worthy M.
Gustave de Beaumont, a great upholder of the cellular system, rode in a
cell vehicle. It is not an undesirable thing, as we have said, that the
legislator should taste of the law.

The Commandant of Mount Valerien appeared under the archway of the fort
to receive the Representative prisoners.

He at first made some show of registering them in the jailer's book.
General Oudinot, under whom he had served, rebuked him severely,--

"Do you know me?"

"Yes, General."

"Well then, let that suffice. Ask no more."

"Yes," said Tamisier. "Ask more and salute. We are more than the Army;
we are France."

The commandant understood. From that moment he was hat in hand before
the generals, and bowed low before the Representatives.

They led them to the barracks of the fort and shut them up promiscuously
in a dormitory, to which they added fresh beds, and which the soldiers
had just quitted. They spent their first night there. The beds touched
each other. The sheets were dirty.

Next morning, owing to a few words which had been heard outside, the
rumor spread amongst them that the fifty-three were to be sorted, and
that the Republicans were to be placed by themselves. Shortly afterwards
the rumor was confirmed. Madame de Luynes gained admission to her
husband, and brought some items of news. It was asserted, amongst other
things, that the Keeper of the Seals of the _coup d'etat_, the man who
signed himself Eugene Rouher, "Minister of Justice," had said, "Let them
set the men of the Right at liberty, and send the men of the Left to the
dungeon. If the populace stirs they will answer for everything. As a
guarantee for the submission of the Faubourgs we shall have the head of
the Reds."

We do not believe that M. Rouher uttered these words, in which there is
so much audacity. At that moment M. Rouher did not possess any.
Appointed Minister on the 2d December, he temporized, he exhibited a
vague prudery, he did not venture to install himself in the Place
Vendome. Was all that was being done quite correct? In certain minds the
doubt of success changes into scruples of conscience. To violate every
law, to perjure oneself, to strangle Right, to assassinate the country,
are all these proceedings wholly honest? While the deed is not
accomplished they hesitate. When the deed has succeeded they throw
themselves upon it. Where there is victory there is no longer treason;
nothing serves like success to cleanse and render ac