But Fouche, who was at once informed, not only of his presence in France, but also of his actual hiding-place, pretended to know nothing of him.
A few days after the 18th Brumaire, Maret, who became later the Duc de Bassano, Laplace, who continued to be simply a man of science, and Regnault de Saint-Jean-d'Angely, who died mad, spoke to the First Consul of M.de Fontanes and of his presence in Paris, "Present him to me," replied the First Consul simply.
M.de Fontanes was presented to Bonaparte, who, recognizing his supple nature and the unctuous flattery of his eloquence, chose him to deliver the eulogy on Washington, and perhaps something of his own at the same time.
M.de Fontanes' address was too long to be reported here; all that we shall say about it is, that it was precisely what Bonaparte desired.
That evening there was a grand reception at the Luxembourg.

During the ceremony a rumor was spread that the First Consul contemplated removing to the Tuileries.

Persons who were either bold or curious ventured on a few words to Josephine.

She, poor woman, who still saw before her the tumbrel and the scaffold of Marie Antoinette, had an instinctive horror of all that might connect her with royalty; she therefore hesitated to reply and referred all questions to her husband.
Then another rumor began to be bruited about which served as a counterpoise to the former.

Murat, it was said, had asked the hand of Mademoiselle Caroline Bonaparte in marriage.