;and
though
imperfectly
educated
,
and
brought
up
in
circumstances
so
lowly
,
there
was
nothing
common
about
her
—
a
certain
je
ne
sais
quoi
of
stateliness
and
race
.
At
all
events
she
did
with
me
what
she
wished
.
I
agreed
to
aid
her
desire
of
a
refuge
and
hiding-place
.
Of
course
I
could
not
lodge
her
in
my
own
apartment
,
but
I
induced
a
female
relation
of
her
mother’s
,
an
old
lady
living
at
Versailles
,
to
receive
her
,
stating
her
birth
,
but
of
course
concealing
her
illegal
marriage
.
“
From
time
to
time
I
went
to
see
her
.
But
one
day
I
found
this
restless
bright-plumaged
bird
flown
.
Among
the
ladies
who
visited
at
her
relative’s
house
was
a
certain
Madame
Marigny
,
a
very
pretty
young
widow
.
Madame
Marigny
and
Louise
formed
a
sudden
and
intimate
friendship
.
The
widow
was
moving
from
Versailles
into
an
apartment
at
Paris
,
and
invited
Louise
to
share
it
.
She
had
consented
.
I
was
not
pleased
at
this
;
for
the
widow
was
too
young
,
and
too
much
of
a
coquette
,
to
be
a
safe
companion
to
Louise
.
But
though
professing
much
gratitude
and
great
regard
for
me
,
I
had
no
power
of
controlling
the
poor
girl’s
actions
.
Her
nominal
husband
,
meanwhile
,
had
left
France
,
and
nothing
more
was
heard
or
known
of
him
.
I
saw
that
the
best
thing
that
could
possibly
befall
Louise
was
marriage
with
some
one
rich
enough
to
gratify
her
taste
for
luxury
and
pomp
;
and
that
if
such
a
marriage
offered
itself
,
she
might
be
induced
to
free
it
from
all
possible
embarrassment
by
procuring
the
annulment
of
the
former
,
from
which
she
had
hitherto
shrunk
in
such
revolt
.
This
opportunity
presented
itself
.
A
man
already
rich
,
and
in
a
career
that
promised
to
make
him
infinitely
richer
,
an
associate
of
mine
in
those
days
when
I
was
rapidly
squandering
the
remnant
of
my
inheritance
—
this
man
saw
her
at
the
opera
in
company
with
Madame
Marigny
,
fell
violently
in
love
with
her
,
and
ascertaining
her
relationship
to
me
,
besought
an
introduction
.
I
was
delighted
to
give
it
;
and
,
to
say
the
truth
,
I
was
then
so
reduced
to
the
bottom
of
my
casket
,
I
felt
that
it
was
becoming
impossible
for
me
to
continue
the
aid
I
had
hitherto
given
to
Louise
,
and
—
what
then
would
become
of
her
?
I
thought
it
fair
to
tell
Louvier
—
”
“
Louvier
—
the
financier
?
”
“
Ah
,
that
was
a
slip
of
the
tongue
,
but
no
matter
;
there
is
no
reason
for
concealing
his
name
.
I
thought
it
right
,
I
say
,
to
tell
Louvier
confidentially
the
history
of
the
unfortunate
illegal
marriage
.
It
did
not
damp
his
ardour
.
He
wooed
her
to
the
best
of
his
power
,
but
she
evidently
took
him
into
great
dislike
.
One
day
she
sent
for
me
in
much
excitement
,
showed
me
some
advertisements
in
the
French
journals
which
,
though
not
naming
her
,
evidently
pointed
at
her
,
and
must
have
been
dictated
by
her
soi-disant
husband
.
The
advertisements
might
certainly
lead
to
her
discovery
if
she
remained
in
Paris
.
She
entreated
my
consent
to
remove
elsewhere
.
Madame
Marigny
had
her
own
reason
for
leaving
Paris
,
and
would
accompany
her
.
I
supplied
her
with
the
necessary
means
,
and
a
day
or
two
afterwards
she
and
her
friend
departed
,
as
I
understood
,
for
Brussels
.
I
received
no
letter
from
her
;
and
my
own
affairs
so
seriously
pre-occupied
me
,
that
poor
Louise
might
have
passed
altogether
out
of
my
thoughts
,
had
it
not
been
for
the
suitor
she
had
left
in
despair
behind
.
Louvier
besought
me
to
ascertain
her
address
;
but
I
could
give
him
no
,
other
clue
to
it
than
that
she
said
she
was
going
to
Brussels
,
but
should
soon
remove
to
some
quiet
village
.
It
was
not
for
a
long
time
—
I
can’t
remember
how
long
—
it
might
be
several
weeks
,
perhaps
two
or
three
months
,
that
I
received
a
short
note
from
her
stating
that
she
waited
for
a
small
remittance
,
the
last
she
would
accept
from
me
,
as
she
was
resolved
,
so
soon
as
her
health
would
permit
,
to
find
means
to
maintain
herself
—
and
telling
me
to
direct
to
her
,
Poste
restante
,
Aix-la-Chapelle
.
I
sent
her
the
sum
she
asked
,
perhaps
a
little
more
,
but
with
a
confession
reluctantly
wrung
from
me
that
I
was
a
ruined
man
;
and
I
urged
her
to
think
very
seriously
before
she
refused
the
competence
and
position
which
a
union
with
M
.
Louvier
would
insure
.
“
This
last
consideration
so
pressed
on
me
that
,
when
Louvier
called
on
me
,
I
think
that
day
or
the
nests
I
gave
him
Louise’s
note
,
and
told
him
that
,
if
he
were
still
as
much
in
love
with
her
as
ever
,
les
absents
ont
toujours
tort
,
and
he
had
better
go
to
Aix-la-Chapelle
and
find
her
out
;
that
he
had
my
hearty
approval
of
his
wooing
,
and
consent
to
his
marriage
,
though
I
still
urged
the
wisdom
and
fairness
,
if
she
would
take
the
preliminary
step
—
which
,
after
all
,
the
French
law
frees
as
much
as
possible
from
pain
and
scandal
—
of
annulling
the
irregular
marriage
into
which
her
childlike
youth
had
been
decoyed
.
“
Louvier
left
me
for
Aix-la-Chapelle
.
The
very
next
day
came
that
cruel
affliction
which
made
me
a
prey
to
the
most
intolerable
calumny
,
which
robbed
me
of
every
friend
,
which
sent
me
forth
from
my
native
country
penniless
,
and
resolved
to
be
nameless
—
until
—
until
—
well
,
until
my
hour
could
come
again
—
every
dog
,
if
not
hanged
,
has
its
day
;
—
when
that
affliction
befell
me
,
I
quitted
France
,
heard
no
more
of
Louvier
nor
of
Louise
;
indeed
,
no
letter
addressed
to
me
at
Paris
would
have
reached
—
”
The
man
paused
here
,
evidently
with
painful
emotion
.
He
resumed
in
the
quiet
matter-of-fact
way
in
which
he
had
commenced
his
narrative
.
“
Louise
had
altogether
faded
out
of
my
remembrance
until
your
question
revived
it
.
As
it
happened
,
the
question
came
at
the
moment
when
I
meditated
resuming
my
real
name
and
social
position
.
In
so
doing
,
I
should
of
course
come
in
contact
with
my
old
acquaintance
Louvier
;
and
the
name
of
Louise
was
necessarily
associated
with
us
.
I
called
on
him
,
and
made
myself
known
.
The
slight
information
I
gave
you
as
to
my
niece
was
gleaned
from
him
.
“
I
may
now
say
more
.
It
appears
that
when
he
arrived
at
Aix-la-Chapelle
he
found
that
Louise
Duval
had
left
it
a
day
or
two
previously
,
and
according
to
scandal
had
been
for
some
time
courted
by
a
wealthy
and
noble
lover
,
whom
she
had
gone
to
Munich
to
meet
.
Louvier
believed
this
tale
:
quitted
Aix
indignantly
,
and
never
heard
more
of
her
.
The
probability
is
,
M
.
