“Yet I think, general, that my name was announced by your servant in a voice loud enough to prevent any doubt as to my identity.”
“Yes, but he announced General Bernadotte.”
“Well?”
“Well, I saw a man in civilian’s dress, and though I recognized you, I doubted if it were really you.”
For some time past Bernadotte had affected to wear civilian’s dress in preference to his uniform.
“You know,” said he, laughing, “that I am only half a soldier now. I was retired by citizen Sièyes.”
“It seems that it was lucky for me that you were no longer minister of war when I landed at Fréjus.”
“How so?”
“You said, so I was told, that had you received the order to arrest me for violating quarantine you would have done so.”
“I said it, and I repeat it, general. As a soldier I was always a faithful observer of discipline. As a minister I was a slave to law.”