The Tricolour is part of themselves: it is a part of
their very souls; it is more than a flag, it is almost a religion.
I wonder that in 1875 it never occurred to any one to suggest to
the Comte de Chambord the ingenious expedient of the Des Cars
boys. The Tricolour would be retained as the national flag, but
the King could have as his personal standard a white flag bordered
with almost invisible bands of blue and red. Technically, it would
still be a tricolour, and on the white expanse the golden fleur-
de-lys of the Bourbons could be embroidered, or any other device.
Even had the Comte de Chambord ascended the throne, I am convinced
that his tenure of it as Henri V. would have been a very brief
one, given the temperament of the French nation.
My youngest brother managed to contract typhoid fever at Cannes
about this time, and during his convalescence he was moved to an
hotel standing on much higher ground than our villa, on account of
the fresher air there. A Madame Goldschmidt was staying at this
hotel, and she took a great fancy to the little fellow, then about
six years old.
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