THE LAST CHASSE OF CHARLES X. 159 



"What do you mean?" asked General Bougard, who had 

 neither moved hand nor foot, and whose features expressed 

 the deepest affliction. 



"What I mean is simple enough. That the country- 

 should be called to order, and all these revolutionists of the 

 Chambre be silenced. What is now passing, Monsieur, is 

 much too serious in my opinion for the subject of a joke. 

 But I assure you, general, I speak perfectly seriously." 



" I have just arrived from Paris," said M. Pradelle, " and 

 I can positively state that a visible agitation is everywhere 

 manifest. The political horizon predicts a storm." 



" I believe it," said M. le Compte Hoquart. 



" But, gentlemen, what can be done to do away with the 

 present state of disorder? Things have arrived at no less a 

 crisis than a refusal to pay the taxes. What seditious asso- 

 ciations are assembled for this purpose, and how the press 

 kindles and supports the flame !" 



" I cannot precisely say what is to be done," answered 

 the Compte Hoquart, with modesty full of reserve. "I 

 do not pretend to search to the bottom of such a deep poli- 

 tical question. I do not deny that there is certainly some- 

 thing important to do ; but I am convinced that what is done 

 is not right." 



" Finis coronat opus," 



"Monsieur," said General Bougard, "you are most of 

 you comparatively young men, and can take your chances of 

 a new revolution. Re volutions in France generally end by 

 a restoration of order; but I, who have seen all the horrors 

 of 1789, cannot look upon the measures the king has adopted 

 without terror. It seems to me that I have nothing to do 

 but to seize my pilgrim's staff, and take my departure 

 once more as a poor emigrant." 



" Take courage, gentlemen ; things are not so bad as you 

 suppose them to be," reiterated M. Duchesne, again rubbing 



