Pagina 785 di 896

"Early in the morning, the rouleau of gold was left at my door in

a little box, with my name on the outside. From the first, I had

anxiously considered what I ought to do. I decided, that day, to

write privately to the Minister, stating the nature of the two

cases to which I had been summoned, and the place to which I had

gone: in effect, stating all the circumstances. I knew what Court

influence was, and what the immunities of the Nobles were, and I

expected that the matter would never be heard of; but, I wished

to relieve my own mind. I had kept the matter a profound secret,

even from my wife; and this, too, I resolved to state in my

letter. I had no apprehension whatever of my real danger; but I

was conscious that there might be danger for others, if others

were compromised by possessing the knowledge that I possessed.