The fact is, the King, Henri, had an understanding with the garrisons of
some of the forts, and expected all would declare for him. However, of
the twenty-four forts which we have described, eight only--and by
the means of Marshal Soult, who had grown extremely devout of late
years--declared for Henri, and raised the white flag: while eight
others, seeing Prince John Thomas Napoleon before them in the costume
of his revered predecessor, at once flung open their gates to him, and
mounted the tricolor with the eagle. The remaining eight, into which the
Princes of the blood of Orleans had thrown themselves, remained
constant to Louis Philippe. Nothing could induce that Prince to quit the
Tuileries. His money was there, and he swore he would remain by it. In
vain his sons offered to bring him into one of the forts--he would not
stir without his treasure. They said they would transport it thither;
but no, no: the patriarchal monarch, putting his finger to his aged
nose, and winking archly, said “he knew a trick worth two of that,” and
resolved to abide by his bags.
The theatres and cafes remained open as usual: the funds rose three
centimes. The Journal des Debats published three editions of different
tones of politics: one, the Journal de l'Empire, for the Napoleonites;
the Journal de la Legitimite another, very complimentary to the
Legitimate monarch; and finally, the original edition, bound heart
and soul to the dynasty of July. The poor editor, who had to write all
three, complained not a little that his salary was not raised: but the
truth is, that, by altering the names, one article did indifferently for
either paper. The Duke of Brittany, under the title of Louis XVII., was
always issuing manifestoes from Charenton, but of these the Parisians
took little heed: the Charivari proclaimed itself his Gazette, and was
allowed to be very witty at the expense of the three pretenders.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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