The Memoirs of Victor Hugo Part 40

The journey from the Northern Railway station to the Rue Laval took two hours.

We arrived at Meurice's, where I am to stay, at mid-night. I dined with my travelling companions and Victor. I went to bed at 2 o'clock.

At daybreak I was awakened by a terrible storm. Thunder and lightning.

I shall take breakfast with Paul Meurice, and we shall dine together at the Hotel Navarin, in the Rue Navarin, where my family is staying.

PARIS, September 6.--Innumerable visits, innumerable letters.

Rey came to ask me whether I would consent to join a triumvirate composed as follows: Victor Hugo, Ledru-Rollin, and Schoelcher. I refused. I said: "It is almost impossible to amalgamate me."

I recalled several things to his mind. He said: "Do you remember that it was I who received you when you arrived at the Baudin barricade?" * I replied: "I remember the fact so well that--. And I recited the lines at the beginning of the piece (unpublished) upon the Baudin barricade:

_La barricade etait livide dans l'aurore, Et comme j'arrivais elle fumait encore.

Rey me serra la main et dit: Baudin est mort..._

* Representative Baudin was killed on the barricade in the Faubourg Saint Antoine on December 2, 1852, during Louis Bonaparte's coup d'Etat.

He burst into tears.

September 7.--Louis Blanc, d'Alton-Shee, Banville and others came to see me.

The women of the Markets brought me a bouquet.

September 8.--I am warned that it is proposed to a.s.sa.s.sinate me. I shrug my shoulders.

This morning I wrote my "Letter to the Germans." It will be sent tomorrow.

Visit from General Cluseret.

At 10 o'clock I went to the office of the Rappel to correct the proofs of my "Letter to the Germans."

September 9.--Received a visit from General Montfort. The generals are asking me for commands, I am being asked to grant audiences, office-seekers are asking me for places. I reply: "I am n.o.body."

I saw Captain Feval, husband of f.a.n.n.y, the sister of Alice. * He was a prisoner of war, and was released on parole.

* Wife of Charles Hugo.

All the newspapers publish my "Appeal to the Germans."

September 10.--D'Alton-Shee and Louis Ulbach lunched with us. Afterwards we went to the Place de la Concorde. At the foot of the flower-crowned statue of Strasburg is a register. Everybody comes to sign the resolution of public thanks. I inscribed my name. The crowd at once surrounded me. The ovation of the other night was about to recommence. I hurried to my carriage.

Among the persons who called upon me was Cernuschi.

September 11.--Received a visit from Mr. Wickham Hoffman, Secretary of the United States Legation. Mr. Washburne, the American Minister, had requested him to ask me whether I did not think that some good might result were he to intervene *officiously* and see the King of Prussia. I sent him to Jules Favre.

September 12.--Among other callers was Frederick Lemaitre.

September 13.--To-day there is a review of the army of Paris. I am alone in my chamber. The battalions march through the streets singing the "Ma.r.s.eillaise" and the "Chant du Depart." I hear this immense shout:

For France a Frenchman should live, For France a Frenchman should die.*

* The "Chant du Depart."

I listen and I weep. On, valiant ones! I will go where you go.

Receive a visit from the United States Consul-General and Mr. Wickham Hoffman.

Julie* writes me from Guernsey that the acorn I planted on July 14 has sprouted. The oak of the United States of Europe issued from the ground on September 5, the day of my return to Paris.

* Victor Hugo's sister-in-law.

September 14.--I received a visit from the committee of the Societe des Gens de Lettres, which wants me to be its president; from M. Jules Simon, Minister of Public Instruction; from Colonel Pire, who commands a corps of volunteers, etc.

September 16.--One year ago to-day I opened the Peace Congress at Lausanne. This morning I wrote the "Appeal to Frenchmen" for a war to the bitter end against the invasion.

On going out I perceived hovering over Montmartre the captive balloon from which a watch is to be kept upon the besiegers.

September 17.--All the forests around Paris are burning. Charles made a trip to the fortifications and is perfectly satisfied with them.

I deposited at the office of the Rappel 2,088 francs 30 centimes, subscribed in Guernsey for the wounded and sent by M. H. Tupper, the French Consul.

At the same time I deposited at the "Rappel" office a bracelet and earrings of gold, sent anonymously for the wounded by a woman.

Accompanying the trinkets was a little golden neck medal for Jeanne.*

* Victor Hugo's little granddaughter.