The Bonapartes were no common men--and it was no common blood that trickled unstanched ten years later into the sand of the African veldt, leaving the world the poorer of one of its greatest races.
I gathered that the fall of the ministry was no great surprise to these men assembled in this inner room.

They formed, so far as I could discover, a sort of administration--a committee which gathered the opinions of the more intelligent citizens of the larger towns of France--a head-center of news and public thought.

Their meeting place was furnished without ostentation, and in excellent taste.
These were no mere adventurers, but men of position and wealth, who had somewhat to lose and every desire to retain the same.

They did not rave of patriotism, nor was there any cant of equality and fraternity.
It seemed rather that, finding themselves placed in stirring times, they deemed it wise to guide by some means or other the course of events into such channels as might ensure safety to themselves and their possessions.

And who can blame them for such foresight?
Patriots are, according to my experience, men who look for a substantial _quid pro quo_.