[624] The Queen, exposed to the night wind and rain, with the infant heir of three crowns clasped to her breast, the King stopped, robbed, and outraged by ruffians, were objects of pity and of romantic interest to all France.

But Lewis saw with peculiar emotion the calamities of the House of Stuart.

All the selfish and all the generous parts of his nature were moved alike.

After many years of prosperity he had at length met with a great check.

He had reckoned on the support or neutrality of England.