brought about a new series of trials and executions.
All this violence was only the reflux of the great wave of excitement caused by the return of Napoleon. Curiously enough, more than one old servant of the Empire, supposing him to be submerged for ever, appeared to swell the number of the ultras by mere force of habit and affection for extreme ideas and arbitrary solutions. This state of things lasted till the day when Louis XVIII. very courageously decided to dissolve the " Introuvable " Chamber, and appeal to the country. As may be imagined, the ultras was scandalised, but the country was infinitely obliged to the King for his initiative. The Constitutional Monarchy had wakened to its normal life ; beneficent tolerance stooped from the throne. Louis XVIII. showed then that he did not propose to be the King of the Royalists alone, but the King of the French people.
