![For answer, Hutin and Moreau cocked their guns. Madame de
Linières followed all my movements and those of her husband with
haggard eyes.
"That will do, monsieur," the king's-lieutenant said; "I am ready to
sign"; and, taking a piece of paper from his desk, he wrote—
"I authorise M. Alexandre Dumas to take away all the powder
belonging to the artillery which is in the magazine Saint-Jean.—
King's-lieutenant and Commander of the Fort,
VICOMTE DE LINIÈRES"
SOISSONS, 31 July 1830"
I took the paper which the count handed me, bowed to Madame de
Linières, made my apologies to her for the unavoidable fright I had
caused her and went out.[1]
We met M. Quinette, the second friend whom Hutin had mentioned
to me, in the street. He had come to join us. It was rather late, as
will be seen, especially since he was soon to leave us. His advice
was that we ought to do things legally and that, to this end, I must
be assisted by the mayor. I had no objection to this proposition, as I
had possession of my order, so I went to find the mayor. I have
forgotten the name of that worthy magistrate: I only remember that
he made no difficulty about accompanying me. Accordingly, five
minutes later, accompanied by the mayor, Hutin, Moreau and
Quinette, I cautiously opened the gate of the Saint-Jean cloisters,
first having notified to Bard that it was I who was opening it.
"Come in, come in!" he replied.
I entered and saw the cannon in position, but, to my great
astonishment, Bard had disappeared. He was twenty yards from his
cannon, perched up in a plum tree eating green plums!
[1] I believe I ought to take the precaution, at the conclusion of
this story that I took at the beginning, namely, to refer my reader](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/18956-250306025815-e23d7191/85/eBook-PDF-Adaptive-Health-Management-Information-Systems-Concepts-Cases-and-Practical-Applications-4th-Edition-46-320.jpg)
(eBook PDF) Adaptive Health Management Information Systems: Concepts, Cases, and Practical Applications 4th Edition
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- 6. Analytical Techniques Discussion Conclusion Notes Biographies Chapter 3 Adoption and Commercialization of Digital Health Greg Moon and Phillip Olla Scenario: Accenture: Adding AI Bots to Enhance Digital Health Solution I. Introduction II. Background III. Current Perspective IV. Future Directions V. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biography Policy Review I Online Health Information Seeking: Recasting Access and Digital Equity Fay Cobb Payton and Lynette Yarger I. Introduction II. Accessing Health Information Beyond the Internet III. Alternative Means of Accessing Health Information IV. Future Directions Notes
- 7. Biographies Mini-Case (Part I) Ginger.io: Mental Health Behavioral Analytics Phillip Olla and Greg Moon I. Introduction II. Commercialization III. Moving Forward IV. Takeaway Notes PART II HMIS Technology and Applications Chapter 4 Data in Digital Health Systems Siti A. Arshad-Snyder Scenario: Network Connectivity for Connected Health in U.S. Health System I. Introduction II. Background III. Healthcare Data IV. Issues and Problems Related to Health Data V. Addressing Issues and Problems Related to Data VI. Future Trends of Data and Data Analytics VII. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biography Technology Review II
- 8. Technology Review II Big Data, Geospatial Technology, IoT, and Cloud Computing for Health Systems Prabha Susy Mathew, Anitha S. Pillai, and Joseph Tan I. Introduction II. Geospatial Data and Technologies in Health Care III. Geospatial Analytics IV. SBD Unique Security Requirements V. Geospatial Technology, Big Data, IoT, and Cloud Convergence VI. Use Cases of Healthcare IoT, Cloud, and Geospatial Data VII. Conclusion Notes Biographies Chapter 5 Digital Health Enterprise Software: SCM, CRM, and ERP Joshia Tan with Joseph Tan Scenario: Customer Relationship Management with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota I. Introduction II. Supply Chain Management III. Customer Relationship Management IV. Enterprise Resource Planning V. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Technology Review III
- 9. Technology Review III Supply Chain Management (SCM) for Health Systems Matilda Isaac Mustapha and Joseph Tan Introduction Innovative Standard of Care Resource Optimizing Supply Chain Management and Cost Supplier Cost in Supply Chain Management Optimizing Supply Identifiers Engineering Approaches to Supply Chain Management Organizational Culture and Supply Chain Management Technology Orientation in Supply Chain Management Managerial Implications of Supply Chain Management Implementation Conclusion Notes Biography Chapter 6 Key Patient-Centric Technologies: EHR, CPOE, CDS, and PP Joseph Tan with Phillip Olla and Joshia Tan Scenario: How Samsung Health Redefines Personal Fitness and Beyond I. Introduction II. What Are Electronic Health Records, Computerized Physician Order Entry, Clinical Decision Support, and Patient Portals? III. Historic Evolution of EHR, CPOE, CDS, and PP
- 10. IV. Electronic Health Records V. Computerized Physician Order VI. Clinical Decision Support VII. Patient Portals VIII. Benefits and Challenges of EHR, CPOE, CDS, and PP VIII. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Chapter 7 Pharmacy Informatics: Technologies for the Medication Use Process and Professional Education Misty Jensen and Ping Ye Scenario: The SAPHIRE Project I. Introduction II. Background III. Current Perspective IV. Future Trends V. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biographies Mini-Case (Part II) The Case of Lose It! Joseph Tan with Michael Dohan Introduction Learning How to Use Lose It!
