He exhorted them to perform their duties vigorously, and owned that he had thought it expedient to send his wife and child out of the country, but assured them that he would himself remain at his post.

While he uttered this unkingly and unmanly falsehood, his fixed purpose was to depart before daybreak.

Already he had entrusted his most valuable moveables to the care of several foreign Ambassadors.

His most important papers had been deposited with the Tuscan minister.

But before the flight there was still something to be done.