half-a-dozen
fantastically dressed _vivandieres_. When in a town of 2,000,000
inhabitants not above 12,000 can be found ready to submit to military
discipline, and to go outside an inner line of fortifications, it is
ridiculous to expect a defence like that of Saragossa. We are under the
impression to-day that an armistice will be signed to-morrow. No one
affects even to doubt that the word means peace. The bourgeoisie are
heartily tired of playing at soldiers, the game has lost its novelty,
and the nights are too cold to make an occasional pic-nic to the
fortifications agreeable any longer. Besides, business is business, and
pleasant as it may be to sit arrayed in uniform behind a counter, in the
long run customers are more remunerative, if not so glorious. The cry
for peace is universal, the wealthy are lusting after the flesh-pots of
Egypt, the hotel-keepers are eagerly waiting for the rush of sightseers,
and the shopkeepers are anxious to make up for lost time by plundering
friend and foe. The soldiers, although Trochu is popular with them,
have neither faith nor confidence in his generalship. The Mobiles and
peasants recently from their villages wish to go home, and openly tell
the Parisians that they have no intention to remain out in the cold any
longer on salt beef, whilst the heroic citizens are sleeping quietly in
their houses, or in barracks, and gorging themselves with fresh
provisions. As for the working-men, they are spoiling for a fight in the
streets, either with the Prussians, or, if that cannot be, with anyone
else. They are, however, so thoroughly enjoying themselves, doing
nothing, and getting paid for doing it, that they are in too good a
temper to be mischievous. The new Prefect of the Police has arrested
Felix Pyat and other leaders of the riot of last Monday. Flourens and
the venerable Blanqui are only not in prison because they are in hiding.
The mayors of the different arrondissements are being elected to-day,
but no one seems to trouble himself about the election.

The vote of Thursday has somewhat surprised the bourgeoisie. That
one-seventh of the population should have registered their deliberate
opinion that they prefer no Government to that under which they are
living is by no means a reassuring fact, more particularly when this
seventh consists of "men of action," armed with muskets, and provided
with ammunition. As long as the Line and the Mobiles remain here, Trochu
will be able, if he