- 11. Benefits Versus Downsides of Using Lose It! Conclusion Note Biography PART III HMIS Planning and Management Chapter 8 Digital Health Strategic Planning and Strategies for Health Systems Joseph Tan and David Pellizzari Scenario: The Future Big Data, Big Health Gains Scenario I. Introduction II. Strategic Information Systems Planning and Strategic Awareness III. Situational Analysis (SA) IV. Strategy Conception and Formulation V. Strategy Implementation (SI) VI. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biography Policy Review II Roles and Responsibilities of Health Systems Leaders and Managers Joseph Tan with Phillip Olla and Joshia Tan Vision Strategy
- 12. Execution Characteristics of Healthcare Leaders and Managers Specific Health IT Roles and Responsibilities Conclusion Notes Chapter 9 Decision Aiding and Predictive Systems: A Framework for Data Mining and Machine Learning for Health Systems Management Saumil Maheshwari, Anupam Shukla, and Joseph Tan Scenario: Open Health Tools for Interoperable Health Care I. Introduction II. Data Mining (DM) and Machine Learning (ML) for Health Care III. Framework IV. Contributions of DM–ML in Health Care V. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biographies Chapter 10 The Role of Informatics in Public Health April Moreno Arellano Scenario: Aligning Clinical and Public Health Data Standards Through Partnership with the Public Health Data Standards Consortium I. Introduction
- 13. II. Global Public Health III. EHR as a Comprehensive Tool for Health Care IV. HL7 Message Examples V. Relevant Data Elements for Chronic Disease Surveillance of Prediabetes and Hypertension VI. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biography Chapter 11 Health IS/IT Project Implementation, Innovation Procurement, and Services Management Joseph Tan with Phillip Olla and Joshia Tan Scenario: Wellcentive—Philips Population Health Management Solution I. Introduction II. Critical Success Factors for Health IT Implementation III. Strategic Planning and Management Issues IV. Health IT Implementation Stages V. Innovation Procurement (IP) VI. IT Services Management Concepts VII. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Mini-Case (Part III) Physician Intervention in Reducing Readmissions and Tele-Health Solution
- 14. Jacqueline S. Jones, Sam Kazziha, and Mohan Tanniru Introduction Readmission Strategy of Cardiac Patients at a Nursing Home Conclusion Notes Biographies PART IV HMIS Standards, Policy, Governance & Future Chapter 12 Clinician Confidentiality, Privacy, and Ethical Issues in the Digital Age Charie Faught Scenario: Privacy and Security Policy and Subsequent Theft of Patient Information I. Introduction II. Current Perspective III. 1996 HIPAA Rules IV. Health Information Technology V. Potential Issues Arising from Technology Use VI. Solutions and Recommendations VII. Future Trends and Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biography Policy Review III Health IT Standards Adoption in Health
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- 16. Systems Sanjay Sood and Joseph Tan Introduction ICD and Other Standards HL7 DICOM Adoption of DICOM Standards Web Standards Conclusion Notes Biography Chapter 13 AI and Social Media Analytics for Health Systems: Understanding Consumers’ Preferences on Healthcare Services Adela S. M. Lau, Kristine Baker, Katherine Kempf, Katie Grzyb, Sijuade Oke, Eric Tsui, Liege Cheung, Marie- Claire Slama, and Min Su Scenario: AIA and Madonna University’s Master of Science in Health Services Administration I. Introduction II. Consumer Shopping, Behavioral Changes, and E-Health Services III. Social Media Analytics (SMA) and AI IV. Zocdoc Case: SMA Use and Consumer’s Preference on E- Health Services V. Conclusion Acknowledgments
- 17. Notes Chapter Questions Biographies Chapter 14 Health Care Globalization Through Health Information Technology Enabled Initiatives Anantachai Panjamapirom and Philip F. Musa Scenario: UPMC and KingMed Diagnostics Collaboration I. Introduction II. Tele-Care, Telemedicine, Tele-Health, and E-Health III. Types of Telemedicine IV. The Economic Perspectives of ICT and E-Health V. Factors Influencing the Adoption of E-Health VI. Barriers to E-Health Adoption VII. Stakeholder Analysis VIII. WHO’S Strategic Framework for E-Health Development IX. Flow of Resources Between Developed and Developing Countries X. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biographies Chapter 15 Exploring Healthcare Futures: Emerging Technology in Health Care Phillip Olla, Rajib Biswas, and Joseph Tan Scenario: Orbita Driving Innovation in Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Voice Technology Solutions
- 18. for Health Systems I. Introduction II. Developing Trends of Healthcare BDA III. Key Emerging Technologies in the Next 5–10 Years IV. Reinventing Healthcare Futures V. Conclusion Notes Chapter Questions Biography Mini-Case (Part IV) The Leadership of Future Health Joseph Tan with Joshia Tan The Leadership of Future Health Conclusion Note PART V HMIS Practices and Cases Case 1 Digital Health Technology Commercialization Strategies Greg Moon and Phillip Olla Digital Health Categories of Global D-Health Solutions Categories for Commercial D-Health Systems Commercialization Strategies A Note on Financing Digital Health Companies Case Questions
- 19. Notes Case 2 The Impact of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) on Clinical Workflow and Practices: Perspectives of MS, a Physician Resident in Ottawa, Canada Brandon Lam and Joseph Tan Introduction Patient Charting/Documenting Centralized Application to Access Patient’s Medical Records Orders Access to Resources Mobile Access (Tablets, Phones) Clinics Reference Value Privacy of Patients EMR Implementation Case Questions Notes Biography Case 3 St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO): Digital Leadership in Health Care Mohan Tanniru, Jack Weiner, and Monica Garfield Background of SJMO Healthcare Industry Landscape Organizational Structure of Hospitals Information Technology (IT), Systems, and SJMO Capabilities SJMO’s Digital Transformation
- 20. Case Scenario 1—Early Warning System (2009–2014) Case Scenario 2—Performance Dashboard (2010–2012) Case Scenario 3—Intelligent Care Systems (2012–2015) Case Scenario 4—Medication Board (2014–2015) Case Scenario 5—RSVP (2014–2015) Looking Forward Case Questions Notes Biographies Case 4 Theranos: Innovating an Industry Primed for Innovation Chloe Nyitray, Brandon Nixon, Grace Simpson, and Joseph Tan Introduction Elizabeth’s Upbringing and History Developing the Disruptive Technology Seeking Partnerships Elizabeth’s Rise to Fame Warning Signs: Myths Versus Reality The Beginning of the End The Downfall of Theranos Theranos and Elizabeth’s Future Case Questions Notes Appendix A—Theranos Investment Rounds Appendix B—List of Theranos Investors Appendix C—Glassdoor Reviews as of July 2018 Biographies Case 5 Patients Like Me (PLM): Social Media
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- 22. "Now, what do you intend to do, Levasseur?" I asked, laughing. "To unharness them, and leave you and your trap in the middle of the road.... We shall see if it is allowable to put the poor beasts into such a state." And by degrees he calmed his horses down. "Hand me one of my pistols," I said to Bard. "What for?" "Pass it, quick." "You aren't going to blow his brains out?" "I am, indeed!" "They are not loaded." "I am going to load them." Bard gazed at me in terror. I put a percussion cap on each nipple and rammed a wad down the centre of each barrel. I had just finished the operation when the carriage pulled up, and the postillion got down, swearing, to unfasten the traces, as he had threatened, lifting up his legs one after the other heavily in their great boots. I waited for him, pistol in hand. "Look here, Levasseur," I said, "if you touch those traces I shall smash your head for you." He raised his eyes and saw the two muzzles of the pistol. "Stuff!" he said, "you daren't kill people that fashion!" And he put his hands to the traces. "Levasseur, take care what you are doing! Do you mean to take out the horses?" "The horses are mine, and, when they are over-driven, I unharness them."
