[194] Minister of War from 1871, he was in 1876, notwithstanding the desperate efforts of MacMahon, expelled from the Ministry, partly because of irregularities discovered in his budget, partly for having let his mistress, a German, take the plan of one of the new forts round Paris, which was transmitted to Berlin.
[195] Since promoted to a higher grade.
[196] Enquête sur le 18 Mars, vol. ii. p. 239.
[197] See Appendix XX.
[198] Heard and reported by the author of the book Le Fond de la Société sous la Commune. The author wittily adds, "What the devil was this imbecile solicitous about?"
[199] Appendix XXI.
[200] The Versaillese calumniators, pursuing him even to his last hour, spread abroad that he had confessed to a Jesuit, and had disavowed his writings "in presence of the gendarmes and nuns."
[201] "Marshal MacMahon to General Vinoy, 29th May, 10.5 morning.—On our propositions to enter the fort, Prince of Saxony has given the order to enlarge the blockade, in order to leave the French authorities free to act as they think fit. He has promised to preserve the blockade."—Vinoy, L'Armistice et la Commune, p. 430.