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ther Louis Blanc or I will interpellate the Government as to the situation in Paris； if the present anxiety continues and no light is thrown upon the situation。
A deputation of natives of Alsace and Lorraine came to thank us。
March 6。At noon we lunched ~en famille~ at Charles's。 I took the two ladies to the Assembly。 There is talk of transferring the Assembly to Versailles or Fontainebleau。 They are afraid of Paris。 I spoke at the meeting of the Eleventh Committee。 I was nearly elected commissioner。 I got 18 votes； but a M。 Lucien Brun got 19。
Meeting in the Rue Lafaurie。 I proposed that we all refuse to discuss the situation in Paris； and that a manifesto be drawn up； to be signed by all of us； declaring our intention to resign if the Assembly goes anywhere else than to Paris。 The meeting did not adopt my plan； and urged me to speak to…morrow。 I refused。 Louis Blanc will speak。
March 8。I have handed in my resignation as a Representative。
There was a discussion about Garibaldi。 He had been elected in Algeria。 It was proposed that the election be annulled。 I demanded to be heard。 I spoke。 Uproar on the Right。 They shouted： 〃Order！ Order！〃 It all reads very curiously in the 〃Moniteur。〃 In face of this explosion of wrath I made a gesture with my hand and said：
〃Three weeks ago you refused to hear Garibaldi。 Now you refuse to hear me。 That is enough。 I will resign。〃
I went to the meeting of the Left for the last time。
March 9。This morning three members of the Moderate Left； which meets in the hall of the Academy； came as delegates from that body； the 220 members of which unanimously requested me to withdraw my resignation。 M。 Paul Bethmon acted as spokesman。 I thanked them； but declined。
Then delegates from another meeting came with the same object。 The meeting of the Central Left； to which MM。 d'Haussonville and de Rémusat belong； unanimously requested me to withdraw my resignation。 M。 Target acted as spokesman。 I thanked them； but declined。
Louis Blanc ascended the tribune （in the Assembly） and bade me farewell with grandeur and nobleness。
March 10。Louis Blanc spoke yesterday and to…dayyesterday about my resignation； to…day about the question of Paris。 Grandly and nobly on each occasion。
March 11。We are preparing for our departure。
March 12。Many visits。 My apartment was crowded。 M。 Michel Levy came to ask me for a book。 M。 Duquesnel； associate director of the Odéon Theatre； came to ask me for _Ruy Blas_。
We shall probably leave to…morrow。
Charles； Alice and Victor went to Arcachon。 They returned to dinner。
Little Georges； who has been unwell； is better。
Louis Blanc dined with me。 He is going to Paris。
March 13。Last night I could not sleep。 Like Pythagoras； I was thinking of numbers。 I thought of all these 13's so queerly associated with our movements and actions since the first of January； and upon the fact that I was to leave this house on a 13th。 Just then there was the same nocturnal knocking （three taps； as though made by a hammer on a board） that I had heard twice before in this room。
We lunched at Charles's； with Louis Blanc。
I then went to see Rochefort。 He lives at 80； Rue Judaique。 He is convalescent from an attack of erysipelas that at one time assumed a dangerous character。 With him I found MM。 Alexis Bouvier and Mourot； whom I invited to dinner to…day； at the same time asking them to transmit my invitation to MM。 Claretie； Guillemot and Germain Casse； with whom I want to shake hands before I go。
On leaving Rochefort's I wandered a little about Bordeaux。 Fine church； partly Roman。 Pretty Gothic flowered tower。 Superb Roman ruin （Rue du Colysée） which they call the Palais Gallien。
Victor came to embrace me。 He left for Paris at 6 o'clock with Louis Blanc。
At half past 6 I went to Lanta's restaurant。 MM。 Bouvier； Mourot and Casse arrived。 Then Alice。 We waited for Charles。
Charles died at 7 o'clock。
The waiter who waits upon me at Lanta's restaurant entered and told me that somebody wanted to see me。 In the ante…chamber I found M。 Porte； who lets the apartment at 13； Rue Saint Maur； that Charles occupied。 M。 Porte whispered to me to get Alice； who had followed me； out of the way。 Alice returned to the salon。 M。 Porte said to me：
〃Monsieur be brave。 Monsieur Charles〃
〃Well？〃
〃He is dead！〃
Dead！ I could not believe it。 Charles！ I leaned against the wall for support。
M。 Porte told me that Charles had taken a cab to go to Lanta's； but had told the cabman to drive first to the Café de Bordeaux。 Arrived at the Café de Bordeaux； the driver on opening the door of the cab； found Charles dead。 He had been stricken with apoplexy。 A number of blood vessels had burst。 He was covered with blood； which issued from his nose and mouth。 The doctor summoned pronounced him dead。
I would not believe it。 I said： 〃It is a lethargy。〃 I still hoped。 I returned to the salon； told Alice that I was going out； but would soon be back； and ran to the Rue Saint Maur。 I had hardly reached there when they brought Charles。
Alas！ my beloved Charles！ He was dead。
I went to fetch Alice。 What despair！
The two children were asleep。
March 14。I have read again what I wrote on the morning of the 13th about the knocking I heard during the night。
Charles has been laid out in the salon on the ground floor of the house in the Rue Saint Maur。 He lies on a bed covered with a sheet which the women of the house have strewn with flowers。 Two neighbours； workingmen who love me； asked permission to watch by the body all night。 The coroner's physician； on uncovering the dear dead； wept。
I sent to Meurice a telegram couched in the following terms：
Meurice； 18 Rue Valois…
Appalling misfortune。 Charles died this evening； 13th。 Sudden stroke of apoplexy。 Tell Victor to come back at once。
The Prefect sent this telegram over the official wire。
We shall take Charles with us。 Meanwhile he will be placed in the depository。
MM。 Alexis Bouvier and Germain Casse are helping me in these heart…rending preparations。
At 4 o'clock Charles was placed in the coffin。 I prevented them from fetching Alice。 I kissed the brow of my beloved； then the sheet of lead was soldered。 Next they put the oaken lid of the coffin on and screwed it down； thus I shall never see him more。 But the soul remains。 If I did not believe in the soul I would not live another hour。
I dined with my grandchildren； little Georges and little Jeanne。
I consoled Alice。 I wept with her。 I said 〃thou〃 to her for the first time。
March 15。For two nights I have not slept。 I could not sleep last night。
Edgar Quinet came to see me last evening。 On viewing Charles's coffin in the parlor； he said：
〃I bid thee adieu； great mind； great talent； great soul； beautiful of face； more beautiful of thought； son of Victor Hugo！〃
We talked together of this great mind that is no more。 We were calm。 The night watcher wept as he listened to us。
The Prefect of the Gironde called。 I could not receive him。
This morning at 10 o'clock I went to No。 13； Rue Saint Maur。 The hearse wa