would, by slow degrees, be admitted. Peace once firmly established,
it would not be broken over this question. They would be in a
Huguenot country, and able to pass suddenly into Great Britain.' {43}

This was d'Argenson's advice before Henry fled Rome to be made a
cardinal, and before the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, closing Europe
against Charles, was concluded. The object of d'Argenson is plain;
he wished to keep Charles out of the Pope's domains, as England
wanted to drive the Prince into the centre of 'Popery.' If he
resided in Rome, Protestant England would always suspect Charles;
moreover, he would be remote from the scene of action. To the Pope's
domains, therefore, Charles would not go. But the scheme of skulking
in France, Spain, and Navarre had ceased to be possible. He,
therefore, adopted 'the fugitive and hidden life' recommended by
d'Argenson; he secretly withdrew from Avignon, and for many months
his places of residence were unknown.

'Charles,' says Voltaire, 'hid himself from the whole world.' We
propose to reveal his hiding-places.



CHAPTER III--THE PRINCE IN FAIRYLAND--FEBRUARY 1749-SEPTEMBER 1750--
I. WHAT THE WORLD SAID



Europe after Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle--A vast gambling establishment-
-Charles excluded--Possible chance in Poland--Supposed to have gone
thither--'Henry Goring's letter'--Romantic adventures attributed to