I watched Bonaparte's face as he read these papers, and I saw there
what he was resolved to do. He will, as soon as he shall gain one
more great victory, leave Egypt and return to France."
"He will not return without you, the faithfulest and boldest of his
generals. You know well that you are called the right-hand man of
Bonaparte."
"Bonaparte means to show the world that he is not only the head, but
the right arm too, the heart, the foot, the soul of the French army!
And because he means to show this, he will return alone to France;
only a few of his faithful subordinates will accompany him; the men
who might even oppose him, and put hinderances in the path of his
growing ambition, will remain here. Now do you believe that
Bonaparte will select me to accompany him?"
The young man let his head fall slowly on his breast. "No," he said,
softly, "no, I do not believe he will."
"And I know he will not," replied Kleber. "I shall remain here in
Egypt, and die here! Hush! Do not contradict me; there are
presentiments which do not mislead us, and which God sends to us,
that we may shape our course by them, and set our house in order. My
house is set in order--my will is made; I have given it to
Bonaparte, and he has solemnly sworn to carry it into execution in
all respects. Only one care is left me--to provide for your
immediate future, and to arrange that yon may reach France.
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