All the negotiations with the Comte de Chambord fell
through, owing to his obstinacy (to which I have referred earlier)
in refusing to accept the Tricolor as the national flag. Possibly
pig-headed obstinacy; but in these days of undisguised
opportunism, it is rare to find a man who deliberately refuses a
throne on account of his convictions. I do not think that the
Comte de Chambord would have been a success in present-day British
politics. A crisis was averted by extending Marshal MacMahon's
tenure of the Presidency to seven years, the "Septennat," as it
was called. Before two years the Orleanists, who had always a keen
appreciation of the side on which their bread was buttered,
"rallied" to the Republic. I rather fancy that some question
connected with the return of the confiscated Orleans fortunes came
into play here. The adherents of the Comte de Chambord always
spoke of him as Henri V. For some reason (perhaps euphony) they
were invariably known as "Henri Quinquists." In the same way, the
French people speak of the Emperor Charles V. as "Charles Quint,"
never as "Charles Cinq.
Pages:
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210