"Acting upon the advice of our well-beloved and faithful chevalier, Sieur Dambray, Lord Chancellor of France, whom we charge to carry out our orders, we hereby command as follows ..."
"Ah! now let us see what the king orders," says the reader.
"Article 1.
"The Chamber of Peers and that of the Deputies of Departments are specially convoked to meet at the usual place where their sittings are held.
"Article 2.
"Those Peers and Deputies of Departments who are absent from Paris must at once proceed there as soon as they become aware of this Proclamation.
"Issued from the Château of the Tuileries on March 6, 1815, twentieth year of our reign.
(Signed)
LOUIS."
"Well!" says the citizen, "it is odd that they do not state why the Chambers are convoked."
"Ah!" says the public functionary, "they convoke the Chambers specially, and do not indicate the day for meeting. Deuce take it! the situation must be very grave to cause such an omission."
"Ah!" they both exclaim, "here is an Ordonnance! let us read the Ordonnance, and perhaps that will enlighten us somewhat."
"ORDONNANCE.
"Acting upon the advice of our well-beloved and faithful chevalier, Sieur Dambray, Lord Chancellor of France, whom we charge to carry out our orders, we hereby command and declare as follows:—
"Article 1.
"Napoleon Bonaparte is declared a traitor and a rebel for attaching himself to the main army in the Department of Var."
"Oh! oh!" says the citizen, "what do they imply by that? They are deceived! Is not Napoleon confined to an island?"
"Why, of course," replies his wife "in an island called Elba."
"Very well, then, how could he get into the Department of Var; there is probably an erratum further on. Let us continue."