It shall be done to-day or to-morrow." "To-day or
to-morrow!" exclaimed Martin (of Strasbourg); "Mr. President, the safety
of the Republic, the safety of the country, perhaps, depends on what the
High Court will or will not do. Your responsibility is great; bear that
in mind. The High Court of Justice does not do its duty to-day or
to-morrow; it does it at once, at the moment, without losing a minute,
without an instant's hesitation."

Martin (of Strasbourg) was right, Justice always belongs to To-day.

Martin (of Strasbourg) added, "If you want a man for active work, I am at
your service." M. Hardouin declined the offer; declared that he would not
lose a moment, and begged Martin (of Strasbourg) to leave him to "confer"
with his colleague, M. Pataille.

In fact, he called together the High Court for eleven o'clock, and it was
settled that the meeting should take place in the Hall of the Library.

The Judges were punctual. At a quarter-past eleven they were all
assembled. M. Pataille arrived the last.

They sat at the end of the great green table. They were alone in the
Library.

There was no ceremonial. President Hardouin thus opened the debate:
"Gentlemen, there is no need to explain the situation, we all know what
it is."

Article 68 of the Constitution was imperative. It was necessary that the
High Court should meet _under penalty of high treason_. They gained time,
they swore themselves in, they appointed as Recorder of the High Court M.
Bernard, Recorder of the Court of Cassation, and they sent to fetch him,
and while waiting requested the librarian, M. Denevers, to hold his pen
in readiness. They settled the time and place for an evening meeting.
They talked of the conduct of the Constituent Martin (of Strasbourg),
with which they were offended, regarding it almost as a nudge of the
elbow given by Politics to Justice. They spoke a little of Socialism, of
the Mountain, and of the Red Republic, and a little also of the judgment
which they had to pronounce. They chatted, they told stories, they found
fault, they speculated, they spun out the time.

What were they waiting for?

We have related what the Commissary of police was doing for his part in
his department.

And, in reference to this design, when the accomplices of the _coup
d'etat_ considered that the people in order to summon the High Court to
do its duty, could invade the Palace of Justice, and that they would
never look for it where it was asse