This is by far the most economical way of
getting rid of them." The astute monarch's calculations were admirably
exposed by a clever remark of the Prince of Ballybunion. "Faix, Harry,"
says he (with a familiarity which the punctilious son of Saint Louis
resented), "you and him yandther--the Emperor, I mane--are like the
Kilkenny cats, dear."
"Et que font-ils ces chats de Kilkigny, Monsieur le Prince de
Ballybunion?" asked the Most Christian King haughtily.
Prince Daniel replied by narrating the well-known apologue of the
animals "ating each other all up but their TEELS; and that's what you
and Imparial Pop yondther will do, blazing away as ye are," added the
jocose and royal boy.
"Je prie votre Altesse Royale de vaguer a ses propres affaires,"
answered Prince Henri sternly: for he was an enemy to anything like a
joke; but there is always wisdom in real wit, and it would have been
well for his Most Christian Majesty had he followed the facetious
counsels of his Irish ally.
The fact is, the King, Henri, had an understanding with the garrisons of
some of the forts, and expected all would declare for him. However, of
the twenty-four forts which we have described, eight only--and by
the means of Marshal Soult, who had grown extremely devout of late
years--declared for Henri, and raised the white flag: while eight
others, seeing Prince John Thomas Napoleon before them in the costume
of his revered predecessor, at once flung open their gates to him, and
mounted the tricolor with the eagle.
Pages:
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564