Chapter 33 - Page 2

"Long live
the army!" and I wept.

At frequent intervals we came across train-loads of soldiers
on their way to Paris. Twenty-five of these passed
during the day. As one of them went by we gave to the
soldiers all the provisions we had, some bread, fruit and
wine. The sun shone brightly and was succeeded by a
bright moon.

We arrived in Paris at 9.35 o'clock. An immense crowd
awaited me. It was an indescribable welcome. I spoke
four times, once from the balcony of a café and thrice from
my carriage.

When I took leave of this ever-growing crowd, which
escorted me to Paul Meurice's, in the Avenue Frochot, I
said to the people: "In one hour you repay me for twenty
years of exile."

They sang the "Marseillaise" and the "Chant du Depart."

They shouted: "Long live Victor Hugo!"

The journey from the Northern Railway station to the
Rue Laval took two hours.

We arrived at Meurice's, where I am to stay, at mid-night.
I dined with my travelling companions and Victor.
I went to bed at 2 o'clock.

At daybreak I was awakened by a terrible storm. Thunder
and lightning.

I shall take breakfast with Paul Meurice, and we shall
dine together at the Hotel Navarin, in the Rue Navarin,
where my family is staying.

PARIS, September 6.--Innumerable visits, innumerable
letters.

Rey came to ask me whether I would consent to join a
triumvirate composed as follows: Victor Hugo, Ledru-Rollin,
and Schoelcher. I refused. I said: "It is almost
impossible to amalgamate me."

I recalled several things to his mind. He said: "Do
you remember that it was I who received you when you
arrived at the Baudin barricade?"* I replied: "I remember
the fact so well that--. And I recited the lines at the
beginning of the piece (unpublished) upon the Baudin
barricade:

~La barricade était livide dans l'aurore,
Et comme j'arrivais elle fumait encore.
Rey me serra la main et dit: Baudin est mort...~

* Representative Baudin was killed on the barricade in the
Faubourg Saint Antoine on December 2, 1852, during Louis Bonaparte's
coup d'Etat.

He burst into tears.

September 7.--Louis Blanc, d'Alton-Shée, Banville and
others came to see me.

The women of the Markets brought me a bouquet.

September 8.--I am warned that it is proposed to assassinate
me. I shrug my shoulders.

This morning I wrote my "Letter to the Germans." It will
be sent tomorrow.

Visit from General Cluseret.

At 10 o'clock I went to the office of the Rappel to correct
the proofs of my "Letter to the