- 23. "Have you a wife and children?" Again he looked up; the question struck him as an unusual one. "Yes, I have a wife and four children—a boy and three girls." "Well, then, Levasseur, let me warn you that, if you do not let the traces alone, the Republic will be obliged to grant a pension to your family." He began to laugh and to grip the traces with both hands. I pressed the trigger, the cap exploded and the wad hit my man in the middle of his face. He believed he was killed and fell backwards, his face between his hands, half fainting. Before he had recovered from the shock and astonishment I had drawn off his boots, as Tom Thumb drew off the Ogre's, put them on my own legs, jumped astride the saddle-horse, and we set off at full gallop. Bard nearly fell into the floor of the carriage with laughing. When we had gone three or four hundred yards, I turned round, though I still kept on whipping the horses, and I saw old Levasseur had sat up and begun to collect his senses. A tiny hill we were ascending soon hid him from my sight. I had still nearly a league and a half to make, but I caught up the lost time and did it in seventeen minutes. I reached the post at Levignan with a grand flourish of whips, and, when I pulled the horses up, two persons appeared on the threshold. One was the posting- master, M. Labbé, himself; the other my old friend Cartier, the timber-merchant. Both recognised me at the same time. "Why; you, my boy!" said Labbé. "Things have gone badly with you then if you have come down to being a postillion?" Cartier gave me his hands. "What the devil have you come in such an equipage as that for?" I related the story of old Levasseur, then all that had happened in Paris. It was now half-past eight; I had only two hours and a half in which to reach Soissons, and there were still nine long leagues to travel. The probability of succeeding was getting less and less, but I would
- 24. not give in. I asked M. Labbé for horses; he brought me them immediately, and in five minutes time they were harnessed. "My goodness," said Cartier to Labbé, "I mean to go along with them. I am curious to know how it will end." And he got in with us. "Remember me to the postillion," I said to M. Labbé. And he nodded his head. "Jean-Louis," he said to the postillion. "Yes, governor." "You know old Levasseur?" "By Jove, I should think I do!" "You see that gentleman?" pointing to me. "Yes, I see him." "Well, he has just killed old Levasseur." "How?" said the postillion, gaping at me. "With a pistol shot." "What for?" "Because he wouldn't go full gallop.... So take heed, Jean-Louis." "Is that true?" the man asked, turning pale. "You can see for yourself, since monsieur has driven in himself and is using the whip and wearing boots of the deceased." Jean-Louis threw one terrified glance at the whip and the boots and then he set off at a tearing gallop, without saying another word. "Oh! my poor horses," Labbé shouted after us, "they are going to have a bad time of it." We reached Villers-Cotterets under the hour, and here quite an ovation awaited me. I had hardly given my name to the first person I met whom I knew, than the news of my arrival by post-conveyance
- 25. in a trap surmounted by a tricolour flag flew all over the town as rapidly as though it had been sent on telegraph wires. As the news spread, the houses turned out the living with as great unanimity as the tombs will discharge the dead at the sound of the Last Trump. All these living beings ran to the posting-house and reached it as soon as I did. Much explanation had to be given to make them understand my costume, my rifle, my sunburnt condition, the trap, the tricolour flag and why Bard and Cartier were with me. Everybody in that beloved countryside loved me well enough to have the right to put these questions to me. I answered them all, and when the explanations were given, they cried in unison— "Don't go to Soissons! Soissons is a Royalist town!" But it scarcely need be said that I had not come as far as Villers- Cotterets without intending to proceed to Soissons. "I not only intend to go to Soissons," I replied, "but I shall do all in my power to reach it before eleven o'clock, even if I have to give twenty francs in tips to the postillions." "If you offer them forty, you will not reach there in time," said a voice I knew; "but you will get there by midnight, and they will let you enter." The voice belonged to one of my friends who lived at Soissons, the one who, fifteen years previously, when a child like myself, came, an hour before me, to make a suggestion to General Lallemand when a prisoner, similar to the one I put to him an hour later. "Ah! is that you, Hutin?" I exclaimed. "What shall I do to get in?" "You will get in because I shall go with you and insist on it.... I belong to Soissons and know the gatekeeper." "Bravo! What time shall we have?" "The whole night; but it would be best to arrive before one o'clock." "Good! then we shall have time for supper?" "Where are you going to have it?"
- 26. Ten voices shouted— "With me! With me! With us!" and they began to drag me from front, from behind, by the lappets of my coat and the cord of my powder horn and the strap of my gun and the ends of my cravat. "Excuse me," said another voice, "but he has been previously engaged." "Ah! Paillet!..." It was my old head-clerk. I turned towards my many hosts. "It is quite true. I promised Paillet the last time he visited Paris to come and dine with him." "So much the better," said Paillet, "since the dining-room is large and those who wish to come and take supper with us will find room enough.... Come, those who are his friends can follow me!" A score of young fellows followed us—my old comrades, Saunier, Fontaine, Arpin, Labarre, Rajade and many more. We went along the rue de Soissons and stopped at Paillet's house. In a moment almost, thanks to old Cartier, who lived nearly opposite, an excellent supper was improvised. Cartier senior, Paillet, Hutin, and Bard sat down to table. The others sat round, and I had to relate the history of that marvellous epoch-making three days while I was eating, not a single detail of it having penetrated so far as Villers-Cotterets. There were many exclamations of admiration. I next passed to the story of my own mission. And here enthusiasm cooled down. When I announced that I counted on taking alone, by myself, all the powder in a military town of eight thousand inhabitants and eight hundred soldiers, my poor friends looked at one another and said, as General La Fayette had done— "Why! you must be mad!" But more serious still than this unanimous opinion of the inhabitants of Villers-Cotterets was that Hutin, a native of Soissons, agreed with their opinion.
- 27. "However," he added, "as I said I would attempt the thing with you, I will do so; only it is a hundred to one that before this time to- morrow we shall have been shot." I turned towards Bard. "What did I say to you when I proposed you should accompany me, Seigneur Raphaël?" I said. "You said to me, 'Will you come and get yourself shot with me?'" "And your reply?" "I replied I should be only too happy." "And now?" "I am still of the same opinion." "Bless me! my dear fellow, you can see, you can hear. Reflect in time." "I have reflected." "And you mean to come?" "Certainly." I turned to Hutin again, "So you are coming?" "Of course I am." "Then that is all right," and I raised my glass. "My friends! to-morrow evening, meet again here! Cartier, a dinner for twenty, on condition that it is eaten whether we are dead or alive. Here are two hundred francs for the dinner!" "You shall pay for it to-morrow." "What if I am shot?" "Then I will pay for it myself." "Hurrah for old Cartier!"
