by any organized body: and moreover the attempt of the Royalists in the

Tenth Arrondissement has roused apprehension. People dread lest they

should see them reappear when all is accomplished."

Now, this man so intelligent and so courageous recovered confidence,

and he wrote,--

Decidedly, Louis Napoleon is afraid. The police reports are alarming

for him. The resistance of the Republican Representatives is bearing

fruit. Paris is arming. Certain regiments appear ready to turn back.

The Gendarmerie itself is not to be depended upon, and this morning an

entire regiment refused to march. Disorder is beginning to show itself

in the services. Two batteries fired upon each other for a long time

without recognition. One would say that the coup d'état is about to

fail."

The symptoms, as may be seen, were growing more reassuring.

Had Maupas become unequal to the task? Had they resorted to a more

skilful man? An incident seemed to point to this. On the preceding

evening a tall man had been seen, between five and seven o'clock,

walking up and down before the café of the Place Saint-Michel; he had

been joined by two of the Commissaries of the Police who had effected

the arrests of the 2d of December, and had talked to them for a long

time. This man was Carlier. Was he about to supplant Maupas?

The Representative Labrousse, seated at a table of the café, had

witnessed this conspirators' parley.

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The History of a Crime