It was in this city that he had a secret interview with his brother Lucien, with whom he wished to be reconciled, but on one absolute condition, _sine qua non_. It will be remembered that Lucien, against the First Consul's wishes, had married Alexandrine de Bleschamps, widow of M. Jouberthon; who, after being a broker in Paris, had died in Saint Domingo, whither he had followed the French expedition. Napoleon, who was anxious to marry Lucien with Queen Marie Louise, daughter of Charles IV. of Spain, and widow of Louis I., King of Etruria, wished to annul this marriage. But this brilliant offer had been peremptorily declined by the man who preferred a woman's love to a crown. In the spring of 1804 Lucien had voluntarily left France to seek in Rome an asylum from his brother's incessant reproaches and demands. His mother, Madame Letitia, who thoroughly approved of him, had followed him to Rome, and the Emperor had met with some difficulty in persuading her to return to Paris, which she only did after the coronation. M. de Meneval went by night to fetch Lucien from the inn where he was staying, and led him mysteriously to the palace which the Emperor occupied. Laden, instead of falling in his brother's arms, greeted him coldly, with dignified reserve. Stanislas de Girardia, in his interesting "Journal," has recounted the interview of the two brothers, as he heard it from Lucien himself. They said very much what follows:-- "Well, sir, do you still told to Madame Jouberthon and her son?" "Madame Jouberthon is my wife, and her son is my son." "No, no, since it is a marriage which I do not recognize, and consequently null." "I contracted it lawfully, as citizen and as Christian." "The civil act was illegal, and it is known that you gave a priest twenty- five louis-d'or to persuade him to marry you." "Doubtless Your Majesty, when he invited me here, did not do so for the purpose of paining me; if that is his intention, I withdraw," "I have conquered Europe, and certainly I should not flinch before you. You owe your peaceful life in Rome to my kindness; but you are acquiring there a consideration which displeases me, and in time you will annoy me; I will order you to go away, and I will make you leave Europe." "And if I should not obey?" "I will have you arrested." "And then?" "I shall have you sent to Bicetre and then if--" "I should defy you to commit a crime!" "Don't speak to me in that way; don't imagine you can impose on me, I repeat, I have not conquered Europe to flinch before you. Leave the room." Lucien did not leave, and Napoleon, after a few violent words, became a little calmer. Lucien then renewed the stormy discussion, trying to pacify his brother. "I had no intention of displeasing Your Majesty by saying what should show the high opinion I have of the greatness of his soul."