. Life in the Tuileries under the second empire. en by the Comte de Tascher person-ally, in the hope of obtaining the hand of severalGerman princesses, had fallen through, in conse-quence of the ill-will of their respective courts. The Comte de Tascher still hoped, nevertheless,that the rising fortunes of the Prince, now Presidentof the French Republic, would finally conquer alldifficulties; but the mere idea that, as Emperor (adestiny which all foresaw), he would marry the beau-tiful Spanish girl with whom, as President, he flirtedat Compiegne, never seriously dwelt in the mind ofthe devoted
. Life in the Tuileries under the second empire. en by the Comte de Tascher person-ally, in the hope of obtaining the hand of severalGerman princesses, had fallen through, in conse-quence of the ill-will of their respective courts. The Comte de Tascher still hoped, nevertheless,that the rising fortunes of the Prince, now Presidentof the French Republic, would finally conquer alldifficulties; but the mere idea that, as Emperor (adestiny which all foresaw), he would marry the beau-tiful Spanish girl with whom, as President, he flirtedat Compiegne, never seriously dwelt in the mind ofthe devoted friend of early days. When, immedi-ately after the proclamation of the Empire, the in-tentions of the new Emperor were communicatedprivately to the Comte de Tascher and his son, theywere so painfully surprised that they warmly remon-strated as to the complications which would be addedto his already difficult position, by the act of raisingto the throne of France a private gentlewoman (how- H m H C r-m rrc/> -n;cO2 > n C c n > o c (Si m. l-vWfltf^tL UNDER THE SECOND EMPIRE 9 ever attractive she might be), without consulting thewill of the nation. They reminded him that the caseof Josephine, to which he referred, was not to bequoted as parallel; she was more than her husbandsequal when she married him, and had risen withhim. As the Emperor would listen to no expostu-lation, they finally declared that if he persisted inhis intentions they would leave him and return toGermany. At this, the Emperor, who was pacing the room,suddenly turned round, exclaiming with unusualvehemence: So, because you look upon me as a drowningman, you will leave me, and refuse to give me ahelping hand? This was startling and painful; they were Emperor then made a strong appeal to their feel-ings of old friendship and personal attachment, toinduce them not only to welcome his bride, but toaccept the two most important posts in her futurecourt. The General Comte de Tascher de la Page-r
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectnapoleo, bookyear1895
