the Adige, they were not less profitable for the
Republic; and when I had the honor to serve under you, you found in
me, I hope, a subordinate devoted, if not to the man, at least to the
country which he served. It is true that since your departure, general,
I have been more fortunate than you in not having the responsibility of
a great army, which, if one may believe Kleber's despatches, you have
left in a disastrous position."

"What do you mean? Kleber's last despatches? Has Kleber written?"

"Are you ignorant of that, general? Has the Directory not informed you
of the complaints of your successor? That would be a great weakness on
their part, and I congratulate myself to have come here, not only to
correct in your mind what has been said of me, but to tell you what is
being said of you."

Bonaparte fixed an eye, darkling as an eagle's, on Bernadotte. "And what
are they saying of me?" he asked.

"They say that, as you must come back, you should have brought the army
with you."

"Had I a fleet? Are you unaware that De Brueys allowed his to be
burned?"

"They also say, general, that, being unable to bring back the army, it
would have been better for your renown had you remained with it."

"That is what I should have done, monsieur, if events had not recalled
me to France."

"What events, general?"

"Your defeats."

"Pardon me, general; you mean to say Scherer's defeats.

"Yours as well."

"I was not answerable for the generals commanding our armies on the
Rhine and in Italy until I was minister of war. If you will enumerate
the victories and defeats since that time you will see on which side the
scale turns."

"You certainly do not intend to tell me that matters are in a good
condition?"

"No, but I do say that they are not in so desperate state as you affect
to believe."

"As I affect!--Truly, general, to hear you one would think I had some
interest in lowering France in the eyes of foreigners.

"I don't say that; I say that I wish to settle the balance of our
victories and defeats for the last three months; and as I came for that,
and am now in your house, and in the position of an accused person--"

"Or an accuser."

"As the accused, in the first instance--I begin."

"And I listen," said Bonaparte, visibly on thorns.

"My ministry dates from the 30th Prairial, the 8th of June if you
prefer; we will not quarrel over words."

"Which means that we shall quarrel about things."

Bernadotte