“AndItoldyou，Fouche，thatifyoudothis——ifyoubecomearegicideasecondtime——Iwillbeyourunappeasableenemyyourwholelifelong；Iwillundertaketoavengeonyouthedeathofthequeenandherson；Iwillfollowyoureverystepwithmyhate，andwillnotresttillIhaveoverthrownyou。AndyouknowwellthatBonapartelovesme，thatIhaveinfluencewithhim，andthatwhatI
meantodo，Iaccomplishatlastbyprayers，tears，andfrowns。Sodonotexasperateme，Fouche；donotmakemeyourirreconcilableenemy。Savethesonofthekingwhomyoukilled，conciliatetheshadesofhisunhappyparents。Fouche，weareinthecabinetofthequeen!Heresheoftentarried，heresheoftenpressedhersontoherheart，andaskedGod’sblessingonhim。Fouche，thespiritofMarieAntoinetteiswithus，andshewillknowitifyouinpitysparethelifeofherson。MarieAntoinettewillaccuseyouatthethroneofGod，andpleadwithGodtoshowyounocompassion，ifyourefusetobemercifultoherson。Fouche，inthenameofthequeen——onmyknees——Iimploreyou，saveherson!“
AndJosephine，herfacebathedintears，sankbeforehimandraisedherfoldedhandssuppliantlytoFouche。Theminister，deeplymoved，palewiththerecollectionswhichJosephineawakenedwithinhim，stoopeddowntoher，andbadeherarise；andwhensherefused，andbeggedandthreatened，andwept，hisobstinacywasatlasttouched，orperhapshisprudence，whichcounselledhimtomakeafriend，ratherthananenemy，outoftheall-powerfulwifeofthefutureemperor。
“Rise，madame，“hesaid。“Whatmortalisabletoresistyourrequests，sinceBonapartehimselfcannot？Iwillsaveyourprotege，whatevershallcometomeafterwardfromit。“
Shesprangup，andinthewildnessofherjoythrewherbeautifularmsaroundFouche’sneck，andkissedhim。