person in the world
who, at that time, would have looked upon Thiers as a conspirator, of
whom he was making himself, by such protection, the vile associate." (P.
33.)

This should settle the point, and yet it does nothing of the kind; for,
as if it were necessary that a mystery should involve all the actions of
this man's life, and even comprehend his friends, we find in this very
volume, and in immediate succession to the energetic disclaimer we have
just quoted, the most elaborate proofs of his "complicity" in that
"conspiracy," which ended by dethroning one monarch and elevating
another. A single passage will set this matter at rest forever, and here
it is:

"It has been to this day a matter of speculation whether the Duke of
Orleans had anticipated being called to the throne, or whether it was
the force of circumstances which had brought him to it. These are the
facts: Although the Duke of Orleans had for a long time looked upon the
event of a change in the dynasty as _possible_, and was most certainly
_prepared_[22] to place the crown upon his own head in case of such an
event, yet even so late as the 30th of July he hesitated to grasp it,
and resisted the arguments and persuasions of Thiers. It is a known fact
that the duke was concealed in the environs of Neuilly in fear of a
popular outbreak, when a secret message from M. de Talleyrand, which he
received on the evening of that day, caused him to decide at length upon
re-entering Paris, and proclaiming himself Lieutenant-General of the
Kingdom--the head of the new power. The new king soon forgot, however,
this proof of attachment (attachment!!) on the part of his old friend;
and M. de Talleyrand, who knew that kings, even when chosen by the will
of the people, are, for the most part, compelled to be _illustres
ingrats_, never, during the years which followed these events, alluded
to the circumstances which brought about the _avenement_ of Louis
Philippe." (P. 35.)

And again:

"Now came the time when the high intelligence and marvelous sagacity of
the prince were brought into action, and I hesitate not to repeat, saved
the country. M. de Talleyrand dispatched to Neuilly, with all possible
speed, a little billet written with his own hand. The bearer was a
person of high courage and great integrity, and was charged, should he
fall into danger, to destroy the billet. He could not in honor read its
contents, but saw that there were but few words traced upon th