last a timid hand was seen to arrange a few bottles with candles
stuck into them on the sill, and light them. Then they departed, to
impose their will elsewhere.

That night, after dinner, the first person of my acquaintance I met was
Mery. He had been in the Chamber of Deputies from the very beginning of
the proceedings; it was he who solemnly assured me that the first cry of
"Vive la Republique!" had been uttered by M. de Lamartine. I was
surprised at this, because I had been told that early in the morning the
poet had paid a visit to the Duchesse d'Orleans to assure her of his
devotion to her cause. "That may be so," said Mery, to whom I repeated
what I had heard; "but you must remember that Lamartine is always hard
up, and closely pursued by duns. A revolution with the prospect of
becoming president of the republic was the only means of staving off his
creditors. He clutched at it as a last resource."

Alexandre Dumas was there also, but I have an idea that he would have
willingly passed the sponge over that incident of his life, for I never
could get him to talk frankly on the subject. This does not mean that he
would have recanted his republican principles, but that he was ashamed
at having lent his countenance to such a republic as that. I fancy there
were a great many like him.

CHAPTER XI.

The Second Republic -- Lamartine's reason for proclaiming it --
Suspects Louis-Napoleon of similar motives for wishing to
overthrow it -- Tells him to go back to England -- De Persigny's
account of Louis-Napoleon's landing in France after February
24th, '48 -- Providential interference on behalf of
Louis-Napoleon -- Justification of Louis-Napoleon's belief in his
"star" -- My first meeting with him -- The origin of a celebrated
nickname -- Badinguet a creation of Gavarni -- Louis-Napoleon and
his surroundings at the Hotel du Rhin -- His appearance and dress
-- Lord Normanby's opinion of his appearance -- Louis-Napoleon's
French -- A mot of Bismarck -- Cavaignac, Thiers, and Victor
Hugo's wrong estimate of his character -- Cavaignac and his
brother Godefroi -- The difference between Thiers and General
Cavaignac -- An elector's mot -- Some of the candidates for the
presidency of the Second Republic -- Electioneering expenses --
Impecuniosity of Louis-Napoleon -- A story in connection with it
-- The woman with the wooden legs -- The