Besides," he added, in muffled tones, "I thought I told you that I did not care to marry." Bonaparte smiled.

"Why don't you say offhand that you intend becoming a Trappist father ?" "Faith, general, re-establish the cloisters and remove these opportunities for me to try to get myself killed, which, thank God! are not lacking, and you have guessed what my end will be." "Are you in love?
Is this the result of some woman's faithlessness ?" "Good!" said Roland, "so you think I am in love! That is the last straw!" "Do you complain of my affection when I wished to marry you to my sister ?" "But the thing is impossible now! Your three sisters are all married--one to General Leduc, one to Prince Bacciocchi, and the third to Murat." "In short," said Bonaparte, laughing, "you feel easy and settled in your mind.

You think yourself rid of my alliance." "Oh, general!" exclaimed Roland.
"You are not ambitious, it seems ?" "General, let me love you for all the good you have done to me, and not for what you seek to do." "But suppose it is for my own interests that I seek to bind you to me, not by the ties of friendship alone, but also by those of matrimony.
Suppose I say to you: In my plans for the future I cannot rely upon my two brothers, whereas I could never for one instant doubt you ?" "In heart, yes, you are right." "In all respects! What can I do with Leclerc--a commonplace man; with Bacciocchi--who is not French; with Murat--lion-hearted and feather-brained?
And yet some day I shall have to make princes of them because they are my sisters' husbands.

When that time comes, what can I make of you ?" "A marshal of France." "And afterward ?" "Afterward?
I should say that was enough." "And then you would be one of twelve, and not a unity of your own." "Let me be simply your friend.

Let me always thresh out the truth with you, and then I'll warrant I shall be out of the crowd." "That may be enough for you, Roland, but it is not enough for me," persisted Bonaparte.