by modernizing restorations; inquiring tenderly
after his aunt, whom she had in her childhood once seen, and still
remembered with her sweet, grave face; paused little for replies; then
turned to Enguerrand with sprightly small-talk on the topics of the day,
and every now and then bringing Alain into the pale of the talk, leading
on insensibly until she got Enguerrand himself to introduce the subject
of the emperor, and the political troubles which were darkening a reign
heretofore so prosperous and splendid.

Her countenance then changed; it became serious, and even grave in its
expression.

"It is true," she said, "that the times grow menacing, menacing not only
to the throne, but to order and property and France. One by one they are
removing all the breakwaters which the empire had constructed between
the executive and the most fickle and impulsive population that ever
shouted 'long live' one day to the man whom they would send to the
guillotine the next. They are denouncing what they call personal
government. Grant that it has its evils; but what would they
substitute,--a constitutional monarchy like the English? That is
impossible with universal suffrage and without an hereditary chamber.
The nearest approach to it was the monarchy of Louis Philippe,--we
know how sick they became of that. A republic?--mon Dieu! composed of
Republicans terrified out of their wits at each other. The moderate
men, mimics of the Girondins, with the Reds and the Socialists and the
Communists, ready to tear them to pieces. And then--What then?--the
commercialists, the agriculturists, the middle class combining to elect
some dictator who will cannonade the mob and become a mimic Napoleon,
grafted on a mimic Necker or a mimic Danton. Oh, Messieurs, I am French
to the core. You inheritors of such names must be as French as I am; and
yet you men insist on remaining more useless to France in the midst of
her need than I am,--I, a woman who can but talk and weep."

The Duchesse spoke with a warmth of emotion which startled and
profoundly affected Alain. He remained silent, leaving it to Enguerrand
to answer.

"Dear Madame," said the latter, "I do not see how either myself or our
kinsman can merit your reproach. We are not legislators. I doubt if
there is a single department in France that would elect us, if we
offered ourselves. It is not our fault if the various floods of
revolution leave men of our birth and opinions stranded wrecks of