Guizot is not there: he passed by just now in full ministerial costume.Presently little Thiers saunters back: what a clear, broad sharp-eyed face the fellow has, with his gray hair cut down so demure! A servant passes, pushing through the crowd a shabby wheel-chair.It has just brought old Moncey the Governor of the Invalids, the honest old man who defended Paris so stoutly in 1814.He has been very ill, and is worn down almost by infirmities: but in his illness he was perpetually asking, "Doctor, shall I live till the 15th? Give me till then, and I die contented." One can't help believing that the old man's wish is honest, however one may doubt the piety of another illustrious Marshal, who once carried a candle before Charles X.in a procession, and has been this morning to Neuilly to kneel and pray at the foot of Napoleon's coffin.He might have said his prayers at home, to be sure; but don't let us ask too much: that kind of reserve is not a Frenchman's characteristic.
Bang--bang! At about half-past two a dull sound of cannonading was heard without the church, and signals took place between the Commandant of the Invalids, of the National Guards, and the big drum-major.Looking to these troops (the fat Nationals were shuffling into line again) the two Commandants tittered, as nearly as I could catch them, the following words--"HARRUM HUMP!"
At once all the National bayonets were on the present, and the sabres of the old Invalids up.The big drum-major looked round at the children, who began very slowly and solemnly on their drums, Rub-dub-dub--rub-dub-dub--(count two between each)--rub-dub-dub, and a great procession of priests came down from the altar.
First, there was a tall handsome cross-bearer, bearing a long gold cross, of which the front was turned towards his grace the Archbishop.Then came a double row of about sixteen incense-boys, dressed in white surplices: the first boy, about six years old, the last with whiskers and of the height of a man.Then followed a regiment of priests in black tippets and white gowns: they had black hoods, like the moon when she is at her third quarter, wherewith those who were bald (many were, and fat too) covered themselves.
All the reverend men held their heads meekly down, and affected to be reading in their breviaries.
After the Priests came some Bishops of the neighboring districts, in purple, with crosses sparkling on their episcopal bosoms.
Then came, after more priests, a set of men whom I have never seen before--a kind of ghostly heralds, young and handsome men, some of them in stiff tabards of black and silver, their eyes to the ground, their hands placed at right angles with their chests.
Then came two gentlemen bearing remarkable tall candlesticks, with candles of corresponding size.One was burning brightly, but the wind (that chartered libertine) had blown out the other, which nevertheless kept its place in the procession--I wondered to myself whether the reverend gentleman who carried the extinguished candle, felt disgusted, humiliated, mortified--perfectly conscious that the eyes of many thousands of people were bent upon that bit of refractory wax.We all of us looked at it with intense interest.
Another cross-bearer, behind whom came a gentleman carrying an instrument like a bedroom candlestick.
His Grandeur Monseigneur Affre, Archbishop of Paris: he was in black and white, his eyes were cast to the earth, his hands were together at right angles from his chest: on his hands were black gloves, and on the black gloves sparkled the sacred episcopal--what do I say?--archiepiscopal ring.On his head was the mitre.It is unlike the godly coronet that figures upon the coach-panels of our own Right Reverend Bench.The Archbishop's mitre may be about a yard high:
formed within probably of consecrated pasteboard, it is without covered by a sort of watered silk of white and silver.On the two peaks at the top of the mitre are two very little spangled tassels, that frisk and twinkle about in a very agreeable manner.
