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an avocat； a man famed for his integrity； and that very evening
Bonafoux went to see him。
After chatting on general subjects； he asked his friend if he had not
a house at the seaside； and receiving an affirmative answer； he
invited himself to breakfast there the next day； the proposal
naturally enough was agreed to with pleasure。 The next day at the
appointed hour Bonafoux arrived at Bonette； which was the name of the
country house where M。 Marouin's wife and daughter were staying。
M。 Marouin himself was kept by his work at Toulon。 After the
ordinary greetings； Bonafoux stepped to the window； beckoning to
Marouin to rejoin him。
〃I thought；〃 he said uneasily； 〃that your house was by the sea。〃
〃We are hardly ten minutes' walk from it。〃
〃But it is not in sight。〃
〃That hill prevents you from seeing it。〃
〃May we go for a stroll on the beach before breakfast is served？〃
〃By all means。 Well； your horse is still saddled。 I will order
mineI will come back for you。〃
Marouin went out。 Bonafoux remained at the window； absorbed in his
thoughts。 The ladies of the house； occupied in preparations for the
meal； did not observe； or did not appear to observe； his
preoccupation。 In five minutes Marouin came back。 He was ready to
start。 The avocat and his friend mounted their horses and rode
quickly down to the sea。 On the beach the captain slackened his
pace； and riding along the shore for about half an hour； he seemed to
be examining the bearings of the coast with great attention。 Marouin
followed without inquiring into his investigations； which seemed
natural enough for a naval officer。
After about an hour the two men went back to the house。
Marouin wished to have the horses unsaddled； but Bonafoux objected；
saying that he must go back to Toulon immediately after lunch。
Indeed； the coffee was hardly finished before he rose and took leave
of his hosts。 Marouin； called back to town by his work； mounted his
horse too； and the two friends rode back to Toulon together。 After
riding along for ten minutes； Bonafoux went close to his companion
and touched him on the thigh
〃Marouin；〃 he said； 〃I have an important secret to confide to you。〃
〃Speak； captain。 After a father confessor； you know there is no one
so discreet as a notary； and after a notary an avocat。〃
〃You can quite understand that I did not come to your country house
just for the pleasure of the ride。 A more important object； a
serious responsibility； preoccupied me； I have chosen you out of all
my friends； believing that you were devoted enough to me to render me
a great service。〃
〃You did well； captain。〃
〃Let us go straight to the point； as men who respect and trust each
other should do。 My uncle； King Joachim； is proscribed； he has taken
refuge with me； but he cannot remain there； for I am the first person
they will suspect。 Your house is in an isolated position； and
consequently we could not find a better retreat for him。 You must
put it at our disposal until events enable the king to come to some
decision。〃
〃It is at your service；〃 said Marouin。
〃Right。 My uncle shall sleep there to…night。〃
〃But at least give me time to make some preparations worthy of my
royal guest。〃
〃My poor Marouin； you are giving yourself unnecessary trouble； and
making a vexatious delay for us： King Joachim is no longer accustomed
to palaces and courtiers； he is only too happy nowadays to find a
cottage with a friend in it； besides； I have let him know about it；
so sure was I of your answer。 He is counting on sleeping at your
house to…night； and if I try to change his determination now he will
see a refusal in what is only a postponement； and you will lose all
the credit for your generous and noble action。 Thereit is agreed：
to…night at ten at the Champs de Mars。〃
With these words the captain put his horse to a gallop and
disappeared。 Marouin turned his horse and went back to his country
house to give the necessary orders for the reception of a stranger
whose name he did not mention。
At ten o'clock at night； as had been agreed； Marouin was on the
Champs de Mars； then covered with Marshal Brune's field…artillery。
No one had arrived yet。 He walked up and down between the gun…
carriages until a functionary came to ask what he was doing。 He was
hard put to it to find an answer： a man is hardly likely to be
wandering about in an artillery park at ten o'clock at night for the
mere pleasure of the thing。 He asked to see the commanding officer。
The officer came up： M。 Marouin informed him that he was an avocat；
attached to the law courts of Toulon； and told him that he had
arranged to meet someone on the Champs de Mars； not knowing that it
was prohibited； and that he was still waiting for that person。 After
this explanation； the officer authorised him to remain； and went back
to his quarters。 The sentinel； a faithful adherent to discipline；
continued to pace up and down with his measured step； without
troubling any more about the stranger's presence。
A few moments later a group of several persons appeared from the
direction of Les Lices。 The night was magnificent； and the moon
brilliant。 Marouin recognised Bonafoux； and went up to him。 The
captain at once took him by the hand and led him to the king； and
speaking in turn to each of them
〃Sire；〃 he said； 〃here is the friend。 I told you of。〃
Then turning to Marouin
〃Here；〃 he said； 〃is the King of Naples； exile and fugitive； whom I
confide to your care。 I do not speak of the possibility that some
day he may get back his crown； that would deprive you of the credit
of your fine action。。。。 Now； be his guidewe will follow at a
distance。 March！〃
The king and the lawyer set out at once together。 Murat was dressed
in a blue coat…semi…military； semi…civil； buttoned to the throat； he
wore white trousers and top boots with spurs； he had long hair；
moustache； and thick whiskers； which would reach round his neck。
As they rode along he questioned his host about the situation of his
country house and the facility for reaching the sea in case of a
surprise。 Towards midnight the king and Marouin arrived at Bonette；
the royal suite came up in about ten minutes； it consisted of about
thirty individuals。 After partaking of some light refreshment； this
little troop； the last of the court of the deposed king； retired to
disperse in the town and its environs； and Murat remained alone with
the women； only keeping one valet named Leblanc。
Murat stayed nearly a month in this retirement； spending all his time
in answering the newspapers which accused him of treason to the
Emperor。 This accusation was his absorbing idea； a phantom； a
spectre to him； day and night he tried to shake it off； seeking in
the difficult position in which he had found himself all the reasons
which it might offer him for acting as he had acted。 Meanwhile the
terrible news of the defeat at Waterloo had spread abroad。 The
Emperor who had exiled him was an exile himself； and he was waiting
at Rochefort； like Murat at Toulon； to hear what his enemies would
decide against him。 No one knows to this day what inward prompting