the morning of the
24th February, the rash surprise of the Hotel de Ville. We charged him
to repeat this surprise, and to extend it to the Prefecture of Police.
He knew how to set about the work. He told us that he had only a few
men, but that during the day he would cause certain houses of strategical
importance on the Quai des Cevres, on the Quai Lepelletier, and in the
Rue de la Cite, to be silently occupied, and that if it should chance
that the leaders of the _coup d'etat_, owing to the combat in the centre
of Paris growing more serious, should be forced to withdraw the troops
from the Hotel de Ville and the Prefecture, an attack would be immediately
commenced on these two points. Captain Jourdan, we may at once mention,
did what he had promised us; unfortunately, as we learnt that evening,
he began perhaps a little too soon. As he had foreseen, a moment arrived
when the square of the Hotel de Ville was almost devoid of troops, General
Herbillon having been forced to leave it with his cavalry to take the
barricades of the centre in the rear. The attack of the Republicans burst
forth instantly. Musket shots were fired from the windows on the Quai
Lepelletier; but the left of the column was still on the Pont d'Arcole,
a line of riflemen had been placed by a major named Larochette before
the Hotel de Ville, the 44th retraced its steps, and the attempt
failed.

Bastide arrived, with Chauffour and Laissac.

"Good news," said he to us, "all is going on well." His grave, honest,
and dispassionate countenance shone with a sort of patriotic serenity.
He came from the barricades, and was about to return thither. He had
received two balls in his cloak. I took him aside, and said to him,
"Are you going back?" "Yes." "Take me with you." "No," answered he,
"you are necessary here. To-day you are the general, I am the soldier."
I insisted in vain. He persisted in refusing, repeating continually.
"The Committee is our centre, it should not disperse itself. It is your
duty to remain here. Besides," added he, "Make your mind easy. You run
here more risk than we do. If you are taken you will be shot." "Well,
then," said I, "the moment may come when our duty will be to join in
the combat." "Without doubt." I resumed, "You who are on the barricades
will be better judges than we shall of that moment. Give me your word
of honor that you will treat me as you would wish me to treat you, and
that you will come and fetch us." "I give it you