three o’clock in the morning
Napoleon had been in conference until the dawn of day with Talleyrand , Roderer , and Sieyes . Meanwhile Lucien had gathered around him in a room the members of the Five Hundred who were devoted to him , and had resumed the presidential chair ; Napoleon 's friends among the members of the Council of the Elders also gathered together , and both assemblies issued a decree , in which they declared there was no longer a Directory , and in which they excluded from the assembly as rebellious and factious a vast number of deputies . And more , they decreed the nomination of a provisional commission , and decided that it should consist of three members , who should bear the title of Consuls of the Republic , and they appointed as consuls Sieyes , Ducos , and Bonaparte . At three o'clock in the morning every thing was ready , and Napoleon , accompanied by Bourrienne , went to Paris . He had reached his goal ; he was at the head of the administration , but his countenance betrayed no joyous excitement ; he was taciturn and pensive , and during the whole journey to Paris he spoke not a word , but quietly leaned in a corner of the carriage . Perhaps he dreamed of a great and brilliant future ; perhaps he was busy with the thought how he could ascend higher on this ladder to a throne , whose first step he had now ascended , since he had exalted himself into a consul of the republic . Not till he arrived at his residence in the Rue de la Victoire did Bonaparte 's cheerfulness return , when , with countenance beaming with joy , and followed by Bourrienne , he hastened to Josephine , who , exhausted by anxiety and care during this day full of danger , had finally gone to rest .