a fortnight or eighteen days longer, when the executive Directory will
come in and do what it pleases." "But food--shall we have enough for
to-morrow?

"Aha, I don't know--I'll send for our colleague Roux, who will post us
on that point." Roux enters, the official spokesman, the fat, jovial
tamer of the popular dog. "Well, Roux, how do we stand about supplying
Paris with food?" "The supply, citizen President, is just as abundant as
ever, two ounces per head,--at least for most of the sections." "Go to
the devil with your abundant supply! You'll have our heads off!" All
remain silent, for this possible denouement sets them to thinking. Then,
one of them exclaims: "President, are there any refreshments provided
for us? After working so hard for so many days we need something to
strengthen us!" "Why, yes; there is a good calf's-tongue, a large
turbot, a large piece of pie and some other things." They cheer up,
begin to eat and drink champagne, and indulge in drolleries. About
eleven or twelve o'clock the members of other Committees come in;
signatures are affixed to their various decrees, on trust, without
reading them over. They, in their turn, sit down at the table and the
conclave of sovereign bellies digests without giving itself further
trouble about the millions of stomachs that are empty.

*****

[Footnote 4201: On the other more complicated functions, such as the
maintenance of roads, canals, harbors, public buildings, lighting,
cleanliness, hygiene, superior secondary and primary education,
hospitals, and other asylums, highway security, the suppression of
robbery and kindred crimes, the destruction of wolves, etc., see
Rocquam, "Etat de la France au 18 Brumaire," and the "Statistiques des
Departements," published by the prefets, from years IX. to XIII.--These
branches of the service were almost entirely overthrown; the reader will
see the practical results of their suppression in the documents referred
to.]

[Footnote 4202: "St. John de Crevecoeur," by Robert de Crevecoeur, p.216.
(Letter of Mdlle. de Gouves, July, 1800.) "We are negotiating for the
payment of, at least, the arrearages since 1789 on the Arras property."
(M. de Gouves and his sisters had not emigrated, and yet they had had no
income from their property for ten years.)]

[Footnote 4203: Cf. "The Revolution," vol. I., 254-261, 311-352; vol.
II., 234-272.]

[Footnote 4204: Cf. "The Revolution," II., 273-276.]

[Footnote 4205: Buchez et