Page:Coubertin - France since 1814, 1900.djvu/96

 know these things. During the end of 1829, and the beginning of 1830, the great topic in the journals, and the groups of the Right and Left, was the Coup d'État, and the various ways in which it might be accomplished. Nobody talked about anything else. If the result had not been so serious there would have been some humour in the spectacle of a nation obstinately crediting its Government with all manner of dangerous projects, which had never entered into its head, and in a measure foisting them on it whether it would or no. Having made up their minds that the deputies would not be convoked, that the Budget would not be carried, and that taxes would be levied by a simple Ordinance (an illegal measure, if it came to that), the Liberals went about excitedly forming leagues in the provinces, and generally organising themselves all over the country with a view to resisting the taxes thus scandalously imposed. But the Chambers were convoked in the most regular manner, to the surprise of everybody who was looking out for the famous Coup d'État.

Now two lines of conduct were open to the Opposition: either to wait for the proposals