trange electoral morals were
indigenous in that privileged island, the cradle of the imperial family,
and so intimately connected with the destiny of the dynasty that an
attack on Corsica seemed to react upon the sovereign. But when it was
observed that the new minister of State, Mora's successor and bitter
enemy, sitting on the government benches, seemed overjoyed at the rebuke
administered to a creature of the defunct statesman, and smiled
complacently at Le Merquier's stinging persiflage, all embarrassment
instantly disappeared and the ministerial smile, repeated on three
hundred mouths, soon increased to scarce-restrained laughter, the
laughter of crowds dominated by any rod, by whomsoever held, which the
slightest sign of approbation from the master causes to burst forth. In
the galleries, which were as a general rule but little indulged with
picturesque incidents, and were entertained by these stories of bandits
as by a genuine novel, there was general gayety, a radiant animation
enlivened the faces of all the women, overjoyed to be able to appear
pretty without jarring upon the solemnity of the place. Little light
hats quivered in all their bright-hued plumes, round arms encircled with
gold leaned on the rail in order to listen more at their ease. The
solemn Le Merquier had imparted to the sitting the entertainment of a
play, had introduced the little comical note permitted at charitable
concerts as a lure to the profane.

Impassive and cold as ice, despite his triumph, he continued to read in
a voice as dismal and penetrating as a Lyonnais shower.

"Now, Messieurs, we ask ourselves how it was that a stranger, a
Provencal recently returned from the Orient, entirely ignorant of the
interests and needs of that island where he had never been seen before
the elections, the true type of what the Corsicans contemptuously call
'a continental'--how did this man succeed in arousing such enthusiasm,
devotion so great as to lead to crime, to profanation? His wealth will
answer the question, his vile gold thrown into the faces of the
electors, stuffed by force into their pockets with a shameless cynicism
of which we have innumerable proofs."--Then came the endless series of
affidavits: "I, the undersigned, Croce (Antoine), do testify, in the
interest of truth, that Nardi, commissioner of police, came to our house
one evening and said to me, 'Hark ye, Croce (Antoine), I swear to you by
the flame of yonder lamp that, if you v