. Life in the Tuileries under the second empire. orsspeech on opening the Legislative Assembly—Feeling of thenation—Thouvenel obliged to resign—The child and the Em-peror — Generosity of the latter — Petition of a Legitimistlady — Plain speaking — Chivalrous conduct of the Emperor —His noble nature. MONSIEUR THOUVENEL, who was Minister forForeign Affairs after the Italian war, was an oldand intimate friend of the de Tascher family. I wellremember his intense pride and delight when thegreat question of the annexation of Savoy and Nicewas finally settled, and he had the satisfaction, whichhe des
. Life in the Tuileries under the second empire. orsspeech on opening the Legislative Assembly—Feeling of thenation—Thouvenel obliged to resign—The child and the Em-peror — Generosity of the latter — Petition of a Legitimistlady — Plain speaking — Chivalrous conduct of the Emperor —His noble nature. MONSIEUR THOUVENEL, who was Minister forForeign Affairs after the Italian war, was an oldand intimate friend of the de Tascher family. I wellremember his intense pride and delight when thegreat question of the annexation of Savoy and Nicewas finally settled, and he had the satisfaction, whichhe desired beyond any other, of signing his name tothe treaty which gave both to France. If I can only write Thouvenel below that treaty,I shall die happy ! he exclaimed in my presence. When I first saw M. Thouvenel he was ambassadorat Constantinople, and being in Paris on a diplomaticconge, he came to dine at the Tuileries with thede Taschers. He had much to relate, for which wewere in some degree prepared by the graphic account 1(10. ^J [•^^^h^P^ • iMMgl fi [ftw jl)|f1i-1* *^ MM^M| L «k? ^ *1 0/0^^. I 1 If l tt UNDER THE SECOND EMPIRE 1G1 of a mutual friend, who had described a visit of to some Aga or Pasha; where, after hav-ing dined principally on a variety of luscious sweet-meats, he was obliged to spend the night in a magni-ficent apartment, lighted brilliantly by an immensechandelier, with negro slaves lying before his door toguard his person, and snoring so loudly that sleepwas impossible; while his rest was still further dis-turbed by the discomfort of his splendid bed, wherewhite satin sheets exasperated his nerves and set histeeth on edge, and a pillow covered with cloth ofgold scratched his face and tore his hair. My young charges had particularly enjoyed thispicture of Oriental luxury, so that the presence ofM. Thouvenel, with his animated conversation, andall he had to relate, was extremely welcome. He wasa tall, powerful man, with rathe
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectnapoleo, bookyear1895
