164 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



to believe that if the intervention of an armed force is 

 necessary, the regiments forming the garrison of Paris will 

 not be very zealous in their obedience." 



" Who told you this r 



" One of the most influential members of the opposition, 

 who assured me that the regiments were already in contact 

 with the liberal deputies." 



" It is a boast without foundation, that they wished to 

 communicate to me through your means, General." 



"Not entirely so. Two hours ago I was in Paris, and 

 can assure you that a great fermentation was caused by 

 the reading of the Moniteur. Everybody seemed seized 

 with consternation. The journalists talked of protestation, 

 of resistance. In my opinion, the stakes of the king appear 

 too heavy on the game the ministers are playing." 



" And you think ?" 



" That the repeal of the ordonnances is the only chance 

 for the king to be the winner." 



Charles X. smiled with an air of incredulity. 



"You desire, then, that I should precipitate France 

 beneath the knife of a second '89 and '93. Can I consent 

 to it 1 Certainly not. I have done my best, and shall not 

 be mistaken. Wait a little, and the issue will prove the 

 justice of my cause." 



Monsieur de Girardin was silent. 



" My dear Armand," said the king, addressing his vis-a-vis, 

 "the General is no great partizan of the policy of your 

 brother." 



" Sire," replied the grand huntsman, with marked em- 

 phasis, " we are both anxious to arrive at the same end- 

 the welfare of France, and the consolidation of the royal 

 power; but it seems, indeed, that we differ essentially as to 

 the means." 



" It is particularly on the question of the British alliance 



