Well, Barras--" "Barras ?" "Nothing." Then, changing his mind, "Faith! I may as well tell you.

Do you know what Barras said at dinner yesterday before me?
That it was impossible to go on any longer with the Constitution of the year III.

He admitted the necessity of a dictatorship; said he had decided to abandon the reins of government, and retire; adding that he himself was looked upon as worn-out, and that the Republic needed new men.

Now, guess to whom he thinks of transferring his power.

I give it you, as Madame de Sevigne says, in a hundred, thousand, ten thousand.