“Well, what is it?” asked Louis XVIII . The minister of police, giving way to an impulse of despair, was about to throw himself at the feet of Louis XVIII , who retreated a step and frowned.

“Will you speak?” he said.

“Oh, sire, what a dreadful misfortune! I am, indeed, to be pitied. I can never forgive myself!”

“Monsieur,” said Louis XVIII , “I command you to speak.”

“Well, sire, the usurper left Elba on the 26th February, and landed on the 1st of March.”

“And where? In Italy?” asked the king eagerly.

“In France, sire⁠—at a small port, near Antibes, in the Gulf of Juan.”