- 28. And I swallowed off the contents of my glass. They all took up the chorus, "Vive Cartier!" and as we had finished supper and it was eleven o'clock and the horses were in the trap, we got up to go. "Ah! confound it, one moment," I said, reflecting; "we may have to deal with rougher adversaries to-morrow than old Levasseur, therefore let us really load our pistols this time. What gentlemen among you have bullets of the right calibre?" My pistols took twenty-four size, and it would be a chance, indeed, to find bullets of that calibre. "Wait a bit," said Cartier, "I can manage that. Have you any bullets in your pocket?" "Yes, but only size twenty." "Give me four of them, or rather eight; it is best to have a re- load...." I gave him eight bullets. Five minutes later, he brought me them back, elongated into slug shot, so that they fitted into the pistols. They were cleaned out, loaded and primed with the greatest care; just as though preparations were being made for a duel. Then for the last time we drank to the success of the enterprise; embraced each other several times and got into the trap, Hutin, Bard and myself; the postillion mounted his horses, and we set off at full gallop along the road to Soissons in the midst of cries of farewell and cheers of encouragement from my dear good friends. Two hours after we had left Villers-Cotterets the gate of Soissons opened at the voice and name of Hutin, and the gatekeeper let us in to the town, little knowing he was giving entrance to the Revolution. CHAPTER V
- 29. Arrival at Soissons—Strategic preparations—Reconnaissance round the magazine—Hutin and Bard plant the tricolour flag upon the cathedral—I climb the wall of the powder magazine— Captain Mollard—Sergeant Ragon—Lieutenant-Colonel d'Orcourt —Parleys with them—They promise me neutrality After twenty-two years have passed, we almost hesitate to write the ensuing narrative, which now seems incredible even to ourselves; but we would refer any who doubt the story to le Moniteur of 9 August, containing the official report which General La Fayette inserted, so that those who were interested might either protest or deny as occasion required. Nobody protested, nobody denied. At midnight, we were knocking loudly at the door of Hutin's mother's house, who welcomed us with cries of delight, no more I suspicious than was the gatekeeper, concerning the contents of the trap à la Congrève that she ordered to be put up in her stable yard. The following day was market day, and the next business was to concoct a huge tricoloured flag to take the place of the white flag which was floating from the cathedral. Madame Hutin, not thoroughly understanding what we were up to, nor the consequences it might lead to, put at our disposition the red curtains from the dining-room and the blue ones from the drawing-room. A sheet taken from the linen cupboard completed the National Standard. The question of the staff did not trouble us; we should use the one belonging to the white flag. Flag-staffs do not declare their opinions. Everybody in the house—Madame Hutin, her cook, Hutin, Bard and I—all set to the task of sewing, and by three o'clock in the morning, in the early hours of dawn, the last stitch was put in. This was how we proposed to divide the task: I was to begin by seizing the powder magazine, while Bard and Hutin, under pretext of going to the top of the tower to see the sun rise, were to gain access to the cathedral, pull down the white flag and substitute the tricolour. If the sacristan offered resistance, we intended to fling him
- 30. from the top of the belfry. Hutin had armed Bard with a carbine and provided himself with a double-barrelled gun. As soon as the flag was raised, the sacristan shut up in the tower and the key of it in Hutin's pocket, the latter was to send Bard to me at the magazine, which was situated among the ruins of the Church of Saint-Jean. Bard could be more useful to me in the powder magazine, as it was kept by three old soldiers whose long service had been recompensed by a position that was almost a sinecure, and whose wounds, covered up in the case of two of them by the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, received during the Empire, allowed no question to arise as to their valour. They were Lieutenant-Colonel d'Orcourt, Captain Mollard and Sergeant Ragon. It was, therefore, highly probable I should need reinforcement. Whilst Bard was on his way to join me, Hutin, bearing General La Fayette's proclamation, was to go at once to Dr. Missa. Dr. Missa was the head of the Liberal opposition party and had repeated over and over again the statement that he was only waiting a suitable opportunity to move forward. The present opportunity was an excellent one, and we hoped he would not let it go by. Hutin believed he could count on two of his friends equally, one named Moreau and the other Quinette. Quinette, son of a member of the Convention, was the same who, later, became a deputy under Louis- Philippe, and ambassador at Brussels under the Republic. We shall see how each of them responded to the appeal made in the name of the Revolution. When I left the magazine I was to go to the commander of the town, M. de Linières, and with General Gérard's order in my hands, obtain the order from him to carry off the powder either willingly or by force. I had been warned that M. de Linières was more than a Royalist! He was an ultra-Royalist. At the first news of the insurrection of Paris he had declared that no matter how things turned in the capital, he would bury himself under the ruins of Soissons and that the white flag should float from the highest stone of the ruins. It was, accordingly, pretty certain from
- 31. what quarter we had to expect serious opposition. But I did not trouble myself much about it; each event of the day had to take its chance. At ten minutes past three in the morning we left Madame Hutin's house. She was a splendidly courageous woman, and urged her son on rather than held him back. We separated at the end of the street, Hutin and Bard to go to the cathedral, and I to the powder magazine. As it would have been a dangerous thing to enter the precincts of the ruins of Saint-Jean by the main door, which was easy to defend, we had agreed that it would be best for me to jump over the wall. Bard was, however, to present himself at the main door, which I was to open to him when I should hear three knocks with an equal space of time between each one. I was at the foot of the wall in less than five minutes' time; it was easy to climb as it was low, with plenty of cracks between its stones to form natural steps. However, I waited, as I did not wish to begin my excursion until I saw the the tricolour flag floating over the cathedral in place of the white one. Nevertheless, in order to get my bearings, I raised myself up gently by my wrists to the level of the top of the wall in such a manner as to be able to see over. Two men with spades were each engaged in digging quietly, turning over the square plot of a small garden. I recognised them by the pattern of their trousers and by their moustaches to be two of the soldiers who lived in the rooms in front of the powder magazine. The powder was in one or other of the first two sheds, probably in both. The oak door, solid as a postern gate, strengthened by cross-bars and studded with nails, stood between the two sheds. It was shut. Having explored the battlefield at a glance, I let myself drop down to the base of the wall and turned my eyes in the direction of the cathedral. Very soon I saw the heads of three men appear above the gallery and then the white flag become agitated in an unusual manner, which could not be attributed to the wind, the absence of which was obvious; finally, the white flag was lowered and disappeared, and the tricolour standard was raised in its place. Hutin and Bard had accomplished their part of the business; it was now time for me to begin mine. It
- 32. did not take me very long. I examined my gun to see if the primings were in place, slung it over my shoulders, and, by the help of my hands and feet, I quickly got to the top of the wall. The two soldiers had changed their position and were leaning on their spades, looking with marked surprise at the top of the tower where the tricolour flag was triumphantly floating. I leapt down into the magazine premises. At the noise I made as I touched the ground they both turned round simultaneously. The second apparition evidently seemed more extraordinary to them than the first. I had had time to pass my rifle into my left hand and to cock the two triggers. I walked towards them, they still looking at me, motionless with astonishment. I stopped within ten yards of them. "Gentlemen," I said, "I ask your pardon for the manner of my introduction to your premises, but as you do not know me, you would have refused me entry by the door, which would have occasioned all kinds of delays, and I am in a hurry." "But, monsieur," Captain Mollard asked, "who are you?" "I am M. Alexandre Dumas, son of General Alexandre Dumas, whose name you will have known if you served under the Republic; and I have come in the name of General Gérard to ask the military authorities of the town of Soissons for all the powder they can find in the town. Here is my order: will one of you gentlemen come and look at it?" With my gun in my left hand, I held out my right to them. The captain came up, took the order and read it. Whilst he was doing so, Sergeant Ragon took some steps towards the house. "Pardon, monsieur," I said, "but since I do not know your purpose in going into your house, I will beg you to remain where you are." The sergeant stopped short. Captain Mollard gave me back my order. "That is all right, monsieur. What do you want further?" "I want a simple enough thing, monsieur.... Do you see that tricolour flag?"
