is wedded obligations. He is in love,
nay, desperately in love. The image of Josephine is constantly soaring
around him, and he pours forth ebullitions of frantic devotion at the
cannon's mouth, in the Canton, anywhere, and everywhere. He is as rich
in phrase as he is in courage and resource. He finds time to scrawl a
few burning words of passion which indicate that his soul is at once
aflame with thoughts of her and the grim military task he has
undertaken.

He leads to battle flashing with the spirit of assured victory and
inspired by the belief that it has been written that he is the chosen
force which is to regenerate misgoverned nationalities. Order out of
chaos; moderation in the hour of victory; no interference with any
one's religious belief; stern discipline--these were some of the
behests of this young Titan, whose startling and victorious campaigns
were amazing an astonished world and causing significant apprehension
in the minds of the Directory, who decided to check the swift process
of ascendancy by giving instructions that he was to give over the
command of Lombardy to General Kellerman, and go south to commence
raiding other parts of Italy, including Rome and Naples.

To this he promptly sends a vigorous though respectful reply, which
is intended to convey that they are to have done with such impractical
foolery. It is a world-shaking fight he has on hand. The honour and
military glory of France are at stake. It is not for mere theoretic
upholders of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity to meddle with such
things. He says to them, "Kellerman is an excellent General, and could
lead an army as well as I," but then he goes on to plead the
superiority of his army, always modestly leaving himself outside the
praise he takes care to bestow on others, and adds with fervour, "The
command must remain in the hands of one man." "I believe," says he,
"that one bad General is better than two good ones." "The art of war,
like the art of government, is a matter of careful handling." Then
with delicious frankness he flashes out: "I cannot allow myself to
have my feet entangled." "A free hand or resignation." That is his
ultimatum. This thunderbolt of bewildering audacity sent a flutter
through the sanctuary of Fraternity, and in hot haste a message of
confidence, coupled with an order that he shall be left in supreme
control, was dispatched by a vigilant energetic courier. The Directory
were made to see that a great powe