th which our generals
were credited came to be taken into consideration, then there was more
confusion, a fresh set of contradictory hypotheses to be encountered.
Maurice had until now been cut off in a measure from the outside world,
and now for the first time learned what had been the course of events
in Paris; the blasting effect of defeat upon a populace that had been
confident of victory, the terrible commotions in the streets, the
convoking of the Chambers, the fall of the liberal ministry that had
effected the plebiscite, the abrogation of the Emperor's rank as General
of the Army and the transfer of the supreme command to Marshal Bazaine.
The Emperor had been present at the camp of Chalons since the 16th, and
all the newspapers were filled with a grand council that had been held
on the 17th, at which Prince Napoleon and some of the generals were
present, but none of them were agreed upon the decisions that had been
arrived at outside of the resultant facts, which were that General
Trochu had been appointed governor of Paris and Marshal MacMahon given
the command of the army of Chalons, and the inference from this was
that the Emperor was to be shorn of all his authority. Consternation,
irresolution, conflicting plans that were laid aside and replaced by
fresh ones hour by hour; these were the things that everybody felt were
in the air. And ever and always the question: Where were the German
armies? Who were in the right, those who asserted that Bazaine had no
force worth mentioning in front of him and was free to make his retreat
through the towns of the north whenever he chose to do so, or those who
declared that he was already besieged in Metz? There was a constantly
recurring rumor of a series of engagements that had raged during an
entire week, from the 14th until the 20th, but it failed to receive
confirmation.

Maurice's legs ached with fatigue; he went and sat down upon a bench.
Around him the life of the city seemed to be going on as usual; there
were nursemaids seated in the shade of the handsome trees watching the
sports of their little charges, small property owners strolled leisurely
about the walks enjoying their daily constitutional. He had taken up his
papers again, when his eyes lighted on an article that had escaped his
notice, the "leader" in a rabid republican sheet; then everything was
made clear to him. The paper stated that at the council of the 17th
at the camp of Chalons the retreat of th