When the negotiations were resumed in the month of May, Holnstein had begun a course of baths at Karlsbad. Before his departure he had strictly charged Hesselschwerdt immediately to inform him if his journey to Paris could not be averted. The Count had added threateningly: “Obey me, Hesselschwerdt, or you may pay dearly for it!” Holnstein had hardly been a week at Karlsbad before he received the expected telegram. He hastened to Munich, and summoned Hesselschwerdt to him. The court functionary brought with him the sealed writing which contained Ludwig’s note of hand.
Without a moment’s hesitation the Count carried him off to the Premier, Dr von Lutz, and delivered into the latter’s hands the letter to Rothschild, which was sealed with the King’s signet. This done he sought an audience of Prince Luitpold, who, on the outbreak of Prince Otto’s malady, had become the person who stood nearest to the throne. While he was conversing with the King’s uncle, it was announced that the Ministry desired an audience. A council was held. Ludwig’s letter was opened, and Hesselschwerdt was forbidden to undertake the journey to Paris. Four eminent physicians were summoned. They declared the King to be insane, and assumed his malady to be incurable.
There was now a plausible excuse for placing him under restraint.
A secret conference of the princes of the blood-royal met in Munich. Against two votes it was determined that the King’s person should be placed under restraint and a Regency proclaimed, with Prince Luitpold as Regent. The Ministry should remain in office. It was desired to constitute the Grand Master of the Court, Count von Castell, Ludwig’s guardian; but he refused the melancholy task. Count Holnstein was then appointed to fill this post. It was Prince Luitpold’s desire that the King should be informed of what had been decided upon before the proclamation took place, to the effect that he might give his consent to the new order of affairs.
Dr von Lutz simultaneously informed Prince Bismarck of the contemplated loan in Paris, and of the fact that members of the House of Orleans had played a part in the matter. The Prince gave the then French Premier a hint of their attitude. A debate relating to the expulsion of the Orleans princes was just at that time on the order of the day in the French Senate. The terms of Bismarck’s telegram let it be supposed that the princes had desired to make use of Ludwig’s pecuniary difficulties in order to play a political part.
This information is said to have been the chief reason for the expulsion of the Orleans family from France.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Preparations to Imprison the King—The Peasantry Assemble to his Rescue
Hesselschwerdt, it need hardly be said, could no more show himself before the King. He informed his master that he had been taken ill, and therefore had been unable to proceed to Paris. Ludwig, however, came to know, through his barber, that his functionary was walking about the streets of the capital in robust health. Though prior to this his suspicions had been now and again slightly aroused, he could never have supposed that the sealed letter which he had confided to him would have been given into other hands.