and turned to Dormer Colville to say in an undertone:

"Ah--but you need say nothing."

"I promised you," answered Colville, carelessly, "that I should tell
you nothing till you had seen him."



CHAPTER III. THE RETURN OF "THE LAST HOPE"



Not only France, but all Europe, had at this time to reckon with one
who, if, as his enemies said, was no Bonaparte, was a very plausible
imitation of one.

In 1849 France, indeed, was kind enough to give the world a
breathing space. She had herself just come through one of those
seething years from which she alone seems to have the power of
complete recovery. Paris had been in a state of siege for four
months; not threatened by a foreign foe, but torn to pieces by
internal dissension. Sixteen thousand had been killed and wounded
in the streets. A ministry had fallen. A ministry always does fall
in France. Bad weather may bring about such a descent at any
moment. A monarchy had been thrown down--a king had fled. Another
king; and one who should have known better than to put his trust in
a people.

Half a dozen generals had attempted to restore order in Paris and