popular idol,
assured them that France was, at that instant, the envy of surrounding
nations; and that, bating certain little weaknesses on the score of
humanity--certain traits of softness and over-mercy--her citizens
realised all that ever had been said of angels. From thence he passed
on to a mimicry of Marat, of Danton, and of Robespierre--tearing off his
cravat, baring his breast, and performing all the oft-exhibited antics
of the latter, as he vociferated, in a wild scream, the well-known
peroration of a speech he had lately made--'If we look for a glorious
morrow of freedom, the sun of our slavery must set in blood!'

However amused by the dwarfs exhibition, a feeling of impatience began
to manifest itself among the mob, who felt that, by any longer delay,
it was possible time would be given for fresh troops to arrive, and the
glorious opportunity of popular sovereignty be lost in the very hour of
victory.

'To work--to work, Master Gougon!' shouted hundreds of rude voices; 'we
cannot spend our day in listening to oratory.'

'You forget, my dear friends,' said he blandly, 'that this is to me a
new walk in life. I have much to learn, ere I can acquit myself worthily
to the Republic.'

'We have no leisure for preparatory studies, Gougon,' cried a fellow
below the scaffold.

'Let me, then, just begin with monsieur,' said the dwarf, pointing to
the last speaker, and a shout of laughter closed the sentence.

A brief and angry dispute now arose as to what was to be done; and it is
more than doubtful how the debate might have ended, when Gougon, with a
readiness all his own, concluded the discussion by saying--

'I have it, citizens, I have it! There is a lady here, who, however
respectable her family and connections, will leave few to mourn her
loss. She is, in a manner, public property, and if not born on the soil,
at least a naturalised Frenchwoman. We have done a great deal for her,
and in her name, for some time back, and I am not aware of any singular
benefit she has rendered us. With your permission, then, I 'll begin
with her.*

'Name, name--name her!' was cried by thousands.

'_La voila_,' said he archly, as he pointed with his thumb to the wooden
effigy of Liberty above his head.

The absurdity of the suggestion was more than enough for its success. A
dozen hands were speedily at work, and down came the goddess of Liberty!
The other details of an execution were hurried over with all the speed
of