rature.

After this they turned over the count's pamphlets.

They found in all of a demand for universal suffrage.

"It seems to me," said Pecuchet, "that we shall soon have some
squabbling."

For he saw everything in dark colours, perhaps on account of his
jaundice.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VI.

REVOLT OF THE PEOPLE.

On the morning of the 25th of February, 1848, the news was brought to
Chavignolles, by a person who had come from Falaise, that Paris was
covered with barricades, and the next day the proclamation of the
Republic was posted up outside the mayor's office.

This great event astonished the inhabitants.

But when they learned that the Court of Cassation, the Court of Appeal,
the Court of Exchequer, the Chamber of Notaries, the order of advocates,
the Council of State, the University, the generals, and M. de la
Roche-Jacquelein himself had given promise of their adherence to the
provisional government, their breasts began to expand; and, as trees of
liberty were planted at Paris, the municipal council decided that they
ought to have them at Chavignolles.

Bouvard made an offer of one, his patriotism exulting in the triumph of
the people; as for Pecuchet, the fall of royalty confirmed his
anticipations so exactly that he must needs be satisfied.

Gorju, obeying them with zeal, removed one of the poplar trees that
skirted the meadow above La Butte, and transported it to "the Cows'
Pass," at the entrance of the village, the place appointed for the
purpose.

Before the hour for the ceremony, all three awaited the procession. They
heard a drum beating, and then beheld a silver cross. After this
appeared two torches borne by the chanters, then the cure, with stole,
surplice, cope, and biretta. Four altar-boys escorted him, a fifth
carried the holy-water basin, and in the rear came the sacristan. He got
up on the raised edge of the hole in which stood the poplar tree,
adorned with tri-coloured ribbons. On the opposite side could be seen
the mayor and his two deputies, Beljambe and Marescot; then the
principal personages of the district, M. de Faverges, Vaucorbeil,
Coulon, the justice of the peace, an old fogy with a sleepy face.
Heurtaux wore a foraging-cap, and Alexandre Petit, the new schoolmaster,
had put on his frock-coat, a threadbare green garment--his Sunday coat.
The firemen, whom Girbal commanded, sword in hand, stood in single file.
On the other side shone the white plates of some