At every
moment the King reined in his superb Arab horse to regard more at
ease the delighted crowd. He smiled and saluted with an air of
kindness and a grace that produced the best impression. Charles X.
was an excellent horseman; he presented the figure and air of a
young man. The contrast naturally fixed in all minds, between his
vigorous attitude and that of his predecessor, an infirm and
feeble old man, added to the general satisfaction. The houses were
decorated with white flags spangled with fleurs-de-lis. Triumphal
arches were erected along the route of the sovereign. The streets
and boulevards were strewn with flowers. At the sight of the
monarch the happy people redoubled their acclamations. Benjamin
Constant shouted: "Vive le roi!"--"Ah, I have captured you at
last," smilingly remarked Charles X.
Reaching the Parvis de Notre-Dame, the sovereign, before entering
the Cathedral, paused before the threshold of the Hotel-Dieu.
Fifty nuns presented themselves before him, "Sire," said the
Prioress, "you pause before the house so justly termed the Hotel-
Dieu, which has always been honored with the protection of our
kings. We shall never forget, Sire, that the sick have seen at
their bedside the Prince who is today their King. They know that
at this moment your march is arrested by charity. We shall tell
them that the King is concerned for their ills, and it will be a
solace to them.
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