widow.
She was in want. I married her. We had a son in 1854--you will
understand presently why I speak to you of my wife and my son. But you
must already suspect that an insurgent who marries the widow of an
insurgent does not have royalist children.

"Under the Empire there was nothing to do. The police were very strict.
We were dispersed, disarmed. I worked, I brought up my son with the
ideas that my father had given me. The wait was long. Rochefort,
Gambetta, public reunions--all that put us in motion again.

"On the first important occasion I showed myself. I was one of that
little band who assaulted the barracks of the firemen of Villette. Only
there we made a mistake. We killed a fireman, unnecessarily, I was
caught and thrown into prison, but the Government of the Fourth of
September liberated us, from which I concluded that we did right to
attack those barracks and kill the fireman, even unnecessarily.

"The siege began. I immediately opposed the Government, on the side of
the Commune. I marched against the Hotel de Ville on the 31st of October
and on the 22d of January. I liked revolt for revolt's sake. An
insurgent--I told you in the beginning I am an insurgent. I cannot hear
a discussion without taking part, nor see a riot without running to it,
nor a barricade without bringing my paving-stone. It's in the blood.

"And then, besides, I wasn't quite ignorant, and I said to myself, It is
only necessary to succeed thoroughly some day, and then, in our turn, we
shall be the Government, and it will be better than with all these
lawyers, who place themselves behind us during the battle, and pass
ahead after the victory.'

"The 18th of March came, and naturally I was in it. I shouted 'Hurrah
for the regulars!' I fraternized with the army. I went to the Hotel de
Ville. I found a government already at work. It was absolutely the same
as on the 24th of February.

"Now you tell me that that insurrection was not lawful. That is
possible, but I don't quite see why not. I begin to get muddled--about
these insurrections which are a duty and those which are a crime! I do
not clearly see the difference.

"I shot at the Versailles troops in 1871, as I had shot at the royal
guard in 1830 and on the municipals in 1848. After 1830 I received the
Medal of July; after 1848 the compliments of M. de Lamartine. This time
I am going to get transportation or death.

"There are insurrections which please you. You raise columns t