There were a great many young officers who fell
at Marengo, or afterward died as the result of their wounds. Why
should not the adjutant of General Desaix have met this fate? Yes, I
believe this will be the best. I will give you out as dead, in order
to save your life. I will cause a paper to be prepared which shall
testify that the adjutant of General Desaix, who lay there in the
hospital, died there of his wounds and was buried."
"And so I shall disappear from life a second time?" asked Louis,
sadly.
"Yes, sire, in order to enter anew upon it with greater splendor,"
replied Fouche, eagerly.
"Who knows whether this shall ever be?" sighed Louis. "How shall I
be able to establish my identity if I die and am buried twice? Who
will be my pledge that I shall be able to convince men that I am not
a deceiver, and that my whole existence is not an idle tale? There
are only a few who know and believe that little Capet escaped from
the Temple, and went to Egypt as Kleber's adjutant. If, now, these
few learn that the adjutant fell in battle, if the paper that
testifies to his death is laid before them, how shall I subsequently
be believed if I announce that I am alive, and that I am the one for
whom I give myself out? The seal of royalty is impressed on no man's
brow, and we know from history that there have been false
pretenders.
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