Make France Great Again-Chapter 50: Journey to Rome

1848, May 16, 7:00 AM.

A priest in a white robe holding a Bible appeared at Louvre Mansion. Behind him were several burly men in linen coats, responsible for carrying Louis Napoleon’s coffin to the carriage outside after the priest finished his prayers.

Due to time constraints, all the originally cumbersome rituals were simplified, and everything would be reopened once Louis Napoleon set foot on French soil.

The priest came before Louis Napoleon and read prayers over him.

After the prayers were recited, Jerome Bonaparte and Miss Howard, as family and half-family members, gazed affectionately at Louis Napoleon in the coffin before it was closed.

"May the Lord bless our brother! He will go with the Lord..." the priest mumbled a string of prayers again.

The first stage of the funeral ceremony concluded.

The long-waiting burly men carried the mahogany coffin on their shoulders and slowly descended the stairs, followed by Jerome Bonaparte and others.

On the first floor, the Catholic choir began to chant a Latin farewell song in unison as they saw the coffin slowly descending the stairs.

The burly men loaded the coffin onto the carriage, which moved slowly under Fleury’s guidance.

Jerome Bonaparte, Percy, Talan, Letty, Tocqueville, and Lale followed behind the carriage as proof.

At about 9:00 AM, the carriage arrived at the London Docks from the East London.

With the aid (paid) of several dockworkers, Louis Napoleon’s coffin was loaded onto a cargo ship. The ship, carrying Tocqueville and members of the Bonaparte Faction, set sail from London Dock towards Calais. Upon reaching Calais, it would be received by Bonaparte members led by Eugène Roué and Republican representatives dispatched by Lamartine.

The expected arrival time in France was around May 20.

London Dock.

Bidding farewell to the coffin boarding the ship, Jerome Bonaparte shook Tocqueville’s hand and said, "Mr. Tocqueville, thank you for your trouble on this journey!"

Saying this, Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to Percy and said, "Percy, I entrust my cousin’s body to you. Please make sure not to cause Mr. Tocqueville trouble!"

Percy nodded in acknowledgment.

Unaware of Jerome Bonaparte’s journey to Rome, Tocqueville also stated courteously, "Your Highness, please take care of yourself in London! I will handle Prince Louis’ matters!"

"Thank you for the trouble!" Jerome Bonaparte said sincerely. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Tocqueville and Jerome Bonaparte parted ways in a "reluctant" atmosphere.

Percy boarded the ship with Tocqueville and others, and the cargo ship departed at a quarter to 10:00 AM.

On the deck, Percy and Fleury waved their arms to bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte and Letty.

Jerome Bonaparte also raised a hand in response.

The cargo ship gradually moved away and was soon out of sight, and Jerome Bonaparte turned to leave the London Dock.

Following behind Jerome Bonaparte, Captain Letty quietly asked, "Your Highness, when shall we depart for Rome?"

"We leave now!" Jerome Bonaparte said without a moment’s hesitation.

"Hmm..." Letty was evidently startled by Jerome Bonaparte’s decisive action.

After a brief surprise, Letty cautiously asked, "Your Highness, shouldn’t we wait a couple of days to carry out some necessary plans?"

"Captain Letty!" Jerome Bonaparte stopped and turned to look at Letty, who had caught up to him, and said coldly, "Are you afraid?"

Captain Letty straightened his back and said resolutely, "Your Highness, the word ’fear’ has never existed in my dictionary! Your orders are the sole reason for my existence!"

"I trust in your loyalty! Captain, I order you to follow me now!" Jerome Bonaparte issued a command to Captain Letty.

"Yes!" Captain Laidi complied with Jerome Bonaparte’s order.

The two inquired all the way at London Dock and finally found out some news.

A cargo ship from London to Civitavecchia Port was set to depart at 3:00 PM.

Under Jerome Bonaparte’s negotiation, the captain of the cargo ship agreed to allow the two to board at a rate of 15 British Pounds each, which included accommodation and meals.

Compared to pre-revolution ticket prices, this fare was simply exorbitant.

So much so that after Jerome Bonaparte and the captain settled on a price, he joked all the way about whether the ship was made of gold or silver!

The captain equally lamented that the Apennine Peninsula was unstable and he was unsure if he could sell his goods; to avoid a total loss, he had to set the ticket price slightly higher.

Under the captain’s "warm invitation," Jerome Bonaparte and Letty boarded the ship.

The cargo ship departed punctually at 3:00 PM. Standing on the deck, gazing at the receding London Dock, Jerome Bonaparte clenched his fist and murmured, "London, I will return! Next time, I will come in a different guise!"

As for the cleanup of the House of Bonaparte’s affairs in London, Jerome Bonaparte entrusted Miss Howard entirely.

...

Just as Jerome Bonaparte left the land of London.

Seated in the study of Windsor Castle handling important documents, Prince Albert received the intelligence.

"You said that fellow Jerome Bonaparte left London for Civitavecchia?" Albert asked, showing a surprised expression to the Minister of Internal Affairs before him.

"Exactly!" the Minister of Internal Affairs quickly explained, "This information is based on my police force’s tracking and investigation!"

"What’s he going to Civitavecchia for?" Albert murmured slightly, his smooth and full forehead wrinkling from thought.

"This..." The Minister of Internal Affairs, who had limited knowledge of Jerome Bonaparte, could only speculate, "Could he be going to see the Pope?"

"That possibility can’t be ruled out!" Albert responded, although still somewhat puzzled, "What’s he seeing the Pope for? His family has not always gotten along with the Pope, right?"

As the saying goes, without investigation, there is no right to speak; the Minister of Internal Affairs remained silent.

Finding himself utterly at a loss regarding Jerome Bonaparte’s intentions, Albert chose not to dwell further; as long as Jerome Bonaparte did not infringe upon the United Kingdom’s interests, Albert did not need to pay him excessive attention.

The likes of Napoleon eventually met their end by abdicating.

Let everything take its course!

Prince Albert silently recited in his heart.

Afterward, he sternly criticized the Minister of Internal Affairs for issues within the United Kingdom’s police system.

The Minister of Internal Affairs meekly promised that he would continue revising the "Police Act," striving to minimize errors.