Vane
,
that
she
must
have
been
long
dead
.
But
if
living
still
,
I
feel
quite
sure
that
she
will
communicate
with
me
some
day
or
other
.
Now
that
I
have
reappeared
in
Paris
in
my
own
name
—
entered
into
a
career
that
,
for
good
or
for
evil
,
must
ere
long
bring
my
name
very
noisily
before
the
public
—
Louise
cannot
fail
to
hear
of
my
existence
and
my
whereabouts
;
and
unless
I
am
utterly
mistaken
as
to
her
character
,
she
will
assuredly
inform
me
of
her
own
.
Oblige
me
with
your
address
,
and
in
that
case
I
will
let
you
know
.
Of
course
I
take
for
granted
the
assurance
you
gave
me
last
year
,
that
you
only
desire
to
discover
her
in
order
to
render
her
some
benefit
,
not
to
injure
or
molest
her
?
”
“
Certainly
.
To
that
assurance
I
pledge
my
honour
.
Any
letter
with
which
you
may
favour
me
had
better
be
directed
to
my
London
address
;
here
is
my
card
.
But
,
M
.
le
Vicomte
,
there
is
one
point
on
which
pray
pardon
me
if
I
question
you
still
.
Had
you
no
suspicion
that
there
was
one
reason
why
this
lady
might
have
quitted
Paris
so
hastily
,
and
have
so
shrunk
from
the
thought
of
a
marriage
so
advantageous
,
in
a
worldly
point
of
view
,
as
that
with
M
.
Louvier
,
—
namely
,
that
she
anticipated
the
probability
of
becoming
the
mother
of
a
child
by
the
man
whom
she
refused
to
acknowledge
as
a
husband
?
”
“
That
idea
did
not
strike
me
until
you
asked
me
if
she
had
a
child
.
Should
your
conjecture
be
correct
,
it
would
obviously
increase
her
repugnance
to
apply
for
the
annulment
of
her
illegal
marriage
.
But
if
Louise
is
still
living
and
comes
across
me
,
I
do
not
doubt
that
,
the
motives
for
concealment
no
longer
operating
,
she
will
confide
to
me
the
truth
.
Since
we
have
been
talking
together
thus
frankly
,
I
suppose
I
may
fairly
ask
whether
I
do
not
guess
correctly
in
supposing
that
this
soi-disant
husband
,
whose
name
I
forget
,
—
Mac
—
something
,
perhaps
,
Scotch-I
think
she
said
he
was
Ecossais
,
—
is
dead
and
has
left
by
will
some
legacy
to
Louise
and
any
child
she
may
have
borne
to
him
?
”
“
Not
exactly
so
.
The
man
,
as
you
say
,
is
dead
;
but
he
bequeathed
no
legacy
to
the
lady
who
did
not
hold
herself
married
to
him
.
But
there
are
those
connected
with
him
who
,
knowing
the
history
,
think
that
some
compensation
is
due
for
the
wrong
so
unconsciously
done
to
her
,
and
yet
more
to
any
issue
of
a
marriage
not
meant
to
be
irregular
or
illegal
.
Permit
me
now
to
explain
why
I
sought
you
in
another
guise
and
name
than
my
own
.
I
could
scarcely
place
in
M
.
Lebeau
the
confidence
which
I
now
unreservedly
place
in
the
Vicomte
de
Mauleon
.
”
“
Cela
va
sans
dire
.
You
believed
,
then
,
that
calumny
about
the
jewels
;
you
do
not
believe
it
now
?
”
“
Now
!
my
amazement
is
,
that
any
one
who
had
known
you
could
believe
it
.
”
“
Oh
,
how
often
,
and
with
tears
of
rage
in
my
exile
—
my
wanderings
—
have
I
asked
that
question
of
myself
!
That
rage
has
ceased
;
and
I
have
but
one
feeling
left
for
that
credulous
,
fickle
Paris
,
of
which
one
day
I
was
the
idol
,
the
next
the
byword
.
Well
,
a
man
sometimes
plays
chess
more
skilfully
for
having
been
long
a
mere
bystander
.
He
understands
better
how
to
move
,
and
when
to
sacrifice
the
pieces
.
Politics
,
M
.
Vane
,
is
the
only
exciting
game
left
to
me
at
my
years
.
At
yours
,
there
is
still
that
of
love
.
How
time
flies
!
we
are
nearing
the
station
at
which
I
descend
.
I
have
kinsfolk
of
my
mother’s
in
these
districts
.
They
are
not
Imperialists
;
they
are
said
to
be
powerful
in
the
department
.
But
before
I
apply
to
them
in
my
own
name
,
I
think
it
prudent
that
M
.
Lebeau
should
quietly
ascertain
what
is
their
real
strength
,
and
what
would
be
the
prospects
of
success
if
Victor
de
Mauleon
offered
himself
as
depute
at
the
next
election
.
Wish
him
joy
,
M
.
Vane
!
If
he
succeed
,
you
will
hear
of
him
some
day
crowned
in
the
Capitol
,
or
hurled
from
the
Tarpeian
rock
.
”
Here
the
train
stopped
.
The
false
Lebeau
gathered
up
his
papers
,
readjusted
his
spectacles
and
his
bag
,
descended
lightly
,
and
,
pressing
Graham’s
hand
as
he
paused
at
the
door
,
said
,
“
Be
sure
I
will
not
forget
your
address
if
I
have
anything
to
say
.
Bon
voyage
!
”
CHAPTER
VII
.
Graham
continued
his
journey
to
Strasbourg
.
On
arriving
there
he
felt
very
unwell
.
Strong
though
his
frame
was
,
the
anguish
and
self-struggle
through
which
he
had
passed
since
the
day
he
had
received
in
London
Mrs.
Morley’s
letter
,
till
that
on
which
he
had
finally
resolved
on
his
course
of
conduct
at
Paris
,
and
the
shock
which
had
annihilated
his
hopes
in
Isaura’s
rejection
,
had
combined
to
exhaust
its
endurance
,
and
fever
had
already
commenced
when
he
took
his
place
in
the
coupe
.
If
there
be
a
thing
which
a
man
should
not
do
when
his
system
is
undermined
,
and
his
pulse
between
90
and
100
,
it
is
to
travel
all
night
by
a
railway
express
.
Nevertheless
,
as
the
Englishman’s
will
was
yet
stronger
than
his
frame
,
he
would
not
give
himself
more
than
an
hour’s
rest
,
and
again
started
for
Berlin
.
Long
before
he
got
to
Berlin
,
the
will
failed
him
—
as
well
as
the
frame
.
He
was
lifted
out
of
the
carriage
,
taken
to
a
hotel
in
a
small
German
town
,
and
six
hours
afterwards
he
was
delirious
.
It
was
fortunate
for
him
that
under
such
circumstances
plenty
of
money
and
Scott’s
circular-notes
for
some
hundreds
were
found
in
his
pocketbook
,
so
that
he
did
not
fail
to
receive
attentive
nursing
and
skilful
medical
treatment
.
There
,
for
the
present
,
I
must
leave
him
—
leave
him
for
how
long
?
But
any
village
apothecary
could
say
that
fever
such
as
his
must
run
its
course
.
He
was
still
in
bed
,
and
very
dimly
—
and
that
but
at
times
—
conscious
,
when
the
German
armies
were
gathering
round
the
penfold
of
Sedan
.
CHAPTER
VIII
.
When
the
news
of
the
disastrous
day
at
Sedan
reached
Paris
,
the
first
effect
was
that
of
timid
consternation
.
There
were
a
few
cries
of
Decheance
!
fewer
still
of
Vive
la
Republique
among
the
motley
crowds
;
but
they
were
faint
,
and
chiefly
by
ragged
gamins
.
A
small
body
repaired
to
Trochu
and
offered
him
the
sceptre
,
which
he
politely
declined
.
A
more
important
and
respectable
body
—
for
it
comprised
the
majority
of
the
Corps
Legislatif
—
urged
Palikao
to
accept
the
temporary
dictatorship
,
which
the
War
Minister
declined
with
equal
politeness
.
