G. Faussez des Mares.

I have selected for detailed treatment 1867. In that year the Emperor Napoleon and the Empress Eugénie entertained three Emperors, eight Kings, one Viceroy, five Queens, nine Grand Dukes, two Grand Duchesses, two Archdukes, twenty-four Princes, seven Princesses, five Dukes, and two Duchesses. The Prince of Wales (King Edward VII.), the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Duke of Connaught were of the party. While 1867 is generally considered to have been the “great year” of the Imperial Reign, M. Hanotaux[16] inclines to the opinion that “the climax of Napoleonic glory” came in November, 1869, when the Empress Eugénie inaugurated the Suez Canal—ten months before Sedan.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
[I.][THE EMPRESS’S GIRLHOOD][1]
[II.][THE BOYHOOD AND YOUTH OF NAPOLEON III.][7]
[III.][FROM LONDON TO HAM VIÂ BOULOGNE][18]
[IV.][COURTSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT][29]
[V.][CÆSAR’S WIFE][49]
[VI.][APOGEE OF THE SECOND EMPIRE][70]
[VII.][TWO EMPRESSES][90]
[VIII.][THE TUILERIES][99]
[IX.][FONTAINEBLEAU][113]
[X.][COMPIÈGNE][127]
[XI.][THE FOREIGN LEGION; AND SOME GREAT LADIES][137]
[XII.][THE SOVEREIGNS’ WAR DESPATCHES][165]
[XIII.][WHAT OUR EYES HAVE SEEN][204]
[XIV.][ON THE EVE OF EXILE][223]
[XV.][“THESE THINGS ARE LITTLE; BUT, THEN, THEY’RE ALL”][240]
[XVI.][THE EMPEROR AND THE COMTESSE DE MERCY-ARGENTEAU][245]
[XVII.][THE EMPEROR’S CORRESPONDENCE][259]
[XVIII.][CITIZEN—PRESIDENT—EMPEROR][268]
[XIX.][THE PALE EMPEROR][274]
[XX.][THE EMPEROR’S COLLABORATOR][300]
[XXI.][FINANCING THE EMPEROR AND “THE CAUSE”][308]
[XXII.][THE MAN WHO GAVE THE WARNING—M. PIETRI’S LETTRES RÉVÉLATRICES][21]
[XXIII.][PRINCE NAPOLEON—THE EMPRESS IN 1910-11][339]
[THE PRINCE IMPERIAL (THE POET LAUREATE’S SONNET)][400]
[INDEX][401]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

TO FACE PAGE
[NAPOLEON III.][Frontispiece]
[THE EMPRESS EUGÉNIE ON BOARD THE ROYAL YACHT, AUGUST, 1902, AT THE REVIEW OF THE FLEET BY KING EDWARD][64]
[GUESTS OF THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH IN THE “GREAT YEAR,” 1867][72]
[THE EMPRESS EUGÉNIE IN SPANISH COSTUME][128]
[THE EMPRESS EUGÉNIE IN CIRCASSIAN COSTUME][128]
[THE EMPRESS EUGÉNIE AS AN ODALISQUE (TURKISH DANCING-GIRL)][136]
[THE EMPRESS EUGÉNIE AS MARIE ANTOINETTE][136]
[MRS. RONALDS][152]
[THE COMTESSE EDMOND DE POURTALÈS][160]
[MISS JOSEPHINE CARTER (SISTER OF MRS. RONALDS)][176]
[NAPOLEON III. AT SEDAN][216]
[MR. ALFRED AUSTIN (POET LAUREATE)][272]
[THE COMTE A. DE LA CHAPELLE][304]
[H.H. PRINCE ROLAND BONAPARTE][336]
[H.I.M. THE EMPRESS EUGÉNIE IN THE EMPRESS JOSÉPHINE’S BEDROOM AT LA MALMAISON IN 1910][368]
[H.R.H. PRINCESS GEORGE OF GREECE (née PRINCESSE MARIE BONAPARTE, ONLY DAUGHTER OF H.H. PRINCE ROLAND BONAPARTE)][376]
[THE LATE MARQUISE DE VILLENEUVE (née PRINCESSE JEANNE BONAPARTE, ONLY SISTER OF PRINCE ROLAND, AND AUNT OF H.R.H. PRINCESS GEORGE OF GREECE)][384]
[THE COMTESSE DE MERCY-ARGENTEAU][392]

CHAPTER I
THE EMPRESS’S GIRLHOOD