“I am not surprised that you were not satisfied with the children; until now they have only been restrained by fear, and the circumstances of the journey to Paris brought them petting and kindness of which they have taken too much advantage.  If worse trouble comes to Mme. Acquet, we will do our best to keep them in ignorance of it, and it is to be hoped the same can be done for your mother.”

And so all hope of grace seemed lost for the poor woman, and it would have been very easy to forget her in prison, for who could be specially interested in her death?  Neither Fouche, Real, the prefect nor even Licquet, who, once the verdict was given, seemed to have lost all animosity towards his victims.  Only the imperial procurer, Chapais-Marivaux, seemed determined on the execution of the sentence.  He had already caused two consultations to be held on the subject of Mme. Acquet’s health.  The specialists could not or would not decide upon it, and this gave some hope to Mme. de Combray, who from her cell in Bicetre still presided over all efforts made for her daughter, and continued to hold a firm hand over her family.

As the Emperor had now entered Vienna in triumph, the Marquise thought it a good time to implore once more the conqueror’s pity.  She sent for her son Timoleon on June 1st.  She had decided to send her two eldest grandchildren to Vienna with their aunt Mme. d’Houel and the faithful Ducolombier, who offered to undertake the long journey.  Chauveau-Lagarde drew up a petition for the children to give to Napoleon, and they left Rouen about July 10th, arriving in Vienna the fortnight following the battle of Wagram.  Ducolombier at once sought a means of seeing the Emperor.  Hurried by the Marquise, who allowed no discussion of the methods that seemed good to her, he had started without recommendations, letters of introduction or promises of an audience, and had to wait for chance to give him a moment’s interview with Napoleon.  He established himself with Mme. d’Houel and the children at Schoebruenn, where the imperial quarters were, and by dint of solicitations obtained the privilege of going into the court of the chateau with other supplicants.

The Emperor was away; he had wished to revisit the scene of his brilliant victory, and during the whole day Ducolombier and his companions waited his return on the porch of the chateau.  Towards evening the gate opened, the guard took up arms, drums beat and the Emperor appeared on horseback in the immense courtyard, preceded by his guides and his mameluke, and followed by a numerous staff.  The hearts of the poor little Acquets must have beaten fast when they saw this master of the world from whom they were going to beg their mother’s life.  In a moment the Emperor was upon them; Ducolombier pushed them; they fell on their knees.

Seeing these mourning figures, Napoleon thought he had before him the widow and orphans of some officer killed during the campaign.  He raised the children kindly.