It seems to be pretty well understood in Paris that
all, or nearly all, the disputed elections are to be declared valid, even when, as in the case of M. Clement Duvernois, they have been carried by a lavish use of public money. The Emperor would not give up his prote'gis, the fifty or so doubtful seats were filled by men who would follow any ministry his Majesty might appoint ; and M. Emile 011ivier, in spite of his Liberalism, has evidently yielded. The Chamber, however, is in a mood of vacillation approaching to childishness ; for example, it declared the election of M. Girault, a moderate Liberal, vacant, without hearing him in his own defence. This vote, however, was rescinded. M. Girault was heard, and his election was almost unanimously confirmed. The single charge against him was that he had falsely represented himself as a working-man. He had not done so, but he was a working-man for ten years, having worked for his father, a miller, who, at the age of eighty, still wore the blouse,—" of which," said M. Girault, " neither he nor I fun ashamed."
