按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I was among those whom this gaiety made heavy at heart； for I seemed to hear the sobs of the people above these bursts of hilarity。
During this uproar a list which was being covered with signatures and which bore an order of the day proposed by M。 Dupont de l'Eure； was passed round the benches。
Dupont de l'Eure； bent and tottering； read from the tribune； with the authority of his eighty years； his own order of the day； amid a deep silence that was broken at intervals by cheers。
The order of the day； which was purely and simply a reiteration of the declaration of June 28： 〃General Cavaignac has merited well of the fatherland；〃 was adopted by 503 votes to 34。
Mine was among the thirty…four。 While the votes were being counted； Napoleon Bonaparte； son of Jerome； came up to me and said：
〃I suppose you abstained？〃
〃From speaking； yes； from voting； no；〃 I replied。
〃Ah！〃 he went on。 〃We ourselves abstained from voting。 The Rue de Poitiers also abstained。〃
I took his hand and said：
〃You are free to do as you like。 For my part I am not abstaining。 I am judging Cavaignac； and the country is judging me。 I want the fullest light thrown upon my actions； and my votes are my actions。〃
1849。
I。 THE JARDIN D'HIVER。 II。 GENERAL BREA'S MURDERERS。 III。 THE SUICIDE OF ANTONIN MOYNE。 IV。 A VISIT TO THE OLD CHAMBER OF PEERS。
THE JARDIN D'HIVER。
FEBRUARY； 1849。
In February； 1849； in the midst of the prevailing sorrow and terror； fetes were given。 People danced to help the poor。 While the cannon with which the rioters were threatened on January 29； were； so to speak； still trained ready for firing； a charity ball attracted all Paris to the Jardin d'Hiver。
This is what the Jardin d'Hiver was like：
A poet had pictured it in a word： 〃They have put summer under a glass case！〃 It was an immense iron cage with two naves forming a cross； as large as four or five cathedrals and covered with glass。 Entrance to it was through a gallery of wood decorated with carpets and tapestry。
On entering； the eyes were at first dazzled by a flood of light。 In the light all sorts of magnificent flowers； and strange trees with the foliage and altitudes of the tropics； could be seen。 Banana trees； palm trees； cedars； great leaves； enormous thorns； and queer branches twisted and mingled as in a virgin forest。 The forest alone was virgin there； however。 The prettiest women and the most beautiful girls of Paris whirled in this illumination ~a giorno~ like a swarm of bees in a ray of sunshine。
Above this gaily dressed throng was an immense resplendent chandelier of brass； or rather a great tree of gold and flame turned upside down which seemed to have its roots in the glass roof； and whose sparkling leaves hung over the crowd。 A vast ring of candelabra； torch…holders and girandoles shone round the chandelier； like the constellations round the sun。 A resounding orchestra perched high in a gallery made the glass panes rattle harmoniously。
But what made the Jardin d'Hiver unique was that beyond this vestibule of light and music and noise； through which one gazed as through a vague and dazzling veil； a sort of immense and tenebrous arch； a grotto of shadow and mystery； could be discerned。 This grotto in which were big trees； a copse threaded with paths and clearings； and a fountain that showered its water…diamonds in sparkling spray； was simply the end of the garden。 Red dots that resembled oranges of fire shone here and there amid the foliage。 It was all like a dream。 The lanterns in the copse； when one approached them； became great luminous tulips mingled with real camellias and roses。
One seated one's self on a garden seat with one's feet in the grass and moss； and one felt the warmth arising from a heat…grating beneath this grass and this moss； one happened upon an immense fireplace in which half the trunk of a tree was burning； in proximity to a clump of bushes shivering in the rain of a fountain。 There were lamps amid the flowers and carpets in the alleys。 Among the trees were satyrs； nude nymphs； hydras； all kinds of groups and statues which； like the place itself； had something impossible and living about them。
What were people doing at this ball？ They danced a little； made love a little； and above all talked politics。
There were about fifty Representatives present that evening。 The negro Representative Louisy Mathieu； in white gloves； was accompanied by the negrophile Representative Schoelcher in black gloves。 People said： 〃O fraternity！ they have exchanged hands！〃
Politicians leaning against the mantels announced the approaching appearance of a sheet entitled the 〃Aristo；〃 a reactionary paper。 The Brea affair；* which was being tried at that very moment； was discussed。 What particularly struck these grave men in this sinister affair was that among the witnesses was an ironmonger named 〃Lenclume〃 and a locksmith named 〃Laclef。〃
* General Bréa was assassinated on June 25； 1848； while parleying with the insurgents at the Barriêre de Fontainebleau。
Such are the trivial things men bring into the events of God。
II。 GENERAL BREA'S MURDERERS。
March； 1849。
The men condemned to death in the Bréa affair are confined in the fort at Vanves。 There are five of them： Nourry； a poor child of seventeen whose father and mother died insane； type of the gamin of Paris that revolutions make a hero and riots a murderer； Daix； blind of one eye； lame； and with only one arm； a ~bon pauvre~ of the Bicetre Hospital； who underwent the operation of trepanning three years ago； and who has a little daughter eight years old whom he adores； Lahr； nicknamed the Fireman； whose wife was confined the day after his condemnation； giving life at the moment she received death； Chopart； a bookseller's assistant； who has been mixed up in some rather discreditable pranks of youth； and finally Vappreaux junior； who pleaded an alibi and who； if the four others are to be believed； was not at the Barrière de Fontainebleau at all during the three days of June。
These hapless wights are confined in a big casemate of the fort。 Their condemnation has crushed them and turned them towards God。 In the casemate are five camp beds and five rush…bottomed chairs； to this lugubrious furniture of the dungeon an altar has been added。 It was erected at the end of the casemate opposite the door and below the venthole through which daylight penetrates。 On the altar is only a plaster statue of the Virgin enveloped in lace。 There are no tapers； it being feared that the prisoners might set fire to the door with the straw of their mattresses。 They pray and work。 As Nourry has not been confirmed and wishes to be before he dies； Chopart is teaching him the catechism。
Beside the altar is a board laid upon two trestles。 This board； which is full of bullet holes； was the target of the fort。 It has been turned into a dining…table； a cruel； thoughtless act； for it is a continual reminder to the prisoners of their approaching death。
A few days ago an anonymous letter reached them。 This letter advised them to stamp upon the flagstone in the centre of the casemate； which； it was a