A ministry always does fall in France.

Bad weather may bring about such a descent at any moment.

A monarchy had been thrown down--a king had fled.
Another king; and one who should have known better than to put his trust in a people.
Half a dozen generals had attempted to restore order in Paris and confidence in France.

Then, at the very end of 1848, the fickle people elected this Napoleon, who was no Bonaparte, President of the new Republic, and Europe was accorded a breathing space.

At the beginning of 1849 arrangements were made for it--military arrangements--and the year was almost quiet.
It was in the summer of the next year, 1850, that the Marquis de Gemosac journeyed to England.