ranging from the Rue du Petit Carreau to the Rue du Temple, there was

fighting. The Pagevin, Neuve Saint Eustache, Montorgueil, Rambuteau,

Beaubourg, and Transnonain barricades were gallantly defended. There,

there was an impenetrable network of streets and crossways barricaded by

the People, surrounded by the Army.

The assault was merciless and furious.

The barricade of the Rue Montorgueil was one of those which held out the

longest. A battalion and artillery was needed to carry it. At the last

moment it was only defended by three men, two shop-clerks and a

lemonade-seller of an adjoining street. When the assault began the night

was densely dark, and the three combatants escaped. But they were

surrounded. No outlets. Not one door was open. They climbed the grated

gateway of the Passage Verdeau as Jeanty Sarre and Charpentier had

scaled the Passage du Saumon, had jumped over, and had fled down the

Passage. But the other grated gateway was closed, and like Jeanty Sarre

and Charpentier they had no time to climb it. Besides, they heard the

soldiers corning on both sides. In a corner at the entrance of the

Passage there were a few planks which had served to close a stall, and

which the stall-keeper was in the habit of putting there. They hid

themselves beneath these planks.

The soldiers who had taken the barricade, after having searched the

streets, bethought themselves of searching the Passage. They also

climbed over the grated gateway, looked about everywhere with lanterns,

and found nothing They were going away, when one of them perceived the

foot of one of these three unfortunate men which was projecting from

526

The History of a Crime