.

THE AMBASSADOR.
We have seen that Roland, on returning to the Luxembourg, asked for the First Consul and was told that he was engaged with Fouche, the minister of police.
Roland was a privileged person; no matter what functionary was with Bonaparte, he was in the habit, on his return from a journey, or merely from an errand, of half opening the door and putting in his head.

The First Consul was often so busy that he paid no attention to this head.
When that was the case, Roland would say "General!" which meant, in the close intimacy which still existed between the two schoolmates: "General, I am here; do you need me?
I'm at your orders." If the First Consul did not need him, he replied: "Very good." If on the contrary he did need him, he said, simply: "Come in." Then Roland would enter, and wait in the recess of a window until the general told him what he wanted.
On this occasion, Roland put his head in as usual, saying: "General!" "Come in," replied the First Consul, with visible satisfaction; "come in, come in!" Roland entered.

Bonaparte was, as he had been told, busy with the minister of police.

The affair on which the First Consul was engaged, and which seemed to absorb him a great deal, had also its interest for Roland.
It concerned the recent stoppages of diligences by the Companions of Jehu.
On the table lay three _proces-verbaux_ relating the stoppage of one diligence and two mail-coaches.