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you； I have said that you acted very well in this affair。〃〃 I know not；
Sire； what has either been done or said by Lacuee；whom I have not seen
for a long time； what I said to Duroc is what history teaches in every
page。〃〃By the by；〃 resumed the Emperor； after a short silence； 〃do you
know that it was I myself who discovered that Pichegru was in Paris。
Everyone said to me； Pichegru is in Paris； Fouche； Real； harped on the
same string； but could give me no proof of their assertion。 'What a fool
you are；' said I to Real； when in an instant you may ascertain the fact。
Pichegru has a brother； an aged ecclesiastic； who resides in Paris； let
his dwelling be searched； and should he be absent； it will warrant a
suspicion that Pichegru is here； if； on the contrary； his brother should
be at home； let him be arrested： he is a simple…minded man； and in the
first moments of agitation will betray the truth。 Everything happened as
I had foreseen； for no sooner was he arrested than； without waiting to be
questioned； he inquired if it was a crime to have received his brother
into his house。 Thus every doubt was removed； and a miscreant in the
house in which Pichegru lodged betrayed him to the police。 What horrid
degradation to betray a friend for the sake of gold。〃
Then reverting to Moreau； the Emperor talked a great deal respecting that
general。 〃Moreau；〃 he said； 〃possesses many good qualities； his bravery
is undoubted； but he has more courage than energy； he is indolent and
effeminate。 When with the army he lived like a pasha； he smoked； was
almost constantly in bed； and gave himself up to the pleasures of the
table。 His dispositions are naturally good； but he is too indolent for
study； he does not read； and since he has been tied to his wife's
apronstrings is fit for nothing。 He sees only with the eyes of his wife
and her mother； who have had a hand in all these late plots； and then；
Bourrienne； is it not very strange that it was by my advice that he
entered into this union？ I was told that Mademoiselle Hulot was a
creole； and I believed that he would find in her a second Josephine； how
greatly was I mistaken！ It is these women who have estranged us from
each other； and I regret that he should have acted so unworthily。 You
must remember my observing to you more than two years ago that Moreau
would one day run his head against the gate of the Tuileries； that he has
done so was no fault of mine； for you know how much I did to secure his
attachment。 You cannot have forgotten the reception I gave him at
Malmaison。 On the 18th Brumaire I conferred on him the charge of the
Luxembourg； and in that situation he fully justified my； choice。 But
since that period he has behaved towards me with the utmost ingratitude …
…entered into all the silly cabala against me； blamed all my measures；
and turned into ridicule the Legion of Honour。 Have not some of the
intriguers put it into his head that I regard him with jealousy？ You
must be aware of that。 You must also know as well as I how anxious the
members of the Directory were to exalt the reputation of Moreau。 Alarmed
at my success in Italy； they wished to have in the armies a general to
serve as a counterpoise to my renown。 I have ascended the throne and he
is the inmate of a prison！ You are aware of the incessant clamouring
raised against me by the whole family； at which I confess I was very much
displeased； coming from those whom I had treated so well！ Had he
attached himself to me； I would doubtless have conferred on him the title
of First Marshal of the Empire； but what could I do？ He constantly
depreciated my campaigns and my government。 From discontent to revolt
there is frequently only one step； especially when a man of a weak
character becomes the tool of popular clubs； and therefore when I was
first informed that Moreau was implicated in the conspiracy of Georges I
believed him to be guilty； but hesitated to issue an order for his arrest
till I had taken the opinion of my Council。 The members having
assembled； I ordered the different documents to be laid before them； with
an injunction to examine them with the utmost care； since they related to
an affair of importance； and I urged them candidly to inform me whether；
in their opinion； any of the charges against Moreau were sufficiently
strong to endanger his life。 The fools！ their reply was in the
affirmative； I believe they were even unanimous！ Then I had no
alternative but to suffer the proceedings to take their course。 It is
unnecessary to affirm to you； Bourrienne； that Moreau never should have
