Chapter 34

THE ASSEMBLY AT BORDEAUX.

EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS.

February 14.--Left yesterday at 12.10 P.M. Arrived at
Etampes at 3.15. Wait of two hours, and luncheon.

After lunch we returned to our drawing-room car. A
crowd surrounded it, kept back by a squad of Prussian
soldiers. The crowd recognised me and shouted "Long live
Victor Hugo!" I waved my hand out of window, and
doffing my cap, shouted: "Long live France!" Whereupon
a man with a white moustache, who somebody said
was the Prussian commandant of Etampes, advanced towards
me with a threatening air and said something to me
in German that he no doubt intended to be terrible. Gazing
steadily in turn at this Prussian and the crowd, I repeated
in a louder voice: "Long live France'!" Thereat
all the people shouted enthusiastically: "Long live
France!" The fellow looked angry but said nothing. The
Prussian soldiers did not move.

The journey was a rough, long and weary one. The
drawing-room car was badly lighted and not heated. One
feels the dilapidation of France in this wretched railway
accommodation. At Vierzon we bought a pheasant, a
chicken, and two bottles of wine for supper. Then we
wrapped ourselves up in our rugs and cloaks and slept on
the seats.

We arrived at Bordeaux at 1.30 this afternoon. We
went in search of lodgings. We took a cab and drove from
hotel to hotel. No room anywhere. I went to the Hotel
de Ville and asked for information. I was told that there
was an apartment to let at M. A. Porte's, 13, Rue Saint
Maur, near the public garden. We went there. Charles
hired the apartment for 600 francs a month and paid half
a month's rent in advance. Then we started out in search
of a lodging for us, but could not get one. At 7 o'clock
we returned to the station to fetch our trunks, and not
knowing where we should pass the night. We went back
to the Rue Saint Maur, where Charles is, negotiated with
the landlord and his brother, who had a couple of rooms at
37, Rue de la Course, hard by, and came to an arrangement
at last.

Alice made this remark:

"The number 13 clings to us. We were thirteen at
table every Thursday in January. We left Paris on
February 13. There were thirteen of us in the railway
carriage, counting Louis Blanc, M. Béchet and the two
children. We are lodging at 13, Rue Saint Maur!"

February 15.--At 2 o'clock I went to the Assembly.
When I came out again I found an immense crowd awaiting
me in the great square. The people, and the National
Guards who lined the approaches to the building, shouted:
"Long live Victor Hugo!" I replied: "Long live the
Republic! Long live