This duplicity was one of the Emperor's charges against his minister.
Fouche knew of the swindling transaction by which Malin became possessed of Gondreville and which led him to keep his eyes so anxiously on the Simeuse brothers.

These gentlemen were now serving in the army of Conde; Mademoiselle de Cinq-Cygne was their cousin; possibly they were in her neighborhood, and were sharers in the conspiracy; if so, it would implicate the house of Conde to which they were devoted.

Talleyrand and Fouche were bent on casting light into this dark corner of the conspiracy of 1803.

All these considerations Fouche saw at a glance, rapidly and with great clearness.

But between Malin, Talleyrand, and himself there were strong ties which forced him to the utmost circumspection, and made him anxious to know the exact state of things within the walls of Gondreville.