Part 35 (1/2)

M. Boulay de la Meurthe was a stout, kindly man, bald, pot-bellied, short, enormous, with a short nose and a not very long wit. He was a friend of Hard, whom he called _mon cher_, and of Jerome Bonaparte, whom he addressed as ”your Majesty.”

The a.s.sembly, on January 20, made him Vice-President of the Republic.

It was somewhat sudden, and unexpected by everybody except himself. This latter fact was evident from the long speech learned by heart that he delivered after being sworn in. At its conclusion the a.s.sembly applauded, then a roar of laughter succeeded the applause. Everybody laughed, including himself; the a.s.sembly out of irony, he in good faith.

Odilon Barrot, who since the previous evening had been keenly regretting that he did not allow himself to be made Vice-President, contemplated the scene with a shrug of the shoulders and a bitter smile.

The a.s.sembly followed Boulay de la Meurthe, congratulated and gratified, with its eyes, and in every look could be read this: ”Well, I never! He takes himself seriously!”

When he was taking the oath, in a voice of thunder which made everybody smile, Boulay de la Meurthe looked as if he were dazzled by the Republic, and the a.s.sembly did not look as if it were dazzled by Boulay de la Meurthe.

DUPIN.

Dupin has a style of wit that is peculiar to himself. It is Gaulish, tinged with the wit of a limb of the law and with jovial grossness. When the vote upon the bill against universal suffrage was about to be taken some member of the majority, whose name I have forgotten, went to him and said:

”You are our president, and moreover a great legist. You know more about it than I do. Enlighten me, I am undecided. Is it true that the bill violates the Const.i.tution?”

Dupin appeared to think for a moment and then replied:

”No, it doesn't violate it, but it lifts its clothes up as high as possible!”

This reminds me of what he said to me the day I spoke upon the Education Bill. Baudin had permitted me to take his turn to speak, and I went up to the presidential chair to notify Dupin.

”Ah! you are going to speak! So much the better!” said he; and pointing to M. Barthelemy Saint Hilaire, who was then occupying the tribune and delivering a long and minute technical speech against the measure, added:

”He is rendering you a service. He is doing the preparatory work. He is turning the bill's trousers down. This done you will be able to at once--”

He completed the phrase with the expressive gesture which consists of tapping the back of the fingers of the left hand with the fingers of the right hand.

LOUIS BONAPARTE.

I. HIS DEBUTS.

II. HIS ELEVATION TO THE PRESIDENCY.

III. THE FIRST OFFICIAL DINNER.

IV. THE FIRST MONTH.

V. FEELING HIS WAY.