As a Christian, I will perform those duties while life remains.

As a descendant of St.Louis, I will know how to respect myself, were I in fetters.

As the successor of Francis the First, I will, at least, say with him--'all is lost except honour.'" Such is the account of the Bourbon princes.

Buonaparte utterly denied having given any authority for such a negotiation; and added, that in doing so he should have played the part of a madman, since any application to Louis must have been an admission that his own authority in France was imperfect in title.

It is obvious that the Consul would have acted most imprudently in avowing such an attempt--after it had proved unsuccessful; but the veracity of the exiled king lies under no suspicion; nor is it easy to believe that Meyer would have dared to open such a negotiation without sufficient authority from Napoleon.