In
both
these
overtures
it
was
clear
that
the
impulse
of
the
proposers
was
towards
any
form
of
government
rather
than
republican
.
The
sergens
de
ville
were
sufficient
that
day
to
put
down
riot
.
They
did
make
a
charge
on
a
mob
,
which
immediately
ran
away
.
The
morning
of
that
day
the
Council
of
Ten
were
summoned
by
Lebeau
—
minus
only
Rameau
,
who
was
still
too
unwell
to
attend
,
and
the
Belgian
,
not
then
at
Paris
;
but
their
place
was
supplied
by
the
two
travelling
members
,
who
had
been
absent
from
the
meeting
before
recorded
.
These
were
conspirators
better
known
in
history
than
those
I
have
before
described
;
professional
conspirators
—
personages
who
from
their
youth
upwards
had
done
little
else
but
conspire
.
Following
the
discreet
plan
pursued
elsewhere
throughout
this
humble
work
,
I
give
their
names
other
than
they
bore
.
One
,
a
very
swarthy
and
ill-favoured
man
,
between
forty
and
fifty
,
I
call
Paul
Grimm
—
by
origin
a
German
,
but
by
rearing
and
character
French
;
from
the
hair
on
his
head
,
staring
up
rough
and
ragged
as
a
bramblebush
,
to
the
soles
of
small
narrow
feet
,
shod
with
dainty
care
,
he
was
a
personal
coxcomb
,
and
spent
all
he
could
spare
on
his
dress
.
A
clever
man
,
not
ill-educated
—
a
vehement
and
effective
speaker
at
a
club
.
Vanity
and
an
amorous
temperament
had
made
him
a
conspirator
,
since
he
fancied
he
interested
the
ladies
more
in
that
capacity
than
any
other
.
His
companion
,
Edgar
Ferrier
,
would
have
been
a
journalist
,
only
hitherto
his
opinions
had
found
no
readers
;
the
opinions
were
those
of
Marat
.
He
rejoiced
in
thinking
that
his
hour
for
glory
,
so
long
deferred
,
had
now
arrived
.
He
was
thoroughly
sincere
:
his
father
and
grandfather
had
died
in
a
madhouse
.
Both
these
men
,
insignificant
in
ordinary
times
,
were
likely
to
become
of
terrible
importance
in
the
crisis
of
a
revolution
.
They
both
had
great
power
with
the
elements
that
form
a
Parisian
mob
.
The
instructions
given
to
these
members
of
the
Council
by
Lebeau
were
brief
:
they
were
summed
up
in
the
one
word
,
Decheance
.
The
formidable
nature
of
a
council
apparently
so
meanly
constituted
became
strikingly
evident
at
that
moment
,
because
it
was
so
small
in
number
,
while
each
one
of
these
could
put
in
movement
a
large
section
of
the
populace
;
secondly
,
because
,
unlike
a
revolutionary
club
or
a
numerous
association
,
no
time
was
wasted
in
idle
speeches
,
and
all
were
under
the
orders
of
one
man
of
clear
head
and
resolute
purpose
;
and
thirdly
,
and
above
all
,
because
one
man
supplied
the
treasury
,
and
money
for
an
object
desired
was
liberally
given
and
promptly
at
hand
.
The
meeting
did
not
last
ten
minutes
,
and
about
two
hours
afterwards
its
effects
were
visible
.
From
Montmartre
and
Belleville
and
Montretout
poured
streams
of
ouvriers
,
with
whom
Armand
Monnier
was
a
chief
,
and
the
Medecin
des
Pauvres
an
oracle
.
Grimm
and
Ferrier
headed
other
detachments
that
startled
the
well-dressed
idlers
on
the
Boulevards
.
The
stalwart
figure
of
the
Pole
was
seen
on
the
Place
de
la
Concorde
,
towering
amidst
other
refugees
,
amid
which
glided
the
Italian
champion
of
humanity
.
The
cry
of
Decheance
became
louder
.
But
as
yet
there
were
only
few
cries
of
Vive
la
Republique
!
—
such
a
cry
was
not
on
the
orders
issued
by
Lebeau
.
At
midnight
the
crowd
round
the
hall
of
the
Corps
Legislatif
is
large
:
cries
of
La
Dechaeance
loud
—
a
few
cries
,
very
feeble
,
of
Vive
la
Republique
!
What
followed
on
the
4th
—
the
marvellous
audacity
with
which
half-a-dozen
lawyers
belonging
to
a
pitiful
minority
in
a
Chamber
elected
by
universal
suffrage
walked
into
the
Hotel
de
Ville
and
said
,
“
The
Republic
is
established
,
and
we
are
its
Government
,
”
history
has
told
too
recently
for
me
to
narrate
.
On
the
evening
of
the
5th
the
Council
of
Ten
met
again
:
the
Pole
;
the
Italian
radiant
;
Grimm
and
Ferrier
much
excited
and
rather
drunk
;
the
Medecin
des
Pauvres
thoughtful
;
and
Armand
Monnier
gloomy
.
A
rumour
has
spread
that
General
Trochu
,
in
accepting
the
charge
imposed
on
him
,
has
exacted
from
the
Government
the
solemn
assurance
of
respect
for
God
,
and
for
the
rights
of
Family
and
Property
.
The
Atheist
is
very
indignant
at
the
assent
of
the
Government
to
the
first
proposition
;
Monnier
equal
indignant
at
the
assent
to
the
second
and
third
.
What
has
that
honest
ouvrier
conspired
for
?
—
what
has
he
suffered
for
?
—
of
late
nearly
starved
for
?
—
but
to
marry
another
man’s
wife
,
getting
rid
of
his
own
,
and
to
legalise
a
participation
in
the
property
of
his
employer
,
—
and
now
he
is
no
better
off
than
before
.
“
There
must
be
another
revolution
,
”
he
whispers
to
the
Atheist
.
“
Certainly
,
”
whispers
back
the
Atheist
;
“
he
who
desires
to
better
this
world
must
destroy
all
belief
in
another
.
”
The
conclave
was
assembled
when
Lebeau
entered
by
the
private
door
.
He
took
his
place
at
the
head
of
the
table
;
and
,
fixing
on
the
group
eyes
that
emitted
a
cold
gleam
through
the
spectacles
,
thus
spoke
:
“
Messieurs
,
or
Citoyens
,
which
ye
will
—
I
no
longer
call
ye
confreres
—
you
have
disobeyed
or
blundered
my
instructions
.
On
such
an
occasion
disobedience
and
blunder
are
crimes
equally
heinous
.
”
Angry
murmurs
.
“
Silence
!
Do
not
add
mutiny
to
your
other
offences
.
My
instructions
were
simple
and
short
.
Aid
in
the
abolition
of
the
Empire
.
Do
not
aid
in
any
senseless
cry
for
a
Republic
or
any
other
form
of
government
.
Leave
that
to
the
Legislature
.
What
have
you
done
?
You
swelled
the
crowd
that
invaded
the
Corps
Ligislatif
.
You
,
Dombinsky
,
not
even
a
Frenchman
,
dare
to
mount
the
President’s
rostrum
,
and
brawl
forth
your
senseless
jargon
.
You
,
Edgar
Ferrier
,
from
whom
I
expected
better
,
ascend
the
tribune
,
and
invite
the
ruffians
in
the
crowd
to
march
to
the
prisons
and
release
the
convicts
;
and
all
of
you
swell
the
mob
at
the
Hotel
de
Ville
,
and
inaugurate
the
reign
of
folly
by
creating
an
oligarchy
of
lawyers
to
resist
the
march
of
triumphal
armies
.
Messieurs
,
I
have
done
with
you
.
You
are
summoned
for
the
last
time
:
the
Council
is
dissolved
.
”
With
these
words
Lebeau
put
on
his
hat
,
and
turned
to
depart
.
But
the
Pole
,
who
was
seated
near
him
,
sprang
to
his
feet
,
exclaiming
,
“
Traitor
,
thou
shalt
not
escape
!
