to appear. Some baggage
trains were mounting the Rue St. Lazare at the same time as myself.
Opposite No. 42, formerly inhabited by Mdlle. Mars, I saw a new bill
posted on the wall. I went up to it, I recognized the type of the
National Printing Office, and I read,
"COMPOSITION OF THE NEW MINISTRY.
"_Interior_ --M. de Morny.
"_War_ --The General of Division St. Arnaud.
"_Foreign Affairs_ --M. de Turgot.
"_Justice_ --M. Rouher.
"_Finance_ --M. Fould.
"_Marine_ --M. Ducos.
"_Public Works_ --M. Magne.
"_Public Instruction_ --M.H. Fortuol.
"_Commerce_ --M. Lefebre-Durufle."
I tore down the bill, and threw it into the gutter! The soldiers of the
party who were leading the wagons watched me do it, and went their way.
In the Rue St. Georges, near a side-door, there was another bill. It was
the "Appeal to the People." Some persons were reading it. I tore it
down, notwithstanding the resistance of the porter, who appeared to me
to be entrusted with the duty of protecting it.
As I passed by the Place Breda some _fiacres_ had already arrived there.
I took one. I was near home, the temptation was too great, I went there.
On seeing me cross the courtyard the porter looked at me with a
stupefied air. I rang the bell. My servant, Isidore, opened the door,
and exclaimed with a great cry, "Ah! it is you, sir! They came during
the night to arrest you." I went into my wife's room. She was in bed,
but not asleep, and she told me what had happened.
She had gone to bed at eleven o'clock. Towards half-past twelve, during
that species of drowsiness which resembles sleeplessness, she heard
men's voices. It seemed to her that Isidore was speaking to some one in
the antechamber. At first she did not take any notice, and tried to go
to sleep again, but the noise of voices continued. She sat up, and rang
the bell.
Isidore came in. She asked him,
"Is any one there?"
"Yes, madame."
"Who is it?"
"A man who wishes to speak to master."
"Your master is out."
"That is what I have told him, madame."
"Well, is not the gentleman going?"
"No, madame, he says that he urgently needs to speak to Monsieur Victor
Hugo, and that he will wait for him."
Isidore had stopped on the threshold of the bedroom. While he spoke a
fat, fresh-looking man in an overcoat, under which could be seen a black
coat, appeared at the door behind him
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