In the meanwhile one of the two majors countermanded a journey which he was going to undertake on that day, and promised us his co-operation.

“But,” added he, “do not deceive yourselves, one can foresee that we shall be cut to pieces.  Few men will march out.”

Colonel Forestier said to us, “Watrin, the present colonel of the 6th, does not care for fighting; perhaps he will resign me the command amicably.  I will go and find him alone, so as to startle him the less, and will join you at Bonvalet’s.”

Near the Porte St. Martin we left our carriage, and Charamaule and myself proceeded along the boulevard on foot, in order to observe the groups more closely, and more easily to judge the aspect of the crowd.

The recent levelling of the road had converted the boulevard of the Porte St. Martin into a deep cutting, commanded by two embankments.  On the summits of these embankments were the footways, furnished with railings.  The carriages drove along the cutting, the foot passengers walked along the footways.

Just as we reached the boulevard, a long column of infantry filed into this ravine with drummers at their head.  The thick waves of bayonets filled the square of St. Martin, and lost themselves in the depths of the Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle.

An enormous and compact crowd covered the two pavements of the Boulevard St. Martin.  Large numbers of workmen, in their blouses, were there, leaning upon the railings.

At the moment when the head of the column entered the defile before the Theatre of the Porte St. Martin a tremendous shout of “Vive la Republique!” came forth from every mouth as though shouted by one man.  The soldiers continued to advance in silence, but it might have been said that their pace slackened, and many of them regarded the crowd with an air of indecision.  What did this cry of “Vive la Republique!” mean?  Was it a token of applause?  Was it a shout of defiance?

It seemed to me at that moment that the Republic raised its brow, and that the coup d’etat hung its head.

Meanwhile Charamaule said to me, “You are recognized.”

In fact, near the Chateau d’Eau the crowd surrounded me.  Some young men cried out, “Vive Victor Hugo!” One of them asked me, “Citizen Victor Hugo, what ought we to do?”

I answered, “Tear down the seditious placards of the coup d’etat, and cry ‘Vive la Constitution!’”

“And suppose they fire on us?” said a young workman.

“You will hasten to arms.”

“Bravo!” shouted the crowd.

I added, “Louis Bonaparte is a rebel, he has steeped himself to-day in every crime.  We, Representatives of the People, declare him an outlaw, but there is no need for our declaration, since he is an outlaw by the mere fact of his treason.  Citizens, you have two hands; take in one your Right, and in the other your gun and fall upon Bonaparte.”

“Bravo!  Bravo!” again shouted the people.