"And the words exactly describe the thing," said the functionary. "Can you conceive of an expedition of that character for which the arrangements were so carelessly made that it only required a sub-lieutenant of the 13th regiment to arrest one of the leaders of the outbreak and knock the whole affair in the head at once?"
"But don't you know, Monsieur le préfet," said the duchess, in a melancholy tone, "in all great events there is a moment, a supreme moment, when the destinies of princes and empires are shaken like leaves in the wind? For example, when Napoleon at La Mure advanced to meet the soldiers who were sent against him, if a sub-lieutenant of any kind had taken him by the collar the return from Elba would have been nothing more than a blundering affair."
There was silence after that, Madame having said the words in a grieved tone. She herself re-opened the matter.
"And the Duchesse de Berry?" she said; "is it known what became of her?"
"She returned on board of the 'Carlo Alberto.'"
"Ah!"
"It was the only sensible thing she could do, it seems to me," said the prefect.
"You are quite right, monsieur," said the old gentleman, who had accompanied Madame, and who had not before spoken; "and if I had had the honor to be near her Highness and she had granted me some authority, I should have given her that advice."
"No one was addressing you, my good husband," said the duchess. "I am speaking to the prefect, and I want to know if he is quite sure her Royal Highness has re-embarked?"
"Madame," said the prefect, with one of those administrative gestures which admit of no contradiction, "the government is officially informed of it."