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circle of iron was closing in, the tide of soldiers rose unceasingly,
and silently invaded the Palace; at each instant a sentinel the more was
found at a door, which a moment before had been free. Still, the group of
Representatives assembled together in the Salle des Conférences was as
yet respected. It was necessary to act, to speak, to deliberate, to
struggle, and not to lose a minute.
Gambon said, "Let us try Dupin once more; he is our official man, we
have need of him." They went to look for him. They could not find him.
He was no longer there, he had disappeared, he was away, hidden,
crouching, cowering, concealed, he had vanished, he was buried. Where?
No one knew. Cowardice has unknown holes.
Suddenly a man entered the hall. A man who was a stranger to the Assembly,
in uniform, wearing the epaulet of a superior officer and a sword by his
side. He was a major of the 42d, who came to summon the Representatives
to quit their own House. All, Royalists and Republicans alike, rushed
upon him. Such was the expression of an indignant eye-witness. General
Leydet addressed him in language such as leaves an impression on the
cheek rather than on the ear.
"
I do my duty, I fulfil my instructions," stammered the officer.
"
You are an idiot, if you think you are doing your duty," cried Leydet
to him, "and you are a scoundrel if you know that you are committing a
crime. Your name? What do you call yourself? Give me your name."
The officer refused to give his name, and replied, "So, gentlemen, you
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