the memoirs of victor hugo-第24部分

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t　Antoine；　the　common　law　criminals　had　begun　a　revolt　by　locking　up　their　keepers。　　To　what　public　force　could　appeal　be　made？　　The　Municipal　Guard　had　been　disbanded；　the　army　was　confined　to　barracks；　as　to　the　police；　no　one　would　have　known　where　to　find　them。　　Victor　Hugo；　in　a　speech　which　this　time　was　cheered；　confided　life　and　property　to　the　protection　and　devotedness　of　the　people。　　A　civic　guard　in　blouses　was　improvised。　　Empty　shops　that　were　to　let　were　transformed　into　guard　houses；　patrols　were　organized　and　sentries　posted。　　The　rebellious　prisoners　at　La　Force；　terrified　by　the　assertion　that　cannon　（which　did　not　exist）　had　been　brought　to　bear　upon　the　prison　and　that　unless　they　surrendered　promptly　and　unconditionally　they　would　be　blown　sky…high；　submitted　quietly　and　returned　to　work。

The　weather　was　cloudy；　but　mild；　and　the　rain　held　off。　　The　streets　were　thrilling　with　a　noisy；　joyous　crowd。　The　people　continued　with　incredible　ardour　to　fortify　the　barricades　that　had　already　been　constructed；　and　even　to　build　new　ones。　　Bands　of　them　with　flags　flying　and　drums　beating　marched　about　shouting　〃Long　live　the　Republic！〃　and　　singing　the　〃Marseillaise　and　Die　for　the　Fatherland！〃　　The　cafés　were　crowded　to　overflowing；　but　many　of　the　shops　were　closed；　as　on　holidays；　and；　indeed；　the　city　did　present　a　holiday　appearance。

I　made　my　way　along　the　quays　to　the　Pont　Neuf。　There；　at　the　bottom　of　a　proclamation　I　read　the　name　of　Lamartine；　and　having　seen　the　people；　I　experienced　the　desire　to　see　my　great　friend。　　I　therefore　turned　back　with　Victor　towards　the　Hotel　de　Ville。

As　on　the　previous　day；　the　square　in　front　of　the　building　was　filled　with　a　crowd；　and　the　crowd　was　so　compact　that　it　immobilized　itself。　　It　was　impossible　to　approach　the　steps　of　the　front　entrance。　　After　several　attempts　to　get　somewhere　near　to　them；　I　was　about　to　force　my　way　back　out　of　the　crowd　when　I　was　perceived　by　M。　Froment…Meurice；　the　artist…goldsmith；　brother　of　my　young　friend；　Paul　Meurice。　　He　was　a　major　of　the　National　Guard；　and　on　duty　with　his　battalion　at　the　Hotel　de　Ville。　〃Make　way！〃　he　shouted　authoritatively。　　〃Make　way　for　Victor　Hugo！〃　　And　the　human　wall　opened；　how　I　do　not　know；　before　his　epaulettes。

The　entrance　once　passed；　M。　Froment…Meurice　guided　us　up　all　sorts　of　stairways；　and　through　corridors　and　rooms　encumbered　with　people。　　As　we　were　passing　a　man　came　from　a　group；　and　planting　himself　in　front　of　me；　said：　〃Citizen　Victor　Hugo；　shout　'Long　live　the　Republic！'〃

〃I　will　shout　nothing　by　order；〃　said　I。　　〃Do　you　understand　what　liberty　is？　　For　my　part；　I　practise　it。　　I　will　shout　to…day　'Long　live　the　people！'　because　it　pleases　me　to　do　so。　　The　day　when　I　shout　'Long　live　the　Republic！'　it　will　be　because　I　want　to。〃

〃Hear！　hear！　He　is　right；〃　murmured　several　voices。

And　we　passed　on。

After　many　detours　M。　Froment…Meurice　ushered　us　into　a　small　room　where　he　left　us　while　he　went　to　inform　Lamartine　that　I　wished　to　see　him。

The　glass　door　of　the　room　gave　on　to　a　gallery；　passing　along　which　I　saw　my　friend　David　d'Angers；　the　great　statuary。　　I　called　to　him。　　David；　who　was　an　old…time　Republican；　was　beaming。　　〃Ah！　my　friend；　what　a　glorious　day！〃　he　exclaimed。　　He　told　me　that　the　Provisional　Government　had　appointed　him　Mayor　of　the　Eleventh　Arrondissement。　　〃They　have　sent　for　you　for　something　of　the　same　kind；　I　suppose？〃　he　said。　　〃No；〃　I　answered；　〃I　have　not　been　sent　for。　　I　came　of　my　own　accord　just　to　shake　Lamartine's　hand。〃

