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at Rochefort； like Murat at Toulon； to hear what his enemies would
decide against him。 No one knows to this day what inward prompting
Napoleon obeyed when； rejecting the counsels of General Lallemande
and the devotion of Captain Bodin； he preferred England to America；
and went like a modern Prometheus to be chained to the rock of St。
Helena。
We are going to relate the fortuitous circumstance which led Murat to
the moat of Pizzo； then we will leave it to fatalists to draw from
this strange story whatever philosophical deduction may please them。
We； as humble annalists； can only vouch for the truth of the facts we
have already related and of those which will follow。
King Louis XVIII remounted his throne； consequently Murat lost all
hope of remaining in France； he felt he was bound to go。 His nephew
Bonafoux fitted out a frigate for the United States under the name of
Prince Rocca Romana。 The whole suite went on board； and they began
to carry on to the boat all the valuables which the exile had been
able to save from the shipwreck of his kingdom。 First a bag of gold
weighing nearly a hundred pounds； a sword…sheath on which were the
portraits of the king； the queen； and their children； the deed of the
civil estates of his family bound in velvet and adorned with his
arms。 Murat carried on his person a belt where some precious papers
were concealed； with about a score of unmounted diamonds； which he
estimated himself to be worth four millions。
When all these preparations for departing were accomplished； it was
agreed that the next day； the 1st of August； at five o'clock； a boat
should fetch the king to the brig from a little bay； ten minutes'
walk from the house where he was staying。 The king spent the night
making out a route for M。 Marouin by which he could reach the queen；
who was then in Austria； I think。
It was finished just as it was time to leave； and on crossing the
threshold of the hospitable house where he had found refuge he gave
it to his host； slipped into a volume of a pocket edition of
Voltaire。 Below the story of 'Micromegas' the king had written：
＇The volume is still in the hands of M。 Marouin； at Toulon。＇
Reassure yourself； dear Caroline； although unhappy； I am free。 I am
departing； but I do not know whither I am bound。 Wherever I may be
my heart will be with you and my children。 〃J。 M。〃
Ten minutes later Murat and his host were waiting on the beach at
Bonette for the boat which was to take them out to the ship。
They waited until midday； and nothing appeared； and yet on the
horizon they could see the brig which was to be his refuge； unable to
lie at anchor on account of the depth of water； sailing along the
coast at the risk of giving the alarm to the sentinels。
At midday the king； worn out with fatigue and the heat of the sun；
was lying on the beach； when a servant arrived； bringing various
refreshments； which Madame Marouin； being very uneasy； had sent at
all hazards to her husband。 The king took a glass of wine and water
and ate an orange； and got up for a moment to see whether the boat he
was expecting was nowhere visible on the vastness of the sea。 There
was not a boat in sight； only the brig tossing gracefully on the
horizon； impatient to be off； like a horse awaiting its master。
The king sighed and lay down again on the sand。
The servant went back to Bonette with a message summoning
M。 Marouin's brother to the beach。 He arrived in a few minutes； and
almost immediately afterwards galloped off at full speed to Toulon；
in order to find out from M。 Bonafoux why the boat had not been sent
to the king。 On reaching the captain's house； he found it occupied
by an armed force。 They were making a search for Murat。
The messenger at last made his way through the tumult to the person
he was in search of； and he heard that the boat had started at the
appointed time； and that it must have gone astray in the creeks of
Saint Louis and Sainte Marguerite。 This was； in fact； exactly what
had happened。
By five o'clock M。 Marouin had reported the news to his brother and
the king。 It was bad news。 The king had no courage left to defend
his life even by flight； he was in a state of prostration which
sometimes overwhelms the strongest of men； incapable of making any
plan for his own safety； and leaving M。 Marouin to do the best he
could。 Just then a fisherman was coming into harbour singing。
Marouin beckoned to him； and he came up。
Marouin began by buying all the man's fish； then； when he had paid
him with a few coins； he let some gold glitter before his eyes； and
offered him three louis if he would take a passenger to the brig
which was lying off the Croix…des…Signaux。 The fisherman agreed to
do it。 This chance of escape gave back Murat all his strength； he
got up； embraced Marouin； and begged him to go to the queen with the
volume of Voltaire。 Then he sprang into the boat； which instantly
left the shore。
It was already some distance from the land when the king stopped the
man who was rowing and signed to Marouin that he had forgotten
something。 On the beach lay a bag into which Murat had put a
magnificent pair of pistols mounted with silver gilt which the queen
had given him； and which he set great store on。 As soon as he was
within hearing he shouted his reason for returning to his host。
Marouin seized the valise； and without waiting for Murat to land he
threw it into the boat； the bag flew open； and one of the pistols
fell out。 The fisherman only glanced once at the royal weapon； but
it was enough to make him notice its richness and to arouse his
suspicions。 Nevertheless； he went on rowing towards the frigate。
M。 Marouin seeing him disappear in the distance； left his brother on
the beach； and bowing once more to the king； returned to the house to
calm his wife's anxieties and to take the repose of which he was in
much need。
Two hours later he was awakened。 His house was to be searched in its
turn by soldiers。 They searched every nook and corner without
finding a trace of the king。 Just as they were getting desperate；
the brother came in； Maroum smiled at him； believing the king to be
safe； but by the new…comer's expression he saw that some fresh
misfortune was in the wind。 In the first moment's respite given him
by his visitors he went up to his brother。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃I hope the king is on board？〃
〃The king is fifty yards away； hidden in the outhouse。〃
〃Why did he come back？〃
〃The fisherman pretended he was afraid of a sudden squall； and
refused to take him off to the brig。〃
〃The scoundrel！〃
The soldiers came in again。
They spent the night in fruitless searching about the house and
buildings； several times they passed within a few steps of the king；
and he could hear their threats and imprecations。 At last； half an
hour before dawn； they went away。 Marouin watched them go； and when
they were out of sight he ran to the king。 He found him lying in a
corner； a pistol clutched in each hand。 The unhappy man had been
overcome by fatigue and had fallen asleep。 Marouin hesitated a
moment to bring him back to his wandering； tormented life； but the