Part 13 (1/2)
This was occasioned by the shock of an earthquake. During the anxious suspense we were in, the servants had rushed into the room with horror in their countenances, exclaiming, ”Oh, mesdames, le chateau va tomber, et nous serons ecrasees!”
”Peace,” said the elder countess; ”remain where you are.” By the time she had spoken the trembling ceased, nor had we another shock. After a short interval we resumed our conversation as if nothing had occurred.
This part of France is much infested with wolves, and I frequently in the night heard them near the house, but I only saw one of them in the day. I fired at him, but as he was at some distance, he escaped without injury.
I had resided with this amiable family nearly a month, when one of the servants who had been to Gueret entered nearly out of breath to say that, ”La belle France etait prise!” At the same time he handed a small printed paper to the mother countess.
She smiled at the idea of the servant's report, and turning to me she said, ”I am rejoiced to be the first to announce to you that you are no longer in captivity. The allied armies have taken Paris and Bonaparte has abdicated. This is the 'Gazette,' I am happy to see once more decorated with the _Fleur de Lys_.”
I kissed her hand for the intelligence, and a.s.sured her although the joyful news was everything I wished, I should much regret quitting her family, where, during my short stay, I could not have experienced more affection and kindness from my own relations than she had shown to me.
On the second day after this delightful intelligence, I took an affectionate leave of the ladies. The count was absent.
At Gueret I joined the same party who had been my companions in misery and fatigue. Our nags had been well taken care of, and the nine hundred and ninety-ninth cousin of the brave, but unfortunate, Bruce deserved praise.
I will not describe our tiresome and wretched journey of nine days. At length we reached Fontainebleau, where we remained two days to rest ourselves as well as the horses. In pa.s.sing through its forest, which is very fine, we were almost poisoned by the stench occasioned by dead men and horses. We saw the palace, and the ink on the table where Bonaparte had signed his abdication was so fresh that it came off by rubbing it a little with the finger.
Two days after we entered Paris, which we found in possession of the allied armies, and it was with the greatest difficulty that we procured lodgings even in the Faubourg St. Antoine. They were at the top of the house, only five stories and an entresol to mount! and alarmingly dear as well as dirty and small. We sold our stud and carriage for a little more than we gave for them.
During the three days we remained in Paris, I visited the Louvre and its stolen goods. It was a brilliant treat; never was any palace so decorated with such gems of art, nor, I hope, under the same circ.u.mstances, ever will be again. On the day Louis le Desire entered, I paid a napoleon for half a window in the Rue St. Denis to view the procession.
Nearly opposite the window the King halted to receive the address from the Moulins and Poissardes, some of whom appeared to me drunk. A child dressed like a cupid, with a chaplet of flowers in its hand, was handed to the d.u.c.h.ess d'Angouleme, who sat on the left hand of the King. I remarked she was much confused and scarcely knew what to do with the child, who was about five years of age, and who put the chaplet on her head. At length she kissed it and returned it to its mother.
The windows of the houses were dressed with pieces of tapestry and white flags, which appeared to my view nothing more than sheets and table-cloths. The Garde Nationale lined the streets, and by the acclamations of, ”Vive Louis le Dix-huit, Louis le Desire, les Bourbons!”
and other cries, all foreigners who had never visited France or conversed with its natives, would have exclaimed, ”Look at these loyal people; how they love the Bourbon dynasty!”
The mounted National Guard who came after the royal carriage out-Heroded Herod by their deafening cries of loyalty. Who would have imagined these gentlemen would have played the harlequin and receive their dethroned Emperor as they did when he entered Paris again? ”Put not your trust in men, particularly Frenchmen in 1814, O ye house of Bourbon, for they made ye march out of France without beat of drum.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE ENTRY OF THE ALLIES INTO PARIS BY THE PORTE ST. MARTIN, MARCH 31, 1814.]
I was much amused with the conduct of the Imperial Guard who followed the national heroes. The Poissardes cried out, ”Vive le Garde Imperiale!” All they uttered was ”Vive les Poissardes!” They looked as black as thunder.
I understood there was a cause of dissatisfaction among them in consequence of a mark of distinction having been given to the shop-keeping soldiers and not any to them. This was the Comte d'Artois' clever policy; at least, so I was informed by my companion who had taken the other half of the window where we stood. My thoughts were seven fathoms deep.
CHAPTER XXVII.
HONOURABLY ACQUITTED.
Obtain a pa.s.sport after some difficulty from Prince Metternich-Start for England _via_ Rouen and Havre-Sail to Spithead-Amused at Englishwomen's queer dress-Return to family-Acquitted for loss of H.M.S. _Apelles_.