THE PARIS INSURRECTION 45 



Miss H. and I ' (it is the mother who writes) ' walk- 

 ing together. As we reached the Rue de Clichy, 

 the report of the cannon sounded close to our ears 

 and made our hearts sick, I assure you. The 

 fighting was at the barrier Rochechouart, a few 

 streets off. All Saturday and Sunday we were a 

 prey to great alarm, there came so many reports 

 that the insurgents were getting the upper hand. 

 One could tell the state of affairs from the extreme 

 quiet or the sudden hum in the street. When the 

 news was bad, all the houses closed and the people 

 disappeared ; when better, the doors half opened 

 and you heard the sound of men again. From the 

 upper windows we could see each discharge from 

 the Bastille — I mean the smoke rising — and also the 

 flames and smoke from the Boulevard la Chapelle. 

 We were four ladies, and only Fleeming by way of 

 a man, and difficulty enough we had to keep him 

 from joining the National Guards — his pride and 

 spirit were both fired. You cannot picture to 

 yourself the multitudes of soldiers, guards, and 

 armed men of all sorts we watched — not close to 

 the window, however, for such havoc had been 

 made among them by the firing from the windows, 

 that as the battalions marched by, they cried, 

 " Fermez vos fenetres ! " and it was very painful 

 to watch their looks of anxiety and suspicion as 

 they marched by.' 



*The Revolution,' writes Fleeming to Frank 



