the memoirs of victor hugo-第27部分

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At　this　juncture　a　woman　appeared　upon　its　crest；　a　woman　young；　handsome；　dishevelled；　terrible。　　This　woman；　who　was　a　prostitute；　pulled　up　her　clothes　to　her　waist　and　screamed　to　the　guards　in　that　frightful　language　of　the　lupanar　that　one　is　always　compelled　to　translate：

〃Cowards！　fire；　if　you　dare；　at　the　belly　of　a　woman！〃　Here　the　affair　became　appalling。　　The　National　Guard　did　not　hesitate。　　A　volley　brought　the　wretched　creature　down；　and　with　a　piercing　shriek　she　toppled　off　the　barricade。　　A　silence　of　horror　fell　alike　upon　besiegers　and　besieged。

Suddenly　another　woman　appeared。　　This　one　was　even　younger　and　more　beautiful；　she　was　almost　a　child；　being　barely　seventeen　years　of　age。　　Oh！　the　pity　of　it！　　She；　too；　was　a　street…walker。　　Like　the　other　she　lifted　her　skirt；　disclosed　her　abdomen；　and　screamed：　〃Fire；　brigands！〃　They　fired；　and　riddled　with　bullets　she　fell　upon　the　body　of　her　sister　in　vice。

It　was　thus　that　the　war　commenced。

Nothing　could　be　more　chilling　and　more　sombre。　　It　is　a　hideous　thing　this　heroism　of　abjection　in　which　bursts　forth　all　that　weakness　has　of　strength；　this　civilization　attacked　by　cynicism　and　defending　itself　by　barbarity。　　On　one　side　the　despair　of　the　people；　on　the　other　the　despair　of　society。

On　Saturday　the　24th；　at　4　o'clock　in　the　morning；　I；　as　a　Representative　of　the　people；　was　at　the　barricade　in　the　Place　Baudoyer　that　was　defended　by　the　troops。

The　barricade　was　a　low　one。　　Another；　narrow　and　high；　protected　it　in　the　street。　　The　sun　shone　upon　and　brightened　the　chimney…tops。　　The　tortuous　Rue　Saint　Antoine　wound　before　us　in　sinister　solitude。

The　soldiers　were　lying　upon　the　barricade；　which　was　little　more　than　three　feet　high。　　Their　rifles　were　stacked　between　the　projecting　paving…stones　as　though　in　a　rack。　Now　and　then　bullets　whistled　overhead　and　struck　the　walls　of　the　houses　around　us；　bringing　down　a　shower　of　stone　and　plaster。　　Occasionally　a　blouse；　sometimes　a　cap…covered　head；　appeared　at　the　corner　of　a　street。　　The　soldiers　promptly　fired　at　it。　　When　they　hit　their　mark　they　applauded　〃Good！　　Well　aimed！　　Capital！〃

They　laughed　and　chatted　gaily。　　At　intervals　there　was　a　rattle　and　roar；　and　a　hail　of　bullets　rained　upon　the　barricade　from　roofs　and　windows。　　A　very　tall　captain　with　a　grey　moustache　stood　erect　at　the　centre　of　the　barrier；　above　which　half　his　body　towered。　　The　bullets　pattered　about　him　as　about　a　target。　　He　was　impassible　and　serene　and　spoke　to　his　men　in　this　wise：

〃There；　children；　they　are　firing。　　Lie　down。　　Look　out；　Laripaud；　you　are　showing　your　head。　　Reload！〃

All　at　once　a　woman　turned　the　corner　of　a　street。　　She　came　leisurely　towards　the　barricade。　　The　soldiers　swore　and　shouted　to　her　to　get　out　of　the　way：

〃Ah！　the　strumpet！　　Will　you　get　out　of　that　you　w！　　Shake　a　leg；　damn　you！　　She's　coming　to　reconnoitre。　　She's　a　spy！　　Bring　her　down。　　Down　with　the　moucharde！〃

The　captain　restrained　them：

〃Don't　shoot；　it's　a　woman！〃

After　advancing　about　twenty　paces　the　woman；　who　really　did　seem　to　be　observing　us；　entered　a　low　door　which　closed　behind　her。

This　one　was　saved。



At　11　o'clock　I　returned　from　the　barrier　in　the　Place　Baudoyer　and　took　my　usual　place　in　the　Assembly。　　A　Representative　whom　I　did　not　know；　but　who　I　have　since　learned　was　M。　Belley；　engineer；　residing　in　the　Rue　des　Tournelles；　came　and　sat　beside　me　and　said：

