In fact, at half-past ten at night, and not at eight o’clock as General Magnan has said in the despicable document which he calls his report—­a special movement was heard in the direction of the markets.  This was the marching of the troops.  Colonel de Lourmel had determined to make the attack.  The 51st of the Line, posted at Saint Eustache, entered the Rue Montorgueil.  The 2d battalion formed the advanced guard.  The Grenadiers and the Light Infantry, hurled forward at the double, quickly carried the three little barricades which were on the other side of the vacant space of the Rue Mauconseil, and the feebly defended barricades of the adjoining streets.  It was at that very moment that the barricade near which I was happened to be carried.

From the barricade of the Petit Carreau they heard the night-strife draw near through the darkness, with a fitful noise, strange and appalling.  First a great tumult, then volleys, then silence, and then all began again.  The flashing of the fusillades suddenly delineated in the darkness the outlines of the houses, which appeared as though they themselves were affrighted.

The decisive moment drew near.

The outpost had fallen back upon the barricades.  The advanced posts of the Rue de Clery and the Rue du Cadran had come back.  They called over the roll.  Not one of those of the morning was missing.

They were, as we have said, about sixty combatants, and not a hundred, as the Magnan report has stated.

From the upper extremity of the street where they were stationed it was difficult to ascertain what was happening.  They did not exactly know how many barricades they were in the Rue Montorgueil between them and Saint Eustache, whence the troops were coming.  They only knew that their nearest point of resistance was the double Mauconseil barricade, and that, when all was at an end there, it would be their turn.

Denis had posted himself on the inner side of the barricade in such a manner that half his body was above the top, and from there he watched.  The glimmer which came from the doorway of the wine-shop rendered his gestures visible.

Suddenly he made a sign.  The attack on the Mauconseil redoubt was beginning.

The soldiers, in fact, after having some time hesitated before this double wall of paving-stones, lofty, well-built, and which they supposed was well defended, had ended by rushing upon it, and attacking it with blows of their guns.

They were not mistaken.  It was well defended.  We have already said that there were only six men in this barricade, the six workmen who had built it.  Of the six one only had three cartridges, the others had only two shots to fire.  These six men heard the regiment advancing and the roll of the battery which was followed on it, and did not stir.  Each remained silent at his post of battle, the barrel of his gun between two paving-stones.  When the soldiers were within range they fired, and the battalion replied.