88 W AN EPISODE OF JULY 1830. 



doggedness of character. Jacques continued to excite his comrades, 

 and Pierre admired his valour. The former now led the way to a 

 large building, the abode of luxury and opulence. 



" Let us go in here," said Jacques, in an under tone. 



" What for ?" demanded the astonished Pierre. 



<( To be paid for our day's work." 



" What do you mean ?" 



" I mean that you are a blockhead if you suppose that all this 

 uproar is the effect of mere chance. This scene has been a long time, 

 in preparation. Do you imagine that I would be such an idiot as to 

 help to overthrow Charles X. without gaining something by his ruin ? 

 I am paid for it, man, by two rich houses." 



The struggle continued. Pierre (again dragged on by the force 

 of example) was at the taking of the Hotel de Ville ; he afterwards en- 

 tered the Louvre in triumph, and soon found himself in the Tuileries. 



Having visited the cellars of the Royal Palace, he ascended to the 

 grand apartments traversed the splendid galleries (which a few 

 minutes before had been the theatre of bloodshed), overturning, 

 breaking, and destroying every thing that presented itself to his 

 view. His brain was in a ferment from the effect of the wine he had 

 drunk, and he was seconded in the work of devastation by a horde of 

 armed ruffians. He stopped short in front of the throne ; a dead 

 body, covered with black crape, was placed upon it ! 



" Have they, then, assassinated Charles the Tenth?" 



" That is not the old king," replied one of his companions. 



" Has there been a new one then ; and have they killed him 

 already?" 



" Not at all, what you see there was a young student." 



" Why is the corpse placed on the throne?" 



' He represents a dead king." 

 Is all this a farce then ?" 

 Far from it." 

 Is the youth really dead?" 



' Certainly ; and well did the brave lad deserve to be seated 

 where he is. He was a noble little fellow a thorough Bonaparte. 

 He stood fire for all the world like a vieille moustache, and died for 

 the salvation of the Charter." 



" And have we saved it?" cried Pierre. 



" Down with all kings" responded the crowd. 



******* 



The work of destruction went on. Pierre, completely beside him- 

 self, played his part in these scenes of carnage and confusion with 

 savage delight. He was foremost in every attack, and his intempe- 

 rance was boundless. He was a bold combatant a bloody enthusiast 

 in short, Pierre was a hero of July ! ! ! 



Having been slightly wounded in the leg, he sat down under a 

 parapet of one of the quays. Whilst he was staunching the blood, 

 Jacques ran up to him with an air of triumph. 



" All's right Vive la revoke /" 



"La revolte!'' cried Pierre, "and the Charter in the name of 

 which we have conquered?" 



