THE REGENT. 33
upon the Regent. The grand diamond sparkled upon the hat of the elderly monarch when bowing and smiling he made his entry into Paris as
King of France. He was very fond of display, the Vrai Chevalier of the
olden time, and spent months devising the most perfect and complete of
coronations. Everything was to be conducted according to the strict old
court etiquette ; even the dresses of the ladies were designed from
fashion plates of the time of Marie de Medicis. This was the last king
of France crowned at Rheims, none but the elder Bourbons having dared
to face the legitimate traditions of the sleepy old town. A crown
splendidly garnished with diamonds was made especially for Charles who
was duly anointed. But it all availed not to keep him on his infirm
throne. He abdicated in 1830 when at St. Cloud and proceeded with royal
slowness to quit the kingdom.
He
retained however his hold over the crown jewels while relinquishing the
crown itself, for he carried the Regent and all the rest of the
