The more power someone had once held, the more heartbreaking they looked after falling from grace. During the Coup of Fructidor, Carnot had been forced into exile in Germany and Switzerland for opposing constitutional violations. After the Coup of 18 Brumaire, he returned to France and was appointed Minister of War and a member of the Council of Five Hundred by Napoleon, though he was essentially left idle.
He seemed especially restrained when facing a little Englishwoman. Georgiana could not help thinking of the Parlement of Paris judges who had been exiled by Louis XV and recalled by Louis XVI. They had lost the spirit to contend with the king and instead formed alliances for profit and self-preservation.
Such a person could not be used in Belgium.
Yet she was not completely disappointed in Carnot. He had not fawned over her like those flatterers gathered around Napoleon. He still maintained the dignity of calling her "Your Excellency." Perhaps this newly learned caution would be useful elsewhere, so she politely saw him onto his carriage herself and watched him leave the Grand Trianon. Then she climbed into another carriage, driven by Gaudin and Maret of the Imperial Guard, and headed for her rendezvous.
Once inside the carriage, she opened a letter. There was nothing on it to identify its sender, only a single line: Meet me on Rue de la Victoire.
Had Maret not delivered the letter, she would never have paid it any attention. Maret was the Imperial Guard commander who had accompanied her in Vincennes Forest. He was likely one of Napoleon's confidants and knew things others did not, such as the address of the house on Rue de la Victoire.
She felt excited, nervous, and a little thrilled. Before going there, however, she needed to visit Place du