| 295 | 296 | 297 | 298 | 299 |
| 1 | 171 | 343 | 514 | 685 |
|
territory of the Republic.
"Given in permanent Session, 3d December, 1851."
Versigny, with a copy of the Proclamations and of the Decree, left in
search of Hetzel. Labrousse also left with the same object. They settled
to meet at eight o'clock in the evening at the house of the former
member of the Provisional Government Marie, Rue Neuve des Petits Champs.
As the members of the Committee and the Representatives withdrew I was
told that some one had asked to speak to me. I went into a sort of
little room attached to the large meeting-room, and I found there a man
in a blouse, with an intelligent and sympathetic air. This man had a
roll of paper in his hand.
"Citizen Victor Hugo," said he to me, "you have no printing office. Here
are the means which will enable you to dispense with one."
He unfolded on the mantel-piece the roll which he had in his hand. It
was a species of blotting-book made of very thin blue paper, and which
seemed to be slightly oiled. Between each leaf of blue paper there was a
sheet of white paper. He took out of his pocket a sort of blunt bodkin,
saying, "The first thing to hand will serve your purpose, a nail or a
match," and he traced with his bodkin on the first leaf of the book the
word "Republic." Then turning over the leaves, he said, "Look at this."
The word "Republic" was reproduced upon the fifteen or twenty white
leaves which the book contained.
297
Page
Quick Jump
|