ish the chief command in view of the double defeat the army had
suffered under his leadership.

What had happened, then, during the twenty-four hours immediately
following the telegram of M. Franceschini Pietri? Simply this: not only
had the Empress refused to exercise the pressure which would have
afforded her husband an excuse for his return, but she had thrown cold
water on the idea of that return by a despatch virtually
discountenancing that return. The cabinet had not been consulted in this
instance.

Nay, more; the cabinet on the 7th of August despatched, in secret, M.
Maurice Richard, Minister of Arts, which at that time was distinct from
the Ministry of Public Instruction, to inquire into the state of health
of the Emperor and the degree of confidence with which he inspired the
troops. That was on the 7th of August. He went by special train to Metz.
Two hours after he was gone, Adolphe Ollivier told me and Ferrari at the
Cafe de la Paix. A few hours after his return next day, he told us the
result of those inquiries. M. Richard had brought back the worst
possible news.

At a council of ministers, held early on the 9th, M. Emile Ollivier, in
view of the communication made to him by his colleague, proposed the
immediate return of the Emperor, fully expecting M. Richard to support
him. The Empress energetically opposed the plan, and when M. Ollivier
turned, as it were, to M. Richard, the latter kept ominously silent. Not
to mince matters, he had been tampered with. M. Ollivier found himself
absolutely powerless.

A day or so before that--I will not be positive as to the date--M.
Ollivier telegraphed officially to the head-quarters at Metz, to request
the return of the Prince Imperial, in accordance with the generally
expressed wish of the Paris papers. M. Pietri told me that same day that
the minister's telegram had been followed by one in the Empress's
private cipher, expressing her wish that the Prince Imperial should
remain in the army. She did not explain why. She merely recommended the
Emperor to make the promise required, and then to pay no further heed to
it.

The regent had no power to summon parliament, nevertheless she did so,
mainly in order to overthrow the Ollivier ministry. I am perfectly
certain that the Emperor never forgave her for it. If those who were at
Chislehurst are alive when these notes appear, they will probably bear
me out.

What, in fact, could a parliament summoned under such ci