up in the gloom behind us the enormous head of the people. Hope at the

present time was on our side. The oscillation of uncertainty had at

length become steady, and we were, I repeat, almost perfectly

confident.

There had been a moment when, owing to the good news pouring in upon

us, this confidence had become so great that we who had staked our

lives on this great contest, seized with an irresistible joy in the

presence of a success becoming hourly more certain, had risen from our

seats, and had embraced each other. Michel de Bourges was particularly

angered against Bonaparte, for he had believed his word, and had even

gone so far as to say, "He is my man." Of the four of us, he was the

most indignant. A gloomy flash of victory shone in him. He struck the

table with his fist, and exclaimed, "Oh! the miserable wretch!

To-morrow--" and he struck the table a second time, "to-morrow his

head shall fall in the Place de Grève before the Hôtel de Ville."

I looked at him.

No," said I, "this man's head shall not fall."

What do you mean?"

I do not wish it."

Why?"

Because," said I, "if after such a crime we allow Louis Bonaparte to

437

The History of a Crime