Page:The Galaxy, Volume 5.djvu/330

318 As the first earnest of imperial favor, Mr. Peyton received the position of Paris correspondent to the "Morning Chronicle," the oldest, and, until the epoch of its decadence, just prior to Mr. Peyton's connection with it, perhaps the most respectable and prominent journal in London. For ninety years it had lived an honorable life. In its columns "Boz" won his first triumphs. Between the emissaries of the Emperor and the owners of the "Morning Chronicle" an arrangement had long existed by which it was understood that, for the sum of one hundred pounds a month, the Emperor's Secretary was to have the privilege of inserting in the English journal any bit of news, any French opinion, which he saw fit; and this was to come ostensibly from the unbiassed English mind of its conductors. This connection was freely confessed by Monsieur Mocquard (the Emperor's private Secretary and Chief of the Cabinet), to Mr. Peyton, though, of course, under the ban of secrecy.

But the owners of the "Chronicle" which was now beginning visibly to decline, became dissatisfied with the smallness of the monthly allowance made to their journal, and said that it more money were not given them, their paper must stop publication, proceedings for debt would be instituted, and the whole French connection would be exposed. This disclosure the Emperor was naturally most anxious to avoid, and, to put an end to the imbroglio, the owners of the "Chronicle" requested Mr. Peyton, the new correspondent whom they at once saw was high in power, to inquire if the Emperor would not like to buy the paper out and out, free of debt, for eight thousand pounds sterling, or two hundred thousand francs. The persons making the proposition were Sergeant Glover and William Moore, of London, who were then in possession of the "Chronicle." This offer was communicated to Monsieur Mocquard, who in turn spoke of it to the Emperor; and, at the request of his Majesty, Mr. Peyton went down to Compeigne, where the Court was then sojourning, for the purpose of discussing the feasibility of the plan. This was Mr. Peyton's first interview with the Emperor, who seemed to be pleased with so much devotion at the hands of an American, and kindly said: "Quoiqu'il arrive, je me charge de voire avenir" (Whatever happens, I charge myself with your future)—one of those pleasant pie-crust promises, traditionally made to be broken—and which was. The upshot of the interview was the decision that the "Chronicle" should be purchased at the sum named, and that Mr. Peyton should be the ostensible owner of it; though in reality the property, which all hoped would one day be valuable, was to belong to the Emperor. But as so exalted a personage could scarcely be known as the proprietor of a journal which he was particularly anxious the English people should not know was in the least degree under French influence, Mr.