d, then M. Floquet. They urge me to
summon the Government to do something or resign. Again I refuse.

M. Louis Koch paid 25 francs for a copy of the _Rappel_ at the bazar
in aid of the poor. The copy of _Les Chatiments_ was purchased by M.
Cernuschi for 300 francs.

December 27.--Violent cannonade this morning. The firing of this morning
was an attack by the Prussians. A good sign. Waiting annoys them. Us,
too. They threw nineteen shells, which killed nobody, into the Fort of
Montrouge.

Mme. Ugalde dined with us and sang "Patria." I escorted Mme. Ugalde to
her home in the Rue de Chabanais, then returned to bed.

The concierge said to me:

"Monsieur, they say that bombs will fall in this neighbourhood
to-night."

"That is all right," I replied. "I am expecting one."

December 29.--Heavy firing all night. The Prussians continue their
attack.

Theophile Gautier has a horse. This horse was requisitioned. It was
wanted for food. Gautier wrote me begging me save the animal. I asked
the Minister to grant his request.

I saved the horse.

It is unfortunately true that Dumas is dead. This has been ascertained
through the German newspapers. He died on December 5 at the home of his
son at Puys, near Dieppe.

I am being urged more strongly than ever, to enter the Government. The
Minister of Justice, M. Emmanuel Arago, called and stopped to dinner. We
talked. Louis Blanc dropped in after dinner. I persist in my refusal.

Besides Emmanuel Arago and the friends who usually dine with me on
Thursdays, Rochefort and Blum came. I invited them to come every
Thursday if we have many more Thursdays to live. At desert I drank
Rochefort's health.

The cannonade is increasing. The plateau of Avron had to be evacuated.

December 31.--D'Alton-Shee paid a visit to me this morning. It appears
that General Ducros wants to see me.

Within three days the Prussians have sent us 12,000 shells.

Yesterday I ate some rat, and then hiccoughed the following quatrain:

_O mesdames les hetaires
Dans vos greniers, je me nourris:
Moi qui mourais de vos sourires,
Je vais vivre de vos souris_.

After next week there will be no more washing done in Paris, because
there is no more coal.

Lieutenant Farcy, commander of the gunboat, dined with me.

It is bitterly cold. For three days I have worn my cloak and hood
whenever I have had to go out.

A doll for little Jean