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we are France."
The commandant understood. From that moment he was hat in hand before
the generals, and bowed low before the Representatives.
They led them to the barracks of the fort and shut them up promiscuously
in a dormitory, to which they added fresh beds, and which the soldiers
had just quitted. They spent their first night there. The beds touched
each other. The sheets were dirty.
Next morning, owing to a few words which had been heard outside, the
rumor spread amongst them that the fifty-three were to be sorted, and
that the Republicans were to be placed by themselves. Shortly afterwards
the rumor was confirmed. Madame de Luynes gained admission to her
husband, and brought some items of news. It was asserted, amongst other
things, that the Keeper of the Seals of the coup d'état, the man who
signed himself Eugène Rouher, "Minister of Justice," had said, "Let them
set the men of the Right at liberty, and send the men of the Left to the
dungeon. If the populace stirs they will answer for everything. As a
guarantee for the submission of the Faubourgs we shall have the head of
the Reds."
We do not believe that M. Rouher uttered these words, in which there is
so much audacity. At that moment M. Rouher did not possess any.
Appointed Minister on the 2d December, he temporized, he exhibited a
vague prudery, he did not venture to install himself in the Place
Vendôme. Was all that was being done quite correct? In certain minds the
doubt of success changes into scruples of conscience. To violate every
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