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touched with the view of this youth； whose countenance was the
evidence of his lineage； the living picture of the unfortunate Louis
XVI。； whom Fouche had brought to the scaffold。 Perhaps this man of
blood and the guillotine had compunctions of conscience； perhaps he
wanted to atone to the son for his injuries to the parents； perhaps
he was planning to make of the son of the Bourbons a check to the
ambitious consul of the republic； perhaps to humiliate the grasping
Count de Lille； who was intriguing at all the European courts for
the purpose of raising armies against the French republic。 The son
of Louis XVI。 could be employed as a useful foil to all these
political manoeuvres； and subsequently he could either be publicly
acknowledged； or denounced as an impostor； as circumstances might
determine。
At present it suited the plans of the crafty Fouche to acknowledge
him； and to assume the attitude of a protector。 He put on a very
respectful and sympathetic air to the poor solitary youth； with
gentle； tremulous voice he called him your Majesty； he begged his
pardon for the past； he spoke with such deep emotion and so solemn a
tone of the good； great； and gentle Louis XVI。； that the heart of
the son was powerfully touched。 And when Fouche； with flaming words
of enthusiasm； began to speak of the noble； unhappy Queen Marie
Antoinette； when with glowing eloquence he celebrated her beauty and
her gentleness in time of good…fortune； her greatness and
steadfastness in ill…fortune； all the anger of the young man melted
in the tears of love which he poured out as he remembered his
mother。
〃I forgive you； Fouche； yes； I forgive you；〃 he cried； extending
both his hands。 〃I see plainly the power of political faction
hurried you away； but your heart cannot be bad； for you love my
noble mother。 I forgive you； and I trust you。〃
Fouche； deeply moved； sank upon his knee before the dauphin； and
called himself one of his loyal subjects； and promised to take all
means to restore the young king to the throne of his fathers。 He
conjured Louis to trust him； and to enter upon no plan without
asking his counsel。
Louis promised this。 He told Fouche that he was the only man who had
talked with him about the past without using ambiguous language；
that he was surprised at this； and compelled to recognize as true
what formerly had been fettered on his tongue。 He told him that he
had promised his rescuer； with a solemn oath； never to acknowledge
himself as the son of Louis XVI。； and King of France； till this
rescuer and benefactor empowered him to do so； and released him from
his vow of silence。 He made it； therefore； the first condition of
his confidence that Fouche should disclose his secret to no one； but
carry it faithfully in his own breast。
Fouche promised all； and took a sacred oath that he would never
reveal the secret confided to him by the King of France。 But he
confessed at the same time that the First Consul knew very well that
the son of the king had been released from the Temple； and that
among the posthumous papers of Kleber there was a letter directed to
Bonaparte； stating that he； Kleber； knew very well that the little
Capet was still living； and imploring Bonaparte to restore the
orphan to the throne of the Lilies。 The consul had； therefore；
quietly； made investigations； and learned that Louis had taken part
as the adjutant of General Desaix in the battle of Marengo； that he
had been wounded there； and remained in the hospital of Alessandria
till his recovery。 Since then all trace of the young man had been
lost； and he had commissioned Fouche to discover the adjutant of
Kleber and Desaix and bring him to him。
〃You will not do that？〃 cried Louis； eagerly； 〃you will not disclose
me？〃
〃Are you afraid of him？〃 asked Fouche； with a suspicious smile。
The young man blushed； and a cloud passed over his clear forehead。
〃Fear！〃 he replied with a shrug。 〃The sons of my ancestors have no
fear； and I have shown on the battle…fields of Aboukir and Marongo；
and in the pest…houses of Jaffa； that I know not the word。 But when
one meets a blood…thirsty lion in his path he turns out of the way；
and when a tiger extends its talons at one he flies； that is the
duty of self…preservation； and not the flight of a coward。〃
〃Do you believe； then； that this lion thirsts for royal blood？〃
〃I believe that he thirsts for royal rank； and that he will neglect
no means to vanquish all hinderances that might intervene between
himself and the throne。 Do you believe； sir； that the man who； after
