the form of its own sovereignty.  The Assembly,” continued Michel de Bourges, “was, as a fact, dead.  The Left, the popular stump of this hated Assembly, might suffice for the situation for a few days.  No more.  It was necessary that it should be reinvigorated by the national sovereignty.  It was therefore important that we also should appeal to universal suffrage, should oppose vote to vote, should raise erect the Sovereign People before the usurping Prince, and should immediately convoke a new Assembly.”  Michel de Bourges proposed a decree.

Michel de Bourges was right.  Behind the victory of Louis Bonaparte could be seen something hateful, but something which was familiar—­the Empire; behind the victory of the Left there was obscurity.  We must bring in daylight behind us.  That which causes the greatest uneasiness to people’s imagination is the dictatorship of the Unknown.  To convoke a new Assembly as soon as possible, to restore France at once into the hands of France, this was to reassure people’s minds during the combat, and to rally them afterwards; this was the true policy.

For some time, while listening to Michel de Bourges and Jules Favre, who supported him, we fancied we heard, in the next room, a murmur which resembled the sound of voices.  Jules Favre had several times exclaimed, “Is any one there?”

“It is not possible,” was the answer.  “We have instructed Durand-Savoyat to allow no one to remain there.”  And the discussion continued.  Nevertheless the sound of voices insensibly increased, and ultimately grew so distinct that it became necessary to see what it meant.  Carnot half opened the door.  The room and the ante-chamber adjoining the room where we were deliberating were filled with Representatives, who were peaceably conversing.

Surprised, we called in Durand-Savoyat.

“Did you not understand us?” asked Michel de Bourges.

“Yes, certainly,” answered Durand-Savoyat.

“This house is perhaps marked,” resumed Carnot; “we are in danger of being taken.”

“And killed upon the spot,” added Jules Favre, smiling with his calm smile.

“Exactly so,” answered Durand-Savoyat, with a look still quieter than Jules Favre’s smile.  “The door of this inner room is shrouded in the darkness, and is little noticeable.  I have detained all the Representatives who have come in, and have placed them in the larger room and in the ante-chamber, whichever they have wished.  A species of crowd has thus been formed.  If the police and the troops arrive, I shall say to them, ‘Here we are.’  They will take us.  They will not perceive the door of the inner room, and they will not reach you.  We shall pay for you.  If there is any one to be killed, they will content themselves with us.”

And without imagining that he had just uttered the words of a hero, Durand-Savoyat went back to the antechamber.