“Here are three letters,” said he; “one for Madame de Montrevel, my mother; one for Mlle. de Montrevel, my sister; one for the citizen, Bonaparte, my general. If I am killed you will simply put them in the post. Will that be too much trouble?”
“Should that misfortune occur, I will deliver your letters myself,” said the Englishman. “Where do your mother and sister live?”
“At Bourg, the capital of the Department of Ain.”
“That is near here,” observed the Englishman. “As for General Bonaparte, I will go to Egypt if necessary. I should be extremely pleased to meet General Bonaparte.”
“If you take the trouble, as you say, my lord, of delivering my letters yourself, you will not have to travel such a distance. Within three days General Bonaparte will be in Paris.”
“Oh!” said the Englishman, without betraying the least surprise, “do you think so?”
“I am sure of it,” replied Roland.
“Truly, he is a very extraordinary man, your General Bonaparte. Now, have you any other recommendations to make to me, M. de Montrevel?”
“One only, my lord.”
“Oh! as many as you please.”