"'
'Addressed to a chemist in Amiens,' said Savary, turning over the
letter. 'A poisoner then, on the top of his other virtues. I wonder
for whom this essence of almonds which leaves no trace was intended.'
'I wonder,' said I.
After all, he was my uncle, and he was dead, so why should I say
further?
CHAPTER XVII
THE END
General Savary rode straight to Pont de Briques to report to the
Emperor, while Gerard returned with me to my lodgings to share a bottle
of wine. I had expected to find my Cousin Sibylle there, but to my
surprise there was no sign of her, nor had she left any word to tell us
whither she had gone.
It was just after daybreak in the morning when I woke to find an equerry
of the Emperor with his hand upon my shoulder.
'The Emperor desires to see you, Monsieur de Laval,' said he.
'Where?'
'At the Pont de Briques.'
I knew that promptitude was the first requisite for those who hoped to
advance themselves in his service. In ten minutes I was in the saddle,
and in half an hour I was at the chateau. I was conducted upstairs to a
room in which were the Emperor and Josephine, she reclining upon a sofa
in a charming dressing-gown of pink and lace, he striding about in his
energetic fashion, dressed in the curious costume which he assumed
before his official hours had begun--a white sleeping suit, red Turkish
slippers, and a white bandanna handkerchief tied round his head, the
whole giving him the appearance of a West Indian planter.
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