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were all the letters which the Baron de Richemont； the name that
Louis still bore； addressed to his uncle the king； to his sister the
Duchess de Angouleme； imploring them for an interview。 No answer was
received。 No audience was granted to this adventurer； whose claims
could not be recognized without dethroning Louis XVIII。； and
destroying the prospects of the crown for the duchess's son； the
Duke de Berri。 Louis XVII。 had died and he could not return to the
living。 He saw it； he knew it； and a deep sorrow took possession of
him。 But he rose above ithe would not die； he would live； a terror
and an avenger to his cruel relatives。
But it was a restless life that the son of the queen must lead； in
order to protect himself from the daggers of his powerful enemies。
The Prince de Conde conjured him to secure himself against the
attacks which were made more than once upon the Baron de Richemont；
and Louis gave heed to his requests and tears。 He travelled abroad；
but after returning in two years from a journey in Asia and Africa；
on landing on the Italian coast； he was arrested in 1818； at the
instigation of the Austrian ambassador at Mantua； and confined in
the prison of Milan。
Seven years the unhappy prince spent in the Austrian prison； without
once being summoned before a judgeseven years of solitude； of
darkness； and of want。 But the son of Marie Antoinette had learned
in his youth to bear these things； and his prison…life in Milan was
not so cruel as that in the Temple under Simon。 Here there were at
least sympathizing souls who pitied him； even the turnkeys of the
prison were courteous and kind when they entered the cell of the
〃King of France；〃 and one day； beyond the wall of his apartment； was
heard a voice singing； in gentle； melodious tones； a romanza which
Louis had composed； and written on the wall when he occupied the
neighboring cell。
This voice； which sounded like a greeting from the world； was that
of Silvio Pellico。 The celebrated author of 〃Le Mie Prigioni；〃
relates in touching words this salutation of his neighbor：
〃My bed was carried；〃 he said； 〃into the new cell that was prepared
for me； and as soon as the inspectors had left me alone； my first
care was to examine the walls。 There were to be seen there some
words； recollections of the past； written with chalk； with pencil；
or with a sharp tool。 I found there also two pretty French lines；
which I am sorry I did not copy。 I began to sing them to my melody
of 'The Poor Mugdalen；' when a voice near me responded with another
air。 When the singer ended； I called out； 'Bravo！' He replied with a
polite salutation； and asked me if I was French。
〃'No； I am Italian； and am called Silvio Pellico。'
〃'The author of Francesca da Rimini？'
〃'Yes； the same。'
〃And now there followed a courtly compliment； with the usual regrets
for my imprisonment。 He asked in what part of Italy I was born； and
when I told him in Saluzzo； in Piedmont； he awarded the Piedmontese
some words of high praise； and spoko particularly of Bodoni （a
celebrated printer； director of the national printing establishment
at Parma）。 His compliments were brief and discriminating； and
disclosed a finely cultivated mind。
〃'And now； sir；' said I； 'allow me to ask you who you are。'
〃'You were just singing a song that I wrote。'
〃'These pretty verses here upon the wall； are they yours？'
〃'Yes； they are。'
〃'You are therefore'
〃'The Duke de Normandie。'
〃The watchman was just then walking past my window and so I was
still。 After some time we resumed our conversation。 When I asked
whether he was Louis XVII。； he responded in the affirmative； and
began to declaim hotly against Louis XVIII。 his uncle； the usurper
of his rights。
〃I implored him to give me his history in brief outlines。 He did so；
and related to me all the details connected with the life of Louis
XVII。； which I knew only in part。 He told me how he had been
imprisoned with Simon the cobbler； been compelled to sign a
calumniating charge against his mother； etc。 He then related to me
the story of his escape and his flight to America； of his return to
reclaim the throne of his fathers； and his arrest in Mantua。
〃He portrayed his history with extraordinary life。 All the incidents
of the French Revolution were present before him； he spoke with
natural eloquence； and wove in piquant anecdotes very apropos。 His
manner of expression smacked once in a while of the soldier； but
there was no lack of the elegance that disclosed his intercourse
with good society。
〃'Will you allow me；' I asked him； 'to treat you as a friend and
leave off all titles？'
〃'I want exactly that； 'he answered。 'Misfortune has taught me the
good lesson to despise all the vanities of earth。 Believe me； my
pride does not lie in this； that I am a king； but that I am a man。'
〃After this we had long conversations mornings and evenings； and I
recognized in him a noble； beautiful soul； sensitive to all that is
good。 He knew how to win hearts； and even the turnkeys were kind to
him。 One of them said to me on coming from the cell of my neighbor：
'I have strong hopes that he will make me chief porter when he is
king； I have had the boldness to ask him for the position； and he
has promised it。'
〃To the veneration of the turnkeys for the king of the future I owe
it that one day when I was led to trial； and had to pass by his
cell； they opened the doors that I might see my illustrious friend。
He was of medium size； from forty to forty…five years of age；
somewhat embonpoint； and had a thoroughly Bourbon physiognomy。〃
＇Footnote： Silvio Pellico； 〃Le Mie Prigioni；〃 p。 51 et seq。 An
examination of Silvio Pellico's work will convince the reader that
Silvio Pellico was by no means a believer in the genuineness of his
companion's claims。 Miss Muhlbach seems to have been scarcely just
in leaving the impression conveyed in the text。…TB。＇
After seven years of imprisonment； the gates opened at last for the
Baron de Richemont； and he who had been placed there without the
sentence of a judge； was released with as little show of authority。
The son of the queen was free again； the death of King Louis XVIII。
had restored him to the walks of men。 But another King of France
assumed his place at once； the Count d'Artois ascended the throne
under the title of Charles X。
The poor Baron de Richemont bore his sorrows and his humiliation
into the valleys of Switzerland。 But when； in the year 1830； King
Charles X。 abdicated the throne； the son of Marie Antoinette again
came forth from his solitude； issued a proclamation to the French
people； and； in the presence of all Europe； demanded his
inheritance。
Yet； amid the clash of weapons and the roar of revolutions； the
voice of the unfortunate prince was overborne。 He had no soldiers；
no cannon； to enforce silence and make himself be heard。 But the
Duke d'Orleans； Louis Philippe； had soldiers and cannon； and the
arms of his dependants； and the magic of his wealth； placed him upon
the throne in July； 1830。 ＇Footnote： It was the 9th of August。Tr。＇
The poor Baron de Richemont； the son of kings； the last of the
Bourbons in France； had now