In the midst of enthusiasm for her courage and pity for her fate, rose a rumor that the duchess would shortly give birth to a child.  It was even so.  The news fell like a blow on the hearts of the royalists.  If she had made a clandestine, morganatic marriage, she had by the law of France forfeited her position as regent during her son’s minority; she had forgotten his claims on her and those of France.  If there was no marriage, she had degraded herself past all sympathy.  At any rate, now she was harmless.  The policy of the Government was manifestly to let her child be born at Blaye, and then send her to her Neapolitan home.

Her desire was to leave Blaye before her confinement.  In vain she pleaded her health and a tendency to consumption.  The Government sent physicians to Blaye, among them the doctor who had attended the duchess after the birth of the Duc de Bordeaux; for it insisted on having full proof of her disgrace before releasing her.  But before this disgrace was announced in Paris, twelve ardent young Legitimists had bound themselves to fight twelve duels with twelve leading men of the opposite party, who might, if she were brought to trial, injure her cause.  The first of these duels took place; Armand Carrel, the journalist, being the liberal champion, while M. Roux-Laborie fought for the duchess.  The duel was with swords, and lasted three minutes.  Twice Carrel wounded his adversary in the arm; but as he rushed on him the third time, he received a deep wound in the abdomen.  The news spread through Paris.  The prime minister, M. Thiers, sent his private secretary for authentic news of Carrel’s state.  The attendants refused to allow the wounded man to be disturbed.  “Let him see me,” said Carrel; “for I have a favor to ask of M. Thiers,—­that he will let no proceedings be taken against M. Roux-Laborie.”

Government after this became anxious to quench the loyalty of the Duchesse de Berri’s defenders as soon and as effectually as possible.  The duel with Armand Carrel was fought Feb. 2, 1833; on the 22d of February General Bugeaud, commander of the fortress of Blaye, received from the duchess the following declaration:—­

Under the pressure of circumstances and of measures
taken by Government, I think it due to myself and to my
children (though I have had grave reasons for keeping my
marriage a secret) to declare that I have been privately
married during my late sojourn in Italy. 

          
                                                      (Signed) MARIE CAROLINE.

From that time up to the month of May the duchess continued to make vain efforts to obtain her release before the birth of her child.  It had been intimated to her that she should be sent to Palermo as soon afterwards as she should be able to travel.

The Government took every precaution, that the event might be verified when it took place.  Six or seven of the principal inhabitants of Blaye were stationed in an adjoining chamber, as is the custom at the birth of princes.