"You will proceed to the Chamber to announce that M. Mole is entrusted with the formation of a new cabinet," said the King.
And the council closed.
At four, an officer of the staff passed along the boulevards, announcing the fall of the Ministry.
Instantly, with the speed of the telegraph, the intelligence flew to the obscurest parts of Paris. Its effect was, at first, most cheering. Barricades were deserted and arms thrown down; faces brightened, hands, almost stained with each other's blood, were clasped; troops and people, unwillingly fighting, embraced; all was triumph, joy and congratulation.
"All now is over--all is right at last!" was the exclamation of one man of the people to another.
"Guizot has fallen, but the King has sent for Count Mole," replied a third, with a dissatisfied air.
"No matter," cried the first speaker, "the system is overturned! What care we who is Minister?"
"It is too late," replied the other. "Guizot has been forced away by the people--Mole may be forced away, too--so may the King! No more tricks! The people now know their power. There shall be no mistake this time!"
And the insurrectionists parted.
As the day closed, barricades rose in the Quartier du Temple, and there was fighting between the people and the Municipal Guard. But the National Guard came to the rescue, and the latter surrendered.
At nine o'clock Paris was illuminated. White, red, blue--yellow, orange, green--these were the tri-colors of the lamps that poured their rich effulgence from every window on the gloomy scene without. The streets were thronged and the cafés crowded; men of all nations and Parisians of all classes were in the streets; the rattle of musketry had ceased; the troops were in their barracks and the people at their homes.
At the corner of the Boulevard and the Rue des Capucines, Flocon and Louis Blanc met.
"Guizot has fallen!" cried the first.
"And the most intimate friend of the King has succeeded him! What have we to hope for from the change?"
"What are we to do?" asked Flocon.
"In one hour the people will sing the Marseillaise before the Hôtel des Affaires Étrangères!"
"The 14th Regiment of the Line is there," replied Flocon.
"So much the better! Blood will flow! The revolution will not stop!"
And the conspirators separated.
At ten o'clock, before the official residence of M. Guizot, himself then absent, and probably in full flight for the coast, an immense crowd of the people with torches was assembled. Their purpose was to sing the Marseillaise. The 14th Regiment barred the way--the street was dimly lighted--a single row of lamps along the courtyard wall was all the illumination--a double line of troops was the defence.