“Ourselves! and who are we?”

“We are,” said I, “we are Truth and Justice!  We are the supreme and sovereign power, the People incarnate—­Right!”

I continued,—­

“Louis Bonaparte at every minute which elapses advances a step further in his crime.  For him nothing is inviolable, nothing is sacred; this morning he violated the Palace of the Representatives of the Nation, a few hours later he laid violent hands on their persons; to-morrow, perhaps in a few moments, he will shed their blood.  Well then! he marches upon us, let us march upon him.  The danger grows greater, let us grow greater with the danger.”

A movement of assent passed through the Assembly.  I continued,—­

“I repeat and insist.  Let us show no mercy to this wretched Bonaparte for any of the enormities which his outrage contains.  As he has drawn the wine—­I should say the blood—­he must drink it up.  We are not individuals, we are the Nation.  Each of us walks forth clothed with the Sovereignty of the people.  He cannot strike our persons without rending that.  Let us compel his volleys to pierce our sashes as well as our breasts.  This man is on a road where logic grasps him and leads him to parricide.  What he is killing in this moment is the country!  Well, then! when the ball of Executive Power pierces the sash of Legislative Power, it is visible parricide!  It is this that must be understood!”

“We are quite ready!” they cried out.  “What measures would you advise us to adopt?”

“No half measures,” answered I; “a deed of grandeur!  To-morrow—­if we leave here this night—­let us all meet in the Faubourg St. Antoine.”

They interposed, “Why the Faubourg St. Antoine?”

“Yes,” resumed I, “the Faubourg St. Antoine!  I cannot believe that the heart of the People has ceased to beat there.  Let us all meet to-morrow in the Faubourg St. Antoine.  Opposite the Lenoir Market there is a hall which was used by a club in 1848.”

They cried out to me, “The Salle Roysin.”

“That is it,” said I, “The Salle Roysin.  We who remain free number a hundred and twenty Republican Representatives.  Let us install ourselves in this hall.  Let us install ourselves in the fulness and majesty of the Legislative Power.  Henceforward we are the Assembly, the whole of the Assembly!  Let us sit there, deliberate there, in our official sashes, in the midst of the People.  Let us summon the Faubourg St. Antoine to its duty, let us shelter there the National Representation, let us shelter there the popular sovereignty.  Let us intrust the People to the keeping of the People.  Let us adjure them to protect themselves.  If necessary, let us order them!”

A voice interrupted me:  “You cannot give orders to the People!”