October 25.--There is to be a public reading of _Les Chatiments_ for a
cannon to be called "Le Chatiment." We are preparing for it.

Brave Rostan,* whom I treated harshly one day, and who likes me because
I did right, has been arrested for indiscipline in the National Guard.
He has a little motherless boy six years old who has nobody else to take
care of him. What was to be done, the father being in prison? I told
him to send the youngster to me at the Pavilion de Rohan. He sent him
to-day.

* A workingman, friend of Victor Hugo.

October 26.-At 6.30 o'clock Rostan, released from prison, came to fetch
his little Henri. Great joy of father and son.

October 28.--Edgar Quinet came to see me.

Schoelcher and Commander Farcy, who gave his name to his gunboat, dined
with me. After dinner, at half past 8 I went with Schoelcher to his home
at 16, Rue de la Chaise. We found there Quinet, Ledru-Rollin,
Mathe, Gambon, Lamarque, and Brives. This was my first meeting with
Ledru-Rollin. We engaged in a very courteous argument over the question
of founding a club, he being for and I against it. We shook hands. I
returned home at midnight.

October 29.--Visits from the Gens de Lettres committee, Frederick
Lemaitre, MM. Berton and Lafontaine and Mlle. Favart for a third cannon
to be called the "Victor Hugo." I oppose the name.

I have authorised the fourth edition of 3,000 copies of _Les
Chatiments_, which will make to date 11,000 copies for Paris alone.

October 30.--I received the letter of the Societe des Gens de Lettres
asking me to authorise a public reading of Les Chatiments, the proceeds
of which will give to Paris another cannon to be called the "Victor
Hugo." I gave the authorisation. In my reply written this morning
I demanded that instead of "Victor Hugo" the gun be called the
"Chateaudun." The reading will take place at the Porte Saint Martin.

M. Berton came. I read to him _L'Expiation_, which he is to read. M. and
Mme. Meurice and d'Alton-Shee were present at the reading.

News has arrived that Metz has capitulated and that Bazaine's army has
surrendered.

Bills announcing the reading of _Les Chatiments_ have been posted. M.
Raphael Felix came to tell me the time at which the rehearsal is to
take place tomorrow. I hired a seven-seat box for this reading, which I
placed at the disposal of the ladies.

On returning home this evening I met in front of the Mairie, M. Chaudey,
who was at th