Comrades
,
he
wants
to
sell
us
!
”
“
I
have
a
right
to
sell
you
at
least
,
for
I
bought
you
,
and
a
very
bad
bargain
I
made
,
”
said
Lebeau
,
in
a
tone
of
withering
sarcasm
.
“
Liar
!
”
cried
the
Pole
,
and
seized
Lebeau
by
the
left
hand
,
while
with
the
right
he
drew
forth
a
revolver
.
Ferrier
and
Grimm
,
shouting
,
“
A
bas
le
renegat
!
”
would
have
rushed
forward
in
support
of
the
Pole
,
but
Monnier
thrust
himself
between
them
and
their
intended
victim
,
crying
with
a
voice
that
dominated
their
yell
,
“
Back
!
—
we
are
not
assassins
.
”
Before
he
had
finished
the
sentence
the
Pole
was
on
his
knees
.
With
a
vigour
which
no
one
could
have
expected
from
the
seeming
sexagenarian
,
Lebeau
had
caught
the
right
arm
of
his
assailant
,
twisted
it
back
so
mercilessly
as
almost
to
dislocate
elbow
and
shoulder
joint
.
One
barrel
of
the
revolver
discharged
itself
harmlessly
against
the
opposite
wall
,
and
the
pistol
itself
then
fell
from
the
unnerved
hand
of
the
would-be
assassin
;
and
what
with
the
pain
and
the
sudden
shock
,
the
stalwart
Dombinsky
fell
in
the
attitude
of
a
suppliant
at
the
feet
of
his
unlooked-for
vanquisher
.
Lebeau
released
his
hold
,
possessed
himself
of
the
pistol
,
pointing
the
barrels
towards
Edgar
Ferrier
,
who
stood
with
mouth
agape
and
lifted
arm
arrested
,
and
said
quietly
:
“
Monsieur
,
have
the
goodness
to
open
that
window
.
”
Ferrier
mechanically
obeyed
.
“
Now
,
hireling
,
”
continued
Lebeau
,
addressing
the
vanquished
Pole
,
“
choose
between
the
door
and
the
window
.
”
“
Go
,
my
friend
,
”
whispered
the
Italian
.
The
Pole
did
not
utter
a
word
;
but
rising
nimbly
,
and
rubbing
his
arm
,
stalked
to
the
door
.
There
he
paused
a
moment
and
said
,
“
I
retire
overpowered
by
numbers
,
”
and
vanished
.
“
Messieurs
,
”
resumed
Lebeau
,
calmly
,
“
I
repeat
that
the
Council
is
dissolved
.
In
fact
its
object
is
fulfilled
more
abruptly
than
any
of
us
foresaw
,
and
by
means
which
I
at
least
had
been
too
long
out
of
Paris
to
divine
as
possible
.
I
now
see
that
every
aberration
of
reason
is
possible
to
the
Parisians
.
The
object
that
united
us
was
the
fall
of
the
Empire
.
As
I
have
always
frankly
told
you
,
with
that
object
achieved
,
separation
commences
.
Each
of
us
has
his
own
crotchet
,
which
differs
from
the
other
man’s
.
Pursue
yours
as
you
will
—
I
pursue
mine
—
you
will
find
Jean
Lebeau
no
more
in
Paris
:
il
s’eface
.
Au
plaisir
,
mais
pas
au
revoir
.
”
He
retreated
to
the
masked
door
and
disappeared
.
Marc
le
Roux
,
the
porter
or
custos
of
that
ruinous
council-hall
,
alarmed
at
the
explosion
of
the
pistol
,
had
hurried
into
the
room
,
and
now
stood
unheeded
by
the
door
with
mouth
agape
,
while
Lebeau
thus
curtly
dissolved
the
assembly
.
But
when
the
president
vanished
through
the
secret
doorway
,
Le
Roux
also
retreated
.
Hastily
descending
the
stairs
,
he
made
as
quickly
as
his
legs
could
carry
him
for
the
mouth
of
the
alley
in
the
rear
of
the
house
,
through
which
he
knew
that
Lebeau
must
pass
.
He
arrived
,
panting
and
breathless
,
in
time
to
catch
hold
of
the
ex-president’s
arm
.
“
Pardon
,
citizen
,
”
stammered
he
,
“
but
do
I
understand
that
you
have
sent
the
Council
of
Ten
to
the
devil
?
”
“
I
?
Certainly
not
,
my
good
Paul
;
I
dismiss
them
to
go
where
they
like
.
If
they
prefer
the
direction
you
name
,
it
is
their
own
choice
.
I
declined
to
accompany
them
,
and
I
advise
you
not
to
do
so
.
”
“
But
,
citizen
,
have
you
considered
what
is
to
become
of
Madame
?
Is
she
to
be
turned
out
of
the
lodge
?
Are
my
wages
to
stop
,
and
Madame
to
be
left
without
a
crust
to
put
into
her
soup
?
”
“
Not
so
bad
as
that
;
I
have
just
paid
the
rent
of
the
baraque
for
three
months
in
advance
,
and
there
is
your
quarter’s
pay
,
in
advance
also
.
My
kind
regards
to
Madame
,
and
tell
her
to
keep
your
skin
safe
from
the
schemes
of
these
lunatics
.
”
Thrusting
some
pieces
of
gold
into
the
hands
of
the
porter
,
Lebeau
nodded
his
adieu
,
and
hastened
along
his
way
.
Absorbed
in
his
own
reflections
,
he
did
not
turn
to
look
behind
.
But
if
he
had
,
he
could
not
have
detected
the
dark
form
of
the
porter
,
creeping
in
the
deep
shadow
of
the
streets
with
distant
but
watchful
footsteps
.
CHAPTER
,
IX
.
The
conspirators
,
when
left
by
their
president
,
dispersed
in
deep
,
not
noisy
resentment
.
They
were
indeed
too
stunned
for
loud
demonstration
;
and
belonging
to
different
grades
of
life
,
and
entertaining
different
opinions
,
their
confidence
in
each
other
seemed
lost
now
that
the
chief
who
had
brought
and
kept
them
together
was
withdrawn
from
their
union
.
The
Italian
and
the
Atheist
slunk
away
,
whispering
to
each
other
.
Grimm
reproached
Ferrier
for
deserting
Dombinsky
and
obeying
Lebeau
.
Ferrier
accused
Grimm
of
his
German
origin
,
and
hinted
at
denouncing
him
as
a
Prussian
spy
.
Gaspard
le
Noy
linked
his
arm
in
Monnier’s
,
and
when
they
had
gained
the
dark
street
without
,
leading
into
a
labyrinth
of
desolate
lanes
,
the
Medicin
des
Pauvres
said
to
the
mechanic
:
“
You
are
a
brave
fellow
,
Monnier
.
Lebeau
owes
you
a
good
turn
.
But
for
your
cry
,
‘We
are
not
assassins
,
’
the
Pole
might
not
have
been
left
without
support
.
No
atmosphere
is
so
infectious
as
that
in
which
we
breathe
the
same
air
of
revenge
:
when
the
violence
of
one
man
puts
into
action
the
anger
or
suspicion
of
others
,
they
become
like
a
pack
of
hounds
,
which
follow
the
spring
of
the
first
hound
,
whether
on
the
wild
boar
or
their
own
master
.
Even
I
,
who
am
by
no
means
hot-headed
,
had
my
hand
on
my
case-knife
when
the
word
‘assassin’
rebuked
and
disarmed
me
.
”
“
Nevertheless
,
”
said
Monnier
,
gloomily
,
“
I
half
repent
the
impulse
which
made
me
interfere
to
save
that
man
.
Better
he
should
die
than
live
to
betray
the
cause
we
allowed
him
to
lead
.
”
“
Nay
,
mon
ami
,
speaking
candidly
,
we
must
confess
that
he
never
from
the
first
pretended
to
advocate
the
cause
for
which
you
conspired
.
