Bonaparte, with his rapid, comprehensive intellect, was not the last to notice this; he was seized with impatience, and, instead of awaiting Bernadotte in the midst of the group where he happened to be, he turned abruptly to the embrasure of a window, as if to challenge the ex-minister of war to follow him. Bernadotte bowed graciously to right and left, and controlling his usually mobile face to an expression of perfect calmness, he walked toward Bonaparte, who awaited him as a wrestler awaits his antagonist, the right foot forward and his lips compressed. The two men bowed, but Bonaparte made no movement to extend his hand to Bernadotte, nor did the latter offer to take it. “Is it you?” asked Bonaparte. “I am glad to see you.” “Thank you, general,” replied Bernadotte. “I have come because I wish to give you a few explanations.” “I did not recognize you at first.” “Yet I think, general, that my name was announced by your servant in a voice loud enough to prevent any doubt as to my identity.” “Yes, but he announced General Bernadotte.” “Well?” “Well, I saw a man in civilian’s dress, and though I recognized you, I doubted if it were really you.” For some time past Bernadotte had affected to wear civilian’s dress in preference to his uniform. “You know,” said he, laughing, “that I am only half a soldier now. I was retired by citizen Sièyes.” “It seems that it was lucky for me that you were no longer minister of war when I landed at Fréjus.” “How so?” “You said, so I was told, that had you received the order to arrest me for violating quarantine you would have done so.” “I said it, and I repeat it, general. As a soldier I was always a faithful observer of discipline. As a minister I was a slave to law.” Bonaparte bit his lips. “And will you say, after that, that you have not a personal enmity to me?” “A personal enmity to you, general?” replied Bernadotte. “Why should I have? We have always gone together, almost in the same stride; I was even made general before you. While my campaigns on the Rhine were less brilliant than yours on the Adige, they were not less profitable for the Republic; and when I had the honor to serve under you, you found in me, I hope, a subordinate devoted, if not to the man, at least to the country which he served. It is true that since your departure, general, I have been more fortunate than you in not having the responsibility of a great army, which, if one may believe Kléber’s despatches, you have left in a disastrous position.” “What do you mean? Kléber’s last despatches? Has Kléber written?” “Are you ignorant of that, general? Has the Directory not informed you of the complaints of your successor? That would be a great weakness on their part, and I congratulate myself to have come here, not only to correct in your mind what has been said of me, but to tell you what is being said of you.” Bonaparte fixed an eye, darkling as an eagle’s, on Bernadotte. “And what are they saying of me?” he asked.