PUBLISHED BY THE LEONARD SCOTT PUBLISHING COMPANY 1873, CHAPTER I. On the 8th of May the vote of ing, noiseless, cat-like step,-both the plébiscite was recorded, be- looking wondrous threadbare, and tween seven and eight millions of in that state called "shabby genFrenchmen in support of the impe- teel," which belongs to the man rial programme-in plain words, of who cannot work for his livelihood, the Emperor himself. against a and assumes a superiority over the minority of 1,500,000. But among man who can. Their outward apthe 1,500,000 were the old throne- pearance was in notable discord shakers-those who compose and with that of the poet-politician-he those who lead the mob of Paris. all new in the last fashions of ParOn the 14th, as Rameau was about isian elegance, and redolent of Parto quit the editorial bureau of his isian prosperity and extrait de Mousprinting-office, a note was brought seline! in to him which strongly excited his nervous system. It contained a request to see him forthwith, signed by those two distinguished foreign members of the Secret Council of Ten, Thaddeus Loubinsky and Leonardo Raselli. The meetings of that Council had been so long suspended that Ramcau had almost forgotten its existence. He gave orders to admit the conspirators. The two men en tered, the Pole, tall, stalwart, and with martial stride-the Ital 66 Confrère," said the Pole, seating himself on the edge of the table, while the Italian leaned against the mantelpiece, and glanced round the room with furtive eye, as if to detect its innermost secrets, or decide where safest to drop a lucifer-match for its conflagration,-" confrère," said the Pole, "your country needs you "Rather, the cause of all countries," interposed the Italian, softly, Humanity." "Please to explain yourselves; ian, small, emaciated, with skulk- but stay, wait a moment," said VOL. CXIV.-NO. DCXCII. |