On
the
contrary
,
he
always
said
that
with
the
fall
of
the
Empire
our
union
would
cease
,
and
each
become
free
to
choose
his
own
way
towards
his
own
after-objects
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
answered
Armand
,
reluctantly
;
“
he
said
that
to
me
privately
,
with
still
greater
plainness
than
he
said
it
to
the
Council
.
But
I
answered
as
plainly
.
”
“
How
?
”
“
I
told
him
that
the
man
who
takes
the
first
step
in
a
revolution
,
and
persuades
others
to
go
along
with
him
,
cannot
in
safety
stand
still
or
retreat
when
the
next
step
is
to
be
taken
.
It
is
‘en
avant’
or
‘a
la
lanterne.’
So
it
shall
be
with
him
.
Shall
a
fellow-being
avail
himself
of
the
power
over
my
mind
which
he
derives
from
superior
education
or
experience
,
—
break
into
wild
fragments
my
life
,
heretofore
tranquil
,
orderly
,
happy
,
—
make
use
of
my
opinions
,
which
were
then
but
harmless
desires
,
to
serve
his
own
purpose
,
which
was
hostile
to
the
opinions
he
roused
into
action
,
—
say
to
me
,
‘Give
yourself
up
to
destroy
the
first
obstacle
in
the
way
of
securing
a
form
of
society
which
your
inclinations
prefer
,
’
and
then
,
that
first
obstacle
destroyed
,
cry
,
‘Halt
!
I
go
with
you
no
further
;
I
will
not
help
you
to
piece
together
the
life
I
have
induced
you
to
shatter
;
I
will
not
aid
you
to
substitute
for
the
society
that
pained
you
the
society
that
would
please
;
I
leave
you
,
struggling
,
bewildered
,
maddened
,
in
the
midst
of
chaos
within
and
without
you’
?
Shall
a
fellow-being
do
this
,
and
vanish
with
a
mocking
cry
:
‘Tool
!
I
have
had
enough
of
thee
;
I
cast
thee
aside
as
worthless
lumber’
?
Ah
!
let
him
beware
!
The
tool
is
of
iron
,
and
can
be
shaped
to
edge
and
point
.
”
The
passion
with
which
this
rough
eloquence
was
uttered
,
and
the
fierce
sinister
expression
that
had
come
over
a
countenance
habitually
open
and
manly
,
even
when
grave
and
stern
,
alarmed
and
startled
Le
Noy
.
“
Pooh
,
my
friend
!
”
he
said
,
rather
falteringly
,
“
you
are
too
excited
now
to
think
justly
.
Go
home
and
kiss
your
children
.
Never
do
anything
that
may
make
them
shrink
from
their
father
.
And
as
to
Lebeau
,
try
and
forget
him
.
He
says
he
shall
disappear
from
Paris
.
I
believe
him
.
It
is
clear
to
me
that
the
man
is
not
what
he
seemed
to
us
.
No
man
of
sixty
could
by
so
easy
a
sleight
of
hand
have
brought
that
giant
Pole
to
his
knee
.
If
Lebeau
reappear
it
will
be
in
some
other
form
.
Did
you
notice
that
in
the
momentary
struggle
his
flaxen
wig
got
disturbed
,
and
beneath
it
I
saw
a
dark
curl
.
I
suspect
that
the
man
is
not
only
younger
than
he
seemed
,
but
of
higher
rank
—
a
conspirator
against
one
throne
,
perhaps
,
in
order
to
be
minister
under
another
.
There
are
such
men
.
”
Before
Monnier
,
who
seemed
struck
by
these
conjectures
,
collected
his
thoughts
to
answer
,
a
tall
man
in
the
dress
of
a
sous
lieutenant
stopped
under
a
dim
gas-lamp
,
and
,
catching
sight
of
the
artisan’s
face
,
seized
him
by
the
hand
,
exclaiming
,
“
Armand
,
mon
frere
!
well
met
;
strange
times
,
eh
?
Come
and
discuss
them
at
the
cafe
de
Lyon
yonder
over
a
bowl
of
punch
.
I’ll
stand
treat
.
”
“
Agreed
,
dear
Charles
.
”
“
And
if
this
monsieur
is
a
friend
of
yours
,
perhaps
he
will
join
us
.
”
“
You
are
too
obliging
,
Monsieur
,
”
answered
Le
Noy
,
not
ill-pleased
to
get
rid
of
his
excited
companion
;
“
but
it
has
been
a
busy
day
with
me
,
and
I
am
only
fit
for
bed
.
Be
abstinent
of
the
punch
,
Armand
.
You
are
feverish
already
.
Good-night
,
Messieurs
.
”
The
cafe
de
Lyon
,
in
vogue
among
the
National
Guard
of
the
quartier
,
was
but
a
few
yards
off
,
and
the
brothers
turned
towards
it
arm
in
arm
.
“
Who
is
the
friend
?
”
asked
Charles
;
“
I
don’t
remember
to
have
seen
him
with
thee
before
.
”
“
He
belongs
to
the
medical
craft
—
a
good
patriot
and
a
kind
man
—
attends
the
poor
gratuitously
.
Yes
,
Charles
,
these
are
strange
times
;
what
dost
thou
think
will
come
of
them
?
”
They
had
now
entered
the
cafe
;
and
Charles
had
ordered
the
punch
,
and
seated
himself
at
a
vacant
table
before
he
replied
.
“
What
will
come
of
these
times
?
I
will
tell
thee
.
National
deliverance
and
regeneration
through
the
ascendency
of
the
National
Guard
.
”
“
Eh
?
I
don’t
take
,
”
said
Armand
,
bewildered
.
“
Probably
not
,
”
answered
Charles
,
with
an
air
of
compassionate
conceit
;
“
thou
art
a
dreamer
,
but
I
am
a
politician
.
”
He
tapped
his
forehead
significantly
.
“
At
this
custom-house
,
ideas
are
examined
before
they
are
passed
.
”
Armand
gazed
at
his
brother
wistfully
,
and
with
a
defence
he
rarely
manifested
towards
any
one
who
disputed
his
own
claims
to
superior
intelligence
.
Charles
was
a
few
years
older
than
Monnier
;
he
was
of
large
build
;
he
had
shaggy
lowering
eyebrows
,
a
long
obstinate
upper
lip
,
the
face
of
a
man
who
was
accustomed
to
lay
down
the
law
.
Inordinate
self-esteem
often
gives
that
character
to
a
physiognomy
otherwise
commonplace
.
Charles
passed
for
a
deep
thinker
in
his
own
set
,
which
was
a
very
different
set
from
Armand’s
—
not
among
workmen
but
small
shopkeepers
.
He
had
risen
in
life
to
a
grade
beyond
Armand’s
;
he
had
always
looked
to
the
main
chance
,
married
the
widow
of
a
hosier
and
glover
much
older
than
himself
,
and
in
her
right
was
a
very
respectable
tradesman
,
comfortably
well
off
;
a
Liberal
,
of
course
,
but
a
Liberal
bourgeois
,
equally
against
those
above
him
and
those
below
.
Needless
to
add
that
he
had
no
sympathy
with
his
brother’s
socialistic
opinions
.
Still
he
loved
that
brother
as
well
as
he
could
love
any
one
except
himself
.
And
Armand
,
who
was
very
affectionate
,
and
with
whom
family
ties
were
very
strong
,
returned
that
love
with
ample
interest
;
and
though
so
fiercely
at
war
with
the
class
to
which
Charles
belonged
,
was
secretly
proud
of
having
a
brother
who
was
of
that
class
.
So
in
England
I
have
known
the
most
violent
antagonist
of
the
landed
aristocracy
—
himself
a
cobbler
—
who
interrupts
a
discourse
on
the
crimes
of
the
aristocracy
by
saying
,
“
Though
I
myself
descend
from
a
county
family
.
”
In
an
evil
day
Charles
Monnier
,
enrolled
in
the
National
Guard
,
had
received
promotion
in
that
patriotic
corps
.
