boy was the first to carry word of
the firing to the Rue St. Honore; and that his news wherever he
brought it was received with hurrahs. It was an odd entrance upon life
for a little English lad, thus to play the part of rumour in such a
crisis of the history of France.]

"But now a new fear came over me. I had little doubt but my papa was
safe, but my fear was that he should arrive at home before me and tell
the story; in that case I knew my mamma would go half mad with fright,
so on I went as quick as possible. I heard no more discharges. When I
got half way home, I found my way blocked up by troops. That way or
the Boulevards I must pass. In the Boulevards they were fighting, and
I was afraid all other passages might be blocked up ... and I should
have to sleep in a hotel in that case, and then my mamma--however,
after a long _detour_, I found a passage and ran home, and in our
street joined papa.

"... I'll tell you to-morrow the other facts gathered from newspapers
and papa.... To-night I have given you what I have seen with my own
eyes an hour ago, and began trembling with excitement and fear. If I
have been too long on this one subject, it is because it is yet before
my eyes.

"_Monday, 24._

"It was that fire raised the people. There was fighting all through
the night in the Rue Notre Dame de Lorette, on the Boulevards where
they had been shot at, and at the Porte St. Denis. At ten o'clock they
resigned the house of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (where the
disastrous volley was fired) to the people, who immediately took
possession of it. I went to school but [was] hardly there when the row
in that quarter commenced. Barricades began to be fixed. Every one was
very grave now; the _externes_ went away, but no one came to fetch me,
so I had to stay. No lessons could go on. A troop of armed men took
possession of the barricades, so it was supposed I should have to
sleep there. The revolters came and asked for arms, but Deluc
(head-master) is a National Guard, and he said he had only his own and
he wanted them; but he said he would not fire on them. Then they asked
for wine, which he gave them. They took good care not to get drunk,
knowing they would not be able to fight. They were very polite, and
behaved extremely well.

"About twelve o'clock a servant came for a boy who lived near me,
[and] Deluc thought it best to send me with