That of the present Duke to the various members of his supposed family
is absolutely non-existent,[55] while he has all Chiappini’s features:
loose-hung jaw; tanned complexion; brown eyes; black hair; slightly
crooked legs, etc.
As for myself, I can proudly boast that I have nothing in common with the
former jailer; but every one is struck by the many points of resemblance
seen between Mademoiselle d’Orléans and me—manners, tone of voice,
physique, shape and colour of face, all identical.
I have the honour of bearing on my body certain marks distinguishing the
late Dowager; at first sight her handwriting and mine display the most
astounding similarity of character.
We need not add that whoever knows the history of Louis-Philippe-Joseph
must have already discovered the disastrous source of the maladies I
have suffered from since my birth, and that I have so unfortunately
transmitted to my dear children, who themselves, in their turn, are the
perfect image of the illustrious ancestors that I hold myself right in
claiming.
What more could be wished for in the way of proof?
We must not lose sight of the fact that power and riches are two
great means of corruption; that their own chief interests forced the
perpetrators of the exchange to destroy as quickly as possible all
essential traces of the deed; that fear and cupidity indubitably kept
silent the greater number of witnesses, who, in any case, could not
be very many, since, in 1773, they were already of a certain age, and
fifty-seven years have gone by since then.
It must be remembered, also, that during this lengthy period took place
that revolutionary tempest which spared private rights no more than
public monuments.
Still, with lively gratitude, I say it once again, Providence has had
compassion on me, and my latest investigations have furnished me with
fresh pleas, which I feel I cannot with delicacy communicate to any one
but my judges.