public peace, could not indefinitely accept evasive answers and an equivocal situation.1

The

So it was decided to entrust a fresh Combier mission to a member of the majority. Mission This time M. Combier, deputy for the Ardèche, a former pupil of the Polytechnic School, was chosen, very firm on his formulas," says M. de Falloux. He was to go to Frohsdorf, take an answer from M. Ernoul, Keeper of the Seals, to the note of September 12th, and insist on demanding a modification in the phrase on the flag.

M. Combier made speed. He arrived at Frohsdorf on the 29th, and found himself there at the same time as the Duc de Chartres. This was awkward. In the middle of the satisfaction caused by the visit of the young and brilliant officer, whose conduct during the war had made so great an impression, the Comte de Chambord, whose birthday was being celebrated also on the same date, only granted a somewhat absent attention to the mandatory of M. Ernoul. In a very short audience, M. Combier handed to the Prince the note from the Keeper of the Seals, but he was obliged to return to Paris without having obtained the definite answer which

1 Comte de Falloux, t. ii. p. 557.

2 It certainly seems that the Comte de Paris was not aware of M. Combier's mission, for he writes, in his letter of October 3rd to M. d'Haussonville: "I have a letter from my brother, much pleased with his visit to Frohsdorf. He found M. Combier, who had evidently come to report on the conference of the 29th, at which he was present. The Comte de Chambord told my brother that he was much pleased with the news which M. Combier brought him (words underlined in the text). My brother's impression was excellent, especially of the manner in which they spoke to him of the rôle of the Assembly." (Unpublished

paper.)

VOL. II.

161

M

"but

was impatiently expected. "It is an acceptance
rather than a refusal," said M. de Falloux;
it is not definitely either."

M. Combier returned to Paris on October 3rd. The meeting was fixed for the 4th. No progress had been made.

From this time, the feelings of the Duc de Broglie, on the subject of the attempt at Restoration, became fixed. Having already long felt serious doubts as to its success, he now lost all confidence. Burdened with grave responsibilities, anxious to assure, or at least to reserve, the future, no longer hoping to overcome what M. Merveilleux du Vignaux calls "the easily aroused mistrust of the Comte de Chambord," he prepared for retreat by again bringing forward through his inspired newspapers "the expedient of the prolongation of Marshal MacMahon's powers."

On August 24th, 1873, at the banquet of the General Council of the Eure, he had already uttered these significant words: "Let us foregather round the venerated name of Marshal MacMahon; he is the natural chief of honest men; and if, in concert with him, we assure the safety of France, we shall have brought to light a great moral lesson, one which is more necessary in times of revolution than at any other period: it is, that in private life as in public life, the truest, highest policy consists of honour and virtue."

"We ought to anticipate the obstinacy of which the Comte de Chambord has already given more than one proof," wrote the Duc de Broglie to M. de Falloux about the same time. "We ought, on this hypothesis, to reserve a second solution which would prevent the complete confusion of the Conservative

party. This combination," he added, "would be a temporary, but sufficiently prolonged power which we would entrust to the Marshal.

1 Comte de Falloux, vol. ii. p. 568.

CHAPTER IV

THE SALZBURG INTERVIEW

I. The meeting of October 4th-Constitution of the Committee of Nine-The Quai d'Orsay dinner-First meeting of the Committee of Nine-The Army and the Tricolor-M. Chesnelong deputed by the Committee to visit the Comte de Chambord.

II. The parties and the Restoration-The elections of October 12th-The Left organises opposition.

III.-M. Chesnelong, at Salzburg-His three interviews with the Comte de Chambord-The Salzburg Declarations.

I

Meeting of THE meeting fixed for October 4th

4th, took place at the house of M. Maurice 1873 Aubry, 1, Avenue d'Antin; It was composed of the executives of the four monarchist groups, Extreme Right, Right, Changarnier adherents, and Right Centre.

Here the sense of unity was shown to be less solid than on September 25th. "The emotion felt by all was visible," reports M. de Dampierre: " every one measured his words, and every one felt the responsibility which rested on him."

General Changarnier presided. He recommended discreet concert before the struggle, and discipline during the battle"; then, without opening the debate, he suggested the appointment of a committee to prepare the plan of campaign. The old soldier naturally used military language. After the members of each group had exchanged

their views in an undertone, a somewhat confused debate arose on the President's motion. It was easy to discern a divergence of views between the friends of the Princes of Orleans and those of the Comte de Chambord. The latter did not wish for a Committee. M. de la Rochette, president of the Extreme Right, declared that in his opinion it was necessary to postpone "alike any preparation for the struggle and any debate on fundamental principles."

But the Duc d'Audiffret-Pasquier knew what he wanted. He spoke with vigour as he had done on September 25th. "Where are we," he asked,

on the question of the flag? It would be of importance to know this. As for us-I say it with perfect frankness-on every other point, we will lend ourselves to any honourable agreement, but, on this point, we do not impose anything on the Prince, we impose on ourselves, or rather the country imposes on us, a condition sine quâ non. It must be understood above everything and beforehand that the tricolor flag will be maintained." And the Duke, addressing his colleagues of the Right, ended as follows: "Are we agreed? If there is any opposition, I beg you to proclaim it here and to-day; for the worst of all would be to unite in a false agreement which would only serve to prepare and aggravate the rupture of to-morrow.'

66

The "battle" was engaged and the Right Centre was at once putting forward its ultimatum. The word "" ultimatum was uttered. At this moment, there intervened in the debate an excellent man, who had been following the windings of the crisis with anxiety, and had for some time been taking great pains to find a solution; this was M, Chesnelong, deputy for the Basses-Pyrénées.