126 Jeanette Needham. 
appeared.”° His numerous visits to the capital were believed 
to have a very definite purpose behind them. It was generally 
assumed that a plot was on foot to place the royal authority in 
some form, in his hands, and there is evidence to indicate that 
a popular movement of some proportions aimed at such a change. 
One eyewitness in Paris, writing on July 4, 1789, says that he 
had seen manuscript placards which stated that if the Duc 
d’Orléans wished to accept the crown, sixty to seventy thousand 
men offered it to him. The Austrian ambassador, Mercy, 
believed that a movement in favor of the Duc d’Orléans existed.#4 
The latter’s own personality and his troubles with the reigning 
family, which culminated in his exile to Villers-Cotterets in his 
hereditary domain, inclined him to play a demagogic réle. The 
situation in Paris and Versailles gave him excellent opportunities 
“to act the part. Duquesnoy calls attention to his reputed utter- 
ance on his return from exile: ‘“‘ They will repent of this.’’? In 
fulfilment of that threat, it was commonly believed that he 
incited popular disturbances and demonstrations against the 
upper classes and the government.”* His money was credited 
with providing the continual and enormous displays of fireworks 
at the Palais Royal.2* Furthermore, as will be shown later, he 
was accused of causing, or; at least, of encouraging the disloyalty 
of the troops to the government. The corruption of both people 
and troops was highly essential if he meditated playing the 
role ascribed to him. That he did pose as a liberal and as a 
champion of the people is well known. Duquesnoy claims that 
the Abbé Sieyés drafted the duke’s cahier, and that, although 
they were rarely seen together, they were on terms of intimacy.” 
20 Desmoulins, II, 84; Bailli de Virieu, 98. The latter gives an account 
of the duke’s visit to the Palais Royal on June 18, when a very affecting scene 
occurred between him and the people. 
21 Correspondance d’un député . . . avec la Marquise de Crequy, Documents 
inédits, Revue de la rév., I1, 39; Bulletins d'un agent secret, La rév. frang., XXIV, 
70; Mercy to Joseph II, Letter of July 4, 1789, given by Wertheimer, in Revue 
historique, XXV, 327-8. 
22 Duquesnoy, I, 145; Maleissye, 15. The latter refers to his attitude 
toward the king. 
23 Young, 181; Duquesnoy, I, 145; Maleissye, 18-19. 
24 Young, 184. 
% Duquesnoy, I, 145. 
240 
