thout doubt, sire; but ours is accompanied by peculiar
circumstances."

"Peculiar circumstances!" exclaimed the emperor, rising to terminate
the long interview, that began to weary him. "What creditor of the state
does not say the same of his debt? Moreover, I know too little of your
relations toward my government. This matter does not concern me, and I
will not be mixed up in it. If the laws are for you, all will go well
without my interference; but if it requires influence, I shall have
nothing to do with it, for I should be rather against than for you!"

"Sire," said young Stael, venturing to speak once more, as the emperor
was on the point of leaving, "sire, my brother and I were anxious to
settle in France; but how could we live in a land in which our mother
would not be allowed to live with us everywhere?"

Already standing on the threshold of the door, the emperor turned to him
hastily. "I have no desire whatever to have you settle here," said he;
"on the contrary. I advise you not to do so. Go to England. There they
have a _penchant_ for Genevese, parlor-politicians, etc.; therefore, go
to England; for I must say, I should be rather ill than well disposed
toward you[35]!"

[Footnote 35: Bourrienne, vol. viii., p. 355.]

CHAPTER IV.

MADAME DE STAEL'S RETURN TO PARIS.

Madame de Stael returned to her cherished France with the restoration.
She came back thirsting for new honor and renown, and determined, above
all, to have her work republished in Germany, its publication having
been once suppressed by the imperial police. She entertained the
pleasing hope that the new court would forget that she was Necker's
daughter, receive her with open arms, and accord her the influence to
which her active mind and genius entitled her.

But she was laboring under an error, by which she was not destined to be
long deceived. She was received at court with the cold politeness which
is more terrible than insult. The king, while speaking of her with his
friends, called Madame de Stael "a Chateaubriand in petticoats." The
Duchess d'Angouleme seemed never to see the celebrated poetess, and
never addressed a word to her; the rest of the court met Madame de Stael
armed to the teeth with all the hatred and prejudices of the olden time.

It was also in vain that Madame de Stael endeavored to act an important
part at the new court; they refused to regard her as an authority or
power, but treated her as a mere authoress; her