observer reason to suppose that I did not belong to the party.  A young officer of the court (I call them aides, though, I believe, they were merely substitutes for chamberlains, dignitaries to which this republican reign has not yet given birth), was waiting in the outer room to pass, but appeared unwilling to press too closely on a group of which General Lafayette formed the principal person.  He fidgeted and chafed evidently, but still kept politely at a distance.  After two or three minutes the party moved on, but I remained stationary, watching the result.  Room was no sooner made than the officer brushed past, and gave vent to his feelings by saying, quite loudly and distinctly, “Adieu, l’Amerique!”

It is a pretty safe rule to believe that in the tone of courtiers is reflected the feeling of the monarch.  The attention to General Lafayette had appeared to me as singularly affected and forced, and the manner of the King anything but natural; and several little occurrences during the evening had tended to produce the impression that the real influence of the former, at the palace, might be set down as next to nothing.  I never had any faith in a republican king from the commencement, but this near view of the personal intercourse between the parties served to persuade me that General Lafayette had been the dupe of his own good faith and kind feelings.

In descending the great stairs I mentioned the occurrence just related to Mr. M’Lane, adding, that I thought the days of our friend were numbered, and that a few months would produce a schism between him and Louis-Philippe.  Everything, at the moment, however, looked so smiling, and so much outward respect was lavished on General Lafayette, that this opinion did not find favour with my listener, though, I believe, he saw reason to think differently, after another visit to court.  We all got invitations to dine at the palace in a day or two.

* * * * *

I did not, however, touch upon the “adieu l’Amerique,” with General Lafayette, which I have always deemed a subject too delicate to be mentioned.

He startled me by suddenly putting the question, whether I thought an executive, in which there should be but one agent, as in the United States, or an executive, in which there should be three, or five, would best suit the condition of France?  Though so well acquainted with the boldness and steadiness of his views, I was not prepared to find his mind dwelling on such a subject, at the present moment.  The state of France, however, is certainly extremely critical, and we ought not to be surprised at the rising of the people at any moment.