Page:Coubertin - France since 1814, 1900.djvu/44

 " des fers, des bourreaux, des supplices," for his adversaries. It was more clearly defined during the trial of Marechal Ney, when deputies actually posted a volunteer faction at the door of the chamber where he was detained, to make sure that the Marechal should not escape. Richelieu had agreed with the King that after his condemnation Ney's pardon should be asked by the Duchesse d'Angoulême. Ladies of high rank visited this princess and implored her not to interfere. Such furious excitement had never before been seen in civilised society. So when it was known that La Valette, arrested about the same time as the Marechal, had made off, the fury of the ultras knew no bounds.

It turned against the regicides. Terrific measures were suggested against them ; measures which the Cabinet did its best to reject. But banishment was proposed as the very least that could be done. The Chancellor, Pasquier, knowing that this was contrary to the King's intentions, asked Louis XVIII. for his opinion. " Richelieu," says he in his Mémoires, "gave me to understand that the King was immovable in his resolution to fulfil without exception the promises made in the