all faults for a leader, he was unpopular.  He was a brilliant, cultured speaker, but had a curt, dictatorial manner, with an air always of looking down upon his public.  So different from his colleague, the Duc Decazes, whose charming, courteous manners and nice blue eyes made him friends even among his adversaries.  There is a well-known story told of the two dukes which shows exactly the personality of the men.  Some one, a deputy I think, wanted something very much which either of the gentlemen could give.  He went first to the Duc Decazes, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, who received him charmingly, was most kind and courteous, but didn’t do what the man wanted.  He then went to the Duc de Broglie, President du Conseil, who was busy, received him very curtly, cut short his explanations, and was in fact extremely disagreeable but did the thing, and the man loved Decazes and hated de Broglie.  All sorts of rumours were afloat; we used to hear the wildest stories and plans.  One day W. came in looking rather preoccupied.  There was an idea that the Right were going to take most stringent measures, arrest all the ministers, members of Jules Simon’s cabinet, many of the prominent Liberals.  He said it was quite possible and then gave me various instructions.  I was above all to make no fuss if they really came to arrest him.  He showed me where all his keys, papers, and money were, told me to go instantly to his uncle, Mr. Lutteroth, who lived next door.  He was an old diplomat, knew everybody, and would give me very good advice.  I did not feel very happy, but like so many things that are foretold, nothing ever happened.

Another rumour, from the extreme Left this time, was that a large armed force under the command of a well-known general, very high up in his career, was to assemble in the north at Lille, a strong contingent of Republicans were to join them to be ready to act.  I remember quite well two of W.’s friends coming in one morning, full of enthusiasm for this plan.  I don’t think they quite knew what they were going to do with their army.  W. certainly did not.  He listened to all the details of the plan; they gave him the name of the general, supposed to have very Republican sympathies (not generally the case with officers), the number of regiments, etc., who would march at a given signal, but when he said, “It is possible, you might get a certain number of men together, but what would you do with them?” they were rather nonplussed.  They hadn’t got any further than a grand patriotic demonstration, with the military, drums beating, flags flying, and the Marseillaise being howled by an excited crowd.  No such extreme measures, however, were ever carried out.  From the first moment it was evident that a large Republican majority would be returned; almost all the former deputies were re-elected and a number of new ones, more advanced in their opinion.  In the country it was the only topic of conversation.