From
that
date
he
began
to
neglect
his
shop
,
to
criticise
military
matters
,
and
to
think
that
if
merit
had
fair
play
he
should
be
a
Cincinnatus
or
a
Washington
,
he
had
not
decided
which
.
“
Yes
,
”
resumed
Charles
,
ladling
out
the
punch
,
“
thou
hast
wit
enough
to
perceive
that
our
generals
are
imbeciles
or
traitors
;
that
gredin
Bonaparte
has
sold
the
army
for
ten
millions
of
francs
to
Bismarck
,
and
I
have
no
doubt
that
Wimpffen
has
his
share
of
the
bargain
.
McMahon
was
wounded
conveniently
,
and
has
his
own
terms
for
it
.
The
regular
army
is
nowhere
.
Thou
wilt
see
—
thou
wilt
see
—
they
will
not
stop
the
march
of
the
Prussians
.
Trochu
will
be
obliged
to
come
to
the
National
Guard
.
Then
we
shall
say
,
‘General
,
give
us
our
terms
,
and
go
to
sleep.’
“
I
shall
be
summoned
to
the
council
of
war
.
I
have
my
plan
.
I
explain
it
—
‘tis
accepted
—
it
succeeds
.
I
am
placed
in
supreme
command
—
the
Prussians
are
chased
back
to
their
sour-krout
.
And
I
—
well
—
I
don’t
like
to
boast
,
but
thou’lt
see
—
thou’lt
see
—
what
will
happen
.
”
“
And
thy
plan
,
Charles
—
thou
hast
formed
it
already
?
”
“
Ay
,
ay
,
—
the
really
military
genius
is
prompt
,
mon
petit
Armand
—
a
flash
of
the
brain
.
Hark
ye
!
Let
the
Vandals
come
to
Paris
and
invest
it
.
Whatever
their
numbers
on
paper
,
I
don’t
care
a
button
;
they
can
only
have
a
few
thousands
at
any
given
point
in
the
vast
circumference
of
the
capital
.
Any
fool
must
grant
that
—
thou
must
grant
it
eh
?
”
“
It
seems
just
.
”
“
Of
course
.
Well
,
then
,
we
proceed
by
sorties
of
200
,
000
men
repeated
every
other
day
,
and
in
twelve
days
the
Prussians
are
in
full
flight
.
The
country
rises
on
their
flight
—
they
are
cut
to
pieces
.
I
depose
Trochu
—
the
National
Guard
elects
the
Saviour
of
France
.
I
have
a
place
in
my
eye
for
thee
.
Thou
art
superb
as
a
decorator
—
thou
shalt
be
Minister
des
Beaux
Arts
.
But
keep
clear
of
the
canaille
.
No
more
strikes
then
—
thou
wilt
be
an
employer
—
respect
thy
future
order
.
”
[
Charles
Monnier
seems
to
have
indiscreetly
blabbed
out
his
“
idea
,
”
for
it
was
plagiarised
afterwards
at
a
meeting
of
the
National
Guards
in
the
Salle
de
la
Bourse
by
Citizen
Rochebrune
(
slain
19th
January
,
1871
,
in
the
affair
of
Montretout
)
.
The
plan
,
which
he
developed
nearly
in
the
same
words
as
Charles
Monnier
,
was
received
with
lively
applause
;
and
at
the
close
of
his
speech
it
was
proposed
to
name
at
once
Citizen
Rochebrune
General
of
the
National
Guard
,
an
honour
which
,
unhappily
for
his
country
,
the
citizen
had
the
modesty
to
decline
.
]
Armand
smiled
mournfully
.
Though
of
intellect
which
,
had
it
been
disciplined
,
was
far
superior
to
his
brother’s
,
it
was
so
estranged
from
practical
opinions
,
so
warped
,
so
heated
,
so
flawed
and
cracked
in
parts
,
that
he
did
not
see
the
ridicule
of
Charles’s
braggadocio
.
Charles
had
succeeded
in
life
,
Armand
had
failed
;
and
Armand
believed
in
the
worldly
wisdom
of
the
elder
born
.
But
he
was
far
too
sincere
for
any
bribe
to
tempt
him
to
forsake
his
creed
and
betray
his
opinions
.
And
he
knew
that
it
must
be
a
very
different
revolution
from
that
which
his
brother
contemplated
,
that
could
allow
him
to
marry
another
man’s
wife
,
and
his
“
order
”
to
confiscate
other
people’s
property
.
“
Don’t
talk
of
strikes
,
Charles
.
What
is
done
is
done
.
I
was
led
into
heading
a
strike
,
not
on
my
own
account
,
for
I
was
well
paid
and
well
off
,
but
for
the
sake
of
my
fellow-workmen
.
I
may
regret
now
what
I
did
,
for
the
sake
of
Marie
and
the
little
ones
.
But
it
is
an
affair
of
honour
,
and
I
cannot
withdraw
from
the
cause
till
my
order
,
as
thou
namest
my
class
,
has
its
rights
.
”
“
Bah
!
thou
wilt
think
better
of
it
when
thou
art
an
employer
.
Thou
hast
suffered
enough
already
.
Remember
that
I
warned
thee
against
that
old
fellow
in
spectacles
whom
I
met
once
at
thy
house
.
I
told
thee
he
would
lead
thee
into
mischief
,
and
then
leave
thee
to
get
out
of
it
.
I
saw
through
him
.
I
have
a
head
!
Va
!
”
“
Thou
wert
a
true
prophet
—
he
has
duped
me
.
But
in
moving
me
he
has
set
others
in
movement
;
and
I
suspect
he
will
find
he
has
duped
himself
.
Time
will
show
.
”
Here
the
brothers
were
joined
by
some
loungers
belonging
to
the
National
Guard
.
The
talk
became
general
,
the
potations
large
.
Towards
daybreak
Armand
reeled
home
,
drunk
for
the
first
time
in
his
life
.
He
was
one
of
those
whom
drink
makes
violent
.
Marie
had
been
sitting
up
for
him
,
alarmed
at
his
lengthened
absence
.
But
when
she
would
have
thrown
herself
on
his
breast
,
her
pale
face
and
her
passionate
sobs
enraged
him
.
He
flung
her
aside
roughly
.
From
that
night
the
man’s
nature
was
changed
.
If
,
as
a
physiognomist
has
said
,
each
man
has
in
him
a
portion
of
the
wild
beast
,
which
is
suppressed
by
mild
civilising
circumstances
,
and
comes
uppermost
when
self-control
is
lost
,
the
nature
of
many
an
honest
workman
,
humane
and
tender-hearted
as
the
best
of
us
,
commenced
a
change
into
the
wild
beast
that
raged
through
the
civil
war
of
the
Communists
,
on
the
day
when
half-a-dozen
Incapables
,
with
no
more
claim
to
represent
the
people
of
Paris
than
half-a-dozen
monkeys
would
have
,
were
allowed
to
elect
themselves
to
supreme
power
,
and
in
the
very
fact
of
that
election
released
all
the
elements
of
passion
,
and
destroyed
all
the
bulwarks
of
order
.
CHAPTER
X
.
No
man
perhaps
had
more
earnestly
sought
and
more
passionately
striven
for
the
fall
of
the
Empire
than
Victor
de
Mauleon
;
and
perhaps
no
man
was
more
dissatisfied
and
disappointed
by
the
immediate
consequences
of
that
fall
,
In
first
conspiring
against
the
Empire
,
he
had
naturally
enough
,
in
common
with
all
the
more
intelligent
enemies
of
the
dynasty
,
presumed
that
its
fate
would
be
worked
out
by
the
normal
effect
of
civil
causes
—
the
alienation
of
the
educated
classes
,
the
discontent
of
the
artisans
,
the
eloquence
of
the
press
and
of
popular
meetings
,
strengthened
in
proportion
as
the
Emperor
had
been
compelled
to
relax
the
former
checks
upon
the
license
of
either
.
And
De
Mauleon
had
no
less
naturally
concluded
that
there
would
be
time
given
for
the
preparation
of
a
legitimate
and
rational
form
of
government
to
succeed
that
which
was
destroyed
.