〃Monsieur　Victor　Hugo；　the　Place　Royale　has　been　burned。　　They　set　fire　to　your　house。　　The　insurgents　entered　by　the　little　door　in　the　Cul…de…sac　Guéménée。〃

〃And　my　family？〃　　I　inquired。

〃They　are　safe。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃I　have　just　come　from　there。　　Not　being　known　I　was　able　to　get　over　the　barricades　and　make　my　way　here。　Your　family　first　took　refuge　in　the　Mairie。　　I　was　there；　too。　　Seeing　that　the　danger　was　over　I　advised　Mme。　Victor　Hugo　to　seek　some　other　asylum。　　She　found　shelter　with　her　children　in　the　home　of　a　chimney…sweep　named　Martignon　who　lives　near　your　house；　under　the　arcades。〃

I　knew　that　worthy　Martignon　family。　　This　reassured　me。

〃And　how　about　the　riot？〃　　I　asked。

〃It　is　a　revolution；〃　replied　M。　Belley。　　〃The　insurgents　are　in　control　of　Paris　at　this　moment。〃



I　left　M。　Belley　and　hurriedly　traversed　the　few　rooms　that　separated　the　hall　in　which　we　held　our　sessions　and　the　office　occupied　by　the　Executive　Committee。

It　was　a　small　salon　belonging　to　the　presidency；　and　was　reached　through　two　rooms　that　were　smaller　still。　　In　these　ante…chambers　was　a　buzzing　crowd　of　distracted　officers　and　National　Guards。　　They　made　no　attempt　to　prevent　any　one　from　entering。

I　opened　the　door　of　the　Executive　Committee's　office。　Ledru…Rollin；　very　red；　was　half　seated　on　the　table。　　M。　Gamier…Pages；　very　pale；　and　half　reclining　in　an　armchair；　formed　an　antithesis　to　him。　　The　contrast　was　complete：　Garnier…Pagès　thin　and　bushy…haired；　Ledru…Rollin　stout　and　close…cropped。　　Two　or　three　colonels；　among　them　Representative　Charras；　were　conversing　in　a　corner。　I　only　recall　Arago　vaguely。　　I　do　not　remember　whether　M。　Marie　was　there。　　The　sun　was　shining　brightly。

Lamartine；　standing　in　a　window　recess　on　the　left；　was　talking　to　a　general　in　full　uniform；　whom　I　saw　for　the　first　and　last　time；　and　who　was　Négrier。　　Négrier　was　killed　that　same　evening　in　front　of　a　barricade。

I　hurried　to　Lamartine；　who　advanced　to　meet　me。　　He　was　wan　and　agitated；　his　beard　was　long；　his　clothes　were　dusty。

He　held　out　his　hand：　〃Ah！　good　morning；　Hugo！〃

Here　is　the　dialogue　that　we　engaged　in；　every　word　of　which　is　still　fresh　in　my　memory：

〃What　is　the　situation；　Lamartine？〃

〃We　are　done　for！〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃I　mean　that　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour　from　now　the　Assembly　will　be　invaded。〃

（Even　at　that　moment　a　column　of　insurgents　was　coming　down　the　Rue　de　Lille。　　A　timely　charge　of　cavalry　dispersed　it。）

〃Nonsense！　　What　about　the　troops？〃

〃There　are　no　troops！〃

〃But　you　said　on　Wednesday；　and　yesterday　repeated；　that　you　had　sixty　thousand　men　at　your　disposal。〃

〃So　I　thought。〃

〃Well；　but　you　musn't　give　up　like　this。　　It　is　not　only　you　who　are　at　stake；　but　the　Assembly；　and　not　only　the　Assembly；　but　France；　and　not　only　France；　but　the　whole　of　civilization。　　Why　did　you　not　issue　orders　yesterday　to　have　the　garrisons　of　the　towns　for　forty　leagues　round　brought　to　Paris？　　That　would　have　given　you　thirty　thousand　men　at　once。〃

〃We　gave　the　orders〃

〃Well？〃

〃The　troops　have　not　come！〃

Lamartine　took　my　hand　and　said；

〃I　am　not　Minister　of　War！〃

At　this　moment　a　few　representatives　entered　noisily。　The　Assembly　had　just　voted　a　state　of　siege。　　They　told　Ledru…Rollin　and　Garnier…Pages　so　in　a　few　words。

