“They say that, as you must come back, you should have brought the army with you.” “Had I a fleet? Are you unaware that De Brueys allowed his to be burned?” “They also say, general, that, being unable to bring back the army, it would have been better for your renown had you remained with it.” “That is what I should have done, monsieur, if events had not recalled me to France.” “What events, general?” “Your defeats.” “Pardon me, general; you mean to say Schérer’s defeats. “Yours as well.” “I was not answerable for the generals commanding our armies on the Rhine and in Italy until I was minister of war. If you will enumerate the victories and defeats since that time you will see on which side the scale turns.” “You certainly do not intend to tell me that matters are in a good condition?” “No, but I do say that they are not in so desperate state as you affect to believe.” “As I affect!--Truly, general, to hear you one would think I had some interest in lowering France in the eyes of foreigners. “I don’t say that; I say that I wish to settle the balance of our victories and defeats for the last three months; and as I came for that, and am now in your house, and in the position of an accused person--” “Or an accuser.” “As the accused, in the first instance--I begin.” “And I listen,” said Bonaparte, visibly on thorns. “My ministry dates from the 30th Prairial, the 8th of June if you prefer; we will not quarrel over words.” “Which means that we shall quarrel about things.” Bernadotte continued without replying. “I became minister, as I said, the 8th of June; that is, a short time after the siege of Saint-Jean-d’Acre was raised.” Bonaparte bit his lips. “I did not raise the siege until after I had ruined the fortifications,” he replied. “That is not what Kléber wrote; but that does not concern me.” Then he added, smiling: “It happened while Clark was minister.” There was a moment’s silence, during which Bonaparte endeavored to make Bernadotte lower his eyes. Not succeeding, he said: “Go on.”