Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III A Champagne Conspiracy On the 31st of July, 1872, Count de K6ratry, who was then Prefect of the Department of Bouches-du-Rhone, came to Versailles. His object was to induce M. Thiers to bring to the notice of the National Assembly the serious contention which existed between himself and the Mayor of Marseilles. M. Thiers received him most kindly, listened to what he had to say, and, by way of reply, invited him to luncheon. At table he was most attentive to his guest, paying him all the honours due to his position as head official of one of the largest Prefectures of France. He offered him the seat to the right of Madame Thiers, facing himself. This strict observance of etiquette was, at the same time, a clever piece of strategy, for M. Thiers had given M. de Keiatry the only place at table from which it was impossible for him to discuss with his host the question about which he had come. M. de K6ratry understood this, and immediately after luncheon, as M. Thiers appeared to be greatly pressed for time, he took leave of him and we left the house together. "He was afraid," said M. de Keratry, "that I should compel him to delay the prorogation of the National Assembly." That was quite true. M. Thiers was leaving the following day for Trouville, where he was to spend a fewweeks. The National Assembly was to cease work that very afternoon and take its vacation. The idea of this visit to Trouville delighted M. Thiers and he was as excited as a child about it, for, thanks to his chubby appearance, short and stout as he was, his exhibitions of joy or anger were apt to appear childlike. He had taken the Cordier Chalet at Trouville. Everything was arranged; all preparations had been completed, and part of the presidential household already installed in the chale...