"
He saluted Fouche with a sad smile, and went out. The minister
listened to the resounding footstep, and then broke out into loud,
mocking laughter.
"Foolish boy!" he said, raising his hand threateningly, "foolish
boy! You suppose that only God knows whether you will ever come out
of your incognito. You mistake--besides God, Fouche knows it. Yes,
Fouche knows that this incognito extends over you like a net, from
which you never will escape. No, the Baron de Richemont shall never
be transformed into King Louis XVII. But he shall be an instrument
with which I will hold in check this ambitious Consul Bonaparte, who
is striving; for the throne, and this grasping Count de Lille, who
in his exile calls himself King Louis XVIII.--the instrument with
which I threaten when I am threatened. Only, my little Baron de
Richemont, I do not know what I can make out of you, but I know that
you shall make out of me a rich, dangerous, and dreaded man. Poor,
credulous fool! How easily you fall into the piti The Baron de
Richemont shall never escape from it. I vouch for it--I, Fouche!"
CHAPTER XXXI.
FOUCHE.
The First Consul was walking with hasty steps up and down his
cabinet. His eyes flashed, and his face, which elsewhere was
impenetrable, like that of the brazen statues of the Roman emperors,
disclosed the fiery impatience and stormy passions which raged
within him.
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