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glish Prince； the Russian hatred of Nicolas； behind us the demons of the South； Ferdinand in Spain； Miguel in Portugal； the earth quaking in Italy； Metternich extending his hand over Bologna； France treating Austria sharply at Ancona； at the North no one knew what sinister sound of the hammer nailing up Poland in her coffin； irritated glances watching France narrowly all over Europe； England； a suspected ally； ready to give a push to that which was tottering and to hurl herself on that which should fall； the peerage sheltering itself behind Beccaria to refuse four heads to the law； the fleurs…de…lys erased from the King's carriage； the cross torn from Notre Dame； Lafayette lessened； Laffitte ruined； Benjamin Constant dead in indigence； Casimir Perier dead in the exhaustion of his power； political and social malady breaking out simultaneously in the two capitals of the kingdom； the one in the city of thought； the other in the city of toil； at Paris civil war； at Lyons servile war； in the two cities； the same glare of the furnace； a crater…like crimson on the brow of the people； the South rendered fanatic； the West troubled； the Duchesse de Berry in la Vendee； plots； conspiracies； risings； cholera； added the sombre roar of tumult of events to the sombre roar of ideas。
BOOK FIRST。A FEW PAGES OF HISTORY
CHAPTER V
FACTS WHENCE HISTORY SPRINGS AND WHICH HISTORY IGNORES
Towards the end of April； everything had bee aggravated。 The fermentation entered the boiling state。
Ever since 1830； petty partial revolts had been going on here and there； which were quickly suppressed； but ever bursting forth afresh； the sign of a vast underlying conflagration。
Something terrible was in preparation。
Glimpses could be caught of the features still indistinct and imperfectly lighted； of a possible revolution。 France kept an eye on Paris； Paris kept an eye on the Faubourg Saint…Antoine。
The Faubourg Saint…Antoine； which was in a dull glow； was beginning its ebullition。
The wine…shops of the Rue de Charonne were； although the union of the two epithets seems singular when applied to wine…shops； grave and stormy。
The government was there purely and simply called in question。 There people publicly discussed the question of fighting or of keeping quiet。
There were back shops where workingmen were made to swear that they would hasten into the street at the first cry of alarm； and 〃that they would fight without counting the number of the enemy。〃 This engagement once entered into； a man seated in the corner of the wine…shop 〃assumed a sonorous tone；〃 and said； 〃You understand！ You have sworn！〃
Sometimes they went up stairs； to a private room on the first floor； and there scenes that were almost masonic were enacted。
They made the initiated take oaths to render service to himself as well as to the fathers of families。
That was the formula。
In the tap…rooms； 〃subversive〃 pamphlets were read。
They treated the government with contempt； says a secret report of that time。
Words like the following could be heard there：
〃I don't know the names of the leaders。
We folks shall not know the day until two hours beforehand。〃
One workman said： 〃There are three hundred of us； let each contribute ten sous； that will make one hundred and fifty francs with which to procure powder and shot。〃
Another said：
〃I don't ask for six months； I don't ask for even two。 In less than a fortnight we shall be parallel with the government。 With twenty…five thousand men we can face them。〃
Another said： 〃I don't sleep at night； because I make cartridges all night。〃 From time to time； men 〃of bourgeois appearance； and in good coats〃 came and 〃caused embarrassment；〃 and with the air of 〃mand；〃 shook hands with the most important； and then went away。
They never stayed more than ten minutes。
Significant remarks were exchanged in a low tone：
〃The plot is ripe； the matter is arranged。〃
〃It was murmured by all who were there；〃 to borrow the very expression of one of those who were present。
The exaltation was such that one day； a workingman exclaimed； efore the whole wine…shop： 〃We have no arms！〃 One of his rades replied：
〃The soldiers have！〃 thus parodying without being aware of the fact； Bonaparte's proclamation to the army in Italy：
〃When they had anything of a more secret nature on hand；〃 adds one report； 〃they did not municate it to each other。〃 It is not easy to understand what they could conceal after what they said。
These reunions were sometimes periodical。
At certain ones of them； there were never more than eight or ten persons present； and they were always the same。
In others； any one entered who wished； and the room was so full that they were forced to stand。 Some went thither through enthusiasm and passion； others because it was on their way to their work。
As during the Revolution； there were patriotic women in some of these wine…shops who embraced new…ers。
Other expressive facts came to light。
A man would enter a shop； drink； and go his way with the remark： 〃Wine…merchant； the revolution will pay what is due to you。〃
Revolutionary agents were appointed in a wine…shop facing the Rue de Charonne。
The balloting was carried on in their caps。
Workingmen met at the house of a fencing…master who gave lessons in the Rue de Cotte。
There there was a trophy of arms formed of wooden broadswords； canes； clubs； and foils。
One day； the buttons were removed from the foils。
A workman said：
〃There are twenty…five of us； but they don't count on me； because I am looked upon as a machine。〃
Later on； that machine became Quenisset。
The indefinite things which were brewing gradually acquired a strange and indescribable notoriety。
A woman sweeping off her doorsteps said to another woman：
〃For a long time； there has been a strong force busy making cartridges。〃
In the open street； proclamation could be seen addressed to the National Guard in the departments。 One of these proclamations was signed：
Burtot； wine…merchant。
One day a man with his beard worn like a collar and with an Italian accent mounted a stone post at the door of a liquor…seller in the Marche Lenoir； and read aloud a singular document； which seemed to emanate from an occult power。
Groups formed around him； and applauded。
The passages which touched the crowd most deeply were collected and noted down。
〃Our doctrines are trammelled； our proclamations torn； our bill…stickers are spied upon and thrown into prison。〃〃The breakdown which has recently taken place in cottons has converted to us many mediums。〃〃The future of nations is being worked out in our obscure ranks。〃〃 Here are the fixed terms：
action or reaction； revolution or counter…revolution。 For； at our epoch； we no longer believe either in inertia or in immobility。
For the people against the people； that is the question。
There is no other。〃〃On the day when we cease to suit you； break us； but up to that day； help us to march on。〃
All this in broad daylight。
Other deeds； more audacious still； were suspicious in the eyes of t