All present looked at him in silence. I was
the first to accost him. “ Citizen General,”
I stlid, '■ Il -"til- to 1110 thiit yon must have
felt very loath to create such consternation
in the capital. Had you reflected for u tnti
ment tijiuii the fearful task you have just
achieved, you might well rliudder at the
coiKeiiuences it involves.” “ Possibly,” he
replied, “but what would you have mad
nine? Soldiers are automatons, that move
nt the beck of the government; they know
buttooliey. I spared the sections; rny can
non were mostly loaded with powder only.
I had a miti'l to give the Parisians a slight
lesson, and beside-, c’ <•’< mon cachet quej' «t
mis sur In Prance.”
A few days after this interview, the Di
rector Burras thus addressed Josephine: “ I
have got an advantageous match in view for
von. I intend you to marry little Boniiparte,
"to whom I am about to give the command
in-chief of the army, mid entrust the con
quest of Italy.” Remonstrances and ditli
ciilties were opposed to this abrupt propo
sition by the Indy, but nt that epoch, coiirt
ahipH, like nil other measures, w ere carried
by a coup de main, mid Josephine became,
the wife of Napoleon upon the eve of his
departure for the campaign of Italy. He
felt that to her influence he was mainly in
debted for his appointment to u |a»st which
opened to his aspiring hopes so vast and
noble a field of compit'st and distinction,
and took leave of her with every manifesta
tion of gratitude. “ I owe you much, Jose
phine,” he exclaimed, “ but 1 shall either,
forfeit my head, or return 11 greater man
than they dream of,”—-Do/mmi'a .Mag.
