Part 27 (1/2)

Down the boulevards approach the mult.i.tude--more distinct becomes the dirge--more redly glare the torches--and, amid all, more deeply rumble the wheels of the death-cart on the pavement!

The funeral column reaches the corner of the Boulevard and the Rue Lepelletier--the death-hymn rises to a yell of fury--the officer of the National Guard turns the head of the column to the right--before it is an edifice conspicuous by its illumination of huge and blood-red lamps--it is the office of ”Le National”--the crowd halts--one long loud shriek of ”Vengeance!” goes up--it is succeeded by the thrilling notes of the Ma.r.s.eillaise from ten thousands lips, and ”Marrast! Marrast!” is the shout that follows.

The windows of the front office were thrown up, and the editor, surrounded by friends, appeared. His speech was brief but fervid. He exhorted the people to be firm--to secure their rights beyond recall--and promised them ample retribution for past wrongs and security for future rights.

M. Garnier Pages, who stood at the side of Marrast, next addressed the people in the same strain, amid thunders of applause.

Making a detour to the office of ”La Reforme,” the mult.i.tude were addressed by M. Flocon, its editor; then, proceeding to the Place de la Bastille, the corpses were deposited at the foot of the Column of July, and the crowd dispersed.

The night that succeeded was an awful one. The streets, which an hour before blazed with the illumination, were dark. Barricades rose in every direction. At every corner shopmen, workmen, women, clerks and children were at work. The crash of falling trees, the clank of the lever and the pickaxe, the rattle of paving stones--these were the significant sounds that broke the stillness. Every tree on the whole line of the Boulevard was felled and every lamp-post overthrown; a barricade of immense strength rose at the end of the Rue Richelieu; the troops offered no resistance; they piled their arms, lighted their fires and bivouacked close beside the barricades. At the Hotel de Ville the troops of the Line and the Cha.s.seurs d'Afrique quietly ate their suppers, smoked their pipes and laid themselves down to sleep. On the Boulevard des Italiens appeared three regiments of the Line, a battalion of National Guards, a regiment of cuira.s.siers, and three field-pieces, with their caissons of ammunition. The horses were unharnessed by the people, the caissons opened, the ammunition distributed and the guns dragged off. The troops, guards and cuira.s.siers fraternized.

CHAPTER XX.

ANOTHER MIDNIGHT CONCLAVE.

Again it was midnight. Again the chiefs of the revolution of '48 a.s.sembled in conclave. The second of the Three Days had pa.s.sed, but the streets of Paris were all alive with excitement.

Every leader of the reform was there--Ledru Rollin and Flocon excited and fiery, Louis Blanc exhausted and agitated, Albert stern and collected, Lamartine pale and troubled, Marrast sanguine and confident--all of them more or less disturbed but M. Dantes. As for him, the same calm smile was on his lip, the same mild light in his eye and the same unchanging resolution upon his countenance.

”Who attended the Chamber of Deputies to-day?” asked Marrast. ”Did you, Lamartine?”

”I did,” was the reply, ”and witnessed a somewhat stormy sitting. At three o'clock, as usual, old Sauzet took the chair. Our friends were there in large numbers; the Ministerial benches were also filled.

Immediately after, M. Guizot entered. He had been saluted with groans by the 10th Legion, stationed on guard without, and with cries of 'Down with Guizot!' Calm, undisturbed, stony in aspect, though strangely pallid, he entered and took his seat. M. Vavin, Deputy for the Seine, instantly mounted the tribune. As Deputy of Paris he had, he said, a solemn duty to fulfill. For twenty-four hours Paris had been in insurrection. Why was this? He called on the Minister of the Interior to explain.”

”And what said Guizot?” asked Louis Blanc, eagerly.

”He said he thought the public interest did not demand, nor was it proper for the Chamber at that time, to enter into debate on the subject. The King had called M. le Comte Mole to form a new cabinet.”

”And then the left cheered?” exclaimed Flocon.

”Most emphatically,” was the reply.

”And what said Guizot then?” asked Ledru Rollin.

”He calmly said that no such demonstrations could induce him to add to or withhold a single syllable of what he designed to say, or to pretermit a single act he had designed to do. As long as his Ministry remained in office he should cause public order to be respected, according to his best judgment, and as he had always done. He should consider himself answerable for all that might happen, and should in all things act as conscience might dictate for the best interests of the country.”

”A n.o.ble answer!” exclaimed M. Dantes, with enthusiasm.

Ledru Rollin and Louis Blanc a.s.sented.

”And what next?” pursued Flocon.

”After considerable confusion,” continued Lamartine, ”M. Odillon Barrot rose and demanded, in consequence of the situation of the cabinet, a postponement of the proposition for its impeachment, fixed for to-morrow.”

”Ah! And what said the Chamber?” asked Flocon.