COLONEL BISSON. 113 



communications. He proves, besides, that he could not 

 have had secret interviews at his house. He added : 

 "I feel that people will say if it was not at your house it 

 was elsewhere. Well, I declare, that during all the dura- 

 tion of my directorial functions, I have not gone out twelve 

 times without being accompanied by my wife, my sisters, 

 or my children ! " 



It is possible, Gentlemen, that in France, that else- 

 where, men in power may have had this simplicity of 

 habits, not to say integrity ; but I will acknowledge it, 

 the rumour has not reached me. 



I have been speaking to you of the Man ; now I will 

 treat of the Minister. 



At the battle of Messenheim (1800), near Inspruck, 

 Championnet remarks the temerity, the intrepidity of 

 Colonel Bisson, and demands for him, with the applause 

 of all the army, the epaulettes of a General of Brigade. 

 Weeks elapse, and the commission does not arrive. Bis- 

 son grows impatient, goes to Paris, obtains an interview 

 with the Minister, and in his anger, apostrophizes him in 

 a rough manner. " Young man," Carnot calmly replied 

 to him, " it is possible that I may have committed an 

 error; but your improper manners, really, might disin- 

 cline me to repair it. Go, I will attentively examine 

 your services." "My services! Ah ! I know too well 

 that you despise them, you, who from the shelter of your 

 cabinet coolly send us the order to die. Protected from 

 danger, and from the rigour of the seasons, you have 

 already forgotten, and you will continue to forget, that 



our blood flows, and that we lie on the hard ." 



" Colonel, this is too much ! For your own interests, 

 our interview must not continue in this tone. Retire ! 

 Your address, if you please ? Go ! you will shortly hear 

 from me." 