Lamartine　half　turned　towards　them　and　said　in　an　undertone：

〃A　state　of　siege！　　A　state　of　siege！　　Well；　declare　it　if　you　think　it　is　necessary。　　I　have　nothing　to　say！〃

He　dropped　into　a　chair；　repeating：

〃I　have　nothing　to　say；　neither　yes　nor　no。　　Do　what　you　like！〃

General　Négrier　came　up　to　me。

〃Monsieur　Victor　Hugo；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　come　to　reassure　you；　I　have　received　news　from　the　Place　Royale。〃

〃Well；　general？〃

〃Your　family　are　safe。〃

〃Thanks！　Yes；　I　have　just　been　so　informed。〃

〃But　your　house　has　been　burnt　down。〃

〃What　does　that　matter？〃　said　I。

Négrier　warmly　pressed　my　arm：

〃I　understand　you。　　Let　us　think　only　of　one　thing。　Let　us　save　the　country！〃

As　I　was　withdrawing　Lamartine　quitted　a　group　and　came　to　me。

〃Adieu；〃　he　said。　　〃But　do　not　forget　this：　do　not　judge　me　too　hastily；　I　am　not　the　Minister　of　War。〃

The　day　before；　as　the　riot　was　spreading；　Cavaignac；　after　a　few　measures　had　been　taken；　said　to　Lamartine：

〃That's　enough　for　to…day。〃

It　was　5　o'clock。

〃What！〃　　exclaimed　Lamartine。　　〃Why；　we　have　still　four　hours　of　daylight　before　us！　　And　the　riot　will　profit　by　them　while　we　are　losing　them！〃

He　could　get　nothing　from　Cavaignac　except：

〃That's　enough　for　to…day！〃



On　the　24th；　about　3　o'clock；　at　the　most　critical　moment；　a　Representative　of　the　people；　wearing　his　sail　across　his　shoulder；　arrived　at　the　Mairie　of　the　Second　Arrondissement；　in　the　Rue　Chauchat；　behind　the　Opera。　He　was　recognised。　　He　was　Lagrange。

The　National　Guards　surrounded　him。　　In　a　twinkling　the　group　became　menacing：

〃It　is　Lagrange！　the　man　of　the　pistol　shot！*　What　are　you　doing　here？　　You　are　a　coward！　　Get　behind　the　barricades。　　That　is　your　placeyour　friends　are　thereand　not　with　us！　　They　will　proclaim　you　their　chief；　go　on！　　They　at　any　rate　are　brave！　　They　are　giving　their　blood　for　your　follies；　and　you；　you　are　afraid！　　You　have　a　dirty　duty　to　do；　but　at　least　do　it！　　Get　out　of　here！　Begone！〃

*　　It　was　popularly　but　erroneously　believed　that　Lagrange　fired　the　shot　that　led　to　the　massacre　in　the　Boulevard　des　Capucines　on　February　23。

Lagrange　endeavoured　to　speak。　　His　voice　was　drowned　by　hooting。

This　is　how　these　madmen　received　the　honest　man　who　after　fighting　for　the　people　wanted　to　risk　his　life　for　society。



June　25。

The　insurgents　were　firing　throughout　the　whole　length　of　the　Boulevard　Beaumarchais　from　the　tops　of　the　new　houses。　　Several　had　ambushed　themselves　in　the　big　house　in　course　of　construction　opposite　the　Galiote。　　At　the　windows　they　had　stuck　dummies；bundles　of　straw　with　blouses　and　caps　on　them。

I　distinctly　saw　a　man　who　had　entrenched　himself　behind　a　barricade　of　bricks　in　a　corner　of　the　balcony　on　the　fourth　floor　of　the　house　which　faces　the　Rue　du　Pont…aux…Choux。　　The　man　took　careful　aim　and　killed　a　good　many　persons。

It　was　3　o'clock。　　The　troops　and　mobiles　fringed　the　roofs　of　the　Boulevard　du　Temple　and　returned　the　fire　of　the　insurgents。　　A　cannon　had　just　been　drawn　up　in　front　of　the　Gaité　to　demolish　the　house　of　the　Galiote　and　sweep　the　whole　boulevard。

I　thought　I　ought　to　make　an　effort　to　put　a　stop　to　the　bloodshed；　if　possible；　and　advanced　to　the　corner　of　the　Rue　d'Angoulême。　　When　I　reached　the　little　turret　near　there　I　was　greeted　with　a　fusillade。　　The　bullets　pattered　upon　the　turret　behind　me；　a