The next morning Lucien went to the Tuileries; by his brother’s order he was admitted, and found Napoleon in his bath, the water of which was opaque with mixture of _eau de Cologne_. They talked for some time on indifferent matters. Lucien was timid, and dared not speak until Joseph came. Then Napoleon announced his decision to sell Louisiana, and invited Lucien to say what he thought of it. “I flatter myself,” replied Lucien, “that the Chambers will not give their consent.” “You flatter yourself!” repeated Napoleon in a tone of surprise; then murmuring in a lower voice, “that is precious, in truth!” (_c’est précieux, en vérité!_) “And I too flatter myself, as I have already told the First Consul,” cried Joseph. “And what did I answer?” said Napoleon warmly, glaring from his bath at the two men. “That you would do without the Chambers.” “Precisely! That is what I have taken the great liberty to tell Mr. Joseph, and what I now repeat to the Citizen Lucien,--begging him at the same time to give me his opinion about it, without taking into consideration his paternal tenderness for his diplomatic conquest.” Then, not satisfied with irony, he continued in a tone of exasperating contempt: “And now, gentlemen, think of it what you will; but both of you go into mourning about this affair,--you, Lucien, for the sale itself; you, Joseph, because I shall do without the consent of any one whomsoever. Do you understand?” At this Joseph came close to the bath, and rejoined in a vehement tone: “And you will do well, my dear brother, not to expose your project to parliamentary discussion; for I declare to you that if necessary I will put myself first at the head of the opposition which will not fail to be made against you.” The First Consul burst into a peal of forced laughter, while Joseph, crimson with anger and almost stammering his words, went on: “Laugh, laugh, laugh, then! I will act up to my promise; and though I am not fond of mounting the tribune, this time you will see me there!” Napoleon, half rising from the bath, rejoined in a serious tone: “You will have no need to lead the opposition, for I repeat that there will be no debate, for the reason that the project which has not the fortune to meet your approval, conceived by me, negotiated by me, shall be ratified and executed by me alone, do you comprehend?--by me, who laugh at your opposition!” Hereupon Joseph wholly lost his self-control, and with flashing eyes shouted: “Good! I tell you, General, that you, I, and all of us, if you do what you threaten, may prepare ourselves soon to go and join the poor innocent devils whom you so legally, humanely, and especially with such justice, have transported to Sinnamary.”