“Hypocrisy and treason!

  “People! we unmask the hypocrite.  It is for you to punish the traitor!

  “The Committee of Resistance: 

  “Jules Favre, De Flotte, Carnot, Madier de Montjau, Mathieu (de la
  Drome), Michel de Bourges, Victor Hugo.”

Baudin had fallen heroically.  It was necessary to let the People know of his death, and to honor his memory.  The decree below was voted on the proposition of Michel de Bourges:—­

  “DECREE.

“The Representatives of the People remaining at liberty considering that the Representative Baudin has died on the barricade of the Faubourg St. Antoine for the Republic and for the laws, and that he has deserved well of his country, decree: 

  “That the honors of the Pantheon are adjudged to Representative Baudin.

  “Given in Permanent Session, 3d December, 1851.”

After honor to the dead and the needs of the conflict it was necessary in my opinion to enunciate immediately and dictatorially some great popular benefit.  I proposed the abolition of the octroi duties and of the duty on liquors.  This objection was raised, “No caresses to the people!  After victory, we will see.  In the meantime let them fight!  If they do not fight, if they do not rise, if they do not understand that it is for them, for their rights that we the Representatives, that we risk our heads at this moment—­if they leave us alone at the breach, in the presence of the coup d’etat—­it is because they are not worthy of Liberty!”

Bancel remarked that the abolition of the octroi duties and the duty on liquors were not caresses to the People, but succor to the poor, a great economical and reparatory measure, a satisfaction to the public demand—­a satisfaction which the Right had always obstinately refused, and that the Left, master of the situation, ought hasten to accord.  They voted, with the reservation that it should not be published until after victory, the two decrees in one; in this form:—­

  “DECREE.

  “The Representatives remaining at liberty decree: 

  “The Octroi Duties are abolished throughout the extent of the
  territory of the Republic.

  “Given in permanent Session, 3d December, 1851.”

Versigny, with a copy of the Proclamations and of the Decree, left in search of Hetzel.  Labrousse also left with the same object.  They settled to meet at eight o’clock in the evening at the house of the former member of the Provisional Government Marie, Rue Neuve des Petits Champs.

As the members of the Committee and the Representatives withdrew I was told that some one had asked to speak to me.  I went into a sort of little room attached to the large meeting-room, and I found there a man in a blouse, with an intelligent and sympathetic air.  This man had a roll of paper in his hand.

“Citizen Victor Hugo,” said he to me, “you have no printing office.  Here are the means which will enable you to dispense with one.”