Page:Coubertin - France since 1814, 1900.djvu/56

 King's interest, lie treated with the cool, proud dignity which characterised him.

The Right relied upon two secret, or quasi-secret, organisations : one was the Congrégation, the other that sort of occult government in which Monsieur, the King's brother, was the moving spirit. The Congrégation dated from the Revolution. In the time when public worship was forbidden, its object was to facilitate for the faithful the practice of their religion. Its character changed from the moment when Napoleon laid violent hands on the Pope and held him prisoner. This anxiety to defend Catholicism was then tempered with policy. At the Restoration the Comte d'Artois and the Royalist intransigeants became members of the society, and policy took precedence of religion in the minds of all good Congregationists. As for the little occult Government, it originated in the abuses so wantonly re-established in 1814, which placed at Monsieur's disposal the distribution of appointments and salaries. This prince had a council permanently sitting in his neighbourhood, with a chancellor and several functionaries, drawing large emoluments, with no ostensible functions. This council had