perished on a scaffold！ Most assuredly I would have pardoned him； but
with the sentence of death hanging over his head he could no longer have
proved dangerous； and his name would have ceased to be a rallying…point
for disaffected Republicans or imbecile Royalists。 Had the Council
expressed any doubts respecting his guilt I would have intimated to him
that the suspicions against him were so strong as to render any further
connection between us impossible； and that the best course he could
pursue would be to leave France for three years； under the pretext of
visiting some of the places rendered celebrated during the late wars； but
that if he preferred a diplomatic mission I would make a suitable
provision for his expenses； and the great innovator； Time； might effect
great changes during the period of his absence。 But my foolish Council
affirmed to me that his guilt； as a principal； being evident； it was
absolutely necessary to bring him to trial； and now his sentence is only
that of a pickpocket。 What think you I ought to do？ Detain him？ He
might still prove a rallying…point。 No。 Let him sell his property and
quit？ Can I confine him in the Temple？ It is full enough without him。
Still； if this had been the only great error they had led me to commit〃
〃Sire； how greatly you have been deceived。〃
〃Oh yes； I have been so； but I cannot see everything with my own eyes。〃
At this part of our conversation； of which I have suppressed my own share
as much as possible； I conceived that the last words of Bonaparte alluded
to the death of the Duc d'Enghien； and I fancied he was about to mention
that event but he again spoke of Moreau。
〃He is very much mistaken；〃 resumed the Emperor； 〃if he conceives I bore
any ill…will towards him。 After his arrest I sent Lauriston to the
Temple； whom I chose because he was of an amiable and conciliating
disposition； I charged him to tell Moreau to confess he had only seen
Pichegru； and I would cause the proceedings against him to be suspended。
Instead of receiving this act of generosity as he ought to have done； he
replied to it with great haughtiness； so much was he elated that Pichegru
had not been arrested； he afterwards； however； lowered his tone。 He wrote
to me a letter of excuse respecting his anterior conduct； which I caused
to be produced on the trial。 He was the author of his own ruin； besides；
it would have required men of a different stamp from Moreau to conspire
against me。 Amoung； the conspirators； for example； was an individual
whose fate I regret； this Georges in my hands might have achieved great
things。 I can duly appreciate the firmness of character he displayed；
and to which I could have given a proper direction。 I caused Real to
intimate to him that； if he would attach himself to me； not only should
he be pardoned； but that I would give him the command of a regiment。
Perhaps I might even have made him my aide de camp。 Complaints would
have been made； but； parbleu； I should not have cared。 Georges refused
all my offers； he was as inflexible as iron。 What could I do？ he
underwent his fate； for he was a dangerous man； circumstances rendered
his death a matter of necessity。 Examples of severity were called for；
when England was pouring into France the whole offscouring of the
emigration； but patience； patience！ I have a long arm； and shall be able
to reach them； when necessary。 Moreau regarded Georges merely as a
ruffianI viewed him in a different light。 You may remember the
conversation I had with him at the Tuileriesyou and Rapp were in an
adjoining cabinet。 I tried in vain to influence himsome of his
associates were affected at the mention of country and of glory； he alone
stood cold and unmoved。 I addressed myself to his feelings； but in vain；
he was insensible to everything I said。 At that period Georges appeared
to me little ambitious of power； his whole wishes seemed to centre in
commanding the Vendeans。 It was not till I had exhausted every means of
conciliation that I assumed the tone and language of the first
magistrate。 I dismissed him with a strong injunction to live retired
to be peaceable and obedientnot to misinterpret the motives of my
conduct towards himselfnor attribute to weakness what was merely the
result of moderation and strength。 'Rest assured；' I added； 'and repeat
to your associates； that while I hold the reins of authority there will
be neither chance nor salvation for those who dare to conspire against
me： How he conformed to this injunction the event has shown。 Real told
me that when Moreau and Georges found