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the Court of Appeal. This Procureur-General was at the time M. de Royer,
who had been keeper of the Seals for M. Bonaparte. Thence a new
difficulty and a long debate.
Would M. de Royer consent? M. Hardouin undertook to go and make the offer
to him. He had only to cross the Mercière Gallery.
M. de Royer was in his study. The proposal greatly embarrassed him. He
remained speechless from the shock. To accept was serious, to refuse was
still more serious.
There was risk of treason. On the 2d December, an hour after noon, the
coup d'état was still a crime. M. de Royer, not knowing whether the
high treason would succeed, ventured to stigmatize the deed as such in
private, and cast down his eyes with a noble shame before this violation
of the laws which, three months later, numerous purple robes, including
his own, endorsed with their oaths. But his indignation did not go to
the extent of supporting the indictment. An indictment speaks aloud. M.
de Royer as yet only murmured. He was perplexed.
M. Hardouin understood this state of conscience. Persistence would have
been unreasonable. He withdrew.
He returned to the room where his colleagues were awaiting him.
In the meantime the Commissary of the Arsenal Police had come back.
He had ended by succeeding in "unearthing"--such was his expression--the
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