- 33. He nodded as an acknowledgment that he saw it perfectly well. "Its substitution for the white flag," I continued, "will prove to you that I have friends in the town.... The town is going to rise." "And then, monsieur?" "Then, monsieur, I was told that I should find brave patriots in the three keepers of the magazine, who, instead of opposing General Gérard's orders, would assist me in my enterprise. I therefore introduce myself to you with confidence to ask your co-operation in this business." "You must know, monsieur," the captain said, "that our co-operation is out of the question." "Well, then, promise you will be neutral." "What is all this about?" asked a third interlocutor, who appeared on the doorstep with a silk kerchief tied round his head, attired only in a shirt and cotton trousers. "Colonel," the sergeant said, stepping nearer to his superior officer, "it is a messenger from General Gérard. It seems the Revolution in Paris is accomplished, and that General Gérard is now Minister for War." I stopped the orator, who continued his advance towards the house. "Monsieur," I said to him, "instead of going to the colonel, please ask him to come to us. I shall be most happy to pay my addresses to him and to show him General Gérard's order." "Is it in the general's handwriting, monsieur?" the colonel asked. "It is signed by himself, monsieur." "I warn you that I have just been a member of the general's staff, and therefore know his signature." "I am very pleased to hear it, colonel, as it will, I hope, make my negotiations with you all the easier."
- 34. The colonel came towards me, and I handed him the paper, taking advantage of the moment's time thus given me, while the other soldiers collected round him, to get between them and the door of the house. I was, it is true, alone, but the three men I had to deal with were unarmed. "Well, colonel?" I asked in a minute or two. "I can say nothing, monsieur, seeing the order is indeed signed by General Gérard." "On the contrary, colonel," I observed, laughing, "that seems to me a reason why you should say something." He exchanged a few words with the captain and sergeant. "What was it you were asking from these gentlemen when I came out?" "Your neutrality, colonel. I do not presume to use intimidation or to urge you against your conscience. If your opinions incline you towards the movement afoot, hold out your hand to me frankly and give me your word not to oppose my mission; if, on the contrary, you wish to oppose it, make up your minds at once and do what you like to get rid of me, for I mean to do all I can to rid myself of you." "Monsieur," said the colonel, when he had again held converse with his two comrades, "we are old soldiers, and have faced fire too often to be afraid; we accept the part you offer us, for, unfortunately, or rather, perhaps, fortunately, what you say with regard to our patriotism is true, and if you laid your hand on our hearts, you would feel the effect the sight of the tricolour flag we have been longing for for the past fifteen years has produced upon us.... What, monsieur, is the agreement we are to enter into with you?" "To go inside your house, and not to come out of it unless you learn that I have been killed or until I shall myself come and release you from your promise." "I promise on my honour as a soldier for both myself and my comrades!"
- 35. I walked up to him and held out my hand. Three hands were held out instead of one; three hands pressed mine with cordiality. "Come, this is not all," said the colonel. "When one undertakes a task like yours, it should succeed." "Will you assist me, then, with your advice?" He smiled. "Where are you going now?" "To the commander of the fort, M. de Linières." "Do you know him?" "Not in the least." "Hum!" "Well?" "Be on your guard!" "Still, if I have the order?" "Well?" "Then I may count on you?" "Oh! naturally.... Neutrality has ceased, and we have become your allies." At that moment three knocks with an equal interval of time between each were given on the door. "What is that?" asked the colonel. "One of my friends, colonel, who has come to render me assistance if I should need it." I called out loud— "Wait a minute, Bard; I will come and open it. I am among friends." Then, turning towards the soldiers, I said to them— "Now, gentlemen, will you go into your house?" "Certainly," they said.
- 36. "I may rely on your word?" "Our word once given is never taken back." They went in, and I opened the door for Bard. CHAPTER VI How matters had proceeded with the sacristan—The four-inch gun—Bard as gunner—The commander of the fort—Lieutenant Tinga—M. de Lenferna—M. Bonvilliers—Madame de Linières— The revolt of the negroes—The conditions upon which the commander of the fort signed the order—M. Moreau—M. Quinette—The Mayor of Soissons—Bard and the green plums Bard was perfectly cool; anyone seeing him with his rifle over his shoulder would have taken him for a sportsman who had been getting his hand in by firing at the target. "Well," he asked me, "how have things gone here?" "Splendidly, my dear boy! All is settled." "Good! then you have the powder?" "Oh! not yet. Hang it, what a hurry you're in! How about your flag?" He pointed to the tower. "You see for yourself," he said. "Doesn't it make a fine picture in the landscape?" "Yes. How did it all go off?" "Oh! all went smoothly enough. The sacristan raised a few difficulties just at first, but he ended by giving in to the reasons M. Hutin laid before him." "What were those?"
