[4] Court of Peers, _Depositions of witnesses_, pp. 71, 81, 88, 94. They landed, and were met by the custom-house officers of Vimereux. M. Louis Bonaparte began proceedings, by offering the lieutenant of the guard a pension of 1,200 francs. The magistrate: "Did you not offer the commandant of the station a sum of money if he would march with you?"--The Prince: "I caused it to be offered him, but he refused it."[5] [5] Court of Peers, _Cross examination of the accused_, p. 13. They arrived at Boulogne. His aides-de-camp--he had some already--wore, hanging from their necks, tin cases full of gold pieces. Others came next with bags of small coins in their hands.[6] Then they threw money to the fishermen and the peasants, inviting them to cry: "Long live the Emperor!"--"Three hundred loud-mouthed knaves will do the thing," had written one of the conspirators.[7] Louis Bonaparte approached the 42nd, quartered at Boulogne. [6] Court of Peers, _Depositions of witnesses_, pp. 103, 185, etc. [7] The President: Prisoner Querelles, these children that cried out, are not they the three hundred loud-mouthed knaves that you asked for in your letter?--(Trial at Strasburg.) He said to the voltigeur Georges Koehly: "_I am Napoleon_; you shall have promotion, decorations." He said to the voltigeur Antoine Gendre: "_I am the son of Napoleon_; we are going to the Hotel du Nord to order a dinner for you and me." He said to the voltigeur Jean Meyer: "_You shall be well paid._" He said to the voltigeur Joseph Meny: "_You must come to Paris; you shall be well paid._"[8] [8] Court of Peers, _Depositions of witnesses_, pp. 142, 143, 155, 156, 158. An officer at his side held in his hand his hat full of five-franc pieces, which he distributed among the lookers-on, saying: "_Shout, Long live the Emperor!_" The grenadier Geoffroy, in his evidence, characterises in these words the attempt made on his mess by an officer and a sergeant who were in the plot: "The sergeant had a bottle in his hand, and the officer a sabre." In these few words is the whole 2nd of December. Let us proceed:-- "Next day, June 17, the commandant, Mesonan, who I thought had gone, entered my room, announced by my aide-de-camp. I said to him, 'Commandant, I thought you were gone!'--'No, general, I am not gone. I have a letter to give you.'--'A letter? And from whom?'--'Read it, general.' "I asked him to take a seat; I took the letter, but as I was opening it, I saw that the address was--_a M. le Commandant Mesonan_. I said to him: 'But, my dear Commandant, this is for you, not for me.'--'Read it, General!'--I opened the letter and read thus:--