the army. These drunken soldiers make one sick at heart. I
shall return to Africa_." In October Changarnier's influence decreased,
and X.'s enthusiasm abated. X. then frequented the Elysee, but without
giving his adherence. He promised his support to General Bedeau, who
counted upon him. At daybreak on the 2d of December some one came to
waken X. It was Edgar Ney. X. was a prop for the _coup d'etat_, but would
he consent? Edgar Ney explained the affair to him, and left him only
after seeing him leave the barracks of the Rue Verte at the head of the
first regiment. X. took up his position at the Place de la Madeleine. As
he arrived there La Rochejaquelein, thrust back from the Chamber by its
invaders, crossed the Place. La Rochejaquelein, not yet a Bonapartist,
was furious. He perceived X., his old schoolfellow at the Ecole Militaire
in 1830, with whom he was on intimate terms. He went up to him,
exclaiming, "This is an infamous act. What are you doing?" "_I am
waiting_," answered X. La Rochejaquelein left him; X. dismounted, and
went to see a relation, a Councillor of State, M.R., who lived in the Rue
de Suresne. He asked his advice. M.R., an honest man, did not hesitate.
He answered, "I am going to the Council of State to do my duty. It is a
Crime." X. shook his head, and said, "_We must wait and see_."

This _I am waiting_, and _We must see_, preoccupied Louis Bonaparte.
Morny said, "_Let us make use of the flying squadron_."

CHAPTER VI.

DENIS DUSSOUBS

Gaston Dussoubs was one of the bravest members of the Left. He was a
Representative of the Haute-Vienne. At the time of his first appearance
in the Assembly he wore, as formerly did Theophile Gautier, a red
waistcoat, and the shudder which Gautier's waistcoat caused among the men
of letters in 1830, Gaston Dussoubs' waistcoat caused among the Royalists
of 1851. M. Parisis, Bishop of Langres, who would have had no objection
to a red hat, was terrified by Gaston Dussoubs' red waistcoat. Another
source of horror to the Right was that Dussoubs had, it was said, passed
three years at Belle Isle as a political prisoner, a penalty incurred by
the "Limoges Affair." Universal Suffrage had, it would seem, taken him
thence to place him in the Assembly. To go from the prison to the Senate
is certainly not very surprising in our changeful times, although it is
sometimes followed by a return from the Senate to the prison. But the
Right was mistaken, the culprit of Limo