- 37. "I don't quite know; I was looking at the landscape.... Your valley of Aisne is really magnificent, you know, especially over by Vauxbuin." "So you heard nothing of what Hutin said to your sacristan?" "I think he told him he would be killed if he did not keep quiet." "Where is he now?" "Who? M. Hutin?" "Yes." "He should be where he promised to be, at the doctor's." "That's capital! You stop here." "Good! What shall I do?" "Wait a moment." Bard's eyes followed me as I made an expressive movement in a certain direction. "Ah! that pretty little cannon over there!" he exclaimed. And I walked towards a pretty little four-inch gun—I even think it was, possibly, of smaller bore—under what was, I believe, a model of it, placed beneath the shelter of a sort of shed. "Isn't that a charming toy?" "Charming!" "Then come and help me, my dear fellow." "How?" "To put it in position. In case of siege, I must leave you some artillery." So we harnessed ourselves to the cannon, and I placed it in position about thirty yards from the door. Then I slipped half the contents of my powder-horn into the gun and wadded it with my pocket- handkerchief; on the top of this first wadding I slipped in a score of
- 38. bullets; then I rammed Bard's handkerchief on the top of these and the cannon was loaded. When loaded, I laid and primed it. "There!" I said, panting; "now listen to what you must do." "I await your instructions." "How many cigarettes can you smoke on end?" "Oh! as many as I have tobacco to turn them into or money to buy them!" "Well, then, my friend, smoke without intermission, so that you always have a lighted cigarette on hand: if they try to get inside without your leave and force the gate open, ask them three times to withdraw and if, upon the third request, they still persist in entering, place yourself where the recoil of the cannon cannot break your legs and then pass your lighted cigarette diagonally across the priming, and you will see how the machine will work!" "All right!" said Bard, not raising the slightest objection. I believe, if, whilst he had been on the gallery of the tower, I had said to him, "Bard, jump over!" he would have done it. "And see here!" I said: "now you have both a rifle and a cannon, my pistols are a superfluous luxury to you, so let me have them." "Oh! true," he said, "here they are"; and he drew them out of his pocket and returned them to me. I again examined them and found them in good trim. I slipped them into the two back pockets of my jacket and turned to go to the house of the commander of the fort. A sentinel stood in the street outside, and I asked him where M. de Linières' office was. He pointed it out; it was on the first floor, or entresol. I climbed the staircase, and left my gun outside the door of the office. The commander was alone with an officer whom I did not know. He had just got up on hearing the news that the tricolour flag was floating high over the cathedral. He was probably still unaware of my arrival;
- 39. for, just as I came in, he was interrogating the officer upon the details of this extraordinary event. "Pardon, Monsieur le Vicomte," I said to him, "but if all you require is the full details, I can supply you with them, and I may add no one could give you them so well." "Well, but first of all who are you, monsieur?" the commander asked, looking at me in astonishment. I have already described my get-up: my cravat was in ribbons, my shirt had been worn for four days, my jacket was bereft of half of its buttons. There was therefore nothing very surprising in the question put by the commander of the fort. I gave my surname, Christian name and profession. I briefly painted the situation in Paris, together with the object of my mission, and I tendered him General Gérard's order. The commander of the fort, or king's-lieutenant, as he was indifferently called in those days, read it attentively and, handing it back to me, said— "Monsieur, you must know that I do not recognise the sovereignty of the Provisional Government in the slightest degree. Moreover, General Gérard's signature does not present any sort of authenticity: it is not legal, nor is the document even sealed." "Monsieur," I replied, "of one thing I am certain: I can triumphantly convince you of its legality and genuineness. I give you my word of honour that the signature is really that of General Gérard." A half-ironical smile crossed the commander's lips. "I believe you, monsieur," he said; "but I can tell you news that will render all further discussion useless: there are not at the present moment more than two hundred cartridges of powder in the magazine." But M. de Linières' smile had somewhat angered me. "Monsieur," I replied, with equal politeness, "as you do not know exactly the number of cartridges that there are in the magazine, I
- 40. will go and inquire of the three soldiers there who are my prisoners on parole." "What! your prisoners on parole?" "Yes, Monsieur le Vicomte: Lieutenant-Colonel d'Orcourt, Captain Mollard and Sergeant Ragon are my prisoners on parole.... So I am going, as I had the honour of mentioning to you just now, to find out for myself what quantity of powder there is in the magazine and then I will return and inform you." I bowed and went out, looking at the sentry's shako as I did so, which bore the number 53. I was in luck; for, it will be observed, the garrison of Soissons was composed of the depot of the 53rd, and the 53rd, it will be recollected, had turned to the people's side at the very moment the Louvre was being taken. I met an officer in the street. "Are you M. Dumas?" he said. "Yes, monsieur." "Is it you who have placed the tricolour flag on the cathedral?" "Yes, monsieur." "Then go forward and fear nothing from us: the soldiers were distributing tricolour cartridges among themselves yesterday." "So I can count upon them?" "You can rely upon their keeping in their barracks." "Your name?" "Lieutenant Tuya." "Thanks!" And I entered his name in my pocket-book. "What is that for?" he asked me. "Who knows?" I replied. "When I return to the Hôtel de Ville I may find a second epaulette going begging.... You would not be angry with me for sending it you?"
- 41. He began to laugh, shook his head and made off rapidly. At the same moment, I saw the officer whom I had found closeted with the commander of the fort going faster still. There was no time to be lost; no doubt he was going with orders. I quickened my pace accordingly, and was at the magazine in a trice. I knocked at the door and called out my name. "Is that you?" Bard asked. "Yes." "Good! I will open to you." "Don't trouble. Ask the officers how much powder, for artillery purposes, there is in the magazine." "All right!" I waited, and through the keyhole I could see Bard hurrying to the house. He disappeared, then reappeared after a few minutes. "Two hundred pounds!" he shouted to me. "Prodigious! It is always the way.... Now throw me over the key of the door, or slip it under, so that I can come in without disturbing you." "Here you are." "Right! Whatever you do, don't quit your post." "Make your mind easy!" And upon this assurance I retraced my steps back to the house of the king's-lieutenant. I found the same sentinel at the street door, but there was now a second one at the door of the office. I expected to see him bar my passage, but I was mistaken. As upon the first occasion, I deposited my gun outside the door and then I went in. The company had been increased by two other persons, and, besides the commander of the fort and the unknown officer, there were now in that small office, as I re-entered it, M. le Marquis de Lenferna, Lieutenant of the Police, and M. Bonvilliers, Lieutenant-
- 42. Colonel of the Engineers. These gentlemen were all arrayed in their respective uniforms, and, consequently, had sabres and swords by their sides. I entered and closed the door behind me. I had hardly come face to face with these four officers before I regretted I had left my rifle outside, for I realised that grave matters would be discussed between us. I felt the lapels of my waistcoat to see that my pistols were still in my pockets. They were there safe and sound. "Monsieur," the commander said to me in a jeering tone, "I have sent for M. le Marquis de Lenferna and M. Bonvilliers, in your absence, who are my colleagues in the military command in this town, in order that you may lay before them the object of your mission here, as you did to me." I saw I must assume the same tone of conversation as that used by M. de Linières, so I replied— "Well, monsieur, the object of my mission is simple enough: it is merely a question of my taking the powder that I have found in the magazine and transporting it to Paris where they are short.... And, in respect of that same powder, allow me to inform you, Commander, that you were wrongly instructed: there are two hundred pounds of powder in the magazine—and not two hundred cartridges." "Whether two hundred pounds or two hundred cartridges is not the question, monsieur: the question is that you have come to seize powder from a military town containing a garrison of eight hundred men." "Monsieur does, indeed," I replied, "put the question on its true footing: I have come to take powder from a garrison town containing eight hundred men, and here is my order for so doing." I presented General Gérard's order to the king's-lieutenant, who, no doubt because he knew it already, took hold of it with the tips of his fingers and handed it to his neighbour, who handed it back to M. de Linières after he had read it, with a slight inclination of the head. "You are probably backed by an armed force to carry out the order, in case we refuse to comply with it?"
