CHAPTER XXIV.
A MEMORABLE NIGHT.
Generally, the rogues throughout Paris, intimidated by the awful,immediate and certain penalty for crime, forsook, for the time, theircalling. A man who attempted to fire the Palais Royal was shot at thePrefecture. Another, for a like attempt on buildings in the Rue Monceau,met a like fate. In the Rue Richelieu lay the bodies of two thieves,each with a ball through the breast, and over the aperture the word"Thief" on a label. In like manner were eight more robbers executed atonce on the Place de la Madeleine. A woman of the street wrested abracelet from a lady's wrist; she was instantly seized by the bystandersand shot. But for this summary punishment of malefactors by the people,dreadful that night would have been the state of Paris, without laws toenforce or a police to enforce them. It is true the Chateau of Neuillywas sacked and burned, as well as the splendid villa of the BaronRothschild at Parennes; but both were supposed to be the property of theKing. It is true, also, that some rails on the Northern Railway weretorn up, and a viaduct between Paris and Amiens, and another betweenAmiens and the frontier of Belgium were demolished; and that therailway stations at St. Denis, Enghien and Pontoise and the bridge atAsnieres had been destroyed; but all this was done to prevent theconcentration upon the citizens of Paris of additional Royal troops.
A workman entered a house and demanded bread. Meat and wine were offeredhim. "No," was the reply, "bread and water are all I want."
Yet such was the scarcity of food that horses were killed and eaten atthe Hotel de Ville, on the third day of the Revolution.
"Arms--arms!" shouted a band of workmen, entering a house on the RueRichelieu. The proprietor, alarmed, shouted for help. "Do you think usrobbers?" was the indignant reply. "Give us your weapons!"
The weapons were given and the band retired; on the door they wrote,"Here we received arms!"
At five o'clock, on the evening of the 24th of February, a proclamationto the citizens of Paris, issued by the Provisional Government then insession at the Hotel de Ville, declared the Revolutionaccomplished--that eighty thousand of the National Guard and one hundredthousand of the people were in arms--that order as well as liberty mustnow be secured, and the people, with the National Guard, were appointedguardians of Paris.
The effect of this proclamation was magical. Never was Paris so wellprotected as on that night of the 24th of February, when, filled withbarricades, she had no police and was guarded by her citizens.
And how was constituted the Provisional Government whose power was thusimplicitly obeyed? It was founded by the people who obeyed it. This wasthe only secret.
From the Chamber of Deputies to the Hotel de Ville proceeded the membersof the Provisional Government. They marched under a canopy of sabres,pikes and bayonets into halls stained with blood and encumbered with theslain, and there, at a small table, while the conflict between the twoRepublics had already commenced, within an hour had they organized theirbody by the nomination of Armand Marrast, of "Le National," FerdinandFlocon, of "La Reforme," Albert, a workman, and Louis Blanc, the editorand author, as Secretaries of the Government; their first official actwas to issue a proclamation to the people.
The scenes witnessed the night which succeeded in Paris will never beforgotten by those who witnessed them. Patrols promenaded the streets,the men of the barricades slept upon their weapons, beside their works,and through all that night ceaselessly toiled the press to spread overall the world the news of the great events of the three past days inParis.
Upon the door of an edifice situated in the Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau--astreet which was filled with barricades of immense size andstrength--was posted a printed placard, "The Provisional Government,"lighted by a single lamp. Entering the door with a vast multitude, andascending the dark and winding staircase, you found yourself in a largeroom, dimly lighted and crowded with armed men.
It was the editorial apartment of the office of "La Reforme."
At a large and massive table sat a dozen persons most industriouslyemployed in writing. Around them, looking on, rose the rough, sternfaces of the men of the barricades, seeming still more rough and sternby reason of the shadowy light; in the hands of all were weapons.
"A copy of the names of the members of the Provisional Government!" wasthe incessant demand of these armed men, a demand which the dozenwriters at the table were unable even by most indefatigable industry tosupply as fast as made. And as fast as the demand was satisfied, thearmed men would hurry away, only to leave room for the crowds constantlyentering.
"A copy for the Hotel de Ville!" cried one.
"A copy for the Place Vendome!" shouted another.
"A copy for the Palais Bourbon!" screamed a third.
"Are there no printed copies left?" asked many.
"They were gone long ago--twenty thousand copies," was the reply. "Youwill see one at every corner. The demand was not expected. The printershave just gone to sleep. They had not rested for fifty-two hours."
"Will 'La Reforme' appear in the morning?" asked another.
"Perhaps so," was the answer. "But all the people are worn out--writersand compositors. Here is your copy of the names."
"Many thanks. Vive la Republique!"
With this shout, in concert with the same which constantly issued from ahundred lips, the citizen folded up his precious document, and carefullydepositing it in his cap hurried off to communicate its contents to hiscomrades of the neighboring barricade.
In another apartment of that same edifice were a large number of theRepublican party connected with "La Reforme."
"The Provisional Government is now in session," said one. "They will,doubtless, make immediate provision for departments of State soimportant as the post-office and the prefecture of police. Earlyto-morrow a proclamation----"
"To-morrow may be too late," interrupted a large and muscular man. "Thepost-office is more active than ever to-night. Every moment couriers arearriving and departing. That powerful instrument remains in the hands ofthe foes of our cause! Who may estimate the injury, the irreparableinjury which they may this night accomplish by its means!"
This man was Etienne Arago, brother of the great astronomer, and, forsixteen years, celebrated as one of the boldest members of theRepublican party, as well as one of the bravest men in Paris.
"And the prefecture of police," observed another--"the present utterderangement of all its functions may lead to most serious results.Already those foes of freedom, Guizot and his colleagues, have beensuffered to secure their escape from the just indignation of an outragedpeople. Delessert, the Prefect, has also fled!"
The man who said this was Marc Caussidiere, a well-known Republican.
"Citizens!" cried M. Gouache, "this state of things must continue nolonger. In the name of the people, I demand that Etienne Aragoimmediately assume the charge of the post-office, as its director, andthat Marc Caussidiere fill the position of Prefect."
This demand was confirmed by acclamation, and committees for theinstallation of the nominees into office at once accompanied them totheir respective departments.
The immense edifice of the post-office was surrounded by people, and itsnumerous windows were flashing with lights. Within the utmost activityseemed to prevail, and without couriers were leaving and arriving everymoment, and mail coaches were dashing up to discharge their burdens, or,having received them, were dashing off.
"In the name of the people, entrance for Citizen Etienne Arago,Republican director of the post-office!" shouted one of the committee.
Instantly a passage through the immense crowd in the courtyard wascleared by the National Guard, and the director entered with his escort.
"In the name of the people, Citizen Dejean, you are dismissed," saidEtienne Arago, entering the private cabinet of the Director General.
"And who is to be my successor?" asked the astonished Count, rising tohis feet.
"In the name of the people, I am sent to displace and to succeed you,"was the answer.
"But your c
ommission, Monsieur?"
"Is here," pointing to the committee.
"Before I resign the direction of this department," said the Count aftersome hesitation, "I must ask of you for some record of this act, bearingyour signature, to be deposited in the archives of the office."
"Certainly, Monsieur, your request is but reasonable," answered Arago,seating himself in the official chair. And writing a few lines to whichhe affixed his signature, he coolly handed the document to hisastonished predecessor. It contained notice of his own appointment bythe people, in place of the Count Dejean, dismissed.
The Count read and folded the paper, and having made a copy of it, whichhe laid carefully in his porte-monnaie, he placed the original on fileamong the papers of the day belonging to the department. Then,courteously bowing, he took his hat and cane and marched out of thebuilding.