Part 31 (1/2)

The voice of the speaker was drowned in shouts of dissent and of ”Vive la Reforme!”

”I dissent from the opinion of M. Odillon Barrot!” cried the Marquis de la Rochejacquelin. ”If he is right, the people are nothing!”

”Order--order!” cried the President, putting on his hat, but he was at once induced to remove it.

At this moment another vast crowd burst into the Chamber, garbed in a style so heterogeneous as to be grotesque--some with blouses--some with dragoon helmets on their heads, some with weapons and many with flags.

”Down--down--down with the Throne!” was the terrible cry of this infuriated ma.s.s.

”I demand that the sitting be suspended!” cried M. de Mornay.

”There can be no session at such a moment,” said the President, putting on his hat.

”Off--off--off with your hat, President!” cried the populace; and several of their muskets were at once pointed at the President. The hat was removed.

The scene was chaos!

”Beware!” shouted M. Chevalier, editor of the Historical Library.

”Beware how you make the Count of Paris King! A provisional government we must first have!”

”What right have you to speak?” shouted a man. ”You are not a deputy!”

”In the name of the people, silence!” roared a terrific voice that drowned every other.

It was the voice of Ledru Rollin.

Many of the deputies now withdrew, and their places were filled by the people. The d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans sat calmly amid the uproar, and the Duke of Nemours with equal calmness stood behind her chair.

”The throne has been tumbled from the windows of the Tuileries and is now burning in the Place de la Bastille!” cried M. Dumoulin, who commanded the Hotel de Ville in July of '30, displaying the tri-color flag.

”No more Bourbons! Down with the Bourbons! Down with the traitors! A provisional government!” shouted the people.

”Aye, a Republic!” cried M. Chevalier.

Cremieux, Ledru Rollin and Lamartine were at the same time in the tribune.

”In the name of the people, silence!” again roared the awful voice of Ledru Rollin.

”A provisional government!” shouted one of the people.

”You shall have a provisional government!” exclaimed M. Maguin.

”In the name of the people--in the name of the people of Paris in arms,”

again began Ledru Rollin, ”I protest against this King and this Regency.

The const.i.tution of '9 demands the will of the people to fix a Regency.

Yet the law of '42 makes the Duke of Nemours Regent, and now it is the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans. I protest against it all! I demand a provisional government!”

”Question--question!” shouted M. Berryer. ”A provisional government!”