Ask M.de Gallo if this be not true." Bottot wished to offer some excuse; but the general murmur which followed this singular outburst reduced him to silence.
The Marquis de Gallo had conversed with me but three days before, in the park of Passeriano, on the subject of my position with regard to France, of the determination expressed by the Directory not to erase my name, and of the risk I thereby ran.

"We have no desire," continued he, "to renew the war; we wish sincerely for peace; but it must be an honourable one.
The Republic of Venice presents a large territory for partition, which would be sufficient for both parties.

The cessions at present proposed are not, however, satisfactory.

We want to know Bonaparte's ultimatum; and I am authorised to offer an estate in Bohemia, with a title and residence, and an annual revenue of 90,000 florins." I quickly interrupted M.de Gallo, and assured him that both my conscience and my duty obliged me to reject his proposal; and so put at once an end to the conversation.
I took care to let the General-in-Chief know this story, and he was not surprised at my reply.

His conviction, however, was strong, from all that M.de Gallo had said, and more particularly from the offer he had made, that Austria was resolved to avoid war, and was anxious for peace.
After I had retired to rest M.Bottot came to my bedroom and asked me, with a feigned surprise, if it was true that my name was still on the list of emigrants.