the talisman of the period, having attracted our attention once more, we heard one of the ladies say--“I give you my word, my dear Teresina, that I have done everything friendship could expect of me, but that it’s all in vain. This morning I made a new attempt, but he will not listen to anything. In fact, I have been asking myself what could have prejudiced him so strongly against you. You are the only woman whose name he has struck off the list of those admitted to my familiar intercourse. Being afraid of his affronting you personally--a thing for which I would never console myself--I ventured to come here alone with my son. At the Château they think I am in bed, but I wanted to see you to quiet your own mind, and to justify myself.” ‘“I have never doubted either your heart or your affection, Josephine,” replied the other lady. “Their loss would be a thousand times more painful to me than Bonaparte’s prejudices. My conduct has been sufficiently dignified to make my visits appreciated, and certainly I shall pay you none without his knowledge. But does he not remember that the first step of Tallien after the 10th Thermidor was to open for us the cell where we were both awaiting our death sentence? Can he forget that the man whose name I bear provided for your children throughout your captivity? Those children--his own now--were, without doubt, not consulted before he forbade you my company. He was not Consul when I shared with you--but pardon me, Josephine, O, forgive me!” ‘Here there was a burst of sobs, preventing me hearing every word. ‘“Calm yourself, my dear Teresina. Let us allow the first storm to go by, and everything will turn out for the best. But above all, don’t let us irritate him still further. He is very incensed with Ouvrard, and people say he is at your house, or expected.” ‘“Oh!” replied Teresina, indignant, “is that it? Does he pretend to tyrannise over our hearths because he happens to govern France? Must one sacrifice even one’s dearest and closest affections?” ‘As she spoke these words there was a knock at the door. It was Eugène de Beauharnais, who came to fetch one of these ladies. ‘“Let us go,” he said. “You have been here more than an hour. The Council is perhaps finished, and what would the First Consul say if he failed to find you at home?” ‘We stole away on tiptoe, Madame R---- and I. ‘“Let’s leave the ball,” I said, going down. “Whatever we may see there is not worth what we have just heard.” ‘One of these ladies was Josephine, she who in a short time was to be Empress. The other was Madame Tallien, as famous for her striking beauty as for her energetic character; to whom France owed the overthrow of Robespierre.’ CHAPTER XVIII