In Chapter X., which deals with Bougon's experiences at
Niort, we have the story of the arrest of the old notary Mar-
tineau. This, again, is true, hne for line, almost word for
word ; but the incident really occurred at Charost, not Cou-
longes, and the notary's real name was Lebrun. He was a
cousin of the illustrious parliamentarian, Michel of Bourges.
And once again, fact is piled upon fact in Chapter XI., which
describes the Ministerial Council at St. Cloud. The project
for the creation of a new nobility emanated from Persigny
and Magne; numerous documents concerning it were dis-
covered in the Emperor's study after Sedan ; and I may here
remark en passant that M. Zola has frequently and rightly
availed himself of those Papiers trotivis atcx Tuileries as pub-
lished by the Government of National Defence. And he carries
accuracy to such a point that in Chapter XIH., when he is
describing Bougon's resignation, he dates the Emperor's
acceptance of it from Pontainebleau, as actually happened in
the case of Espinasse; and gives us a charity flair at the
orangery of the Tuileries as the scene of the minister's receipt



xvi HIS EXCELLENCY

of that acceptance — again an historical incident. And finally,
in the last chapter, which, Uke the opening one, deals with
the Corps L^gislatif, "we read the very words of Jules Favre
and Billault. Moreover, when we here find a clerical deputy
exclaiming, ' It displeases me that proud Venice, the Queen
of the Adriatic, should become the obscure vassal of Turin,'
we must not attribute the remark to M. Zola*s imagination ;
for those words were spoken in that very debate by Kolb.
Bernard, who, with Vicomte Lemercier, led the parhamentary
group Mhich opposed the Emperor's Uberal policy in Italy.