the battle of Aboukir； sentenced five thousand prisoners to death；
would hesitate a moment to take the life of a poor； defenceless
young man such as I am？ He would beat me into the dust as the lion
does the flea which dares to play with his mane。〃
〃It appears you know this aon very well；〃 said Fouche with a smile；
〃and I really believe you judge him rightly。 But be without concern。
He shall not know from me that I am aware of you and your abiding…
place。 In order that Bonaparte shall not take me to be a bad
detective； I shall show him in all other things that I am on the
alert。 In case of necessity； it may be that I shall have to resort
to deception； and； in order to save your life； inform the consul
that you are dead。 There were a great many young officers who fell
at Marengo； or afterward died as the result of their wounds。 Why
should not the adjutant of General Desaix have met this fate？ Yes； I
believe this will be the best。 I will give you out as dead； in order
to save your life。 I will cause a paper to be prepared which shall
testify that the adjutant of General Desaix； who lay there in the
hospital； died there of his wounds and was buried。〃
〃And so I shall disappear from life a second time？〃 asked Louis；
sadly。
〃Yes； sire； in order to enter anew upon it with greater splendor；〃
replied Fouche； eagerly。
〃Who knows whether this shall ever be？〃 sighed Louis。 〃How shall I
be able to establish my identity if I die and am buried twice？ Who
will be my pledge that I shall be able to convince men that I am not
a deceiver； and that my whole existence is not an idle tale？ There
are only a few who know and believe that little Capet escaped from
the Temple； and went to Egypt as Kleber's adjutant。 If； now； these
few learn that the adjutant fell in battle； if the paper that
testifies to his death is laid before them； how shall I subsequently
be believed if I announce that I am alive； and that I am the one for
whom I give myself out？ The seal of royalty is impressed on no man's
brow； and we know from history that there have been false
pretenders。〃
〃You shall show with your papers that you are none such；〃 said
Fouche； eagerly； 〃and God will grant that I； too； shall be living
when the time shall be in which you may come forward with raised
voice and demand your inheritance and your throne。 Hope for that
time； and meanwhile preserve your papers well。 Carry them always
with you； part with them neither day nor night； for in these papers
rest your future and your c rown。 No other man besides yourself can
take care of them These papers are worth more to you than a million
of fras； although oven that should not be scorned。 Here are the
documents that give you possession of your wealth。 I have deposited
your funds in the Bank of France； and you can draw out money at any
time by presenting these checks that I give you； simply writing your
name upon them。〃
〃By simply writing my name upon them！〃 cried Louis； bitterly。 〃But；
sir； what is my name？ How shall I be called？ I was formerly
designated as the nephew of Kleber； Colonel Louis； the adjutant of
Desaix。 But Colonel Louis can no longer acknowledge that he is
alive； and you propose to convince the First Consul that the nephew
of Kleber is dead。 Who； then； am I？ What name shall I subscribe to
those papers？ By what name shall the nameless； the dead and buried；
the resurrected； the again dead and buried oneby what name shall
he draw money from the bank？〃
〃Very true；〃 said Fouche。 〃A name； or rather the mask of a citizen's
or nobleman's name； must be your disguise； and it is imperatively
necessary that we give you such； and provide you with papers that
cannot be forged； which shall prove your existence； and secure you
against every assault。〃
〃Very good； then tell me how I shall be called；〃 said Louis； sadly。
〃Be the godfather of the solitary and nameless。〃
〃Well； I will；〃 cried Fouche。 〃In the glamour of political passions
I have raised my voice against the life of your father； full of
regret I will raise my voice for the life of the son； and assist him
to enter afresh upon life and into the society of men。 Young man； I
will give you a name and rank； till the French nation restore to you
your true name and rank。 You shall henceforth be called the Baron de
Richemont。 Will you accept it？〃
〃Yes； I will accept it；〃 said Louis； gently。 〃To be the Baron de
Richemont is better than to be a dead and buried person without any
name。〃
〃Very good； my lord baron；〃 cried Fouche； 〃I will have the necessary
certificates and papers made out； and enter your property in the
Bank of France under the name of