“By what means did you bribe her?” asked Napoleon. “By means of love or money?”
“Sire, thank God, money alone was sufficient for the purpose.”
The emperor smiled. “The woman is old and ugly, then?”
“Very ugly, sire.”
“And she hates her mistress because she is beautiful. For, I suppose, she is very beautiful?”
“Extremely so, sire; a most fascinating woman, and consequently the more dangerous as an intriguer.”
Napoleon shrugged his shoulders. “Proceed with your report. You had bribed her mistress of ceremonies, then?”
“Yes, sire; she kept an accurate diary, containing a statement of what her mistress had been doing every hour, and brought it to me every evening. For the last few days the conduct of her mistress has seemed to her particularly suspicious; hence she watched her more closely, and my other agents dogged her steps in disguise whenever she left her mansion. All symptoms appeared suspicious enough, and pointed to the conclusion that she was meditating an attack upon some distinguished person. But I did not guess as yet whom she was aiming at. All at once, two hours ago, her mistress of ceremonies came to bring me her diary, and to report to me that her mistress had just left her mansion with Major von Brandt, and that her last words had indicated that she had gone to see your majesty at Schonbrunn. While I was still considering what ought to be done, another agent of mine made his appearance; I had commissioned him specially to watch M. von Brandt; for, although he seems to be extremely devoted to us, I do not trust him.”
“And you are perfectly right,” said Napoleon, sternly. “Traitors ought never to be trusted, and this M. von Brandt is a traitor, inasmuch as he adheres to us, the enemies of his country. What was the information brought to you by your agent?”
“Sire, my agent caused one of his men, who is a very skilful pickpocket, to steal the major’s memorandum-book just at the moment when he was entering the lady’s house.”