Part 30 (2/2)

The artillery went by the railing of the palace, and the staff and the Duke of Nemours by the Pavillon de l'Horloge, their well-trained horses descending the flight of steps. The cavalry followed, succeeded by the infantry.

The National Guards were then introduced by Lieutenant Roche, and entered the court of the Tuileries by the gate of the Rue de Rivoli, their muskets shouldered, with the stock in the air. At the same moment the abdication of the King was declared. General Lamoriciere had resigned. The Ministry was dissolved. There was a tremendous shout, and the conquerors of the Palais Royal rushed in to take possession of the Tuileries!

CHAPTER XXII.

THE LAST SESSION OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.

The usual hour for the opening of the Chamber of Deputies was three o'clock; but the startling events of the last two days, and especially of the last two hours, demanded that it should be convened earlier.

At one o'clock the President of the Chamber, Sauzet, took the chair. On the left bank of the Seine all the approaches were open, save the bridges of the Place de la Concorde, where strong detachments of cavalry were posted on guard.

Within the Chamber all was solemnity. About three hundred members were present. The opposition seemed joyous and confident, though anxious. The conservative party was troubled. The Ministerial benches were deserted.

At half-past one the President turned round in his chair, and kept his eye fixed upon a side door, as if expecting some one to enter. Suddenly a bustle was heard in that direction, and the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans, in deep mourning, attended by her two sons and followed by the Dukes of Montpensier and Nemours, entered. The latter was received with marked expressions of dislike. The Count of Paris, garbed in complete black, was conducted through the crowd to the s.p.a.ce in front of the President's chair; the d.u.c.h.ess followed and seated herself in a fauteuil upon the same spot. On each side of her was one of her sons, and behind her stood her brothers, the Dukes of Nemours and Montpensier. This position was subsequently changed for one more distant, but otherwise remained throughout relatively the same.

Being seated, the d.u.c.h.ess rose and bowed repeatedly to the a.s.sembly. At the same moment an immense mult.i.tude of National Guards and the people rushed in through the pa.s.sages, and despite the shouts of the officers, ”You cannot enter!” the s.p.a.ce beneath the tribune was instantly and densely thronged. At the same time the public tribunes were invaded by a second body of the people.

For some minutes the greatest uproar prevailed. At length it comparatively ceased, and, in a moment of quiet, M. Dupin, who had accompanied the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans to the Chamber, ascended the tribune.

The stillness was instantly as great as had been the previous agitation.

”The King has abdicated,” said M. Dupin. ”The Count of Paris is nominated as his successor and the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans as Regent.”

”It is too late!” shouted a man from the gallery of the people.

”The Count of Paris is proclaimed King by the Chamber and the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans Regent!' exclaimed the President.

”No--no--no!” was the almost unanimous shout that now rose in the Chamber.

”I demand,” cried M. Lamartine, ”that the Royal family withdraw!”

The question was put, and the d.u.c.h.ess and her sons, after great hesitation, were drawn away to a side door, at the further end of the hall. At the same moment a new crowd of the people rushed in and took seats beside the opposition members, by whom they were welcomed.

”I demand to speak!” cried M. Marie. ”By the law of 1842, the Duke of Nemours is Regent. How can the King abrogate that law? I demand a provisional government!”

”A provisional government!” cried M. Cremieux. ”We made a mistake in '30. Let there be no mistake in '48!”

”A provisional government,” said the Abbe Genoude, a Legitimist; ”but it must be the will of the people!”

M. Odillon Barrot, who had been long expected, now entered and immediately mounted the tribune.

”The crown of July rests on the head of a woman and a child!” cried the great lawyer.

The d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans instantly rose, as if about to speak, but, at the urgent solicitation of those around her, resumed her seat.

”I call on the country to rally around this woman and this child,” cried M. Barrot, ”the two-fold representative of the principles of July, '30!”

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