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CHAPTER XIII.
LOUIS BONAPARTE'S SIDE-FACE
The minds of all these men, we repeat, were very differently affected.
The extreme Legitimist party, which represents the White of the flag, was
not, it must be said, highly exasperated at the coup d'état. Upon many
faces might be read the saying of M. de Falloux: "I am so satisfied that
I have considerable difficulty in affecting to be only resigned." The
ingenuous spirits cast down their eyes--that is becoming to purity; more
daring spirits raised their heads. They felt an impartial indignation
which permitted a little admiration. How cleverly these generals have
been ensnared! The Country assassinated,--it is a horrible crime; but
they were enraptured at the jugglery blended with the parricide. One of
the leaders said, with a sigh of envy and regret, "We do not possess a
man of such talent." Another muttered, "It is Order." And he added,
"
Alas!" Another exclaimed, "It is a frightful crime, but well carried
out." Some wavered, attracted on one side by the lawful power which
rested in the Assembly, and on the other by the abomination which was in
Bonaparte; honest souls poised between duty and infamy. There was a M.
Thomines Desmazures who went as far as the door of the Great Hall of the
Mairie, halted, looked inside, looked outside, and did not enter. It
would be unjust not to record that others amongst the pure Royalists, and
above all M. de Vatimesnil, had the sincere intonation and the upright
wrath of justice.
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