as been going on for three nights and
three days without cessation.

Little Jeanne was cross with me because I would not let her play with
the works of my watch.

All the newspapers publish my verses "Dans le Cirque." They may be
useful.

Louis Blanc called this morning. He urged me to join with Quinet and
himself in bringing pressure to bear upon the Government. I replied: "I
see more danger in overturning the Government than in supporting it."

January 18.--M. Krupp is making cannon for use specially against
balloons.

There is a cock in my little garden. Yesterday Louis Blanc lunched with
us. The cock crowed. Louis Blanc paused and said:

"Listen!"

"What is it?"

"A cock is crowing."

"Well, what of it?"

"Don't you hear what it says?"

"It is calling: 'Victor Hugo!'"

We listened and laughed. Louis Blanc was right It did sound as if the
cock were crowing my name.

I gave some of my bread-crumbs to the fowls. They would not eat them.

This morning a sortie against Montretout was made. Montretout was taken.
This evening the Prussians captured it from us again.

January 20.--The attack on Montretout has interrupted the bombardment.

A child of fourteen years was suffocated in a crowd outside a baker's
shop.

January 21.--Louis Blanc came to see me. We held a council. The
situation is becoming extreme and supreme. The Mairie of Paris asks my
advice.

Louis Blanc dined with us. After dinner we held a sort of council at
which Colonel Laussedat was present.

January 22.--The Prussians are bombarding Saint Denis.

Tumultuous demonstrations at the Hotel de Ville. Trochu is withdrawing.
Rostan comes to tell me that the Breton mobiles are firing on the
people. I doubt it. I will go myself, if necessary.

I have just returned. There was a simultaneous attack by both sides.
To the combatants who consulted me I said: "I recognise in the hands of
Frenchmen only those rifles which are turned towards the Prussians."

Rostan said to me:

"I have come to place my battalion at your service. We are five hundred
men. Where do you want us to go?"

"Where are you now?" I asked.

"We have been massed towards Saint Denis, which is being bombarded," he
replied. "We are at La Villette."

"Then stay there," said I. "It is there where I should have sent you. Do
not march against the Hotel de Ville, march against Prussia."

January 23.--Last night there was a conference at my quarters. In
add