For
,
as
has
been
hinted
or
implied
,
this
remarkable
man
was
not
merely
an
instigator
of
revolution
through
the
Secret
Council
,
and
the
turbulent
agencies
set
in
movement
through
the
lower
strata
of
society
;
—
he
was
also
in
confidential
communication
with
men
eminent
for
wealth
,
station
,
and
political
repute
,
from
whom
he
obtained
the
funds
necessary
for
the
darker
purposes
of
conspiracy
,
into
the
elaboration
of
which
they
did
not
inquire
;
and
these
men
,
though
belonging
like
himself
to
the
Liberal
party
,
were
no
hot-blooded
democrats
.
Most
of
them
were
in
favour
of
constitutional
monarchy
;
all
of
them
for
forms
of
government
very
different
from
any
republic
in
which
socialists
or
communists
could
find
themselves
uppermost
.
Among
these
politicians
were
persons
ambitious
and
able
,
who
,
in
scheming
for
the
fall
of
the
Empire
,
had
been
prepared
to
undertake
the
task
of
conducting
to
ends
compatible
with
modern
civilisation
the
revolution
they
were
willing
to
allow
a
mob
at
Paris
to
commence
.
The
opening
of
the
war
necessarily
suspended
their
designs
.
How
completely
the
events
of
the
4th
September
mocked
the
calculations
of
their
ablest
minds
,
and
paralysed
the
action
of
their
most
energetic
spirits
,
will
appear
in
the
conversation
I
am
about
to
record
.
It
takes
place
between
Victor
de
Mauleon
and
the
personage
to
whom
he
had
addressed
the
letter
written
on
the
night
before
the
interview
with
Louvier
,
in
which
Victor
had
announced
his
intention
of
reappearing
in
Paris
in
his
proper
name
and
rank
.
I
shall
designate
this
correspondent
as
vaguely
as
possible
;
let
me
call
him
the
Incognito
.
He
may
yet
play
so
considerable
a
part
in
the
history
of
France
as
a
potent
representative
of
the
political
philosophy
of
De
Tocqueville
—
that
is
,
of
Liberal
principles
incompatible
with
the
absolute
power
either
of
a
sovereign
or
a
populace
,
and
resolutely
opposed
to
experiments
on
the
foundations
of
civilised
society
—
that
it
would
be
unfair
to
himself
and
his
partisans
if
,
in
a
work
like
this
,
a
word
were
said
that
could
lead
malignant
conjecture
to
his
identity
with
any
special
chief
of
the
opinions
of
which
I
here
present
him
only
as
a
type
.
The
Incognito
,
entering
Victor’s
apartment
:
“
My
dear
friend
,
even
if
I
had
not
received
your
telegram
,
I
should
have
hastened
hither
on
the
news
of
this
astounding
revolution
.
It
is
only
in
Paris
that
such
a
tragedy
could
be
followed
by
such
a
farce
.
You
were
on
the
spot
—
a
spectator
.
Explain
it
if
you
can
.
”
DE
MAULEON
.
—
“
I
was
more
than
a
spectator
;
I
was
an
actor
.
Hiss
me
—
I
deserve
it
.
When
the
terrible
news
from
Sedan
reached
Paris
,
in
the
midst
of
the
general
stun
and
bewilderment
I
noticed
a
hesitating
timidity
among
all
those
who
had
wares
in
their
shops
and
a
good
coat
on
their
backs
.
They
feared
that
to
proclaim
the
Empire
defunct
would
be
to
install
the
Red
Republic
with
all
its
paroxysm
of
impulsive
rage
and
all
its
theories
of
wholesale
confiscation
.
But
since
it
was
impossible
for
the
object
we
had
in
view
to
let
slip
the
occasion
of
deposing
the
dynasty
which
stood
in
its
way
,
it
was
necessary
to
lose
no
time
in
using
the
revolutionary
part
of
the
populace
for
that
purpose
.
I
assisted
in
doing
so
;
my
excuse
is
this
—
that
in
a
time
of
crisis
a
man
of
action
must
go
straight
to
his
immediate
object
,
and
in
so
doing
employ
the
instruments
at
his
command
.
I
made
,
however
,
one
error
in
judgment
which
admits
no
excuse
:
I
relied
on
all
I
had
heard
,
and
all
I
had
observed
,
of
the
character
of
Trochu
,
and
I
was
deceived
,
in
common
,
I
believe
,
with
all
his
admirers
,
and
three
parts
of
the
educated
classes
of
Paris
.
”
INCOGNITO
.
—
“
I
should
have
been
equally
deceived
!
Trochu’s
conduct
is
a
riddle
that
I
doubt
if
he
himself
can
ever
solve
.
He
was
master
of
the
position
;
he
had
the
military
force
in
his
hands
if
he
combined
with
Palikao
,
which
,
whatever
the
jealousies
between
the
two
,
it
was
his
absolute
duty
to
do
.
He
had
a
great
prestige
—
”
DE
MAULEON
.
—
“
And
for
the
moment
a
still
greater
popularity
.
His
ipse
dixit
could
have
determined
the
wavering
and
confused
spirits
of
the
population
.
I
was
prepared
for
his
abandonment
of
the
Emperor
—
even
of
the
Empress
and
the
Regency
.
But
how
could
I
imagine
that
he
,
the
man
of
moderate
politics
,
of
Orleanistic
leanings
,
the
clever
writer
,
the
fine
talker
,
the
chivalrous
soldier
,
the
religious
Breton
,
could
abandon
everything
that
was
legal
,
everything
that
could
save
France
against
the
enemy
,
and
Paris
against
civil
discord
;
that
he
would
connive
at
the
annihilation
of
the
Senate
,
of
the
popular
Assembly
,
of
every
form
of
Government
that
could
be
recognised
as
legitimate
at
home
or
abroad
,
accept
service
under
men
whose
doctrines
were
opposed
to
all
his
antecedents
,
all
his
professed
opinions
,
and
inaugurate
a
chaos
under
the
name
of
a
Republic
!
”
INCOGNITO
.
—
“
How
,
indeed
?
How
suppose
that
the
National
Assembly
,
just
elected
by
a
majority
of
seven
millions
and
a
half
,
could
be
hurried
into
a
conjuring-bog
,
and
reappear
as
the
travesty
of
a
Venetian
oligarchy
,
composed
of
half-a-dozen
of
its
most
unpopular
members
!
The
sole
excuse
for
Trochu
is
,
that
he
deemed
all
other
considerations
insignificant
compared
with
the
defence
of
Paris
,
and
the
united
action
of
the
nation
against
the
invaders
.
But
if
that
were
his
honest
desire
in
siding
with
this
monstrous
usurpation
of
power
,
he
did
everything
by
which
the
desire
could
be
frustrated
.
Had
there
been
any
provisional
body
composed
of
men
known
and
esteemed
,
elected
by
the
Chambers
,
supported
by
Trochu
and
the
troops
at
his
back
,
there
would
have
been
a
rallying-point
for
the
patriotism
of
the
provinces
;
and
in
the
wise
suspense
of
any
constitution
to
succeed
that
Government
until
the
enemy
were
chased
from
the
field
,
all
partisans
—
Imperialists
,
Legitimists
,
Orleanists
,
Republicans
—
would
have
equally
adjourned
their
differences
.
But
a
democratic
Republic
,
proclaimed
by
a
Parisian
mob
for
a
nation
in
which
sincere
democratic
Republicans
are
a
handful
,
in
contempt
of
an
Assembly
chosen
by
the
country
at
large
;
headed
by
men
in
whom
the
provinces
have
no
trust
,
and
for
whom
their
own
representatives
are
violently
cashiered
;
—
can
you
conceive
such
a
combination
of
wet
blankets
supplied
by
the
irony
of
Fate
for
the
extinction
of
every
spark
of
ardour
in
the
population
from
which
armies
are
to
be
gathered
in
haste
,
at
the
beck
of
usupers
they
distrust
and
despise
?
