Produced by David Widger
By Edward Bulwer-Lytton
On the 8th of May the vote of the plebiscite was recorded,—between sevenand eight millions of Frenchmen in support of the Imperial programme—inplain words, of the Emperor himself—against a minority of 1,500,000.But among the 1,500,000 were the old throne-shakers-those who compose andthose who lead the mob of Paris. On the 14th, as Rameau was about toquit the editorial bureau of his printing-office, a note was brought into him which strongly excited his nervous system. It contained a requestto see him forthwith, signed by those two distinguished foreign membersof the Secret Council of Ten, Thaddeus Loubinsky and Leonardo Raselli.
The meetings of that Council had been so long suspended that Rameauhad almost forgotten its existence. He gave orders to admit theconspirators. The two men entered, the Pole, tall, stalwart, and withmartial stride—the Italian, small, emaciated, with skulking, noiseless,cat-like step, both looking wondrous threadbare, and in that state called"shabby genteel," which belongs to the man who cannot work for hislivelihood, and assumes a superiority over the man who can. Theiroutward appearance was in notable discord with that of the poet-politician—he all new in the last fashions of Parisian elegance, andredolent of Parisian prosperity and extrait de Mousseline!
"Confrere," said the Pole, seating himself on the edge of the table,while the Italian leaned against the mantelpiece, and glanced round theroom with furtive eye, as if to detect its innermost secrets, or decidewhere safest to drop a Lucifer-match for its conflagration,—"confrere," said the Pole, "your country needs you—"
"Rather the cause of all countries," interposed the Italian softly,—
"Humanity."
"Please to explain yourselves; but stay, wait a moment," said Rameau; andrising, he went to the door, opened it, looked forth, ascertained thatthe coast was clear, then reclosed the door as cautiously as a prudentman closes his pocket whenever shabby-genteel visitors appeal to him inthe cause of his country, still more if they appeal in that of Humanity.
"Confrere," said the Pole, "this day a movement is to be made—ademonstration on behalf of your country—"
"Of Humanity," again softly interposed the Italian. "Attend and shareit," said the Pole.
"Pardon me," said Rameau, "I do not know what you mean. I am now theeditor of a journal in which the proprietor does not countenanceviolence; and if you come to me as a member of the Council, you must beaware that I should obey no orders but that of its president, whom I—I have not seen for nearly a year; indeed I know not if the Council stillexists."
"The Council exists, and with it the obligation it imposes," replied
Thaddeus.
"Pampered with luxury," here the Pole raised his voice, "do you dare toreject the voice of Poverty and Freedom?"
"Hush, dear but too vehement confrere," murmured the bland Italian;"permit me to dispel the reasonable doubts of our confrere," and hetook out of his breast-pocket a paper which he presented to Rameau; on itwere written these words:
"This evening May 24th. Demonstration.—Faubourg du Temple.—Watchevents, under orders of A. M. Bid the youngest member take that firstopportunity to test nerves and discretion. He is not to act, but