missaire of long and distinguished police
service walked calmly forward alone to meet them. His resolute step,
his pose, bespoke his dignity and courage. He raised his left hand
with the air of authority accustomed to being obeyed.

His keen eyes at once sought and found and held the eyes of the
leaders.

"You must go back,--you cannot cross here,--you must disperse----"

"Sacre!" growled the crowd, moving forward threateningly. "We have a
right to cross anywhere! We are citizens of Paris and have the rights
of any other citizen,--the same as you, Monsieur le Commissaire!"

A dozen such protests on the instant. But the wily veteran was ready.
He knew that when a mob stops to parley the battle is half won.

"Oh, yes, messieurs,--singly, or as other good citizens, you are
right; but not as----"

A young man reached over his comrades' shoulders and struck the old
commissaire in the face with his cane.

"For shame!" cried Jean Marot, indignantly. "What foolishness!" And he
broke the cane across his knee and threw the fragments to the ground.

In the same moment the old commissaire dashed into the crowd and
single-handed dragged his youthful assailant to the front and clear of
his companions.

"The guard! the guard! Look out, comrades! here comes the guard!"

The cry ran along the line and through the ranks hushed by the wanton
blow delivered unnecessarily upon a respected official. A company of
the Garde Republicaine a pied had filed out across the Boulevard du
Palais from behind the Prefecture; another company a cheval debouched
into the quai from the other corner, and now rode slowly down towards
the bridge.

"Bayonets in front and sabres on the flank!" said Jean to those around
him. "It were wise to get out of this."

"Good advice, young man,--get out! It won't do, you see. You must
cross singly, or as other citizens. Never mind your hot-headed young
friend," added the old man, kindly, as he wiped the blood from his
face. "We won't be hard on him. Only, you must go back at once!"

He talked to them as if they were little children. But they needed no
further urging. The rear-guard had already turned tail at the sight of
the troops and were in full retreat. Before the last man had cleared
the bridge the only one who had been arrested was set at liberty,
though he had richly earned six months in jail.

And thus terminated the harebrained attempt to march five hundred
riotous men through the city directly in