M。　Froment…Meurice　returned　and　announced　that　Lamartine　awaited　me。　　I　left　Victor　in　the　room；　telling　him　to　wait　there　till　I　came　back；　and　once　more　followed　my　obliging　guide　through　more　corridors　that　led　to　a　vestibule　that　was　crowded　with　people。　　〃They　are　all　office　seekers！〃　explained　M。　Froment…Meurice。　　The　Provisional　Government　was　holding　a　session　in　the　adjoining　room。　　The　door　was　guarded　by　two　armed　grenadiers　of　the　National　Guard；　who　were　impassible；　and　deaf　alike　to　entreaties　and　menaces。　　I　had　to　force　my　way　through　this　crowd。　　One　of　the　grenadiers；　on　the　lookout　for　me；　opened　the　door　a　little　way　to　let　me　in。　　The　crowd　immediately　made　a　rush　and　tried　to　push　past　the　sentries；　who；　however；　aided　by　M。　Froment…Meurice；　forced　them　back　and　closed　the　door　behind　me。

I　was　in　a　spacious　hall　that　formed　the　angle　of　one　of　the　pavilions　of　the　Hotel　de　Ville；　and　was　lighted　on　two　sides　by　long　windows。　　I　would　have　preferred　to　find　Lamartine　alone；　but　there　were　with　him；　dispersed　about　the　room　and　talking　to　friends　or　writing；　three　or　four　of　his　colleagues　in　the　Provisional　Government；　Arago；　Marie；　and　Armand　Marrast。　　Lamartine　rose　as　I　entered。　On　his　frock…coat；　which　was　buttoned　up　as　usual；　he　wore　an　ample　tri…colour　sash；　slung　across　his　shoulder。　　He　advanced　to　meet　me；　and　stretching　out　his　hand；　exclaimed：　〃Ah！　you　have　come　over　to　us！　　Victor　Hugo　is　a　strong　recruit　indeed　for　the　Republic。〃

〃Not　so　fast；　my　friend；〃　said　I　with　a　laugh。　　〃I　have　come　simply　to　see　my　friend　Lamartine。　　Perhaps　you　are　not　aware　of　the　fact　that　yesterday　while　you　were　opposing　the　Regency　in　the　Chamber；　I　was　defending　it　in　the　Place　de　la　Bastille。〃

〃Yesterday；　that　was　all　right；　but　to…day？　　There　is　now　neither　Regency　nor　Royalty。　　It　is　impossible　that　Victor　Hugo　is　not　at　heart　Republican。〃

〃In　principle；　yes；　I　am。　　The　Republic　is；　in　my　opinion；　the　only　rational　form　of　government；　the　only　one　worthy　of　the　nations。　　The　universal　Republic　is　inevitable　in　the　natural　course　of　progress。　　But　has　its　hour　struck　in　France？　　It　is　because　I　want　the　Republic　that　I　want　it　to　be　durable　and　definitive。　　You　are　going　to　consult　the　nation；　are　you　not？the　whole　nation？〃

〃The　whole　nation；　assuredly。　　We　of　the　Provisional　Government　are　all　for　universal　suffrage。〃

At　this　moment　Arago　came　up　to　us　with　M。　Armand　Marrast；　who　held　a　folded　paper　in　his　hand。

〃My　dear　friend；〃　said　Lamartine；　〃know　that　this　morning　we　selected　you　for　Mayor　of　your　arrondissement。〃

〃And　here　is　the　patent　signed　by　us　all；〃　said　Armand　Marrast。

〃I　thank　you；〃　said　I；　〃but　I　cannot　accept　it。〃

〃Why？〃　continued　Arago。　　〃These　are　non…political　and　purely　gratuitous　functions。〃

〃We　were　informed　just　now　about　the　attempted　revolt　at　La　Force；〃　added　Lamartine。　　〃You　did　better　than　suppress　it；　you　forestalled　it。　　You　are　loved　and　respected　in　your　arrondissement。〃

〃My　authority　is　wholly　moral；〃　I　rejoined；　〃it　could　but　lose　weight　in　becoming　official。　　Besides；　on　no　account　would　I　dispossess　M。　Ernest　Moreau；　who　has　borne　himself　loyally　and　valiantly　throughout　this　trouble。〃

Lamartine　and　Arago　insisted：　〃Do　not　refuse　our　brevet。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　I；　〃I　will　take　itfor　the　sake　of　the　autographs；　but　it　is　understood　that　I　keep　it　in　my　pocket。〃

