pold Duras had
just described the investment of the Cafe Bonvalet. Jules Favre and
Baudin, seated at a little table between the two windows, were writing.
Baudin had a copy of the Constitution open before him, and was copying
Article 68.

When we entered there was silence, and they asked us, "Well, what news?"

Charamaule told them what had just taken place on the Boulevard du
Temple, and the advice which he had thought right to give me. They
approved his action.

"What is to be done?" was asked on every side. I began to speak.

"Let us go straight to the fact and to the point," said I. "Louis
Bonaparte is gaining ground, and we are losing ground, or rather, we
should say, he has as yet everything, and we have as yet nothing.
Charamaule and I have been obliged to separate ourselves from Colonel
Forestier. I doubt if he will succeed. Louis Bonaparte is doing all he
can to suppress us, we must no longer keep in the background. We must
make our presence felt. We must fan this beginning of the flame of which
we have seen the spark on the Boulevard du Temple. A proclamation must be
made, no matter by whom it is printed, or how it is placarded, but it is
absolutely necessary, and that immediately. Something brief, rapid, and
energetic. No set phrases. Ten lines--an appeal to arms! We are the Law,
and there are occasions when the Law should utter a war-cry. The Law,
outlawing the traitor, is a great and terrible thing. Let us do it."

They interrupted me with "Yes, that is right, a proclamation!"

"Dictate! dictate!"

"Dictate," said Baudin to me, "I will write."

I dictated:-

"TO THE PEOPLE.

"Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is a traitor.

"He has violated the Constitution.

"He is forsworn.

"He is an outlaw--"

They cried out to me on every side,--

"That is right! Outlaw him."

"Go on."

I resumed the dictation. Baudin wrote,--

"The Republican Representatives refer the People and the Army to Article
68--"

They interrupted me: "Quote it in full."

"No," said I, "it would be too long. Something is needed which can be
placarded on a card, stuck with a wafer, and which can be read in a
minute. I will quote Article 110. It is short and contains the appeal to
arms."

I resumed,--

"The Republican Representatives refer the People and the Army to Article
68 and to Article 110, which runs thus--'The Constituent Assembly
confides the existing Constitution and the Laws which it consecrat