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The familiars of the Elysée were of two kinds, the trustworthy
confederates and the courtiers.
The first of the trustworthy confederates was Morny; the first--or the
last--of the courtiers was Mérimée.
This is what made the fortune of M. Mérimée.
Crimes are only glorious during the first moment; they fade quickly. This
kind of success lacks permanency; it is necessary promptly to supplement
it with something else.
At the Elysée a literary ornament was wanted. A little savor of the
Academy is not out of place in a brigand's cavern. M. Mérimée was
available. It was his destiny to sign himself "the Empress's Jester."
Madame de Montijo presented him to Louis Bonaparte, who accepted him,
and who completed his Court with this insipid but plausible writer.
This Court was a heterogeneous collection; a dinner-wagon of basenesses,
a menagerie of reptiles, a herbal of poisons.
Besides the trustworthy confederates who were for use, and the courtiers
who were for ornament, there were the auxiliaries.
Certain circumstances called for reinforcements; sometimes these were
women, the Flying Squadron.
366
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