ce, now a Correction-House
with Priests, there was no trace of arms; but, on the other hand, corn,
plainly to a culpable extent. Out with it, to market; in this scarcity
of grains!--Heavens, will 'fifty-two carts,' in long row, hardly carry
it to the Halle aux Bleds? Well, truly, ye reverend Fathers, was your
pantry filled; fat are your larders; over-generous your wine-bins, ye
plotting exasperators of the Poor; traitorous forestallers of bread!

Vain is protesting, entreaty on bare knees: the House of Saint-Lazarus
has that in it which comes not out by protesting. Behold, how, from
every window, it vomits: mere torrents of furniture, of bellowing and
hurlyburly;--the cellars also leaking wine. Till, as was natural, smoke
rose,--kindled, some say, by the desperate Saint-Lazaristes themselves,
desperate of other riddance; and the Establishment vanished from this
world in flame. Remark nevertheless that 'a thief' (set on or not by
Aristocrats), being detected there, is 'instantly hanged.'

Look also at the Chatelet Prison. The Debtors' Prison of La Force is
broken from without; and they that sat in bondage to Aristocrats go
free: hearing of which the Felons at the Chatelet do likewise 'dig
up their pavements,' and stand on the offensive; with the best
prospects,--had not Patriotism, passing that way, 'fired a volley' into
the Felon world; and crushed it down again under hatches. Patriotism
consorts not with thieving and felony: surely also Punishment, this
day, hitches (if she still hitch) after Crime, with frightful
shoes-of-swiftness! 'Some score or two' of wretched persons, found
prostrate with drink in the cellars of that Saint-Lazare, are
indignantly haled to prison; the Jailor has no room; whereupon, other
place of security not suggesting itself, it is written, 'on les pendit,
they hanged them.' (Histoire Parlementaire, ii. 96.) Brief is the word;
not without significance, be it true or untrue!

In such circumstances, the Aristocrat, the unpatriotic rich man is
packing-up for departure. But he shall not get departed. A wooden-shod
force has seized all Barriers, burnt or not: all that enters, all that
seeks to issue, is stopped there, and dragged to the Hotel-de-Ville:
coaches, tumbrils, plate, furniture, 'many meal-sacks,' in time even
'flocks and herds' encumber the Place de Greve. (Dusaulx, Prise de la
Bastille, p. 20.)

And so it roars, and rages, and brays; drums beating, steeples pealing;
criers rushing wit