Then she went to Coppet, her father's place, on the Lake of Geneva, which she was later to render so famous; and under the Directory was enabled to resume residence in Paris, though she was more than once under suspicion.

It was at this time that she met Benjamin Constant, the future brilliant orator, and author of _Adolphe_, the only man perhaps whom she ever really loved, but, unluckily, a man whom it was by no means good to love.

For some years she oscillated contentedly enough between Coppet and Paris.

But the return of Bonaparte from Egypt was unlucky for her.

Her boundless ambition, which, with her love of society, was her strongest passion, made her conceive the idea of fascinating him, and through him ruling the world.