Warned by the fate of the conspiracy of the 19th of August, 1820, and of those of Berton and Caron, the soldiers of the old army resigned themselves, after their failure in 1822, to await events.  This last conspiracy, which grew out of that of the 19th of August, was really a continuation of the latter, carried on by a better element.  Like its predecessor, it was absolutely unknown to the royal government.  Betrayed once more, the conspirators had the wit to reduce their vast enterprise to the puny proportions of a barrack plot.  This conspiracy, in which several regiments of cavalry, infantry, and artillery were concerned, had its centre in the north of France.  The strong places along the frontier were to be captured at a blow.  If success had followed, the treaties of 1815 would have been broken by a federation with Belgium, which, by a military compact made among the soldiers, was to withdraw from the Holy Alliance.  Two thrones would have been plunged in a moment into the vortex of this sudden cyclone.  Instead of this formidable scheme—­concerted by strong minds and supported by personages of high rank—­being carried out, one small part of it, and that only, was discovered and brought before the Court of Peers.  Philippe Bridau consented to screen the leaders, who retired the moment the plot was discovered (either by treachery or accident), and from their seats in both Chambers lent their co-operation to the inquiry only to work for the ultimate success of their purpose at the heart of the government.

To recount this scheme, which, since 1830, the Liberals have openly confessed in all its ramifications, would trench upon the domain of history and involve too long a digression.  This glimpse of it is enough to show the double part which Philippe Bridau undertook to play.  The former staff-officer of the Emperor was to lead a movement in Paris solely for the purpose of masking the real conspiracy and occupying the mind of the government at its centre, while the great struggle should burst forth at the north.  When the latter miscarried before discovery, Philippe was ordered to break all links connecting the two plots, and to allow the secrets of the secondary plot only to become known.  For this purpose, his abject misery, to which his state of health and his clothing bore witness, was amply sufficient to undervalue the character of the conspiracy and reduce its proportions in the eyes of the authorities.  The role was well suited to the precarious position of the unprincipled gambler.  Feeling himself astride of both parties, the crafty Philippe played the saint to the royal government, all the while retaining the good opinion of the men in high places who were of the other party,—­determined to cast in his lot at a later day with whichever side he might then find most to his advantage.