The Second Funeral of Napoleon
Page: 28

Did the French nation, or did they not, intend to offer up some of
us English over the imperial grave? And were the games to be
concluded by a massacre? It was said in the newspapers that Lord
Granville had despatched circulars to all the English resident in
Paris, begging them to keep their homes. The French journals
announced this news, and warned us charitably of the fate intended
for us. Had Lord Granville written? Certainly not to me. Or had
he written to all EXCEPT ME? And was I THE VICTIM--the doomed one?--
to be seized directly I showed my face in the Champs Elysees, and
torn in pieces by French Patriotism to the frantic chorus of the
"Marseillaise?" Depend on it, Madam, that high and low in this city
on Tuesday were not altogether at their ease, and that the bravest
felt no small tremor! And be sure of this, that as his Majesty
Louis Philippe took his nightcap off his royal head that morning, he
prayed heartily that he might, at night, put it on in safety.

Well, as my companion and I came out of doors, being bound for the
Church of the Invalides, for which a Deputy had kindly furnished us
with tickets, we saw the very prettiest sight of the whole day, and
I can't refrain from mentioning it to my dear, tender-hearted Miss
Smith.

In the same house where I live (but about five stories nearer the
ground) lodges an English family, consisting of-- 1. A great-
grandmother, a hale, handsome old lady of seventy, the very best-
dressed and neatest old lady in Paris. 2. A grandfather and
grandmother, tolerably young to bear that title. 3. A daughter.
And 4. Two little great-grand, or grandchildren, that may be of the
age of three and one, and belong to a son and daughter who are in
India. The grandfather, who is as proud of his wife as he was
thirty years ago when he married, and pays her compliments still
twice or thrice in a day, and when he leads her into a room looks
round at the persons assembled, and says in his heart, "Here,
gentlemen, here is my wife--show me such another woman in England,"--
this gentleman had hired a room on the Champs Elysees, for he would
not have his wife catch cold by exposing her to the balconies in the