Sir John bowed and read as follows:
CITIZEN FIRST CONSUL—I have received, each armed and newly
clothed in the uniform of his regiment, the nine thousand
Russians, made prisoners in Holland, whom you have returned
to me without ransom, exchange, or condition of any kind.
This is pure chivalry, and I boast of being chivalrous.
I think that which I can best offer you in exchange for this
magnificent present, citizen First Consul, is my friendship.
Will you accept it?
As an earnest of that friendship, I am sending his passports
to Lord Whitworth, the British Ambassador to Saint Petersburg.
Furthermore, if you will be, I do not say my second, but my
witness, I will challenge personally every king who will not
take part against England and close his ports to her.
I begin with my neighbor the King of Denmark, and you will
find in the “Gazette de la Cour” the ultimatum I have sent him.
What more can I say to you? Nothing, unless it be that you and
I together can give laws to the world.
I am your admirer and sincere friend, PAUL.
Lord Tanlay turned to the First Consul. “Of course you know,” said he, “that the Emperor of Russia is mad.”
“Is it that letter that makes you think so, my lord?” asked Bonaparte.
“No; but it confirms my opinion.”
“It was a madman who gave Henry VI. of Lancaster the crown of Saint-Louis, and the blazon of England still bears—until I scratch them out with my sword—the fleur-de-lis of France.”
Sir John smiled; his national pride revolted at this assumption in the conqueror of the Pyramids.
“But,” said Bonaparte, “that is not the question to-day; everything in its own time.”
“Yes,” murmured Sir John, “we are too near Aboukir.”
“Oh, I shall never defeat you at sea,” said Bonaparte; “it would take fifty years to make France a maritime nation; but over there,” and he motioned with his hand to the East, “at the present moment, I repeat, that the question is not war but peace. I must have peace to accomplish my dream, and, above all, peace with England. You see, I play aboveboard; I am strong enough to speak frankly. If the day ever comes when a diplomatist tells the truth, he will be the first diplomatist in the world; for no one will believe him, and he will attain, unopposed, his ends.”