Paris
has
excelled
itself
in
folly
.
Hungering
for
peace
,
it
proclaims
a
Government
which
has
no
legal
power
to
treat
for
it
.
Shrieking
out
for
allies
among
the
monarchies
,
it
annihilates
the
hope
of
obtaining
them
;
its
sole
chance
of
escape
from
siege
,
famine
,
and
bombardment
,
is
in
the
immediate
and
impassioned
sympathy
of
the
provinces
;
and
it
revives
all
the
grudges
which
the
provinces
have
long
sullenly
felt
against
the
domineering
pretensions
of
the
capital
,
and
invokes
the
rural
populations
,
which
comprise
the
pith
and
sinew
of
armies
,
in
the
name
of
men
whom
I
verily
believe
they
detest
still
more
than
they
do
the
Prussians
.
Victor
,
it
is
enough
to
make
one
despair
of
his
country
!
All
beyond
the
hour
seems
anarchy
and
ruin
.
”
“
Not
so
!
”
exclaimed
De
Mauleon
.
“
Everything
comes
to
him
who
knows
how
to
wait
.
The
Empire
is
destroyed
;
the
usurpation
that
follows
it
has
no
roots
.
It
will
but
serve
to
expedite
the
establishment
of
such
a
condition
as
we
have
meditated
and
planned
—
a
constitution
adapted
to
our
age
and
our
people
,
not
based
wholly
on
untried
experiments
,
taking
the
best
from
nations
that
do
not
allow
Freedom
and
Order
to
be
the
sport
of
any
popular
breeze
.
From
the
American
Republic
we
must
borrow
the
only
safeguards
against
the
fickleness
of
the
universal
suffrage
which
,
though
it
was
madness
to
concede
in
any
ancient
community
,
once
conceded
cannot
be
safely
abolished
,
—
viz
.
,
the
salutary
law
that
no
article
of
the
Constitution
,
once
settled
,
can
be
altered
without
the
consent
of
two-thirds
of
the
legislative
body
.
By
this
law
we
insure
permanence
,
and
that
concomitant
love
for
institutions
which
is
engendered
by
time
and
custom
.
Secondly
,
the
formation
of
a
senate
on
such
principles
as
may
secure
to
it
in
all
times
of
danger
a
confidence
and
respect
which
counteract
in
public
opinion
the
rashness
and
heat
of
the
popular
assembly
.
On
what
principles
that
senate
should
be
formed
,
with
what
functions
invested
,
what
share
of
the
executive
—
especially
in
foreign
affairs
,
declarations
of
war
,
or
treaties
of
peace
—
should
be
accorded
to
it
,
will
no
doubt
need
the
most
deliberate
care
of
the
ablest
minds
.
But
a
senate
I
thus
sketch
has
alone
rescued
America
from
the
rashness
of
counsel
incident
to
a
democratic
Chamber
;
and
it
is
still
more
essential
to
France
,
with
still
more
favourable
elements
for
its
creation
.
From
England
we
must
borrow
the
great
principle
that
has
alone
saved
her
from
revolution
—
that
the
head
of
the
State
can
do
no
wrong
.
He
leads
no
armies
,
he
presides
over
no
Cabinet
.
All
responsibility
rests
with
his
advisers
;
and
where
we
upset
a
dynasty
,
England
changes
an
administration
.
Whether
the
head
of
the
State
should
have
the
title
of
sovereign
or
president
,
whether
he
be
hereditary
or
elected
,
is
a
question
of
minor
importance
impossible
now
to
determine
,
but
on
which
I
heartily
concur
with
you
that
hereditary
monarchy
is
infinitely
better
adapted
to
the
habits
of
Frenchmen
,
to
their
love
of
show
and
of
honours
—
and
infinitely
more
preservative
from
all
the
dangers
which
result
from
constant
elections
to
such
a
dignity
,
with
parties
so
heated
,
and
pretenders
to
the
rank
so
numerous
—
than
any
principle
by
which
a
popular
demagogue
or
a
successful
general
is
enabled
to
destroy
the
institutions
he
is
elected
to
guard
.
On
these
fundamental
doctrines
for
the
regeneration
of
France
I
think
we
are
agreed
.
And
I
believe
when
the
moment
arrives
to
promulgate
them
,
through
an
expounder
of
weight
like
yourself
,
they
will
rapidly
commend
themselves
to
the
intellect
of
France
.
For
they
belong
to
common
sense
;
and
in
the
ultimate
prevalence
of
common-sense
I
have
a
faith
which
I
refuse
to
medievalists
who
would
restore
the
right
divine
;
and
still
more
to
fanatical
quacks
,
who
imagine
that
the
worship
of
the
Deity
,
the
ties
of
family
,
and
the
rights
of
property
are
errors
at
variance
with
the
progress
of
society
.
Qui
vivera
,
verra
.
”
INCOGNITO
.
—
“
In
the
outlines
of
the
policy
you
so
ably
enunciate
I
heartily
concur
.
But
if
France
is
,
I
will
not
say
to
be
regenerated
,
but
to
have
fair
play
among
the
nations
of
Europe
,
I
add
one
or
two
items
to
the
programme
.
France
must
be
saved
from
Paris
,
not
by
subterranean
barracks
and
trains
,
the
impotence
of
which
we
see
to-day
with
a
general
in
command
of
the
military
force
,
but
by
conceding
to
France
its
proportionate
share
of
the
power
now
monopolised
by
Paris
.
All
this
system
of
centralisation
,
equally
tyrannical
and
corrupt
,
must
be
eradicated
.
Talk
of
examples
from
America
,
of
which
I
know
little
—
from
England
,
of
which
I
know
much
,
—
what
can
we
more
advantageously
borrow
from
England
than
that
diffusion
of
all
her
moral
and
social
power
which
forbids
the
congestion
of
blood
in
one
vital
part
?
Decentralise
!
decentralise
!
decentralise
!
will
be
my
incessant
cry
,
if
ever
the
time
comes
when
my
cry
will
be
heard
.
France
can
never
be
a
genuine
France
until
Paris
has
no
more
influence
over
the
destinies
of
France
than
London
has
over
those
of
England
.
But
on
this
theme
I
could
go
on
till
midnight
.
Now
to
the
immediate
point
:
what
do
you
advise
me
to
do
in
this
crisis
,
and
what
do
you
propose
to
do
yourself
?
”
De
Mauleon
put
his
hand
to
his
brow
,
and
remained
a
few
moments
silent
and
thoughtful
.
At
last
he
looked
up
with
that
decided
expression
of
face
which
was
not
the
least
among
his
many
attributes
for
influence
over
those
with
whom
he
came
into
contact
.
“
For
you
,
on
whom
so
much
of
the
future
depends
,
my
advice
is
brief
—
have
nothing
to
do
with
the
present
.
All
who
join
this
present
mockery
of
a
Government
will
share
the
fall
that
attends
it
—
a
fall
from
which
one
or
two
of
their
body
may
possibly
recover
by
casting
blame
on
their
confreres
,
—
you
never
could
.
But
it
is
not
for
you
to
oppose
that
Government
with
an
enemy
on
its
march
to
Paris
.
You
are
not
a
soldier
;
military
command
is
not
in
your
rode
.
The
issue
of
events
is
uncertain
;
but
whatever
it
be
,
the
men
in
power
cannot
conduct
a
prosperous
war
nor
obtain
an
honourable
peace
.
Hereafter
you
may
be
the
Deus
ex
machina
.
No
personage
of
that
rank
and
with
that
mission
appears
till
the
end
of
the
play
:
we
are
only
in
the
first
act
.
Leave
Paris
at
once
,
and
abstain
from
all
action
.
”
INCOGNITO
(
dejectedly
)
.
—
“
I
cannot
deny
the
soundness
of
your
advice
,
though
in
accepting
it
I
feel
unutterably
saddened
.
Still
you
,
the
calmest
and
shrewdest
observer
among
my
friends
,
think
there
is
cause
for
hope
,
not
despair
.
Victor
,
I
have
more
