The Project Gutenberg EBook of Monsieur Violet, by Frederick Marryat

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Title: Monsieur Violet

Author: Frederick Marryat

Release Date: September 9, 2004 [EBook #13405]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MONSIEUR VIOLET ***

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THE

TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES

OF

MONSIEUR VIOLET

IN

_California, Sonora, and Western Texas_

BY

CAPTAIN MARRYAT

AUTHOR OF "KING'S OWN," "PACHA OF MANY TALES," "VALERIE," "SETTLERS
IN CANADA," "MASTERMAN READY," "POOR JACK," ETC., ETC.

_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS_

GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS

LONDON: BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL
NEW YORK: 9 LAFAYETTE PLACE

[Illustration: "Spying through an opera-glass at the majestic animals
which he could not approach."]

TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES

OF

MONSIEUR VIOLET

CHAPTER I.

The Revolution of 1830, which deprived Charles the Tenth of the throne
of France, like all other great and sudden changes, proved the ruin of
many individuals, more especially of many ancient families who were
attached to the Court, and who would not desert the exiled monarch in
his adversity. Among the few who were permitted to share his fortunes
was my father, a noble gentleman of Burgundy, who at a former period and
during a former exile, had proved his unchangeable faith and attachment
to the legitimate owners of the crown of France.

The ancient royal residence of Holyrood having been offered, as a
retreat, to his unhappy master, my father bade an eternal adieu to his
country; and with me, his only son, then but nine years of age, followed
in the suite of the monarch, and established himself in Edinburgh.

Our residence in Scotland was not long. Charles the Tenth decided upon
taking up his abode at Prague. My father went before him to make the
necessary arrangements; and as soon as his master was established there,
he sought by travel to forget his griefs. Young as I was, I was his
companion. Italy, Sicily, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and the Holy Land were
all visited in the course of three years, after which time we returned
to Italy; an