returning prince could rest on no
basis。 The Count de Provence was now King Louis XVIII。； and never
would he descend from his throne to give back to the son of Marie
Antoinette that crown which he wore with so much satisfaction and
pride。
Much more simple and easy was it to treat the pretender as a lunatic
or as an adventurer； and to set his claims aside forever。 Useless
were all the letters which the Baron de Richemont； the name that
Louis still bore； addressed to his uncle the king； to his sister the
Duchess de Angouleme； imploring them for an interview。 No answer was
received。 No audience was granted to this adventurer； whose claims
could not be recognized without dethroning Louis XVIII。； and
destroying the prospects of the crown for the duchess's son； the
Duke de Berri。 Louis XVII。 had died and he could not return to the
living。 He saw it； he knew it； and a deep sorrow took possession of
him。 But he rose above ithe would not die； he would live； a terror
and an avenger to his cruel relatives。
But it was a restless life that the son of the queen must lead； in
order to protect himself from the daggers of his powerful enemies。
The Prince de Conde conjured him to secure himself against the
attacks which were made more than once upon the Baron de Richemont；
and Louis gave heed to his requests and tears。 He travelled abroad；
but after returning in two years from a journey in Asia and Africa；
on landing on the Italian coast； he was arrested in 1818； at the
instigation of the Austrian ambassador at Mantua； and confined in
the prison of Milan。
Seven years the unhappy prince spent in the Austrian prison； without
once being summoned before a judgeseven years of solitude； of
darkness； and of want。 But the son of Marie Antoinette had learned
in his youth to bear these things； and his prison…life in Milan was
not so cruel as that in the Temple under Simon。 Here there were at
least sympathizing souls who pitied him； even the turnkeys of the
prison were courteous and kind when they entered the cell of the
〃King of France；〃 and one day； beyond the wall of his apartment； was
heard a voice singing； in gentle； melodious tones； a romanza which
Louis had composed； and written on the wall when he occupied the
neighboring cell。
This voice； which sounded like a greeting from the world； was that
of Silvio Pellico。 The celebrated author of 〃Le Mie Prigioni；〃
relates in touching words this salutation of his neighbor：
〃My bed was carried；〃 he said； 〃into the new cell that was prepared
for me； and as soon as the inspectors had left me alone； my first
care was to examine the walls。 There were to be seen there some
words； recollections of the past； written with chalk； with pencil；
or with a sharp tool。 I found there also two pretty French lines；
which I am sorry I did not copy。 I began to sing them to my melody
of 'The Poor Mugdalen；' when a voice near me responded with another
air。 When the singer ended； I called out； 'Bravo！' He replied with a
polite salutation； and asked me if I was French。
〃'No； I am Italian； and am called Silvio Pellico。'
〃'The author of Francesca da Rimini？'
〃'Yes； the same。'
〃And now there followed a courtly compliment； with the usual regrets
for my imprisonment。 He asked in what part of Italy I was born； and
when I told him in Saluzzo； in Piedmont； he awarded the Piedmontese
some words of high praise； and spoko particularly of Bodoni （a
celebrated printer； director of the national printing establishment
at Parma）。 His compliments were brief and discriminating； and
disclosed a finely cultivated mind。
〃'And now； sir；' said I； 'allow me to ask you who you are。'
〃'You were just singing a song that I wrote。'
〃'These pretty verses here upon the wall； are they yours？'
〃'Yes； they are。'
〃'You are therefore'
〃'The Duke de Normandie。'
〃The watchman was just then walking past my window and so I was
still。 After some time we resumed our conversation。 When I asked
whether he was Louis XVII。； he responded in the affirmative； and
began to declaim hotly against Louis XVIII。 his uncle； the usurper
of his rights。
〃I implored him to give me his history in brief outlines。 He did so；
and related to me all the details connected with the life of Louis
XVII。； which I knew only in part。 He told me how he had been
imprisoned with Simon the cobbler； been compelled to sign a
calumniating charge against his mother； etc。 He then related to me
the story of his escape and his flight to America； of his return to
reclaim the throne of his fathers； and