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important to the royal family； to Sophie and her supporters of the house of
Orleans； and fatal in consequence to the old man at Chantilly。
On the 27th of July revolution broke out in France。 Charles X and
his family had to seek shelter in England； and Louis…Philippe； Duc
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d'Orleans； becamenot King of France； but ‘‘King of the French'' by
election。 This consummation had not been achieved without intrigue on
the part of Egalite's son。 It was not an achievement calculated to abate
the Prince de Conde's hatred for him。 Rather did it inflame that hatred。
In the matter of the famous will； moreover； as the King's son the little Duc
d'Aumale would be now in no need of the provision made for him by his
unwilling godfather； while members of the exiled royal familynotably
the grandson of Charles； the Duc de Bordeaux； certainly cut out of the
Prince's will by the intrigues of Sophie and familywere in want of
assistance。 This is a point to be remembered in the light of subsequent
events。
％ IV
While she had been looking after herself Sophie Dawes had not been
unmindful ofthe advancement of hangers…on of her own family。 She had
about her a nephew and a niece。 The latter； supposed by some to have a
closer relationship to Sophie than that of mere niece； she had contrived to
marry off to a marquis。 The Marquise de Chabannes de la Palice need
not here concern us further。 But notice must be taken of the nephew。 A
few million francs； provided by the Prince de Conde； had secured for this
James Dawes the title of Baron de Flassans； from a domain also bestowed
upon him by Sophie's elderly lover。 De Flassans； with some minor post
in the Prince's household； acted as his aunt's jackal。
If Sophie； after the election to kingship of Louis…Philippe； found it
necessary to be in Paris a great deal to worship at the throne her nephew
kept her well informed about the Prince de Conde's activities。 The old
man； it appeared； had suddenly developed the habit of writing letters。
The Prince； then at the chateau of Saint…Leu expressed a desire to remove
to Chantilly。 He was behaving very oddly all round； was glad to have
Sophie out of his sight； and seemed unwilling even to hear her name。
The projected move to Chantilly； as a fact； was merely a blind to cover a
flight out of Sophie's reach and influence。 Rumour arose about Saint…
Leu and in Paris that the Prince had made another willone in which
neither Sophie nor the Duc d'Aumale was mentioned。 This was a move
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of which Sophie had been afraid。 She saw to it that the Prince did not get
away from Saint…Leu。 Rumour and the Prince's conduct made Sophie
very anxious。 She tried to get him to make over to her in his lifetime
those properties which he had left to her in his will； and it is probable
enough that she would have forced this request but for the fact that； to
raise the legal costs； the property of Saint…Leu would have had to be sold。
This was the position of affairs about the middle of August 1830。 It
was believed the Prince had already signed a will in favour of the exiled
little Duc de Bordeaux； but that he had kept the act secret from his
mistress。
On the morning of the 11th of the month the Prince was met outside
his bedroom in his night attire。 It was a young man called Obry who thus
met the Prince。 He was the old man's godchild。 The old man's left eye
was bleeding； and there was a scratch on his cheek as if made by a
fingernail。 To Obry the Prince attributed these wounds to the spite of the
Baronne de Feucheres。 Half an hour later he told his valet he had hit his
head against a night…table。 Later again in the day he gave another version
still： he had fallen against the door to a secret staircase from his bedroom
while letting the Baronne de Feucheres out； the secret staircase being in
communication with Sophie's private apartments。
For the next ten days or so the Prince was engaged in contriving his
flight from the gentle Sophie； a second plan which again was spoiled by
Sophie's spies。 There was something of a fete at Saint…Leu on the 26th；
the Prince's saint's day。 There was a quarrel between Sophie and the
Prince on the morning of the 26th in the latter's bedroom。 Sophie had
then been back in Saint…Leu for three days。 At midnight on the 26th the
old man retired after playing a game or two at whist。 He was to go on the
30th to Chantilly。 He was accompanied to his bedroom by his surgeon
and a valet； one Lecomte； and expressed a desire to be called at eight
o'clock。 Lecomte found a paper in the Prince's trousers and gave it to the
old man； who placed it on the mantelshelf。 Then the valet； as he said
later； locked the door of the Prince's dressing…room； thus except for the
entrance from the secret staircaselocking the old man in his room。
The Prince's apartments were on the first floor of the chateau。 His
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bedroom was approached through the dressing…room from the main
corridor。 Beyond the dressing…room was a passage； turning left from
which was the bedroom； and to the right in which was an entrance to an
anteroom。 Facing the dressing…room door in this same passage was the
entrance to the secret staircase already mentioned。 The staircase gave
access to the Baronne de Feucheres' apartments on the entrance floor。
These； however； were not immediately under the Prince's rooms。 An
entresol intervened； and here the rooms were occupied by the Abbe Briant；
a creature of Sophie's and her secretary； the Widow Lachassine； Sophie's
lady's…maid； and a couple named Dupre。 These last； also spies of
Sophie'