this Bourbon really take
himself seriously? Did he really expect the world to overlook Napoleon,
or did he know as all the world knows to-day, that long after the
Bourbons have sunk into oblivion the name of Napoleon will continue to
be a household word?

If a situation is thus envisaged by a King, what may the wise expect
from a Royalist?

In the absence of the Marquis de Gemosac, Albert de Chantonnay was
considered to be the leader of the party in that quiet corner of
south-western France which lies north of Bordeaux and south of that
great dividing river, the Loire. He was, moreover, looked upon as
representing that younger blood of France, to which must be confided the
hopes and endeavours of the men, now passing away one by one, who had
fought and suffered for their kings.

It was confidently whispered throughout this pastoral country that
August Persons, living in exile in England and elsewhere, were in
familiar and confidential correspondence with the Marquis de Gemosac,
and, in a minor degree, with Albert de Chantonnay. For kings, and
especially deposed kings, may not be choosers, but must take the
instrument that comes to hand. A constitutional monarch is, by the
way, better placed in this respect, for it is his people who push the
instrument into his grasp, and in the long run the people nearly always
read a man aright despite the efforts of a cheap press to lead them
astray.

"If it were not written in the Marquis's own writing I could not
have believed it," said Albert de Chantonnay, speaking aloud his own
thoughts. He turned the letter this way and that, examining first the
back of it and then the front.

"It has not been through the post," he said to the Abbe, who stood
respectfully watching his face, which, indeed, inspired little
confidence, for the chin receded in the wrong way--not like the chin of
a shark, which indicates, not foolishness, but greed of gain--and the
eyes were large and pale like those of a sheep.

"Oh, Heaven forbid!" cried the Abbe. "Such a letter as that! Where
should we all be if it were read by the government? And all know that
letters passing through the post to the address of such as Monsieur
Albert are read in passing--by the Prince President himself, as likely
as not."

Albert gave a short, derisive laugh, and shrugged his shoulders, which
made his admiring mother throw back her head with a gesture, inviting
the Abbe to contemplate, with satisfaction, the mother of