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the memoirs of victor hugo-第36章

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This is a trait of character that women often display in trying situations brought about through the stupidity of men。



The ministers escaped; but not without difficulty。  M。 Duchatel; in particular; had a great fright。

M。 Guizot; three days previously; had quitted the Hotel des Capucines and installed himself at the Ministry of the Interior。  He lived there ~en famille~ with M。 Duchatel。

On February 24; MM。 Duchatel and Guizot were about to sit down to luncheon when an usher rushed in with a frightened air。  The head of the column of rioters was debouching from the Rue de Bourgogne。  The two ministers left the table and managed to escape just in time by way of the garden。  Their families followed them: M。 Duchatel's young wife; M。 Guizot's aged mother; and the children。

A notable thing about this flight was that the luncheon of M。 Guizot became the supper of M。 Ledru…Rollin。  It was not the first time that the Republic had eaten what had been served to the Monarchy。

Meanwhile the fugitives had taken the Rue Bellechasse。 M。 Guizot walked first; giving his arm to Mme。 Duchatel。 His fur…lined overcoat was buttoned up and his hat as usual was stuck on the back of his head。  He was easily recognisable。  In the Rue Hillerin…Bertin; Mme。 Duchatel noticed that some men in blouses were gazing at M。 Guizot in a singular manner; She led him into a doorway。  It chanced that she knew the doorkeeper。  They hid M。 Guizot in an empty room on the fifth floor。

Here M。 Guizot passed the day; but he could not stay there。  One of his friends remembered a bookseller; a great admirer of M。 Guizot; who in better days had often declared that he would devote himself to and give his life for him whom he called 〃a great man;〃 and that he only hoped the opportunity for doing so might present itself。  This friend called upon him; reminded him of what he had said; and told him that the hour had come。  The brave bookseller did not fail in what was expected of him。  He placed his house at M。 Guizot's disposal and hid him there for ten whole days。  At the end of that time the eight places in a compartment of a carriage on the Northern Railway were hired。  M。 Guizot made his way to the station at nightfall。 The seven persons who were aiding in his escape entered the compartment with him。  They reached Lille; then Ostend; whence M。 Guizot crossed over to England。

M。 Duchatel's escape was more complicated。

He managed to secure a passport as an agent of the Republic on a mission。  He disguised himself; dyed his eye…brows; put on blue spectacles; and left Paris in a post…chaise。 Twice he was stopped by National Guards in the towns through which he passed。  With great audacity he declared that he would hold responsible before the Republic those who delayed him on his mission。  The word 〃Republic〃 produced its effect。  They allowed the Minister to pass。 The Republic saved M。 Duchatel。

In this way he reached a seaport (Boulogne; I think); believing that he was being hotly pursued; and very nervous in consequence。  A Channel steamer was going to England。 He went on board at night。  He was installing himself for the voyage when he was informed that the steamer would not leave that night。  He thought that he had been discovered and that he was a lost man。  The steamer had merely been detained by the English Consul; probably to facilitate; if necessary; the flight of Louis Philippe。   M。 Duchatel landed again and spent the night and next day in the studio of a woman painter who was devoted to him。

Then he embarked on another steamer。  He went below at once and concealed himself as best he could pending the departure of the vessel。  He scarcely dared to breathe; fearing that at any moment he might be recognised and seized。  At last the steamer got under way。  Hardly had the paddle wheels begun to revolve; however; when shouts of 〃Stop her! Stop her!〃  were raised on the quay and on the boat; which stopped short。  This time the poor devil of a Minister thought it was all up with him。  The hubbub was caused by an officer of the National Guard; who; in taking leave of friends; had lingered too long on deck; and did not want to be taken to England against his will。  When he found that the vessel had cast off he had shouted 〃Stop her! 〃 and his family on the quay had taken up the shout。  The officer was put ashore and the steamer finally started。

This was how M。 Duchatel left France and reached England。




III。  LOUIS PHILIPPE IN EXILE。

May 3; 1848。



The Orleans family in England are literally in poverty; they are twenty…two at table and drink water。  There is not the slightest exaggeration in this。  Absolutely all they have to live upon is an income of about 40;000 francs made up as follows: 24;000 francs a year from Naples; which came from Queen Marie Amélie; and the interest on a sum of 340;000 francs which Louis Philippe had forgotten under the following circumstances: During his last triumphal voyage made in October; 1844; with the Prince de Joinville; he had a credit of 500;000 francs opened for him with a London banker。  Of this sum he spent only 160;000 francs。  He was greatly amazed and very agreeably surprised on arriving in London to find that the balance of the 500;000 francs remained at his disposal。

M。 Vatout is with the Royal Family。  For the whole of them there are but three servants; of whom one; and one only; accompanied them from the Tuileries。  In this state of destitution they demanded of Paris the restitution of what belongs to them in France; their property is under seizure; and has remained so notwithstanding their reclamations。  For different reasons。  One of the motives put forward by the Provisional Government is the debt of the civil list; which amounts to thirty millions。  Queer ideas about Louis Philippe were entertained。  He may have been covetous; but he certainly was not miserly; he was the most prodigal; the most extravagant and least careful of men: he had debts; accounts and arrears everywhere。  He owed 700;000 francs to a cabinet…maker; to his market gardener he owed 70;000 francs *for butter*。

Consequently none of the seals placed on the property could be broken and everything is held to secure the creditorseverything; even to the personal property of the Prince and Princess de Joinville; rentes; diamonds; etc。; even to a sum of 198;000 francs which belongs in her own right to the Duchess d'Orleans。

All that the Royal Family was able to obtain was their clothing and personal effects; or rather what could be found of these。  Three long tables were placed in the theatre of the Tuileries; and on these were laid out all that the revolutionists of February had turned over to the governor of the Tuileries; M。 Durand Saint…Amand。  It formed a queer medleycourt costumes stained and torn; grand cordons of the Legion of Honour that had been trailed through the mud; stars of foreign orders; swords; diamond crowns; pearl necklaces; a collar of the Golden Fleece; etc。  Each legal representative of the princes; an aide…de…camp or secretary; took what he recognised。  It appears that on the whole little was recovered。  The Duke de Nemours merely asked for some linen and in particular his heavy…soled
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