imon writes me that the Opera will be given to me
for the people (free reading of _Les Chatiments_) any day I fix upon. I
wanted Sunday, but out of consideration for the concert that the actors
and employes of the Opera give Sunday night for their own benefit I have
selected Monday.

Frederick Lemaitre called. He kissed my hands and wept.

It has been raining for two or three days. The rain has soaked the
plains, the cannon-wheels would sink into the ground, and the sortie has
therefore had to be deferred. For two days Paris has been living on salt
meat. A rat costs 8 sous.

November 24.--I authorise the Theatre Francais to play to-morrow,
Friday, the 25th, on behalf of the victims of the war, the fifth act
of "Hernani" by the actors of the Theatre Francais and the last act
of "Lucrece Borgia" by the actors of the Porte Saint Martin, and
in addition the recitation as an intermede of extracts from _Les
Chatiments_, _Les Contemplations_ and _La Legende des Siecles_.

Mlle. Favart came this morning to rehearse with me _Booz Endormie_. Then
we went together to the Francais for the rehearsal for the performance
of to-morrow. She acted Dona Sol very well indeed. Mme. Laurent (Lucrece
Borgia) also played well. During the rehearsal M. de Flavigny dropped
in. I said to him: "Good morning, my dear ex-colleague." He looked
at me, then with some emotion exclaimed: "Hello! is that you?" And he
added: "How well preserved you are!" I replied: "Banishment preserves
one."

I returned the ticket for a box that the Theatre Francais sent to me for
to-morrow's performance, and hired a box, which I placed at the disposal
of Mme. Paul Meurice.

After dinner the new Prefect of Police, M. Cresson, paid me a visit. M.
Cresson was the barrister who twenty years ago defended the murderers of
General Brea. He spoke to me about the free reading of _Les Chatiments_
to be given on Monday the 28th at the Opera. It is feared that an
immense crowd--all the faubourgs--will be attracted. More than 25,000
men and women. Three thousand will be able to get in. What is to be done
with the rest? The Government is uneasy. Many are called but few
will be chosen, and it fears that a crush, fighting and disorders will
result. The Government will refuse me nothing. It wants to know whether
I will accept the responsibility. It will do whatever I wish done. The
Prefect of Police has been instructed to come to an understanding with
me about it.

I said to