me time the public tribunes were invaded by a
second body of the people.

For some minutes the greatest uproar prevailed. At length it
comparatively ceased, and, in a moment of quiet, M. Dupin, who had
accompanied the Duchess of Orleans to the Chamber, ascended the tribune.
The stillness was instantly as great as had been the previous agitation.

"The King has abdicated," said M. Dupin. "The Count of Paris is
nominated as his successor and the Duchess of Orleans as Regent."

"It is too late!" shouted a man from the gallery of the people.

"The Count of Paris is proclaimed King by the Chamber and the Duchess of
Orleans Regent!' exclaimed the President.

"No--no--no!" was the almost unanimous shout that now rose in the
Chamber.

"I demand," cried M. Lamartine, "that the Royal family withdraw!"

The question was put, and the Duchess and her sons, after great
hesitation, were drawn away to a side door, at the further end of the
hall. At the same moment a new crowd of the people rushed in and took
seats beside the opposition members, by whom they were welcomed.

"I demand to speak!" cried M. Marie. "By the law of 1842, the Duke of
Nemours is Regent. How can the King abrogate that law? I demand a
provisional government!"

"A provisional government!" cried M. Cremieux. "We made a mistake in
'30. Let there be no mistake in '48!"

"A provisional government," said the Abbe Genoude, a Legitimist; "but
it must be the will of the people!"

M. Odillon Barrot, who had been long expected, now entered and
immediately mounted the tribune.

"The crown of July rests on the head of a woman and a child!" cried the
great lawyer.

The Duchess of Orleans instantly rose, as if about to speak, but, at the
urgent solicitation of those around her, resumed her seat.

"I call on the country to rally around this woman and this child," cried
M. Barrot, "the two-fold representative of the principles of July, '30!"

The voice of the speaker was drowned in shouts of dissent and of "Vive
la Reforme!"

"I dissent from the opinion of M. Odillon Barrot!" cried the Marquis de
la Rochejacquelin. "If he is right, the people are nothing!"

"Order--order!" cried the President, putting on his hat, but he was at
once induced to remove it.

At this moment another vast crowd burst into the Chamber, garbed in a
style so heterogeneous as to be grotesque--some with blouses--some with
dragoon helmets on their heads, some with weapons and many with fl