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seven years； but had waited until his wife had one too； so that
they might go and hunt up a physician together； guided by the
postman when he should come with the newspaper。
Dr。 Massarel opened the door； grew pale； straightened himself
abruptly and； raising his arms to heaven in a gesture of
exaltation； cried out with all his might； in the face of the
amazed rustics：
〃Long live the Republic！ Long live the Republic！ Long live the
Republic！〃
Then he dropped into his armchair weak with emotion。
When the peasant explained that this sickness commenced with a
feeling as if ants were running up and down in his legs； the
doctor exclaimed： 〃Hold your peace。 I have spent too much time
with you stupid people。 The Republic is proclaimed！ The Emperor
is a prisoner！ France is saved！ Long live the Republic！〃 And；
running to the door； he bellowed： 〃Celeste！ Quick！ Celeste！〃
The frightened maid hastened in。 He stuttered； so rapidly did he
try to speak： 〃My boots； my saber my cartridge boxandthe
Spanish dagger； which is on my night table。 Hurry now！〃
The obstinate peasant； taking advantage of the moment's silence；
began again： 〃This seemed like some cysts that hurt me when I
walked。〃
The exasperated physician shouted： 〃Hold your peace！ For Heaven's
sake！ If you had washed your feet oftener； it would not have
happened。〃 Then； seizing him by the neck； he hissed in his face：
〃Can you not comprehend that we are living in a Republic；
stupid？〃
But professional sentiment calmed him suddenly； and he let the
astonished old couple out of the house； repeating all the time：
〃Return to…morrow； return to…morrow； my friends； I have no more
time to…day。〃
While equipping himself from head to foot； he gave another series
of urgent orders to the maid：
〃Run to Lieutenant Picard's and to Sub…lieutenant Pommel's and
say to them that I want them here immediately。 Send Torcheboeuf
to me； too； with his drum。 Quick； now！ Quick！〃 And when Celeste
was gone； he collected his thoughts and prepared to surmount the
difficulties of the situation。
The three men arrived together。 They were in their working
clothes。 The Commander； who had expected to see them in uniform；
had a fit of surprise。
〃You know nothing； then？ The Emperor has been taken prisoner。 A
Republic is proclaimed。 My position is delicate； not to say
perilous。〃
He reflected for some minutes before the astonished faces of his
subordinates and then continued：
〃It is necessary to act； not to hesitate。 Minutes now are worth
hours at other times。 Everything depends upon promptness of
decision。 You； Picard； go and find the curate and get him to ring
the bell to bring the people together； while I get ahead of them。
You； Torcheboeuf； beat the call to assemble the militia in arms；
in the square； from even as far as the hamlets of Gerisaie and
Salmare。 You； Pommell put on your uniform at once； that is； the
jacket and cap。 We； together； are going to take possession of the
mairie and summon M。 de Varnetot to transfer his authority to me。
Do you understand？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Act； then； and promptly。 I will accompany you to your house；
Pommel； since we are to work together。〃
Five minutes later； the Commander and his subaltern； armed to the
teeth； appeared in the square； just at the moment when the little
Viscount de Varnetot； with hunting gaiters on and his rifle on
his shoulder； appeared by another street； walking rapidly and
followed by three guards in green jackets； each carrying a knife
at his side and a gun over his shoulder。
While the doctor stopped； half stupefied； the four men entered
the mayor's house and the door closed behind them。
〃We are forestalled；〃 murmured the doctor； 〃it will be necessary
now to wait for re…enforcements； nothing can be done for a
quarter of an hour。〃
Here Lieutenant Picard appeared： 〃The curate refuses to obey；〃
said he； 〃he has even shut himself up in the church with the
beadle and the porter。〃
On the other side of the square； opposite the white； closed front
of the mairie； the church； mute and black； showed its great oak
door with the wrought…iron trimmings。
Then； as the puzzled inhabitants put their noses out of the
windows； or came out upon the steps of their houses； the rolling
of a drum was heard； and Torcheboeuf suddenly appeared； beating
with fury the three quick strokes of the call to arms。 He crossed
the square with disciplined step； and then disappeared on a road
leading to the country。
The Commander drew his sword； advanced alone to the middle
distance between the two buildings where the enemy was barricaded
and； waving his weapon above his head； roared at the top of his
lungs： 〃Long live the Republic！ Death to traitors！〃 Then he fell
back where his officers were。 The butcher； the baker； and the
apothecary； feeling a little uncertain； put up their shutters and
closed their shops。 The grocery alone remained open。
Meanwhile the men of the militia were arriving； little by little；
variously clothed； but all wearing caps； the cap constituting the
whole uniform of the corps。 They were armed with their old； rusty
guns； guns that had hung on chimney…pieces in kitchens for thirty
years； and looked quite like a detachment of country soldiers。
When there were about thirty around him； the Commander explained
in a few words； the state of affairs。 Then； turning toward his
major； he said： 〃Now； we must act。〃
While the inhabitants collected； talked over and discussed the
matter； the doctor quickly formed his plan of campaign：
〃Lieutenant Picard； you advance to the windows of the mayor's
house and order M。 de Varnetot to turn over the townhall to me；
in the name of the Republic。〃
But the lieutenant was a master…mason and refused。
〃You are a scamp； you are。 Trying to make a target of me！ Those
fellows in there are good shots； you know that。 No； thanks！
Execute your commissions yourself！〃
The Commander turned red： 〃I order you to go in the name of
discipline；〃 said he。
〃I am not spoiling my features without knowing why；〃 the
lieutenant returned。
Men of influence； in a group near by； were heard laughing。 One of
them called out： 〃You are right； Picard； it is not the proper
time。〃 The doctor； under his breath； muttered： 〃Cowards！〃 And；
placing his sword and his revolver in the hands of a soldier； he
advanced with measured step； his eye fixed on the windows； as if
he expected to see a gun or a cannon pointed at him。
When he was within a few steps of the building the doors at the
two extremities； affording an entrance to two schools； opened；
and a flood of little creatures； boys on one side； girls on the
other； poured out and began playing in the open space； chattering
around the doctor like a flock of birds。 He scarcely knew what to
make of it。
As soon as the last were out； the doors closed。 The greater part
of the little monkeys finally scattered and then the Commander
called out in a loud voice
〃Monsieur de Varnetot？〃 A window in the first story opened and M。
de Varnetot appeared。
The Commander began： 〃Monsieur； you are aware of the great events
which have changed the system of Government。 The party you
represent n