- 43. "No, monsieur; but I have a most determined intention of taking that powder, since I swore to General La Fayette I would either take it or be killed. That is why I asked your leave for the opening of the magazine doors, and I now renew my request." "And you think that alone, Monsieur Dumas ... I think you told me your name was Dumas?"— "Yes, monsieur, that is my name." "—You can force me to sign such an authorisation? You have noticed probably that there are four of us?" I had noticed still more—the commander's jeering tones and that, from the wording of his sentences, the situation was growing warm; I therefore edged myself gradually back until I was master of the door and, while doing so, I placed my hands inside my coat pockets and silently prepared the double locks of my pistols. I then suddenly drew them from my pockets and pointed the muzzles towards the group in front of me. "True, there are four of you, messieurs,... but there are five of us!" And I took a step forward and said, "Messieurs, I give you my word of honour that if the order is not signed within the next five seconds I will blow out the brains of all four of you, and I will begin with you, Monsieur le Lieutenant de Roi—honour to whom honour is due!" I had turned deadly pale, but in spite of my pallor my face expressed immovable determination. The double-barrelled pistol which I held in my right hand was only a foot and a half off M. de Linières' face. "Beware, monsieur!" I said to him: "I am going to count the seconds"; and after a pause I began, "One, two, three!..." At this moment a side door opened and a woman burst into the room in a paroxysm of terror. "Oh! my love, yield! yield!" she cried; "it is a second revolt of the negroes!.. And, saying this, she gazed at me with terrified eyes.
- 44. "Monsieur," began the commander of the fort, "out of regard for my wife...." "Monsieur," I replied, "I have the profoundest respect for Madame, but I too have a mother and a sister and hope, therefore, you will have the goodness to send Madame away, so that we can thrash this matter out between men alone." "My love!" Madame de Linières continued to implore, "yield! yield! I implore you! Remember my father and mother, both massacred at Saint-Domingo!" I had not until then understood what she meant by her words, "It is a second revolt of negroes!" She had taken me for a negro, from my fuzzy hair and complexion, burnt deep brown by three days' exposure to the sun and by my faintly Creole accent—if, indeed, I had any accent at all, from the hoarseness that had seized me. She was beside herself with terror, and her fright was easily understood; for I learnt, later, that she was a daughter of M. and Madame de Saint-Janvier, who had been mercilessly killed under her very eyes during a revolt. The situation was now too strained to be prolonged much further. "But, monsieur," the commander exclaimed in despair, "how can I yield before one single man?" "Would you like me, monsieur, to sign a paper attesting that you gave me the order with a pistol at your head?" "Yes, yes! monsieur," shrieked Madame de Linières. Then turning to her husband, whose knees she had been clasping, she reiterated, "My love! my love! give him the order! Give it him, I entreat you!" "Or would you prefer," I continued, "that I went and hunted up two or three friends so that our numbers may be equal on both sides?" "Indeed yes, monsieur, I should much prefer that course."
- 45. "Be on your guard, Monsieur le Vicomte! I go, relying on your word of honour; I go, because I have you at my mercy and could blow out the brains of every one of you.... I can promise you it would soon be done.... Shall I find you on my return where you are and as you are?" "Yes, yes! monsieur," exclaimed Madame de Linières. I bowed courteously but without ceding one jot. "It is your husband's word of honour I require, madame." "Well, then, monsieur," the king's-lieutenant said, "I will give you my word." "I presume that it includes these gentlemen equally?" The officers bowed in the affirmative. I uncocked my pistols and replaced them in my pockets. Then, addressing myself to Madame de Linières— "Reassure yourself, madame," I said; "it is over. In five minutes, gentlemen, I shall be back here." I went out, picking up my gun, which I found in its corner outside the door. I had gone beyond my resources, for I did not know where to look for Hutin; and Bard was guarding an important point. But chance served me; for, as I stepped into the street, I saw Hutin and one of his friends, who, faithful to their rendezvous, were waiting ten yards away from the house: the friend was a young man called Moreau, a warm patriot of Soissons. They both had double-barrelled guns. I beckoned to them to come into the courtyard. They came in, not knowing quite what was expected of them. I went upstairs; parole had been strictly maintained and none of the gentlemen had left his place. I went to the window and opened it. "Messieurs," I said to Hutin and Moreau, "have the goodness to inform Monsieur the Commander that you are ready to fire upon him and upon the other persons I shall point out to you, if he does not instantly sign an authorisation for taking the powder."
- 46. For answer, Hutin and Moreau cocked their guns. Madame de Linières followed all my movements and those of her husband with haggard eyes. "That will do, monsieur," the king's-lieutenant said; "I am ready to sign"; and, taking a piece of paper from his desk, he wrote— "I authorise M. Alexandre Dumas to take away all the powder belonging to the artillery which is in the magazine Saint-Jean.— King's-lieutenant and Commander of the Fort, VICOMTE DE LINIÈRES" SOISSONS, 31 July 1830" I took the paper which the count handed me, bowed to Madame de Linières, made my apologies to her for the unavoidable fright I had caused her and went out.[1] We met M. Quinette, the second friend whom Hutin had mentioned to me, in the street. He had come to join us. It was rather late, as will be seen, especially since he was soon to leave us. His advice was that we ought to do things legally and that, to this end, I must be assisted by the mayor. I had no objection to this proposition, as I had possession of my order, so I went to find the mayor. I have forgotten the name of that worthy magistrate: I only remember that he made no difficulty about accompanying me. Accordingly, five minutes later, accompanied by the mayor, Hutin, Moreau and Quinette, I cautiously opened the gate of the Saint-Jean cloisters, first having notified to Bard that it was I who was opening it. "Come in, come in!" he replied. I entered and saw the cannon in position, but, to my great astonishment, Bard had disappeared. He was twenty yards from his cannon, perched up in a plum tree eating green plums! [1] I believe I ought to take the precaution, at the conclusion of this story that I took at the beginning, namely, to refer my reader
- 47. to the Moniteur of 9 August 1830, in case they think I have been romancing. See the notes at the end of this volume. CHAPTER VII The Mayor of Soissons—The excise-office powder—M. Jousselin —The hatchet belonging to the warehouse-keeper—M. Quinette —I break open the door of the powder magazine—Triumphant exit from Soissons—M. Mennesson attempts to have me arrested—The Guards of the Duc d'Orléans—M. Boyer—Return to Paris—"Those devils of Republicans!" Now, thanks to M. Quinette's excellent advice, no one could have been acting more legally than we were, since we were proceeding (like Bilboquet) with the mayors authorisation. So Lieutenant-Colonel d'Orcourt hastened to open the artillery powder magazine to us. It was the shed on the right of the door as we entered. We hardly found two hundred pounds of powder in it, as a matter of fact. I was preparing to carry it off when the mayor laid claim to it for the defence of the town. The claim was fair enough, only, as I had decided to carry powder to Paris, no matter what the quantity might be, it seemed likely I should have to go through the same scenes with the mayor as I had with the commander of the fort, when Lieutenant-Colonel d'Orcourt approached me and said in a whisper— "There is certainly only about two hundred pounds of powder in the artillery magazine, but in the shed opposite there are three thousand pounds belonging to the town." I opened my eyes wide. "Say that again," I said. "Three thousand pounds of powder there"; and he pointed to the shed.
