Jean, compelled to pass the day at his duties in the Tower, was as restive as an imprisoned war-horse, and at eleven that night, Caron could no longer restrain him. Like a shot from a cannon, he was off in the driving rain, straight to the lodging of his friend and councillor, Bonaparte. On being admitted, he found that young man pacing up and down his narrow room with a curious excitement flaming in his brilliant eyes. On the table lay a map of Paris, and over it Bonaparte bent anxiously at every other turn. "Oho!" he cried. "Another moment and you would have missed me! But I might have known you'd come, with gunpowder scenting the air! You cannot guess who has just been here!" "Oh, but I can," replied Jean. "For I passed him on the block,--Citizen General Barras!" "Good! but you cannot guess what brought him here!" "No! tell me!" "He has offered me the command of the army of Paris!" "_He has!_" "Nothing less! You see the Sections have the Convention cooped up there in the Tuileries where they hold their sessions, in a state of siege. To-morrow the Sections will storm the Convention, and on that issue depends the continuance of the Republic. The Convention has about four or five thousand soldiers at its command, against fifty thousand Sectionists! Poor lookout,--that! But I have a plan that will succeed if anything does, and Barras will support me in anything I order. He tested my worth at Toulon, my lad, and there will be hot work to-morrow!" "Oh, Citizen Bonaparte,--I mean Citizen _General_!--let me go with you, I beg! I will serve you in any capacity you say, only let me be near you to-morrow!" Bonaparte thought a moment, then he answered: "To-morrow, Jean, I am going to put you to a test! You have displayed courage, energy and skill in the secret work you have done for the Brotherhood. It now remains for me to see what you can do in the open. To-morrow will show! Come to me at the Tuileries in the morning, and I will give you work to do. Now I must go and report to the Convention at once. I believe my star is rising at last, Jean, and if so, I shall rise with it. And trust me, you shall not be forgotten!" For a moment his eyes gleamed with the white fire of inspiration, then he wrapped his great-coat about him and was gone. True to his tryst, Jean made all speed for the Tuileries next morning. He had difficulty enough in getting there, for the streets were so crowded with insurgents that a passage through them was all but impossible. However he got there by way of the Place Carrousel, and noticed that everywhere were barricades and cannon planted to defend the palace. Where to find Bonaparte was now the question, and doubtless this would have been a matter of much difficulty, had not that young general come riding by on a tour of inspection, accompanied by Barras. Before Jean could even spring forward, Bonaparte recognised him, motioned him forward, and turned to Barras: