Bernadotte, indeed, repaired to the Luxembourg ere Moulins and Gohier had resigned, and offered his sword and influence, provided they would nominate him to the command of the forces jointly with Napoleon.

They hesitated: his word of honour given to Buonaparte, that he would do nothing _as a citizen_, rendered it indispensable that they should take that decisive step; by doing so they would at least have given the soldiery a fair choice--they hesitated--and their power was at an end.

The Luxembourg was immediately guarded by troops in whom Napoleon could place implicit confidence.

The Directory was no more.
Barras, in his letter, said that "he had undertaken his office solely for the purpose of serving the cause of liberty, _and_ that now, seeing the destinies of the Republic in the hands of her young and invincible general, he gladly resigned it." By this courtly acquiescence he purchased indemnity for the past, and the liberty of retiring to his country-seat, there to enjoy the vast fortune he had so scandalously accumulated.

The other two remained for the present under surveillance.
At ten o'clock on the same morning, the adverse Council of Five Hundred assembled also, and heard, with astonishment and indignation, of the decree by which their sittings were transferred from Paris (the scene of their popular influence) to St.Cloud.They had, however, no means of disputing that point: they parted with cries of "_Vive la Republique! Vive la Constitution!_" and incited the mob, their allies, to muster next morning on the new scene of action--where, it was evident, this military revolution must either be turned back, or pushed to consummation.