〃Yes；　keep　it；〃　said　Armand　Marrast　laughingly；　〃so　that　you　can　say　that　one　day　you　were　~pair~　and　the　next　day　~maire~。〃

Lamartine　took　me　aside　into　the　recess　of　a　window。

〃It　is　not　a　mairie　I　would　like　you　to　have；　but　a　ministry。　Victor　Hugo；　the　Republic's　Minister　of　Instruction！　Come　now；　since　you　say　that　you　are　Republican！〃

〃Republicanin　principle。　　But　in　fact；　I　was　yesterday　peer　of　France；　I　was　yesterday　for　the　Regency；　and；　believing　the　Republic　to　be　premature；　I　should　be　also　for　the　Regency　to…day。〃

〃Nations　are　above　dynasties；〃　went　on　Lamartine。　　〃I；　too；　have　been　a　Royalist。〃

〃Yes；　but　you　were　a　deputy；　elected　by　the　nation；　I　was　a　peer；　appointed　by　the　King。〃

〃The　King　in　choosing　you；　under　the　terms　of　the　Constitution；　in　one　of　the　categories　from　which　the　Upper　House　was　recruited；　but　honoured　the　peerage　and　also　honoured　himself。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　said　I；　〃but　you　look　at　things　from　the　outside；　I　consider　them　in　my　conscience。〃

We　were　interrupted　by　the　noise　of　a　prolonged　fusillade　which　broke　out　suddenly　on　the　square。　　A　bullet　smashed　a　window…pane　above　our　heads。

〃What　is　the　matter　now？〃　exclaimed　Lamartine　in　sorrowful　tones。

M。　Armand　Marrast　and　M。　Marie　went　out　to　see　what　was　going　on。

〃Ah！　my　friend；〃　continued　Lamartine；　〃how　heavy　is　this　revolutionary　power　to　bear！　　One　has　to　assume　such　weighty　and　such　sudden　responsibilities　before　one's　conscience　and　in　presence　of　history！　I　do　not　know　how　I　have　been　living　during　the　past　ten　days。　　Yesterday　I　had　a　few　grey　hairs；　to…morrow　they　will　be　white。〃

〃Yes；　but　you　are　doing　your　duty　as　a　man　of　genius　grandly；〃　I　commented。

In　a　few　minutes　M。　Armand　Marrast　returned。

〃It　was　not　against　us；〃　he　said。　　〃How　the　lamentable　affray　came　about　could　not　be　explained　to　me。　　There　was　a　collision；　the　rifles　went　off；　why？　　Was　it　a　misunderstanding；　was　it　a　quarrel　between　Socialists　and　Republicans？　　No　one　knows。〃

〃Are　there　any　wounded？〃

〃Yes；　and　dead；　too。〃

A　gloomy　silence　followed。　　I　rose。　　〃You　have　no　doubt　some　measures　to　take？〃　I　said。

〃What　measures？〃　answered　Lamartine。　　〃This　morning　we　resolved　to　decree　what　you　have　already　been　able　to　do　on　a　small　scale　in　your　quarter：　the　organization　of　the　citizen's　National　Guardevery　Frenchman　a　soldier　as　well　as　a　voter。　　But　time　is　required；　and　meanwhile〃　he　pointed　to　the　waves　and　eddies　of　heads　surging　on　the　square　outside〃look；　it　is　the　sea！〃

A　boy　wearing　an　apron　entered　and　spoke　to　him　in　low　tones。

〃Ah！　very　good！〃　said　Lamartine；　〃it　is　my　luncheon。　Will　you　share　it　with　me；　Hugo？〃

〃Thanks；　I　have　already　lunched。〃

〃I　haven't　and　I　am　dying　of　hunger。　　At　least　come　and　look　on　at　the　feast；　I　will　let　you　go；　afterwards。〃

He　showed　me　into　a　room　that　gave　on　to　an　interior　court…yard。　　A　gentle　faced　young　man　who　was　writing　at　a　table　rose　and　was　about　to　withdraw。　　He　was　the　young　workman　whom　Louis　Blanc　had　had　attached　to　the　Provisional　Government。

〃Stay　where　you　are；　Albert；〃　said　Lamartine；　〃I　have　nothing　of　a　private　nature　to　say　to　Victor　Hugo。〃

We　saluted　each　other；　M。　Albert　and　I。

The　little　waiter　showed　Lamartine　a　table　upon　which　were　some　mutton　cutlets