- 48. "Then let us open it and take the powder." "Yes, but I haven't the key." "Where is it?" "M. Jousselin, the storehouse-keeper has it." "Where does he live?" "One of these gentlemen will show you." "Very good!" I turned towards the mayor. "Monsieur, I can at present say neither yes nor no to your request: if I find more powder, I will leave you the two hundred pounds; if I do not find any, I shall take it from you. Now do not let us lose any more time, but each take our share. My dear Monsieur Moreau, you go and find a waggon and horses among the carters in the town; they shall be paid what is right, on condition they are here within an hour. As soon as the powder is in the cart we will start off.... Is that clear?" "Yes." "Off with you, then." And M. Moreau set off at the swiftest rate of speed possible. "Bard, my friend, you can see that the situation has grown more complicated, so take up your position close to the cannon, re-light your cigarette and keep away from the green plums." "Make your mind easy on that score! I hardly ate three and they set my teeth horribly on edge!... I would not bite a fourth, no, not even for M. Jousselin and all his powder!" "You, Hutin, go to M. Missa, to find out his intentions, and if he has not done anything get from him General La Fayette's proclamation; it should be useful to us in dealing with the civil authorities, who may possibly decline to believe in the validity of General Gérard's orders."
- 49. "I'll run off at once!" "You, Monsieur Quinette, have the goodness to take me to M. Jousselin." "It is a long way off." "Bah! what matter? If we work in harmony, things will come out all right! In half or three-quarters of an hour at longest we shall all be back here again!" Bard resumed his post, Hutin left to fulfil his commission and M. Quinette and I to fulfil ours. We reached M. Jousselin's door. "Here we are," M. Quinette said, "but you will understand my feelings: I belong to the town and have to stop in it after you have gone, so I would rather you went alone to see M. Jousselin." "If that is all, I don't mind!" With that, I entered M. Jousselin's house. I must confess that, at the moment, neither my looks nor my dress were calculated to inspire confidence in the minds of others. I had lost my straw hat somewhere or other, my face was sunburnt and streaming with perspiration; my voice, at one moment, would sound loud like a trumpet, at the next, it was shrill almost to imperceptibility; my jacket, bulging with the pistols, was gradually losing what few buttons had adorned it and, finally, my gaiters and shoes were still soiled with blood which the dust of the road had not effaced. It was not, therefore, surprising that, when M. Jousselin saw me thus equipped and with my double-barrelled gun on my shoulder, he recoiled in his armchair as far as he could get. "What is your business with me?" he asked. I explained the object of my visit as succinctly as I could, for I was pressed for time; moreover, had I wanted to use lengthy phrases I could not have done so, as I could scarcely speak for hoarseness. M. Jousselin raised several objections, which I cleared away as fast as he put them; but I saw we might go on endlessly.
- 50. "Monsieur," I said, "let us stop. Will you or will you not give me the powder in your magazine for a thousand francs, which I have here with me?" "Monsieur, it is impossible; there is twelve thousand francs' worth of powder." "Then will you take my thousand francs on account and accept a draft for the remainder on the Provisional Government?" "Monsieur, we are forbidden to sell on credit." "Then will you give me the excise powder for nothing? It is Government powder, which is as much as to say it belongs to me, since I hold a Government order to take it and you hold none for keeping it." "Monsieur, I would have you take notice.. "Yes or no?" "Monsieur, you are at liberty to take it, but I would have you know that you must be answerable for it to the Government." "Oh, monsieur, why didn't you tell me that at first and so have ended our discussion long ago!" I went up to the fireplace and took hold of an axe that lay there for chopping firewood, which I had had my eye on. "But, monsieur," the astounded excise-keeper exclaimed, "what are you going to do now?" "I am borrowing this axe from you to break open the door of the powder magazine.... You will find it all right at Saint-Jean, Monsieur Jousselin." And I left him. "But, monsieur," he shouted after me, "you are committing theft!" "Yes, both theft and housebreaking, Monsieur Jousselin!" "I warn you I shall write about this to the Minister of Finance!"
- 51. "Write to the devil, if you like, Monsieur Jousselin!" Whilst we were talking we had reached the street door. M. Jousselin went on shouting and people began to collect in a crowd. I began to go back the way I came. "Oh! do give us a bit of peace, monsieur!" I said, seizing hold of the axe by its handle. "Murder! assassin!" he shouted at the top of his voice, and, shutting the door in my face, he bolted it inside. I had not time to amuse myself by breaking open his door. "Quick, quick!" I said to M. Quinette; "the enemy is in retreat; let us go on!" I ran off axe in hand to the church of Saint-Jean. I had not gone a hundred yards before I again heard M. Jousselin's voice, whose maledictions reached me across that distance. He was at his window, endeavouring to rouse the population against me. M. Quinette had prudently disappeared. I did not see him again until 1851, in Brussels. If, at Soissons, I found he left too soon, he made up for it afterwards at Brussels, where it seems to me he stayed too long; for, after the 2nd of December, he waited for them to send him his dismissal as ambassador to the Republic.... I did not worry about the excise-storekeeper or the hostile attitude of the populace, but continued on my way to the magazine. Bard was at his post this time. "Well," Lieutenant-Colonel d'Orcourt asked me, "have you leave from M. Jousselin?" "No," I replied, "but I have the key of the powder shed!" I produced the axe, and at this juncture Hutin arrived. "Well," I said, "what has your Dr. Missa done?"
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