, and could not find words strong enough to adequately express
their enthusiastic admiration for the gifted orator. Those belonging to
the Government party, on the other hand, denounced the speaker as a
demagogue and the speech as in the highest degree incendiary and
dangerous. Strange to relate, whoever spoke of the oration always
mentioned the new play, "The Laborer of Lyons," attributing its
authorship to the mysterious Deputy from Marseilles, and the drama
received cordial endorsement or scathing censure, according to the
political opinions of those who alluded to it.

For these reasons curiosity in regard to M. Dantes ran higher than ever,
but instead of decreasing as he became more prominent, the mystery
surrounding him seemed only to thicken. Nevertheless, the Deputy was the
lion of the hour, or rather would have been, had he permitted himself to
be lionized, but this he persistently declined to do, holding aloof from
society and mingling with none save his political associates, though
even to them he was a problem they could not solve; they, however,
recognized in him a powerful coadjutor, and with that were forced to be
content.

"THE HALL OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES was last evening thronged to
overflowing. It had been understood that M. Dantes was to advocate
the People's Bill, and, as usual, it had but to be known that this
distinguished orator was to occupy the tribune to draw out all
classes of citizens. Nor was the vast multitude disappointed. A
more powerful speech has never been heard within those walls. More
than four hours was the audience enchained by the matchless
eloquence of this remarkable man, which was received with thunders
of applause. A report of this speech will be found under the
appropriate head."

"THE NEW PLAY entitled, 'The Laborer of Lyons,' recently produced
at the Theatre Francais with triumphant success, and which has
caused such a deep and universal sensation, is repeated to-night.
There is reason to anticipate that the author, who is supposed to
be a celebrated orator of the opposition, may be induced to comply
with the call, which will be again renewed, to avow himself."

Such were two paragraphs which the following morning appeared in
Beauchamp's journal, and similar notices of both speech and drama were
published in every other opposition sheet in Paris. In the Ministerial
organ, on the cont