And Roland made a pencil mark on the paper to show the exact spot where the stoppage occurred.
“What!” exclaimed Bonaparte; “why, it happened less than a mile and a half from Bourg!”
“Scarcely that, general; that explains why the wounded horse was taken back to Bourg and died in the stables of the Belle-Alliance.”
“Do you hear all these details, sir!” said Bonaparte, addressing the minister of police.
“Yes, citizen First Consul,” answered the latter.
“You know I want this brigandage to stop?”
“I shall use every effort—”
“It’s not a question of your efforts, but of its being done.”
The minister bowed.
“It is only on that condition,” said Bonaparte, “that I shall admit you are the able man you claim to be.”