ud's commission as
Commander-in-chief of the National Guard and of the troops of the
Line, in place of Generals Jaqueminot and Peyronett Tyburce
Sebastiani, has just been signed by M. Guizot and his colleagues,
the Ministers of War and the Interior, and will appear in the
'Moniteur' of this morning. Bugeaud's plan is this: Instant attack
with an overwhelming force of artillery, cavalry and infantry of
the Line, (which, he asserts, he has now all ready in position in
anticipation of this event, and well disposed to act,) on all the
barricades. He promises to sweep away every obstruction from the
streets before dawn, though at the cost of fifty thousand lives."

"Ha!" exclaimed all the conspirators, instantly springing to their feet.

"This, indeed, is resistance!" said M. Dantes. "But Bugeaud can
concentrate no more troops upon us. Every avenue to Paris will be
effectually closed before morning and even the telegraph stopped!"

"If this be true, we have not an instant to lose!" said Louis Blanc.

"I had a hint of this," began M. Dantes.

"Stay--stay, Messieurs!" cried Marrast, as the whole company was rushing
to the door. "Here is another and later dispatch."

"Two o'clock--Marshal Bugeaud has gone to complete his arrangements
for instant attack. M. Thiers has arrived, and, with Odillon
Barrot, Duvergier de Hauranne and de Remusat, has formed a cabinet.
General Lamoriciere supersedes Marshal Bugeaud--the latter is
recalled and forbidden to fire on the people. He protests with
violence, and sheathes his sword in despair."

"To be sure he does, the old cut-throat!" cried Ledru Rollin. "The idea
of being let loose with his mastiffs on the people of Paris, like sheep
pent up in a fold, was to him a source of rapturous anticipation, and
his rage at the disappointment is proportional!"

"Messieurs!" cried M. Dantes, "this last step of the Government was all
that we required to insure our success. Thiers and Barrot mistake if
they think there is sufficient magic in their names to quell a
revolution. In fact, neither of them are trusted by the people. It is
too late! Yesterday this might have been done; but now the demand is not
reform, but a republic--not 'down with the Ministry,' but 'down with the
dynasty!'"

The conspirators looked at each other and then at M. Dantes in amazement
and doubt. It was apparent they were as yet unprepar