Her countenance then changed; it became serious, and even grave in its
expression.

"It is true," she said, "that the times grow menacing, menacing not only
to the throne, but to order and property and France. One by one they are
removing all the breakwaters which the empire had constructed between the
executive and the most fickle and impulsive population that ever shouted
'long live' one day to the man whom they would send to the guillotine the
next. They are denouncing what they call personal government. Grant
that it has its evils; but what would they substitute,--a constitutional
monarchy like the English? That is impossible with universal suffrage
and without an hereditary chamber. The nearest approach to it was the
monarchy of Louis Philippe,--we know how sick they became of that. A
republic?--mon Dieu! composed of Republicans terrified out of their wits
at each other. The moderate men, mimics of the Girondins, with the Reds
and the Socialists and the Communists, ready to tear them to pieces. And
then--What then?--the commercialists, the agriculturists, the middle
class combining to elect some dictator who will cannonade the mob and
become a mimic Napoleon, grafted on a mimic Necker or a mimic Danton.
Oh, Messieurs, I am French to the core. You inheritors of such names
must be as French as I am; and yet you men insist on remaining more
useless to France in the midst of her need than I am,--I, a woman who can
but talk and weep."

The Duchesse spoke with a warmth of emotion which startled and profoundly
affected Alain. He remained silent, leaving it to Enguerrand to answer.

"Dear Madame," said the latter, "I do not see how either myself or our
kinsman can merit your reproach. We are not legislators. I doubt if
there is a single department in France that would elect us, if we offered