And now, behold, on the morrow, this
Parlement, seated once more in its own Palais, with 'crowds inundating
the outer courts,' not only does not register, but (O portent!) declares
all that was done on the prior day to be null, and the Bed of Justice
as good as a futility! In the history of France here verily is a new
feature. Nay better still, our heroic Parlement, getting suddenly
enlightened on several things, declares that, for its part, it is
incompetent to register Tax-edicts at all,--having done it by mistake,
during these late centuries; that for such act one authority only is
competent: the assembled Three Estates of the Realm!

To such length can the universal spirit of a Nation penetrate the most
isolated Body-corporate: say rather, with such weapons, homicidal and
suicidal, in exasperated political duel, will Bodies-corporate fight!
But, in any case, is not this the real death-grapple of war and
internecine duel, Greek meeting Greek; whereon men, had they even no
interest in it, might look with interest unspeakable? Crowds, as was
said, inundate the outer courts: inundation of young eleutheromaniac
Noblemen in English costume, uttering audacious speeches; of Procureurs,
Basoche-Clerks, who are idle in these days: of Loungers, Newsmongers and
other nondescript classes,--rolls tumultuous there. 'From three to four
thousand persons,' waiting eagerly to hear the Arretes (Resolutions) you
arrive at within; applauding with bravos, with the clapping of from six
to eight thousand hands! Sweet also is the meed of patriotic eloquence,
when your D'Espremenil, your Freteau, or Sabatier, issuing from his
Demosthenic Olympus, the thunder being hushed for the day, is welcomed,
in the outer courts, with a shout from four thousand throats; is borne
home shoulder-high 'with benedictions,' and strikes the stars with his
sublime head.

Chapter 1.3.V.

Lomenie's Thunderbolts.

Arise, Lomenie-Brienne: here is no case for 'Letters of Jussion;' for
faltering or compromise. Thou seest the whole loose fluent population
of Paris (whatsoever is not solid, and fixed to work) inundating these
outer courts, like a loud destructive deluge; the very Basoche of
Lawyers' Clerks talks sedition. The lower classes, in this duel of
Authority with Authority, Greek throttling Greek, have ceased to respect
the City-Watch: Police-satellites are marked on the back with chalk (the
M signifies mouchard, spy); they are hustled, hunted like ferae