the Prussians. Schoelcher came to inform me of it.

November 15.--Visit from M. Arsene Houssaye and Henri Houssaye, his son.
He is going to have Stella read at his house in aid of the wounded.

M. Valois came to tell me that the two readings of _Les Chatiments_
brought in 14,000 francs. For this sum not two, but three guns can
be purchased. The Societe des Gens de Lettres desires that, the
first having been named by me the "Chateaudun" and the second "Les
Chatiments", the third shall be called the "Victor Hugo." I have
consented.

Pierre Veron has sent me Daumier's fine drawing representing the Empire
annihilated by _Les Chatiments_.

November 16.--Baroche, they say, has died at Caen.

M. Edouard Thierry refuses to allow the fifth act of "Hernani" to be
played at the Porte Saint Martin for the victims of Chateaudun and for
the cannon of the 24th Battalion. A queer obstacle this M. Thierry!

November 17.--Visit from the Gens de Lettres committee. The committee
came to ask me to authorise a reading of _Les Chatiments_ at the Opera
to raise funds for another cannon.

I mention here once for all that I authorise whoever desires to do so,
to read or perform whatever he likes that I have written, if it be for
cannon, the wounded, ambulances, workshops, orphanages, victims of the
war, or the poor, and that I abandon all my royalties on these readings
or performances.

I decide that the third reading of _Les Chatiments_ shall be given at
the Opera gratis for the people.

November 19.--Mme. Marie Laurent came to recite to me _Les Pauvres
Gens_, which she will recite at the Porte Saint Martin to-morrow to
raise funds for a cannon.

November 20.--Last evening there was an aurora borealis.

"La Grosse Josephine" is no longer my neighbour. She has just been
transported to Bastion No. 41. It took twenty-six horses to draw her. I
am sorry they have taken her away. At night I could hear her deep voice,
and it seemed to me that she was speaking to me. I divided my love
between "Grosse Josephine" and Little Jeanne.

Little Jeanne can now say "papa" and "mamma" very well.

To-day there was a review of the National Guard.

November 21.--Mme. Jules Simon and Mme. Sarah Bernhardt came to see me.

After dinner many visitors called, and the drawing-room was crowded. It
appears that Veuillot insulted me.

Little Jeanne begins to crawl on her hands and knees very well indeed.

November 23.--Jules S