As he spoke, an usher opened the door and informed the president that a messenger from the Inspectors of the Council of the Ancients was there, and asked to make him a communication.
"Let him come in," said Gohier.
The messenger entered and handed the president a letter. He broke the seal hastily and read:
CITIZEN PRESIDENT--The Inspecting Commission hasten to inform you of a decree removing the residence of the legislative body to Saint-Cloud.
The decree will be forwarded to you; but measures for public safety are at present occupying our attention.
We invite you to meet the Commission of the Ancients. You will find Sieyes and Ducos already there.
Fraternal greetings BARILLON, FARGUES, CORNET,
"Very good," said Gohier, dismissing the messenger with a wave of his hand.
The messenger went out. Gohier turned to Fouche.
"Ah!" said he, "the plot is well laid; they inform me of the decree, but they do not send it to me. Happily you are here to tell me the terms of it."
"But," said Fouche, "I don't know them."
"What! do you the minister of police, mean to tell me that you know nothing about this extraordinary session of the Council of the Ancients, when it has been put on record by a decree?"
"Of course I knew it took place, but I was unable to be present."
"And you had no secretary, no amanuensis to send, who could give you an account, word for word, of this session, when in all probability this session will dispose of the fate of France! Ah, citizen Fouche, you are either a very deep, or a very shallow minister of police!"
"Have you any orders to give me, citizen president?" asked Fouche.
"None, citizen minister," replied the president. "If the Directory judges it advisable to issue any orders, it will be to men whom it esteems worthy of its confidence. You may return to those who sent you,"
he added, turning his back upon the minister.
Fouche went, and Gohier immediately rang his bell. An usher entered.
"Go to Barras, Sieyes, Ducos, and Moulins, and request them to come to me at once. Ah! And at the same time ask Madame Gohier to come into my study, and to bring with her Madame Bonaparte's letter inviting us to breakfast with her."
Five minutes later Madame Gohier entered, fully dressed, with the note in her hand. The invitation was for eight o'clock. It was then half-past seven, and it would take at least twenty minutes to drive from the Luxembourg to the Rue de la Victoire.
"Here it is, my dear," said Madame Gohier, handing the letter to her husband. "It says eight o'clock."
"Yes," replied Gohier, "I was not in doubt about the hour, but about the day."
Taking the note from his wife's hand, he read it over:
Come, my dear Gohier, with your wife, and breakfast with me to-morrow at eight o'clock. Don't fail, for I have some very interesting things to tell you.
"Ah," said Gohier, "there can be no mistake."
"Well, my dear, are we going?" asked Madame Gohier.
"You are, but not I. An event has just happened about which the citizen Bonaparte is probably well-informed, which will detain my colleagues and myself at the Luxembourg."
"A serious event?"
"Possibly."
"Then I shall stay with you."
"No, indeed; you would not be of any service here. Go to Madame Bonaparte's. I may be mistaken, but, should anything extraordinary happen, which appears to you alarming, send me word some way or other.
Anything will do; I shall understand half a word."
"Very good, my dear; I will go. The hope of being useful to you is sufficient."
"Do go!"
Just then the usher entered, and said:
"General Moulins is at my heels; citizen Barras is in his bath, and will soon be here; citizens Sieyes and Ducos went out at five o'clock this morning, and have not yet returned."
"They are the two traitors!" said Gohier; "Barras is only their dupe."
Then kissing his wife, he added: "Now, go."
As she turned round, Madame Gohier came face to face with General Moulins. He, for his character was naturally impetuous, seemed furious.
"Pardon me, citizeness," he said. Then, rushing into Gohier's study, he cried: "Do you know what has happened, president?"
"No, but I have my suspicions."
"The legislative body has been transferred to Saint-Cloud; the execution of the decree has been intrusted to General Bonaparte, and the troops are placed under his orders."
"Ha! The cat's out of the bag!" exclaimed Gohier.
"Well, we must combine, and fight them."
"Have you heard that Sieyes and Ducos are not in the palace?"
"By Heavens! they are at the Tuileries! But Barras is in his bath; let us go to Barras. The Directory can issue decrees if there is a majority.
We are three, and, I repeat it, we must make a struggle!"
"Then let us send word to Barras to come to us as soon as he is out of his bath."
"No; let us go to him before he leaves it."
The two Directors left the room, and hurried toward Barras' apartment.
They found him actually in his bath, but they insisted on entering.
"Well?" asked Barras as soon as he saw them.