Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/236

252 into a higher unity. He keeps together the old; he is a great police-master. The quiet people of France wish him life and success, because they know that to be the condition of the nation's order, and the calmness of life; but they acknowledge that the present state of things is one of uncertainty and unhealthiness. People live, as it were, provisionally, because they must, in any case, live as long as they can; but they see the sword of Damocles hanging above their heads. No large views, no fresh waft from hope in the future, refreshes the life of the day, and the future of France is as dark as the glance of its Emperor.

Yet still fortune favors him; yet still the French army keeps guard around his throne. But can the man who has broken his oath more than once, who has stolen from a noble royal family—whose place he occupies—the half of its property, and who has sent thousands of his countrymen to die in exile, worse than that of Siberia—can this man escape a Nemesis?

I know that in the theatre of the world, there are times and circumstances which can furnish an excuse for many things—many deeds of the acting personages; and that Providence at times gives even great criminals opportunity of atonement by great actions for former failings, opportunities to become the blessing of the people and to acquire the name of great men. But no such laurels as yet crown Louis Napoleon.