His Excellency [Son Exc. Eugène Rougon]Zola, Émile
History
His Excellency [Son Exc. Eugène Rougon]
Zola, Émile
France -- History -- Second Empire, 1852-1870 -- Fiction
Suddenly the anxious multitude beheld a company of trumpeters upon
the empty bridge. There was a great sigh of expectation. Behind the
trumpeters and the mounted band which followed them, came a general,
escorted by his staff. Then, behind squadrons of carabineers,
dragoons and hussars, followed the state-carriages. There were eight
of them, each drawn by six horses. In those that came first sat the
ladies-in-waiting, the chamberlains, the officers of the household of
the Emperor and Empress, and the ladies in attendance upon the Grand
Duchess of Baden, who had been deputed to represent the young prince's
godmother. Gilquin, without letting go his hold of Madame Correur, told
her from behind that the godmother, the Queen of Sweden, had not put
herself out any more than the godfather had done. Then, as the seventh
and eighth carriages went past, he told her the names of those who
occupied them, with a glibness which bespoke great familiarity with
court matters. Those two ladies, he said, were the Princess Mathilde
and the Princess Marie. Those three gentlemen were King Jérôme, Prince
Napoleon and the Crown Prince of Sweden. The lady with them was the
Grand Duchess of Baden. Meanwhile, the procession swept on slowly. The
equerries and aides-de-camp and gentlemen-in-waiting all rode with
short reins to keep their horses at a walk.
'But where is the baby?' asked Madame Charbonnel impatiently.
'Oh! don't be frightened,' said Gilquin, with a laugh; 'they haven't
put him under a seat. Wait a little and you'll see him.'
So saying, he tightened his grasp round Madame Correur, who allowed him
to do so, she explained, because she was afraid of slipping into the
water. Then, growing enthusiastic over the display, he continued, while
his eyes glistened brightly: 'Isn't it really splendid? See how they
take their ease, the rascals, in their satin-quilted coaches! And to
think that I worked for all this!'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account