Legitimists. 191 



said, " I regret it much." He took the hint, and 

 went away directly. 



I had been hitherto entirely among the Liberal 

 set. How it came that I was invited to dine with 

 M. Hericourt de Thury, I do not remember. M. de 

 Thury was simple in his manners, and full of in- 

 formation ; he had been Director of the Mines under 

 Napoleon, and had charge of the Public Buildings 

 under Louis XVIII. and Charles X., but resigned 

 his charges at the Revolution of July. At this time 

 the Duchesse de Berry was confined in the citadel of 

 Blaye. She had a strong party in Paris, who 

 furiously resented the treatment she met with. 

 M. de Thury was a moderate Legitimiste, but 

 Madame was ultra. When I happened to mention 

 that we had been staying with Lafayette, at La 

 Grange, she was horrified, and begged of me not to 

 talk politics, or mention where we had been, or 

 else some of her guests would leave the room. The 

 ladies of that party would not dance or go to any 

 gay party ; they had a part of the theatre reserved 

 for themselves ; they wore high dark dresses with 

 long sleeves, called "Robes de Resistance," and 

 even the Legitimiste newspapers appeared with 

 black edges. They criticised those who gave balls, 

 and Lady Granville herself did not escape their 

 censure. The marriage of the Duchesse de Berry to 



