"Well, why do you not go yourself?" asked Augereau. "Because if I went it would be to overthrow the Directory and not to sustain it. And I have not done enough yet to play the part of Cæsar." "And you send me to play the part of your lieutenant. Well! that satisfies me. What is there to be done?" "Make an end of the enemies of France, who were only half wiped out on the 13th Vendémiaire. As long as Barras pursues a Republican course, second him to the best of your ability and courage; if he hesitates, resist him; if he betrays, collar him as you would the meanest citizen. If you fail, I shall be in Paris within the week with twenty-five thousand soldiers." "Well," said Augereau, "I will try not to fail. When shall I start?" "As soon as I have written the letter which you are to take to Barras." Then, turning to Bourrienne, he said: "Write." Bourrienne had paper and pen in readiness, and Bonaparte dictated as follows: CITIZEN-DIRECTOR--I send you Augereau, my right arm. For everybody else he is in Paris on a furlough, having some business to attend to; for you he is the director who keeps pace with us. He brings you his sword, and he is instructed to say to you that, in case of need, you may draw upon the budget in Italy to the extent of one, two, or even three millions. It is, above all, in civil wars that money becomes the vital nerve. I hope in the course of a week to hear that the councils are purified, and that the Clichy Club no longer exists. Health and fraternity, BONAPARTE. P.S.--What is all this we hear about robberies of diligences along the highroads of the Midi by Chouans, under the name of Companions of Jehu? Put your hand on four or five of the rascals and make an example of them. Bonaparte, according to his habit, read over the letter, and then signed it with a new pen, which did not make his writing any more legible; then Bourrienne sealed it and gave it to the messenger. "Tell them to give Augereau twenty-five thousand francs from my cash-box, Bourrienne," said Bonaparte. And to Augereau he added: "When you are out of funds, citizen-general, send to me for more." CHAPTER XVI THE CITIZEN-DIRECTORS It was time for the citizen-general Bonaparte to turn his eyes toward the citizen-directors. There had been an open rupture, as we have said, among the five elect of the Luxembourg. Carnot and Barthélemy had drawn completely apart from their colleagues, Barras, Rewbell, and La Reveillière-Lepaux. The result was that the ministry could not continue as it was, some of the ministers being creatures of Barras, Rewbell, and La Reveillière-Lepaux, while others followed Carnot and Barthélemy.