eur Cremieux," said Cavaignac, "you are making a good deal of
noise."

"What does that matter to you?" replied Cremieux.

"It matters that you are on the ministerial bench."

"Do you want me to leave it?"

"Well--"

Cremieux rose and quitted his bench, saying as he did so:

"General, you compel me to leave the Cabinet, and it was through me that
you entered it."

Cremieux, in point of fact, had, as a member of the Provisional
Government, had Cavaignac appointed Minister of War.

During the three days that preceded the debate, which had been fixed for
the 25th, the Chamber was very nervous and uneasy. Cavaignac's friends
secretly trembled and sought to make others tremble. They said: "You
will see!" They affected assurance. Jules Favre having alluded in the
tribune to the "great and solemn debate" which was to take place, they
burst into a laugh. M. Coquerel, the Protestant pastor, happening
to meet Cavaignac in the lobby, said to him: "Keep yourself in hand,
General!" "In a quarter of an hour," replied Cavaignac with flashing
eyes, "I shall have swept these wretches away!" These wretches were
Lamartine, Gamier-Pages, and Arago. There was some doubt about Arago,
however. It was said that he was rallying to Cavaignac. Meanwhile
Cavaignac had conferred the cross of the Legion of Honour upon the
Bishop of Quimper, the Abbe Legraverand, who had accepted it.

"A cross for a vote," was the remark made in the Chamber. And these
reversed roles, a general giving a cross to a bishop, caused much
amusement.

In reality we are in the midst of a quarrel over the presidency. The
candidates are shaking their fists at each other. The Assembly hoots,
growls, murmurs, stamps its feet, crushes one, applauds the other.

This poor Assembly is a veritable _fille a soldats_, in love with a
trooper. For the time being it is Cavaignac.

Who will it be to-morrow?

General Cavaignac proved himself to be clever, and occasionally even
eloquent. His defence partook more of the character of an attack.
Frequently he appeared to me to be sincere because he had for so long
excited my suspicion. The Assembly listened to him for nearly three
hours with rapt attention. Throughout it was evident that he possessed
its confidence. Its sympathy was shown every moment, and sometimes it
manifested a sort of love for him.

Cavaignac, tall and supple, with his short frock-coat, his military
collar, his heavy moustache, his bent brow, his b